Ready to cheer? Move-in weekend is here!  

Welcome Week reps in their colourful jumpsuits help a family unload a student's belongings outside University Hall during move-in weekend 2022.

Talk about a moving experience: Hundreds of upper-year student representatives will cheer, greet and help more than 4,000 incoming students and family members as they arrive on campus to start a whole new phase of their lives. 


More than 4,000 first-year McMaster students and their families will be welcomed with deafening cheers from helpful student reps on Aug. 26 and 27 as they arrive at their new home on campus for Undergraduate Move-in 2023.

If you are on campus, please plan for an increase in foot and vehicle traffic over move-in weekend. Housing and Conference Services has partnered with Parking Services to make the event as smooth as possible.

“Move-in is one of my favourite times at McMaster,” says Sean Van Koughnett, associate vice-president (Students and Learning) and dean of students. “There is so much energy and optimism in the air.

“It’s an emotional moment for our students and their loved ones, and it’s an important time for us to ensure that every student feels like Mac is a place where they belong.”

Housing and Conference Services will continue to run live chat support during move-in, as well as in-person assistance in the field between Whidden and Edwards halls. Students and parents can also take photos in that space to commemorate the occasion.

Information for staff on campus on Saturday Aug. 26 

University employees who need to access McMaster via the Sterling Street entrance should avoid the large volume of traffic moving north to south through campus.

  • Employees typically accessing Lot G, H or Q will be assigned an alternate location by parking services.
  • Any pick-ups or deliveries on campus should use an alternate location away from residence move-in activity.
  • Employees are asked not to park in Lot D, Lot E, Lot G, Lot H and Lot Q on Saturday.

Information for staff on campus on Sunday Aug. 27

Staff who usually access McMaster via the intersection at Main Street West are encouraged to enter on the east side of campus, on the Westdale side, because of the higher than usual volume of traffic entering campus via University Avenue.

  • Employees typically accessing Lot G, H or Q will be assigned an alternate location by parking services.
  • A shuttle bus will be available on Sunday from Lot M to Mary Keyes Residence.
  • Employees are asked not to park in Lot D, Lot G, Lot H, Lot I or Lot Q on Sunday.

For a detailed view of campus, please view the parking lot map on Parking Service’s website.

For additional move-in weekend information, please visit the Move-In Week page.

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