Before one is admitted to a Canadian college or university, students in that nation begin worrying about housing. It might not be easy to go to a new nation without knowing much about the accommodations you'll have. Even for Indians, it might be difficult to get housing even though many people from their nation are in Canada.
Well, don't worry! There are fewer chances that a house will be available on campus if you are enrolled in a college or language programme. You'll need to seek off-campus lodging in that situation. You could even be able to locate on-campus lodging in the nation as an overseas student. Prospective international students have a variety of possibilities in Canada. If you are applying for masters such as MiM and MBA in Canada then on campus housing can be ideal.
Go to the office for international students studying in Canada to begin looking for accommodation. You may also look for information on the institution's or university's website. You might utilise this knowledge to help you make informed decisions.
Finding housing before arriving at the university of their choice is frequently the first thing on the to-do list of every international student. Finding a home that fulfils your needs, is within your budget, and is close to the school could seem hard if you don't know where to search. This article will outline four housing options for international students coming to Canada and how to begin looking for the perfect residence.
International students who want to study in Canada shortly may discover that their options for on-campus accommodation are more constrained than in past years due to the COVID-19 epidemic. Fortunately, if you know where to search, there are many different accommodation possibilities for international students.
What is the monthly rent for students in Canada?
How much you can afford to pay each month is the first choice you must make while choosing lodgings. The biggest cities in Canada, such as Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal, have higher average rental prices than smaller cities and villages. In a shared living situation, a fair starting point for rental costs is between $700 and CAD 1,000 per
month per room (apartment, house, or student housing). Depending on where you reside, you might anticipate paying over CAD 1,200 a month for a studio or one-bedroom apartment if you want to live alone. Don't forget to include utilities, transportation, food, and furnishings in your budget because they may increase this expense.
Where should I look for off-campus housing?
You may start your apartment or room search on Padmapper, Rentals.ca, Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, Kijiji, and many other smaller rental websites. With a Facebook search (e.g., "Student housing at the Institution of Toronto") or by contacting the office for foreign students at your university, you might also be able to locate Facebook groups devoted to student housing at certain universities. If you have friends or relatives who already reside in the vicinity of your school, they might be able to connect you with someone who has a home available and is looking for a roommate.
Planning your commute
When selecting an off-campus residence, location and accessibility are crucial considerations. You may bike, drive, take public transportation, or walk to the campus. Consider that your commute times can lengthen due to bad weather if your area has a lot of rain or snow throughout the winter. Students who live in major cities often travel between ten minutes and an hour; if your trip starts to look like it will take more than an hour, you might want to consider moving closer to school.
Consider scheduling your classes around this area of your life if you anticipate having a lengthier commute in order to maximise your study time. Instead of going to school daily, many commuting students arrange all of their classes for a few days during the week.
Types of accommodation in Canada for international students
Dormitories or condominiums
The option of living in residence is available to students. One of the top choices for lodging in Canada for Indian students is this. These are housing options provided by schools or universities on or occasionally close to the campus. Most of the time, dorm rooms are spacious and may house many students. For three to five students, condominiums are often smaller separate residences.
Students who are used to the nation and its lifestyle choose to stay in condominiums. First-year students choose the university-run dorms supervised by that institution (of college or university). In a condominium, there can be up to six single-capacity bedrooms. Most of the main level is devoted to the kitchen and living space.
There is a cafeteria or food court at both lodgings. Hot water and internet are among the other amenities.
Students can take advantage of the advantages of living on campus, including access to the library and campus and a simpler adjustment to dorm life. Living on campus might be preferable to locating lodgings off campus if you are studying in Canada for one or two semesters. Each guest room will provide a bed, bookcases, and desk. The option of adding a food plan is frequently included in the cost of living in residence.
Shared Apartments (off-campus)
The price of off-campus living may vary depending on your dietary needs and would be between CAD 700 and CAD 1,000 per month.
Townhouses resemble communal off-campus housing. The living room, kitchen, bathroom, and eating area are communal, but you will have a single-occupancy room. You can share a room with one or more people or live alone. You can check out amber student for that.
Not all Canadian colleges assist students in finding off-campus accommodation, and it is important to know. However, they could suggest other organisations to you to assist you in finding housing. The cost of renting a vehicle might vary from city to city.
Homestay
Students who wish to experience living with a family opt for homestays. If you choose this option, you will receive a private room and three meals each day. Additionally, you learn about Canadian culture. Additionally, it is safer than the alternatives because the family that resides there can assist you whenever you need it.
But most colleges and universities are situated distant from populated regions. As a result, daily travel time should be in the range of 30 to 50 minutes.
Apartment on rent
These individual apartments are nicely equipped. Before you travel to Canada, you may reserve one of these apartments online.
However, both on-campus and off-campus housing have advantages and disadvantages. For instance, living on campus puts you closer to your classes, and campus amenities give you access to the international student community, offer round-the-clock housing assistance, and include utilities and food in the rent. If you select off-campus housing, you may pick the area, have more freedom, pick your housemates, hunt for less expensive housing, and get to know Canadian culture.
In Canada, the price of on-campus housing, including meals for eight months, ranges from CAD 6,000 to CAD 16,000 (USD 6,200 to USD 16,200). The price, nevertheless, is determined by the university.
If you want to live off-campus in Canada, especially in a homestay, you could expect to pay between 700 and 2200 CAD per month. It depends on the accommodation's size and location.
How to find accommodation in Canada for students?
Finding housing might be difficult if you haven't arrived in Canada yet and don't have access to someone who can assist you. Many businesses assist in finding accommodations in advance. The many sorts of accommodations available in Canada have previously been covered. While some homes are divided into sections, others are completely rented out. Here are some suggestions for helping students locate housing in Canada.
Ask about the amenities.
It would be best if you found out about the amenities offered by your housing provider before deciding to rent accommodation. They should provide hot water, television, internet, and other amenities.
Ensuring the food is safe.
If you intend to stay on campus, you must be aware of the meals and choose the food plan. You must make payment in advance.
Specialised services for disabled pupils
Inform the college or university if you have a handicap and require special assistance. There are locations created with persons with particular needs in mind.
Getting to school early might be helpful.
You will have more time to get familiar with school life the earlier you arrive. Additionally, because most institutions operate on a first-come, first-served basis, arriving early and securing housing for yourself is important.
Although it might be challenging, finding housing for an international student in Canada is not impossible. However, it might be beneficial to conduct some studies before making a choice.
Do students from other countries have to live on campus?
International students are not required to reside on campus if their particular programme does not offer accommodation. According to the rules of your university, you could, as an international student, have preferential access to on-campus housing.
What kind of accommodation is offered on-campus?
Larger institutions typically provide a variety of student housing options immediately on campus. Dorm-style dormitories with shared facilities, including restrooms, dining rooms, and common spaces, are typical of first-year housing. Additionally, several institutions feature one to four-bedroom apartments and townhouses that are usually only available to upper-year students. To find out what kinds of accommodation will be offered for the upcoming year, visit the housing page for your university.
What is the typical price for accommodation on campus?
Let's say you have an eight-month housing and dining plan on campus. The price might range from CAD 6,000(smaller colleges like St. Francis Xavier) to CAD 14,000 (University of British Columbia) or CAD 16,000 in that scenario (University of Toronto). To verify how much on-campus housing will cost, check with your university.
When should I submit my application for on-campus housing?
On-campus accommodation is very popular at various institutions due to its convenient location. Contact the student housing office at your institution as soon as you receive your admission letter to find out how to apply. You may need to pay an application fee.
Benefits of on-campus housing for international students
- Close to the school
- Nearby campus facilities (libraries, gyms, etc.)
- Concentrated community of overseas students
- Utilities and food are included in the average rental cost.
- In most colleges, there is 24-hour support for student housing.
Off-campus housing in apartments, houses, and more
You could decide to live off-campus to have additional housing options, save money, or for personal reasons. Living off-campus allows you to see the city outside your university's campus life. If you are getting education loan in Canada then you can also get the amount for housing.
The most typical off-campus housing options include one-bedroom flats, sharing apartments, and shared homes. Students often sign a one-year lease covering the summer session in either May or September. Depending on your province, you could be required to pay a security deposit (half a month's rent that you will get returned after your lease, provided the property hasn't been harmed) or your first or final month's rent when you sign your lease.
The listed rental price could not include additional expenses. Before you sign the lease, find out if utilities (such as heating, water, electricity, wifi), furnishings, parking fees, or other expenditures are included in preparing a budget.
Living in a homestay with a host family
How do homestays work?
In a homestay, which is a different kind of off-campus renting, a student might reside in the home of a host family. A typical day includes 1-3 meals, and you could find it useful to have your host family show you about the city and help you feel more at home while you're away at school. Although they can be a little more expensive, homestays provide you more time to focus on academics because much of the cooking and cleaning is done for you.
Where to locate a location for a homestay
Since the host families in these homestay networks must meet certain requirements, you may feel comfortable and secure in your placement and get help whenever you need it:
Homestay Network of Canada
YES, HomeStay In Canada-based host
What is the price of a homestay in Canada?
According to the Canada Homestay Network, a homestay will cost between $600 and $1000 CAD a month, depending on how many meals and extras are included. Instead of being billed monthly, you can be billed by night.
Service hours are traded for lodging.
Some overseas students arrange with a family to provide a service (such as babysitting, cleaning, caring for pets, or other labour around the house) for free lodging and board, similar to a homestay. You may find this kind of arrangement on classified websites like Kijiji or Craigslist. You could have an official written contract or an informal, verbal agreement. As with contacting any online ad, proceed with care and attempt to set up a face-to-face or video conference with your host before moving in.
Short-term furnished rentals
A short-term rental is what?
Compared to long-term apartment rentals, short-term rentals are available for shorter periods (anywhere from a few days to a full four-month semester).
Where can I discover furnished short-term rentals?
Numerous well-known rental websites list short-term rentals, including Airbnb, Vrbo, Sublet.com, Kijiji, and many more. On many short-term rental websites, you can read customer reviews to confirm that they are accurate. As with any internet listing, proceed with care. For masters in management in Canada these rentals are perfect.
How to benefit from short-term rentals as an international student?
You can use short-term furnished rentals to locate a place to stay while you look for a new place if you haven't been able to secure long-term housing for the academic year. Get a short-term rental in or close to the area you intend to eventually call home to get a feel for its layout, businesses, and transit alternatives.
Now that you have the resources to discover your university home away from home, whether you want to live on- or off-campus. If you can locate the perfect spot, living alone may be a wonderful experience. Once you've established your monthly spending limit, several options are available to fit your needs as a student.
Accommodation in Canada for students – FAQs:
1- Is on-campus housing a requirement for overseas students?
International students are not required to reside on campus. Students are free to select the lodging of their choosing.
2- Where can I discover furnished short-term rentals?
Many short-term rentals are available online through websites like Airbnb, Vrbo, Sublet.com, and Kijiji. Be sure to read the reviews before making a decision.
3- How can I search for homestays online?
You may use a network of homestays like Canada Homestay Network, YES Canada Homestay, and HomeStay In, which is selective about picking the proper homestay based on safety and comfort to find the best homestay quickly.
4- How many risks are minimised when shopping for apartments?
Stay away from too luxurious flats, never send money before seeing the unit, and never give potential landlords access to sensitive information.
5- How much does housing in Canada cost for international students?
Living in Canada will cost you between CAD 700 and CAD 2200 if you live off campus, vs CAD 8,000 if you live on campus.
6- In Canada, where do students stay?
Students have various housing options, including on-campus housing, condos, shared flats, and more.
7- How can international students locate housing in Canada?
You may find lodging online through rental websites like Rentals.ca, Padmapper, Facebook Marketplace, Craiglist, etc. Additionally, direct contact with landlords to discover apartments and search newspaper columns to find rental homes.
8- When you arrive in Canada, where can you complete your 14-day quarantine?
Since there is no need to share a living space, short-term rentals like those on Airbnb are an option. While reserving the space, let the landlord know.
