Vancouver is home to the University of British Columbia (UBC), one of the world's top 40 research universities, along with Simon Fraser University (SFU), BCIT, Emily Carr University, Langara College, and several others. It is arguably Canada's most beautiful city — set between the Pacific Ocean and the Coast Mountains — and consistently among the most expensive places to live in the country.
Student housing in Vancouver is the most competitive in Canada. Vacancy rates near UBC and SFU are among the lowest on the continent, and private rental costs are exceptionally high. Purpose-built student housing near campus offers a critical advantage: all-inclusive rates, furnished suites, and guaranteed proximity to academic buildings mean that the total cost and convenience of living in a purpose-built community often beats the private rental market once utilities and furnishings are factored in.
UBC's Point Grey campus sits on a peninsula at the western edge of Vancouver, surrounded by the Pacific Spirit Regional Park. Student housing near UBC concentrates in the University Endowment Lands and Kitsilano neighbourhoods. SFU students have two campuses to consider: the main Burnaby Mountain campus and the downtown Vancouver campus on Harbour Centre. Housing near either requires different transit strategies.
TransLink's SkyTrain system is the backbone of Metro Vancouver's transit network. The Expo Line, Millennium Line, and Canada Line connect most of the region efficiently, though UBC is a notable gap — the B-Line bus is the primary transit link to campus, and a future Broadway Subway extension to UBC has been planned for years. Students at SFU Burnaby rely on a combination of SkyTrain and bus to reach the mountain campus.
Vancouver's weather is the most moderate in Canada: mild, rainy winters and warm, dry summers. Snowfall is rare and typically brief. For students arriving from other parts of Canada, the perpetual grey skies of November through March are an adjustment, but the trade-off of avoiding serious cold is one most students ultimately appreciate.
The job market in Vancouver is strong in technology, film and television production (the city is one of the largest production hubs in North America), sustainable energy, and the broader creative economy. UBC and SFU co-op programs have strong industry connections in these sectors, and the Metro Vancouver tech corridor — particularly around Vancouver's downtown and the Broadway Tech Corridor — offers genuine opportunities for students in computing, engineering, and business.
Food and culture in Vancouver are exceptional. The city's proximity to Asia and its large immigrant communities have produced a dining scene that rivals any city in North America, particularly for Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, and South Asian cuisine. The public market at Granville Island, the seafood, and the farmers' markets throughout the summer are highlights of life in the city.
For students seeking student housing near UBC or SFU, secure it as early as possible — ideally eight to twelve months before your intended start date. All-inclusive purpose-built student housing eliminates the unpredictability of Vancouver's rental market and puts you in a community of peers from day one. Canadian Student Living's Vancouver communities are positioned to give students the proximity and stability they need in one of Canada's most competitive housing markets.