UBC Student Housing COVID-19 FAQs

Learn more about moving into residence at UBC in our Moving In guide.

If you would like to discuss a payment plan, our Assignments team is here to help. Please see the list of emails below and contact the one most appropriate for your residence area.

• Winter Session Residence: information@housing.ubc.ca
• Year Round Residence: yearround@housing.ubc.ca
• Student Family Housing: family@housing.ubc.ca

If you’re facing financial hardship or have questions around your finances, please visit UBC’s Student Support and Resources.

Learn more about applying for Year Round Residence.

• Student Services UBC Vancouver or Student Services UBC Okanagan sites.
• UBC’S COVID-19 website.
• UBC Okanagan COVID-19, for campus-specific information.
• UBC’s COVID-19 Resources page for links to additional FAQs and information on other UBC sites.
• UBC’s COVID-19 Prevention page for general Q&As about COVID-19—including how to protect yourself.
• Where applicable, your respective faculty website.

Please ensure you are familiar with your residence contracts, in particular the residence standards and our current COVID-19 Residence Rules (subject to change), as you consider your residence offer.

COVID-19 Residence Rules are in effect in all student residences managed by UBC Student Housing to help maintain the health and safety of everyone in the residence community.

• Promoting the importance of getting fully vaccinated as soon as possible.
• Promoting prevention strategies for COVID-19 and other communicable illnesses (e.g., good cough etiquette, clean hand hygiene and staying home if ill).
• Residence staff are trained to refer residents with cold or flu-like symptoms to HealthLink BC at 811, Student Health Services or a student’s own health care professional.
• A limited number of self-isolation units are set aside for residents who are not local and have been directed by their health professional to self-isolate.
• Hand sanitizer dispensers are placed in each Commonsblock and the residence dining halls.
• Enhanced cleaning and sanitizing.

Student Housing continues to take measures that align with guidance from health authorities and help create a healthy, safer and supportive community environment, noting that it takes everyone in the community to accomplish this goal and that when it comes to communicable illnesses, no one can ensure perfect safety from sickness.

The advice from health agencies is:

• Be fully vaccinated before you arrive to campus or as soon as you are able after arrival.
• Wash your hands frequently for at least 20 seconds using soap and water.
• If a sink is not available, 60-90% alcohol-based hand sanitizer or rubs can be used to clean hands, if they are not visibly soiled. If they are visibly soiled, you can use an alcohol-based disposable hand wipe to remove the dirt and then use an alcohol-based hand rub.
• Do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.
• When you sneeze or cough, cover your mouth and nose with a disposable tissue or the crease of your elbow, and then wash your hands. 
• Although UBC no longer requires students, faculty and staff to wear non-medical masks, the university continues to recommend that masks be worn in indoor public spaces, which applies to shared common spaces in residence.
• Stay home when you are ill and/or have flu-like symptoms, such as a fever or cough, to avoid spreading illness to others. 
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick. 

If you are feeling ill, such as experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, follow these steps:

1. Stay home.
2. Check your symptoms.
3. Use BC’s self-assessment tool to determine your next steps, such as using an at-home rapid test or visiting a clinic or emergency department, etc. Rapid test kits are free for everyone in BC and can be picked up from participating pharmacies.
4. If you need to self-isolate, follow the advice provided by the BCCDC.  If you need additional help, you are able to contact your Residence Life Manager and we will outline supports for you.
5. If you live in a shared room or unit, you should tell your roommate(s) that you are feeling unwell and self-isolating. If you need additional assistance you are able to contact your Residence Life Manager.

A resident who is experiencing symptoms and self-isolating should do so in their own room/unit for as long as recommended. Find additional information regarding self-isolation requirements.

Residents may contact their Residence Life Manager if they need assistance.

Although UBC no longer requires students, faculty and staff to wear non-medical masks, the university continues to recommend that masks be worn in indoor public spaces, which applies to shared common spaces in residence. Read the August 25 UBC Broadcast email.

First year residents: As per your residence contract (3.20) parties are not permitted in residence. A party is defined as having seven or more people present, alcohol being consumed, and noise loud enough to attract attention from or distract others.

Upper year residents: As per your residence contract (Appendix II – “Guests, Visitors, and Parties”), parties have to be pre-registered for staff approval via a Function Responsibility Form (FRF). This requirement has been in place since long before the pandemic and helps ensure that one person’s party isn’t unreasonably disruptive for others in the community.

Having guests visit your unit is always a privilege that comes with responsibility. For residents in shared units, it is important to have constructive conversations with your roommates about expectations for both hosting guests and expectations of guests when visiting your shared suite.