watch:
move-in day at ubc vancouver
follow new student rachel and experience what it’s like getting settled into life on campus.
find a place to live
where you live will shape your ubc experience – from who you meet to what you eat. learn more about our two distinct campuses and how to find your perfect home away from home, on campus or nearby.
choose a campus:
- vancouver
- okanagan
vancouver campus
watch:
what it's like to live in residence
make vancouver your home away from home. from a plethora of wonderful room options to convenient public transportation to flexible meal plans, there’s many reasons to consider living on campus.
campus
our flagship vancouver campus sits at the western tip of point grey, a little over 10 km from downtown vancouver, british columbia. enjoy the breathtaking nature right at your doorstep and the comforts of the nearby kitsilano community. or, hop on the 44 bus to experience all that downtown vancouver has to offer.
residences
as a first-year student, you will live in a shared room, a single room, or a single connected room. various villages throughout campus exist for first-years, including totem park, place vanier, and orchard commons.
meal plans
with your residence meal plan, enjoy a wide variety of options around campus. our three dining rooms serve fair-trade coffee, fresh fruit and vegetables from the ubc farm, and free-range meat and eggs. around campus you’ll find more than 45 food vendors and a growing number of food trucks, offering sushi, falafel, pub food, pizza, and much more.
fun and support
living on campus offers you a safe, supportive environment so you can pursue your academic goals and enjoy your time with your new friends. residence advisors – current ubc students – offer guidance for health and wellness programs, and plan fun activities for you to get involved.
what to expect
guaranteeing your spot
your place in residence is only guaranteed if:
- you are a first-year student who will graduate from high school in the current academic year;
- you submit your residence application for winter session housing by the may 1 deadline; and
- you accept ubc’s offer of admission by the date indicated in your letter of admission (but no later than june 1).
learn how to secure a spot in residence.
receiving your residence offer
your residence offer is different from your offer of admission to ubc. residence offers are sent by email between june and august, so keep an eye on your inbox. you will have a limited time – usually just one week – to accept and pay the deposit. next, you’ll receive your residence room assignment by email in mid-august.
costs
depending on your budget, find the perfect type of room and meal plan for you. we spread your payments out over the course of the eight-month academic year, making it easy to plan your monthly expenses.
how to secure a spot in residence
so you’ve decided you’d like to live on campus. what comes next?
1
determine your eligibility. the first thing you should do is make sure you qualify. living in residence is generally based on two factors: academic credit load and your age.
2
decide where you’d like to live. when applying, we’ll ask you to rank room preferences so we can match you up with the perfect room for you.
3
apply! we recommend that you submit your residence application as soon as you receive your offer of admission to ubc (and no later than may 1).
explore ubc vancouver
living off campus
if you choose to live off campus, you’ll be able to pick between a variety of different neighbourhoods, each with their own personalities and charm. ubc is served by 13 bus routes with connections to destinations throughout metro vancouver. as a full-time student, you’ll receive a translink u-pass that provides unlimited travel on bus, skytrain, and seabus, so you can get to your classes and around the city.
how to find off-campus housing
check out ubc student housing, or drop into the ams next and international house to check notice boards to find other students looking for roommates. if you have time to walk around local neighbourhoods, there are often vacancy signs posted on rental properties and houses close to campus.
on-campus spaces for commuter students
if you’re planning to commute to campus, you’re in good company – over 75% of our vancouver students bike, drive, or take transit to our campus for class. ubc collegia spaces exist as your home base here on campus. heat up your lunch, relax between classes, or talk to one of our friendly advisors.