Anyone('s Kids) Attend(ed) University of British Columbia (UBC)? (1 Viewer)

[TheOffalo]

My younger daughter was accepted to UBC as a transfer student. Apparently housing is really hard to get, with years-long waitlists? Anyone have personal experience dealing with this for themselves or their kids and share any tips and tricks?

 

[TankingRowlet]

That's my local uni, went there myself 6 years ago (Vancouver campus).

The entire Broadway corridor is one rapid bus to get to UBC, so could try to find housing options dotted along wherever that bus line is (#99 B-Line) if living away from campus has to be the plan. I believe only 1st year students get a guarantee of housing on campus.

Short-term rentals used to favor students in the past. Believe most now would want at least a year-long lease.

 

[PapaWheelie]

Started a doctorate in 2012 (don't ask).
Which campus and what field of study?

 

[T_Chan]

They are in the process of building a skytrain to UBC but I don't think that's expected to finish within the next year or two. The construction has really messed up the Broadway corridor, though I don't know how that effects the buses.

I don't know the current situation but when I went there, I stayed off campus in Kitsilano for a quick 10 minute bus for the first few years, them moved to Burnaby where I took skytrain then bussed which took about half an hour. But that was 20 years ago.

 

[TheOffalo]

Thanks everyone for your responses! We were waiting for some things to be confirmed, but now my daughter is (almost) definitely attending UBC. I think the only blocker now is housing,

That's my local uni, went there myself 6 years ago (Vancouver campus).

The entire Broadway corridor is one rapid bus to get to UBC, so could try to find housing options dotted along wherever that bus line is (#99 B-Line) if living away from campus has to be the plan. I believe only 1st year students get a guarantee of housing on campus.

Short-term rentals used to favor students in the past. Believe most now would want at least a year-long lease.

My wife would strongly prefer she live on campus, but that seems incredlibly unlikely since she didn't sign up to be considered for housing until February, after certain deadlines had passed. Her year-round housing waitlist numbers put her at least until 2027 possibly 2028 to get picked. She hasn't even gotten a waitlist number for Winter 2026 residences, which is picked by lottery, so that's probably not going to happen either.

Off-campus also seem to be very expensive, with studios starting at $2K/month. She doesn't know anyone who goes to UBC so it's hard to find a roommate, etc.

Started a doctorate in 2012 (don't ask).
Which campus and what field of study?

Well, now I have to ask. What's your doctorate in?

She was accepted into the Bachelor of Arts degree program. Her desired major is Cinema Studies, for which she had to submit a separate application, and she's waiting to hear back about that.

They are in the process of building a skytrain to UBC but I don't think that's expected to finish within the next year or two. The construction has really messed up the Broadway corridor, though I don't know how that effects the buses.

I don't know the current situation but when I went there, I stayed off campus in Kitsilano for a quick 10 minute bus for the first few years, them moved to Burnaby where I took skytrain then bussed which took about half an hour. But that was 20 years ago.

Thanks, I've definitely heard Kitsilano mentioned as a nearby neighbo(u)rhood for UBC students. Being so far away, it's hard for us to tell what off-campus areas are gonna be safer for a young woman living on her own for the first time.