Next Steps

Step-by-step guide for incoming first-year students

Please check back often as we continue to provide updates for Fall 2024 intake students. 

 

This Next Steps website will ensure you are prepared for your first year. All incoming undergraduate students should review and complete all the Next Steps check list that apply to you.

The steps below are listed in month that we recommend they be actioned, but many may be completed at any point throughout the spring and summer with the exception of a few key deadlines. However, we do encourage you to stick to the recommend months to ensure you have a smooth transition to Queen's in the fall, and are not missing out on important information or deadlines.

You will start hearing from us - The Student Experience Office - weekly, starting in June 2024 at your queensu.ca email address. These emails will ensure you are aware of upcoming deadlines, as well as online and in-person socials and summer programming so you are set for the start of the academic year!

International students can visit the Queen'sUBound Next Steps for a Smooth Transition webpage for specific travel and arrival-to-Canada information, and the Queen's University International Centre's website.

You can also explore all of the student resources and supports available across Student Affairs and the campus.

Important Dates

June 3, 2024

Deadline for Residence application and $525 deposit

Learn more

June 30, 2024

Submit supporting documentation for all need-based financial awards

Learn more

July 5-7 & 12-13, 2024

Join us for SOAR, a one-day on-campus experience

Learn more

 

Get your access to the Queen's student system

Your NetID and password give you access to online services and resources. You received information about activating your NetID (sent to your applicant email address) when your application was received.

You have to activate your NetID before you can register for your courses. Once you have activated your NetID, make sure you can login to SOLUS. That way you’ll know you’re ready for course registration in July.

Your NetID will never change, but you should change your NetID password often. A strong NetID password ensures that both your personal information and university resources are protected. 

Make your transition an easy one, and visit theITS websiteto help you get started with activating your NetID. View information about setting up your NetID, and technology, resources, and services available to students. 

You will use the same NetID and password for all Queen’s applications – SOLUS, email, onQ, etc.

 

Financial Aid Options

As a future Queen's student, you have lots of options for financial aid, including options that require an application and options that do not require an application.

You are encouraged to apply for all financial aid options, including government assistance (see below). 

 

Completeyour Ontario Student AssistanceProgram (OSAP) application 

The 2024-25 OSAP application opens in April. Submit your OSAP application as soon as possible to ensure funding is available for the start of the academic year. 

Apply for OSAP 

Do not report your Queen’s awards on your OSAP application –learn more about OSAP and awards

 

Complete your provincial/territorial Student Government Assistance application 

If you live in another province/territory, check the government student assistance website where you live for information about when the application is available, and information about how to report any awards you have received. Apply as soon as you can to ensure your funding is available for the start of the academic year. 

Apply for governmental financial assistance outside of Ontario

 

 

Get in touch with Hospitality Services 

Hospitality Services take food allergies and dietary needs very seriously, including food intolerances, food-related medical conditions, dietary needs related to religious or cultural observance, vegetarian/vegan diets and other dietary needs. You are encouraged to take the following steps before arriving on campus: 

  1. Complete Hospitality Services’ Food Allergy and Dietary Need Formaccessible through theStudent Residence and Dining Portal
  2. Book an appointmentwith Hospitality Services’ Registered Dietitian before arriving on campus to discuss your dietary needs and available support while dining on a meal plan.
  3. If your dietary need requires room accommodations, ensure a Residence Health Accommodation Form is completed by a Health Care Provider and submitted in the Student Portal by June 3, 2024.
  4. All students, especially those with food allergies are encouraged to "Ask Before You Eat".
  5. Learn more about Hospitality Services and how we support those with Food Allergies and Dietary Needs.

 

Log in to Queen’s email service and Office 365 

All new students will receive an email in mid June with information about your Queen's email account. Log in and make sure everything is set up to your satisfaction. 

Log on to your Queen's email 

From this point forward, Queen's will only communicate with you via your Queen's email account, so be sure to keep checking it regularly! 

 

Watch for information on Registration and Fees and student card photo email

The Office of the University Registrar website has detailed information regarding registration and fees, including:  

  • How to register for courses
  • Tuition and fees
  • How to make payment
  • How to submit your photo for your Student ID card

You will receive an email to your Queen’s email account in June with more information. 

Living in Residence 

Living in residence during first year provides a supportive community environment for you to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. Living on campus helps you to meet new people, participate in organized activities, and ease your transition to university life. 

The First Year Student Residence Application is open until June 3, 2024 at 4pm ET for undergraduate students in a first year, full-time, on-campus degree program.

If you require an accommodation to live in Residence, submit a Health Accommodation Form by June 3, 2024 at 4pm ET

Visit theResidence websiteformore information about the application process, dates, and deadlines, and to explore opportunities to become part of Living Learning Communities and Unique Communities. 

Apply to Queen’s Residence and pay the $525 deposit by June 3, 2024, at 4pm ET 

 

Living Off-Campus 

Thinking about Off-Campus housing in Kingston for 2024-25? Do you have questions about the Kingston student rental market, your housing search, lease agreements, tenant rights, landlord rights and responsibilities, and finding housemates? Connect with the Off-Campus Living Advisor for resources and guidance.  

If you are living off-campus, you can buy a Campus Meal Plan any time during the academic year. We have multiple meal plan options designed to suit any budget and campus lifestyle. 

 

Take part in online and on-campus opportunities

The Student Experience Office’s First-Year Foundation program starts this summer and gives you online and in-person opportunities to build your community, support your transition, and find your path to success for your first year at Queen’s.

The program includes: 

  • Summer Orientation to Academics and Resources (SOAR), a one-day on-campus experience running July 5-7 and 12-13, 2024. Check back in May for registration to open to save your seat and get to know your campus, your faculty, and your peers!

  • Raftr, the digital community platform exclusively for first-year students. Check your Queen's email early June for your invitation. 

  • onQ online modules called FYF 100 and webinars start end of June.

  • QSuccess, our one-on-one year-long peer mentorship program for first-year students. Registration opens early July. 

  • The Off-Campus Community (OCC) to connect those of you living off-campus. Registration opens in June.

Check out our Fall Orientation website for more information on what to look forward to when you arrive on campus!

 

Satisfy the conditions on your offer of admission 

Satisfy any conditions on your offer of admission by the due date in your offer email. Due dates may also be found on theUndergraduate Admission Key Dates and Deadlines page

Review your final grades on your transcript, or on theOUAC website. Contact your guidance counsellor andQueen’s Undergraduate Admissionif your academic data is inaccurate. The information that is on file will be used to determine if you meet the conditions in your offer.

If you will not meet the conditions on your offer of admission, please email admresp@queensu.ca as soon as possible. 

 

Satisfy the conditions of your Financial Award(s)

Submit supporting documentation for all need-based awards to the Financial Aid and Award Office by June 30, 2024Check SOLUS for more information. 

 

Register with Queen's Student Accessibility Services (QSAS) 

If you experience barriers in the academic learning environment due to disability-related reasons, connect with Queen’s Student Accessibility Services (QSAS) to register for accommodations.  Don't wait until the start of the year - start the process now! You can register for Fall 2024 starting in early summer. 

Click here to learn how to register with QSAS and what to expect. 

Please note: if you have applied to live in Residence and require an accommodation for your living environment, this is a separate process that can be accessed via the Student Residence and Dining Portal

Are you a student with a disability? Check out Setting Yourself Up for Success, a free self-guided course designed to help students with disabilities navigate the transition to university. 

 

View Block Course Enrolment (pre-populated class schedules) 

If you are in one of the following programs, you will havesome, or all,of your coursesautomatically addedto your schedule by your Faculty or School in late June.

  • Commerce
  • Concurrent Education
  • Music
  • Nursing
  • Kinesiology
  • Engineering and Applied Science
  • Health Sciences

Log in to SOLUSbeginning in July, to view your pre-enrolled class schedule. 

Students who choose some or all of their courseswill be able to see theirEnrolment Appointmenttime inSOLUSbeginning in July. This is also when you may begin adding classes to your Shopping Cart. 

 

View your Enrolment Appointment (for course selection) 

Beginning July 15, access your SOLUS Student Centre to view your enrolment appointment and begin adding courses to your shopping cart. Your enrolment appointment is your specific date and time when you may enrol in your courses. In advance of the start of your enrolment appointment, it is a good idea to add your courses to your shopping cart and build your schedule so that you are ready to enrol once your Enrolment Appointment begins.  
 
NOTE: You won't be able to actually enrol in the courses until your Enrolment Appointment begins. 

 

Enrol in your courses 

There are three Enrolment Periods: 

Class Selection I: July 22 to July 29: Your enrolment appointment time will be your first opportunity to enrol in your courses. We suggest that you enrol as soon as your appointment time begins. Some courses may have enrolment restrictions on them. These restrictions are there to ensure that students who require certain courses receive priority.  

Class Selection II: July 31 to August 4: Most enrolment restrictions will be removed, although some online classes may still have restrictions. Please note there will be an Enrolment Hiatus for two weeks in August. During this time students will be unable to complete any enrolment activities. If you have registration questions or require assistance, your Faculty and the Office of the University Registrar will be able to assist you after the hiatus.

Open Enrolment: begins August 19: This is an opportunity for you to make changes to your schedule. If you need help, please contact your Faculty/School. 

Visit SOLUS Help for tutorials on how to navigate SOLUS and the Student Guidefor information on registration and fees.   

If you need help selecting courses, please contact your Faculty/School. 

 

Residence Self-Selection

For students living in residence, self-selection is the process used to determine your residence building and room. This online self-selection platform allows you to log in and view available bed spaces in the 18 residence buildings. Check back soon for self-selection dates for 2024-25 first-year students.

During the first week in July, the Residence Self-Selection webinar will help prepare residence students with an understanding of the self-selection process before it opens mid-July for the 2024-25 academic year. Check back soon for the date of this webinar.

Visit the Queen's Residence website for more information about residence self-selection.

 

Student ID Cards

All on-campus students are provided a student card when they first arrive at Queen's. We will need your help with uploading your photo to SOLUS for us to produce this card. You will be prompted by email to upload your photo in early July.

Students living in residence MUST complete this within two weeks of receiving the email from us to ensure it is ready for pickup on move-in day. You will need this card to access your meal plan along with other services.

Students living off campus can pick up their cards in September at a TBD venue. Your card will give you access to discounts, exams, and the ARC.

Learn more about picking up your Student Card

View your financial aid awards 

Check SOLUS (under the "Financial Aid" title) to find out when your award(s) will be applied to your account. The first half of the award value will be applied to in mid-August before the Fall term tuition payment deadline. The second half be applied to your SOLUS student account in early December before to the Winter term tuition payment deadline. 

 
For all awards administered by the Student Awards Office (e.g. Queen's bursaries, awards, and scholarships granted on admission), payments will be applied on your account to all current and future university charges (e.g. Fall term tuition and student activity fees, Fall term Residence, Winter Term Tuition, and Winter term residence). 

Learn more about navigating SOLUS

Learn more about paying tuition and fees

 

Confirm your banking information 

Make sure your current information is up to date in the Finances section of SOLUS. Your banking information allows Queen’s to process any refunds directly into your bank account. Please note that Queen’s will not deduct payments directly from your bank account, and any awards will be deposited to your student account, not your bank account. 

If you are coming to Canada for the first time, you will have the opportunity to open a Canadian bank account and update your information after you arrive. 

Update your banking information

 

Access your RESP Verification of Enrolment form 

The Queen’s ‘Verification of Enrolment’ form allows you to withdraw money from your RESP. This form is available in your SOLUS account. All you have to do is download it and send it to your RESP provider. 

Learn more about RESP

 

Tuition and Fees

Check your student financial account often - whether you have a credit or an outstanding balance (e.g. tuition, ancillary fees, residence fees, transcript charges, overdue library fees) your up-to-date account balances are available online through the SOLUS Student Centre.

Check your Queen's will not send reminders or invoices for amounts, so it will be your responsibility to check your account regularly. 

 

Log Update your contact information in SOLUS

Please update your Fall 2024 address, phone number and emergency contact information in SOLUS. Watch for a link in your “To Do” list (on the top right of your SOLUS screen) for next steps.  

 

Check out Student Wellness Services

Student Wellness Servicescan support many of your physical, mental, and sexual health needs. 

 

Get your vaccinations! 

Queen's strongly encourages you to make sure all your immunizations are all up to date(see Student Wellness Services' information about immunizations andOntario’s routine immunization schedule) and that you are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and measles since it is on the rise globally.

The local public health unit is encouraging all students to get the 2-dose Meningococcal B vaccine. There have been cases of this rare but potentially life-threatening bacterial infection in Kingston, and post-secondary students are at an increased risk, as the illness is spread through saliva. Before arriving to campus, connect with your healthcare provider or local public health unit to review and get a copy of your immunization record. You may need this record if you visitStudent Wellness Services

For more information about vaccines in residence, visit the Queen's ResidencesFAQs

 

Review your supplementary health insurance plan

Queen's students are automatically enrolled into a supplementary health insurance plan that provides partial coverage for health, vision, dental, and travel. These plans are administered by Queen's student governments. Learn more about what is covered and how to submit claims.

If you are thinking about opting out of the supplementary health insurance plan, we encourage you to review your parent/supporter supplementary health insurance plans, if applicable, to see what is covered and how to submit claims. 

 

Fill and transfer your prescriptions 

If you currently take any prescription medications, contact the health care professional who prescribed them and see if it is appropriate to bring a 3-month supply of your medications with you to school. You can transfer your prescription to a local Kingston pharmacy (e.g.,DrugSmarton campus) and/orbook a medical appointmentat Student Wellness Services. 

 

Stay in touch with healthcare providers 

If you receive ongoing care for a physical and/or mental health problem, we suggest you stay in touch with these healthcare providers.  You could inquire if they can offer virtual care while you are away at school. 

 

Community specialists 

If you have a health condition that requires ongoing specialized health care in Kingston, ask your health care professional to send referrals to community specialists in the Kingston area. If assistance is needed with this process,Student Wellness Servicescan help.  

 

Check your Queen’s email for scholarship updates 

You will automatically be re-assessed for scholarship consideration once your final grades have been received. If your grades have increased since your offer of admission, your grades will be reviewed, and you will receive a notification via email and SOLUS in mid-August if you become eligible for a grades-based admission scholarship. 

Manage your finances in SOLUS 

Fall term tuition and Student Assistance Levy (SAL) as shown on your Account Summary in SOLUS must be paid by September 1, 2024. 

 

Complete the It Takes All Of Us online learning program

To ensure every first-year student is aware of an understands their role in helping to prevent sexual violence, you are required to complete the It Takes All Of Us online learning program before September 2

If you find completing the program online difficult due to personal circumstances, you'll be asked to complete a form to opt out.