Housing Options for Foreign Students Studying in Vancouver – Off Campus Communities

Studying in Canada? Off Campus or On Campus Housing Options

Canada is quickly becoming the preferred choice for obtaining a Western education, for students and their parents across the globe. One superb choice for living and studying are hotel style housing in Vancouver, Richmond and Burnaby.

Within a few years, some 450,000 students will be in Canada studying and many will want to immigrate to Canada permanently. This is what is building student housing investment. These educational programs for foreign students do provide a good source of new workers, badly needed in a small country.

However, what you’ll discover when you arrive here to check out cities such as Vancouver, is the severe shortage of student housing.  On campus or off campus, the issue of finding a place to live is a challenge. Some colleges such as Kwantlen Polytecnic, have no on campus housing for students.  Some of the housing solutions may or may not be for you depending on your financial resources and your tolerance for crowded living.

There are programs such as Homestay Canada who place students with homeowners who wish to offer a place in their homes for a monthly fee (e.g., $1000 per month). And there are private businesses who offer the same services. On campus solutions might include tiny units such as these units on the UBC campus, however these units renting at $700 per month could be difficult psychologically.

Screenshot Courtesy of the Nationalpost.com

Hosteling and Billeting in Vancouver

The hosteling or billeting opportunities represent a good deal of risk for both the Vancouver homeowner and the arriving foreign student. In some cases, a deposit or prepayment of a full year’s rental payments is required.

Sometimes these businesses run into financial problems and no longer can pay the homeowner. Without payment, the homeowner is no longer legally responsible for housing the foreign student. Many parents of the students fear their kids may end up homeless and in danger. That’s not a situation conducive to good study and high grades in class.

A better solution for anyone wishing to study in Canada, is a larger company with the financial resources to manage the student rental agreement well. A well financed company such as CIBT in Vancouver has $600 million in properties, much of it in Vancouver BC. CIBT has been operating student housing communities and services since 1994. They have the experience and the reputation that gives foreign parents and students the confidence they need to come to Canada and achieve their educational and life goals.

CIBT Serves Students in Vancouver Colleges and Universities

Colleges and Universities that welcome foreign students include UBC, Langara College, Kwantlen Polytecnic, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver Community College, and OMNI college. CIBT manages a number of educational services as well. You can learn more about CIBT and the student housing opportunities they can offer.

Learn more about CIBT’s properties include the Global Education Communities which have become very well known and in demand. While living in the GEC communities, students can socialize with those from their own country and learn to speak English better before embarking on post secondary programs. Their buildings are close to the skytrain and shopping and other conveniences you’re hoping for.

You’ll be Welcome in Canada

The education of foreign students is something most Canadians approve of and we enjoy hosting those from places such as Hong Kong, Dubai, Rio De Janeiro, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo and the world’s rising top cities.
If you’re planning for a Canadian education, Vancouver likely will be your first choice. It’s beautiful, modern, but expensive with limited housing availability.  The Vancouver housing forecast is for continued high prices and low availability of homes and condos which translates to very high prices.

Everyone wants to live in Vancouver so expect prices to be high.

This post is not intended as professional investment advice. Prospective investors should speak with a licensed investment advisor and review closely the prospectus of any student housing investment fund.

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