University of British Columbia has two campuses located in Vancouver and Okanagan with a wide variety of residential options for students, their family, faculty and campus staff. Apart from the residence guarantee there is a Meal Plan guarantee too and in some residence options like Orchard Commons and Place Vanier the meal plans are mandatory. The University of British Columbia offers Winter residence, Year-round residence, summer residence, Visitor housing and Commuter Student Hostel along with Academic accommodations to help students laboring under a disability or a medical condition.

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The residences feature studios, suites, apartments, shared spaces featuring one to four bedrooms to study in UK. These rooms are offered for a Winter session and on a terminal basis for 2 terms a year when the first term lasts between September 2 to December 23 and second term lasts between January 7 to April 28.

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The cost of living for Vancouver campus of UBC visitor housing ranges between CAD 70 – 279/night, Campus housing costs between CAD 935 to 2,250/month, and Winter Residence costs around CAD 5,000 – 17,000 while the Summer Residence has a cost of CAD 30 to 50 per night. This student accommodation in British Columbia also offers Student Family Residence at CAD 1,300 to 2,200 per month and Commuter Student Hostel at CAD 69 per night. The Okanagan Campus of UBC offers housing communities like Monashee Place, Similkameen and Cascades featuring single & shared bedrooms along with studios costing between CAD 3,000 – 12,000.

University of British Columbia On Campus Accommodation

The Vancouver Campus of University of British Columbia offers student accommodation in UK options for people visiting the campus and short-term housing rentals from mid-May to late August. UBC houses more than 13,000 students in 15 student housing near UBC Vancouver

  • Acadia Park
  • Brock Commons
  • Exchange
  • Fairview Crescent
  • Fraser Hall
  • Green College
  • Iona House
  • Marine Drive
  • Orchard Commons
  • Place Vanier
  • Ponderosa Commons
  • St. John’s College
  • Ritsumeikan-UBC House
  • Thunderbird
  • Totem Park
  • Walter Gage

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The details of accommodation at University of British Columbia Vancouver campus are given in the table:

Community Room Type Cost (CAD)
Campus Housing
Panhellenic House Apartment with private bedrooms Shared living space for females 935/month
Carey Centre Long- and short-term accommodation with private bathroom and meal plan 13,960
St. Andrew Hall Co-ed Quad Apartment Studio One Bedroom apartment Two Bedroom apartment Townhouse 1,093/month
1,410/month
1,592/month
2,450/month
2,250/month
MBA House For Graduate Students (both singles and couples) 1,155/month (single unit)
1,370/month (double unit)
Winter Session Residence Images
Fairview Crescent Single Room (Small, Medium, and Large shared units) and One Bedroom 860–1,519/month
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Orchard Commons Shared Room, Single Room, One Bedroom Apartment (Meal Plan included) 845–1,123/month

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Place Vanie Shared and Single rooms Meal plan included 681–876/month

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Ponderosa Commons Shared rooms for four and two persons along with Studio (Small to Large) 965–1,448/month

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Ritsumeikan–UBC House Single Room and One Bedroom 941–1,486/month
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Totem Park[19] Shared room, Single rooms, and One Bedroom Apartments Meal Plan included 10,898 – 12,237 (Winter Session)
5,530 – 6,118 (September 2 – December 23)
5,418 – 6,118 (January 7 – April 28)

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Year-Round Residence
Brock Commons Tallwood House One bedroom, Studio and Shared Four bedrooms 1,134–1,768/month

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Exchange Nano Suite, Studio, One Bedroom, Shared 2 & 4 Bedrooms 823–1,690/month
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Fraser Hall Six Bedroom 953/month
Iona House Studio, One Bedroom and Shared Two Bedrooms 1,078–1,617/month alt tags
Marine Drive Studio and shared two to four person rooms 1,059–1,385/mont

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Thunderbird Studio and one, two and four bedrooms 935 – 1,504/month

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Student Family Residence
Acadia Park Studio and One to Four bedrooms 1,306–2,228/month

Visitor Housing
Triumf House[1] Deluxe Queen Room Kitchenette Studio One Bedroom Suite Standard Queen Room Standard Twin Room 151.2/night
178.2/night
226.8/night
140.4/night
145.8/night
West Coast Suites[2] Suite From 279/night
Gage Suites[3] Studio Signature Studio One Bedroom Studio From 219/night
Pacific Spirit Hostel[4] Single Room Twin Room From 70/night

University of British Columbia is one of the best universities in UK for international students. Summer Residence is offered in UBC where the fees have to be paid all at once if the student stays for 60 days and in two installments for a stay upwards of 61 days. The Summer student housing Vancouver UBC has a minimum stay of 30 days and is offered at Fairview Crescent and Ponderosa commons (Cedar House) with a daily rate of CAD 30 to 52.

UBC, Vancouver also offers Commuter Student Hostel facilities during Winter sessions which can be booked by the online reservation system using a Credit Card. The room can be booked for 2 nights in a seven-day period and costs around CAD 69 per night and the booking should be made 24 hours in advance. The university of British Columbia student accommodation aren’t available for Mid-term Breaks, Winter Breaks and Sunday evenings (except during exam). One can avail the overnight parking services at an additional CAD 18 per night which is valid from 4 pm to 11 am which is the check in and check out time respectively.

Off-Campus Housing

University of British Columbia is located in one of the top cities in UK for international students. Off-campus housing at UBC can be found via online rental resources like UBC Roommates Group on Facebook, Craigslist, Rentsline and Off-campus Housing 101 etc. Off campus housing might seem cheaper but utilities like water and internet needs to be paid separately. The rental housing costs are given in the table below:

Housing Type Average Rent (CAD)
Bachelor/Studio 1,419
One Bedroom 1,629
Two Bedroom 2,272
Three Bedroom 3,059

University of British Columbia Accommodation Application

The Undergraduate students who have qualified for guaranteed housing will be able to apply for the university of British Columbia student housing in either of the two ways:

  • While applying for UBC, the option of residence application will be made available.
  • A direct application to Student Housing and Community Services before May 1.

It is advisable to apply well before the deadlines because the residence might not be available by the time students finally get to their designated UBC campus.

FAQs

Ques. Can all access dining plans of UBC be used anywhere on campus?

Ans. No, the All-Access Dining Plan is limited to be used in Residence halls only and these Meal Plans are mandatory for residents at Place Vanier, Orchard Commons and Totem Park

Ques. What are academic accommodations at UBC?

Ans. Academic accommodations at UBC is offered to help students with a disability and ongoing medical condition

Ques. Who can avail housing at UBC?

Ans. UBC offers comprehensive accommodations ranging from housing within the campus to housing on UBC lands available for students, faculty, campus staff and local businesses alike.

Ques. How does UBC accommodate students with disabilities?

Ans. The eligibility standards of students for disability accommodation are decided as per the Accommodation policy for disabled students.

Ques. How to get off-campus housing at University of British Columbia?

Ans. There are a lot of rental listings available within UBC campus itself under Wesbrook properties which are located on UBC land endowments. Apart from that, students can take the help of online resources like UBC Roommates Facebook group, Craigslist etc.

Ques. When can I apply for UBC residence?

Application dates vary depending on your year of study. These rooms are offered for a Winter session and on a terminal basis for 2 terms a year where the first term lasts between September 2 to December 23 and second term lasts between January 7 to April 28.

Ques. What is the cost of UBC residence?

Residence fees vary depending on the room type, meal plan (if applicable), and campus location. The cost varies from CAD 14,000 per year to CAD 20,000.

Ques. Is there a meal plan available?

Yes, there are meal plans available for students at University of British Columbia. Some residences offer meal plans which are mandatory, while others have shared kitchens for self-catering.

Ques. How do I apply for UBC residence?

You can apply for UBC Residence online from the website. While applying for UBC, the option of residence application will be made available. You can select that and apply. You can also submit a direct application to Student Housing and Community Services before May 1.

Ques. What are the factors considered during room selection?

Room selection is based on your application date, program, and preferences (e.g., roommate matching, gender-inclusive housing). You must also check if they provide a meal plan and if it is included.

Ques. Can I request a specific roommate?

Yes, you can indicate roommate preferences during your application. It is not guaranteed that your request can be met because the rooms depend on availability. However, the department can check your request and look into it.

Ques. What happens if I don't get my preferred residence?

If you do not get your preferred residence, you might be assigned some other similar residence. However, if your application is unsuccessful, you may be placed on a waitlist or offered alternative housing options.

Ques. What furniture is included in my room?

The furnishings vary depending on the residence type. Most rooms come with a bed, desk, chair, and closet space. Some buildings have attached kitchens with utensils and all other things required.

Ques. What amenities are offered in the residences?

Amenities vary by residence but may include laundry facilities, common rooms, study spaces, and recreational facilities. You can also get residence halls with parking, WiFi, hot and cold water and other amenities like TV, washing machine.

Ques. Are guests allowed in residence?

Yes, guests are allowed in the residence. There is a separate residence where guests can stay. Guest policies vary by residence. You can check with your specific residence for details.

Ques. What are the rules and regulations for living in residence?

There are many rules and regulations that need to be followed. All residents must adhere to a community living agreement outlining noise restrictions, guest policies, and other expectations. You will be scared of the rules once your accommodation is confirmed.

Ques. Is internet access included in residence fees?

Yes, internet access is included in most UBC residences. The residence has a WiFi connection which you can use when required. This is included in the monthly fees of UBC accommodation.