Before you apply to residence, you must first apply to CBU and receive your acceptance letter. Once you’ve received your acceptance letter and CBU email address, you can apply for residence. The application for residence is available here. To login, your username is the beginning of your assigned CBU email address (i.e. cbu14abc) and your password is your date of birth (yy/mm/dd). Students must apply online for residence.
Before you can receive a CBU email address, you must apply and receive your acceptance letter to CBU. Once you’ve been accepted, your CBU email address will be provided to you via your acceptance letter. If you have not received your CBU email address, please contact our IT department by emailing helpdesk@cbu.ca.
There is no deadline for applications. However, the earlier you apply and pay your $700 confirmation fee, the better chance you have of getting the room you want.
Once you have completed your online application, you will receive an e-mailed offer letter from the residence manager. The letter will provide you with information about residence and “next steps” for payment. You will not receive your room assignment at this time. Later, you will receive a separate email that will include your room assignment. This will tell you where you are living and also provide you with information of payment methods. The first round of room assignments are sent out in mid-June.
Your residence fees will depend on the type of room that you are assigned. Please note: students living in dorm rooms are required to purchase a full meal plan. Students living in apartments are required to purchase a $300.00 meal plan. All residence and meal plan fees can be found by on the residence and dining fees page.
Residence typically opens at the beginning of September. Specific move-in days will be outlined along with other orientation information, and sent via e-mail. The date given will always be the earliest date students are able to move in.
Requests for additional time outside the regular academic year will be evaluated on an individual basis and must be made to the Residence Manager. Payment for extra days can be arranged at that time.
While our returning students are given the first choice of rooms, roommates and apartments, new students’ assignments are chosen by the Residence Manager according to their Star Rez application.
The intramural program takes place in the Sullivan Field House and includes basketball, softball, volleyball, tennis, track and field and other sports. The Field House is a multi-court gymnasium and is open several hours each day for student use. Students also have access to a fully equipped fitness centre, located in the Cape Breton Health and Wellness Complex. Full-time students receive free memberships to the fitness centre. There are fitness classes that offer yoga, spinning, toning and more. Students are also able to rent the soccer dome for indoor soccer or use the walking/running track surrounding our outdoor field.
Toasters and hot plates are prohibited in dorms, and are only allowed in apartment-style residences. Pets are not allowed in residence, with the exception of small fish tanks (ex: fish bowls). Candles are prohibited from both dorms and apartments. You are welcome to bring a fridge, microwave and electric kettle with you.
The Cape Breton Regional Municipality has buses to help you get around. With a bus stop located just outside of Subway at the Canada Games Complex (about a 2 minute walk from residence), public transportation to and from residence and campus is very convenient. Transit fare is $2 for students, or you can purchase an unlimited monthly pass for $60 at the Students’ Union building. Check out the CBRM bus schedule.
Each residence building has multiple Resident Assistants (RA) along with a Lead RA. RAs are upper-year CBU students that live in residence and are responsible for supervising and assisting other students in residence. They complete a full week of training each year that includes First Aid, Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST), Mental Health First Aid, Bystander Intervention Training and Sexual Assault Training. Contact information for your RAs will be posted in your building’s lobby. They will also greet you on Move-In Day. Don’t hesitate to contact them if you have any questions throughout the academic year.
The House Council enhances the residence experience by creating a strong community on the floors. The House Council facilitates social learning and development through floor and residence-wide programing. They ensure that residence students are well informed on issues that affect them, help develop a sense of pride for those living on campus, develop a friendly rivalry and help plan great events! Each building has a house color and a mascot: The Harriss Hall Hawks wear blue, the Cabot Coyotes wear Green and the Alumni bears wear purple! Be on the lookout for shirts being sold around campus! Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter and Instagram (@CBUHouseCouncil), and like us on Facebook to keep up to date with events!