Now that you’ve accepted your offer to UBC, it’s time to start thinking about what your first year will look like. An important decision to make about your first year is where you will live. Will you live on campus, off campus, or commute from home? Where you live will shape your UBC experience, from who you meet, to where you hang out, to what you eat.
Here are some tips and advice from students on choosing where to live.
Tips for choosing where to live as a first-year student
There are so many opportunities to meet people at UBC, no matter where you decide to live.
“I always wanted to live on campus during my first year at UBC, so first-year residence was a super exciting opportunity for me! I met many of my university friends in Place Vanier residence and really appreciated the social atmosphere there, having just moved away from home. However, I have many friends who love living off campus with their family or their friends. They enjoy having some separation between school life and their downtime. So, I’d say it is important to reflect on what you’re looking for and remember that there are so many opportunities to meet people at UBC, no matter where you decide to live.”
– Marleigh M., fifth year Philosophy student
If you’re looking for an easy way to meet people, live in first-year residence.
“I always recommend anyone who has the means to live in first-year housing, rather than commute from home or live off-campus. The community experience allowed me to make friends easily due to our proximity, and this set me up well for the rest of my time at UBC. Some of my favourite UBC memories are centered around first-year residence and the spontaneity of being able to make plans with my friends that lived down the hall from me. For anyone looking for an easy and accessible way to meet many people, living in first-year residence was how I was able to do so.”
– Jessica J., fourth year Political Science student
Watch dorm tours on YouTube.
“I watched so many dorm tours on YouTube! Many of them are for upper year housing and may be outdated, but I found them helpful in giving me a sense of dorm life and considerations. They also just made me so excited to move in and to experience life at UBC!”
– Emiko W. fifth year Engineering Physics and Honours Human Geography student
Every residence has its own vibe, communities, and opportunities to get involved.
“First-year housing is guaranteed for all incoming UBC students as long as you apply before the deadline and are coming straight from high school, and living on campus is an amazing way to meet people and feel part of the university community. While you can not really choose your specific residence, you can definitely put down your preferences. Every residence has its own vibe, communities, and opportunities to get involved. If commuting is a better fit for you, that is completely okay too! Keep an open mind, UBC Housing will try to make sure you have a great place to start your journey!”
– Nusaibah H., fourth year Economics and Statistics student
It’s valid to want to explore the city more, to want to live at home, or to choose to live somewhere other than first-year residence in your first year.
“Living in first-year residence felt like the ‘obvious’ choice for me: I knew I wanted to immerse myself in on-campus life at UBC as much as possible, and felt that living in residence would help me handle the adjustment to university life. Plus, as an out-of-province student who had never been to Vancouver, the extra convenience of living on-campus and having access to residence resources, like Residence Advisors and the Front Desk and Overnight Mobile Team, had a significant impact on my decision. But, this isn’t the case for everyone, and my friends have shared many reasons why they choose to live on- or off-campus, depending on their own circumstances, whether personal, financial, etc. It’s totally valid to want to explore the city more, to want to live at home, or to choose to live somewhere other than first-year residence in your first year, and that’s a perspective I think is sometimes missed!”
– Emma M-R., Sociology + Master of Management dual degree student
Live on campus and, if not, take advantage of collegia to meet people.
“For local students who have the option to do so, I really do recommend living on campus, especially for first year. It makes the process of building a community and meeting people one less thing to worry about, as this happens fairly naturally in first-year residences. However, if you do choose to live off-campus or in private housing, be sure to take advantage of the collegia program that’s meant to replicate the first year experience as closely as possible.”
– Lori K., third year International Economics student
Look at the campus layout.
“I chose Rits because it sounded more private, but if I could go back, I’d look at the actual campus layout more closely, like where your classes will be. I’d also think about how much social time happens in the dining hall. When things get busy during the term, mealtime becomes your time to catch up and meet people. If you live in places like Walter Gage or Rits, you won’t have a mandatory meal plan, so keep that in mind.
Shared rooms sound intimidating, but my best friend had a roommate in first year and now we’re all one big friend group. And yes, people do make friends in communal washrooms, it’s not just a rumour, I promise! So be open-minded here too, you might be surprised at how community forms in unexpected places.”
– Zaina A., fourth year Honours Psychology student
Use the first-year cost estimator.
“Consider cost. It’s important to think about what the costs might look like for you. The First-Year Cost Calculator is a great resource to help you plan.
Think about balance. Do you want to live in the same place where you study, like on campus, or would you prefer some separation? Living on campus can make it easier to get to class, while living off campus can give you more space to step away from academics at the end of the day.
Remember there’s no ‘wrong’ choice. No matter where you live, you can always find a sense of community, whether it’s through Collegia, residence events, or clubs.”
– Samuella O., fourth year Biology student