Once you’ve made the decision of where to study in Canada, the next step is to determine where you’re going to live. Luckily, students in Canada have a number of options when it comes to accommodation. Whether you’re staying on campus or living in a private residence, you will be able to find the right housing for you.
Main Types of Accommodation
Standard accommodation for international students falls into one of five typical options.
- Student Residence – Dormitories & Townhouses
Some schools provide student residence on-campus or nearby the campus. Dormitories are usually larger buildings housing many students, while townhouses are detached, housing usually three to six students.
Dormitories have common areas for entertainment, cooking, and exercise, as well as shared bathrooms and shower facilities. These dormitories sleep one or more person per room, and are managed directly by the school. Dormitories are often a suggested housing choice for first-year college and university students.
Townhouses usually contain three to six bedrooms with single occupancy rooms (no roommates) and a main floor containing kitchen and living room area. This style of accommodation is usually reserved for second – fourth-year university students and graduate students.
In both cases, these styles of accommodation may include a nearby cafeteria or food court where you can eat daily, or are situated in close proximity to eating establishments on or off-campus. Both options might include utilities such as heat, hot water, and internet, or offer them at a reduced fee.
- Off-Campus Shared Apartment or Condominium
Off-campus shared apartments provide students with a single room, in a living space with one or more other roommates. Like townhomes (above) they most often contain a single occupancy bedroom or living space and have a shared kitchen, bathroom, dining, and living room area.
Important: not all schools in Canada can assist in finding you off-campus housing. In these cases, schools may refer you to one or more agencies or expect you to do your own research and connect with the services in the surrounding community.
Rental costs for off-campus housing vary dramatically, especially in the larger cities of Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal.
- Host Family/Homestay
Living with a host family can provide you with a sense of home and security as you start your new life in Canada. Host families normally provide a private, single-occupancy room, and serve one – three meals per day and internet access.
A host family can also answer questions about the city, introduce you to Canadian culture and customs and share mealtimes with you. Shared accommodation may be an option, and also room-only options (without meals) may be possible. Students living in homestay accommodation should expect to travel 30 – 50 minutes by bus or train in order to reach the school. This is a normal commute time in Canada.
- Furnished or Unfurnished Apartment Rentals
There are many secure ways to find a temporary furnished apartment rental before your arrival in Canada by using websites such as Airbnb, Craigslist, HouseTrip or Wimdu. These apartments are normally furnished, private rentals. Be sure to read the reviews of each rental and check the feedback from other guests who have previously stayed there.
Renting an unfurnished apartment is also possible, but difficult to navigate for first-time international students to Canada.
Restricted items to bring to CANADA:
- Live birds and hatching eggs.
- Eggs, yolks, egg whites.
- Poultry meat (other than fully cooked, canned, commercially sterile meat products)
- Raw pet foods containing poultry products.
- Poultry manure and litter.
- Laboratory material containing poultry products/by-products.
Orientation Week
Welcome Week is your opportunity to make friends, learn more about studying at the university and living in the country. You will be invited to attend a number of events throughout Welcome Week – some of which are optional and others compulsory.
Opening a bank account
In order to open an account for international students, you need to show a photo ID, ideally, your passport, your student visa and proof of address, which can be any utility bill or most of the banks will accept a letter from your university’s admissions office confirming your address.