Furnished Student Apartments Near University of Guelph: The Complete Guide to ALMA @ Guelph

ALMA @ Guelph at 601 Scottsdale Drive offers fully furnished, all-inclusive student apartments near University of Guelph. Suites include studio and 2-bedroom options from C$1,765/month, with utilities and internet included. Amenities include a fitness centre, private study rooms, meeting rooms, commercial kitchen, and games room. This guide covers everything: floor plans, pricing, location, and who it’s right for.

If you’ve been researching student housing near the University of Guelph, you’ve likely noticed the options fall into two broad categories: the standard private rental market — shared houses, unfurnished apartments, and listings of varying quality — and purpose-built student residences designed specifically for university life.

This guide covers the second category in detail. Specifically, ALMA @ Guelph — what it is, who it’s built for, what’s included, and how to decide whether it’s the right fit for where you are in your U of G journey.

What Is ALMA @ Guelph?

ALMA @ Guelph is a purpose-built student housing community at 601 Scottsdale Drive, Guelph, ON N1G 3E7. It is managed by ALMA Student Living, a student housing operator focused on what they describe as hotel-like student communities: professionally managed, fully furnished, and designed around how students actually live. The building sits in Guelph’s south end, steps from Stone Road Mall and close to Guelph Transit bus routes connecting to U of G’s main campus.

Who Is ALMA @ Guelph Right For?

First-year students who did not get university residence

U of G’s first-year residence waiting list exceeded 1,200 students in 2024. Students in that position need a reliable alternative quickly. ALMA provides professional management, all-inclusive pricing, and a community of other students — a strong first move when on-campus residence doesn’t come through.

Upper-year students upgrading from the private rental market

Many U of G students start in shared rental houses and discover the reality: unpredictable landlords, utility bills that were not budgeted, and houses that were not built for studying. ALMA is where students go when they’ve had that experience and decided to do better.

Graduate students and co-op students

Grad students typically prioritise quiet, reliability, and convenience. Co-op students doing work terms in or near Guelph often want furnished accommodation for a defined period without negotiating a full 12-month lease. ALMA’s setup is well-suited to both.

International students

Arriving in Canada to find an unfurnished apartment you have never seen in a city you have never lived in is genuinely hard. ALMA removes most of those complications. You arrive. The suite is furnished and ready. Internet works. You focus on orientation and your first set of classes.

What Suite Options Are Available at ALMA @ Guelph?

Studio Apartment — from C$1,765/month

A fully furnished studio with a private bathroom and a dry bar complete with mini fridge and microwave. Self-contained and private — your own space from the moment you arrive.

Studio with Balcony

The same private studio layout with the addition of outdoor balcony space. Ideal for students who want fresh air and a little more room to breathe.

2-Bedroom Suite

A fully furnished two-bedroom suite for two students to share. The living room and kitchen are shared; both bedrooms are private. The most cost-effective way to live at ALMA — split the all-inclusive rate with a friend while each retaining a private space to study and sleep.

All suites are fully furnished. Utilities and high-speed internet are included in the all-inclusive monthly rate. There are no additional line items.

What Amenities Does ALMA @ Guelph Include?

Fitness and wellness

• Fully equipped fitness centre inside the building — free for all residents, no membership required
• Bike storage for sustainable commuting to campus

Study and productivity

• Private study rooms for focused individual work
• Meeting rooms fully equipped with AV functionality for group project preparation and presentations
• Open lobby and atrium with natural light designed for casual collaboration

Food and social life

• Commercial-grade kitchen on the main floor for cooking properly
• Games room with retro arcade machines, ping pong, foosball, and PlayStation 5 on a big-screen TV

Community programming

ALMA hosts monthly social events — board game nights, seasonal gatherings, and more. These are what transform a building into a community, and a community into the social infrastructure that makes university memorable.

Where Is ALMA @ Guelph Located, and How Do You Get to Campus?

ALMA @ Guelph is at 601 Scottsdale Drive, Guelph, ON N1G 3E7 — in the city’s south end. From here:

• Campus: Accessible via Guelph Transit bus routes to U of G’s main campus on Stone Road. Students who cycle have an even more direct commute — the building’s bike storage is built for exactly that use.
• Day-to-day: Steps from Stone Road Mall — grocery stores, restaurants, pharmacies, and services are within easy walking distance. No car required for daily essentials.
• Toronto: GO Transit provides rail and bus connections to Toronto. Pearson International Airport is approximately one hour away — important for international students and co-op students travelling for work placements or interviews.

How Does ALMA @ Guelph Compare on Cost to the Private Rental Market?

The honest comparison starts with the full cost of the Guelph rental market. Current market averages:

• Shared house room: $850 – $1,000/month, utilities not included
• One-bedroom apartment: ~$2,095/month, utilities not included
• Utilities (electricity, heat, internet): $100 – $150/month additional

ALMA’s all-inclusive pricing means utilities and high-speed internet are covered in your monthly rate. You are also not paying furniture costs for an unfurnished unit, or absorbing the time and stress cost of the search itself.

The right comparison is not ALMA vs. the cheapest room you can find. It is ALMA vs. the total cost — financial, logistical, and personal — of navigating Guelph’s rental market while carrying a full academic load.

Frequently Asked Questions: ALMA @ Guelph

Is ALMA @ Guelph only for first-year students?

No. ALMA is designed for all stages of university life — first-years, upper-year students, graduate students, and co-op students. The community benefits from having students at different points in their U of G journey.

Are the apartments genuinely fully furnished?

Yes. The studio includes a private bathroom and dry bar with mini fridge and microwave. The 2-bedroom suite includes a furnished living room, kitchen, and private furnished bedrooms. You arrive with your personal belongings and move straight in.

What does all-inclusive pricing cover at ALMA @ Guelph?

All-inclusive pricing at ALMA @ Guelph covers utilities — electricity, heat, water — and high-speed internet. You manage one payment per month with no separate bill accounts to set up.

When is the best time to apply for a suite at ALMA @ Guelph?

Now. Guelph’s student housing market moves on a February–March timeline for September availability. Suites at ALMA are leased months in advance. Waiting until late spring means choosing from what’s left.

The Bottom Line on ALMA @ Guelph

ALMA @ Guelph is purpose-built student housing that removes the friction from off-campus living in one of Canada’s most competitive student rental markets. Fully furnished suites, all-inclusive pricing, professional management, and a community built around the actual rhythms of university life.

In a market where quality housing is scarce and decisions need to be made early, knowing exactly what you’re getting — and securing it before the market tightens — is the move that sets your entire U of G experience up right.