FAQs

New students usually apply to live in residence at the end of the UBC Admissions process in February. Student Housing and Hospitality Services also accepts applications directly through the Online Service Centre or print an application form. See Important Dates to confirm the deadline to apply.

See eligibility.

We set aside rooms first for students who qualify for the First Year Guarantee and Priority Access.

All residence offers are sent by email.

Please contact Student Housing and Hospitality Services immediately.

Please contact Student Housing and Hospitality Services immediately.

If you want to live in residence, we recommend you accept the offer. If the offer is declined, you will not receive another one. If you are unhappy with your room, you may apply for a room transfer in mid-September. Transfers are considered on a case-by-case basis and not guaranteed.

Fees vary by residence and room type.

There are a few ways. See Fees & Payments to find an option that works best for you.

Use the Online Service Centre. When a payment is received, a credit will appear on your account.

We will only release this information if you provided consent to release it on your application form. See how we value privacy.

Students who live at Place Vanier, Totem Park and Orchard Commons must purchase the Residence Meal Plan. New students assigned to other residences can purchase an optional Savings Plus Meal Plan.

Parking fees are extra. Spots are allocated on a first come, first served basis.

Yes. Roommate group requests are part of the application process.

Yes, if there’s consent. Use the Online Service Centre to consent to release your information to each other. Roommates usually contact each other in mid-August.

You will receive specific move in details (date/time) by email before your move in date. It’s important you arrive at the time indicated to ensure a smooth experience for everyone.

Early arrivals are typically not permitted. Check eligibility. 

All students assigned to Place Vanier, Totem Park and Orchard Commons are required to purchase a meal plan, including Vantage College international students.

The meal plan costs $5,495.28 for the Winter Session Contract. See the Residence Meal Plan page for a breakdown of meal plan fees.

There are a few different acceptable payment types.

Fees are accepted in three instalments: when you accept the offer, late September, and early January.

At more than 45 UBC Food Services locations and campus partner locations.

Use the Online Service Centre to freeze your meal plan account. File a report and get a new card from the UBC Carding Office. Then reactivate your account.

As long as your account is paid in full, you can add Flex Dollars using the Online Service Centre or by visiting Student Housing and Hospitality Services.

There are a few options, including transferring the balance to another meal plan, putting it on a gift card, or applying for a refund.

Read your Residence Contract.

Students in other residences and commuter students can purchase a Savings Plus Meal Plan or UBCcard Plan for added convenience and savings at campus eateries. These are optional.

Student Housing and Hospitality Services Main Office.

To comply with privacy law, we don’t release information about any residents unless consent is provided.

Visit the Front Desk immediately to file a report.

Use the Online Service Centre to send a maintenance request. Do not attempt to fix residence property on your own.

No. UBC’s insurance coverage is for the physical structure of buildings (walls, roof, flooring) and components (fridges, stoves) only. The university is not responsible for lost, stolen or damaged personal property, regardless of the cause. We recommend that all personal belongings be covered by private insurance. Your family plan may cover you. BCAA is also an option.

There are procedures to switch rooms with someone or apply for a transfer.

All residents must adhere to Residence Standards. Conflicts or breaches of Residence Standards are investigated by Residence Life staff.

Place Vanier and Totem Park residents are not permitted to stay in their rooms during the winter holiday break. Students in other residences are permitted to stay, however, campus services are limited.

Read your Residence Contract. There are no exceptions.

All residents must move out sustainably. Each residence has a sorting area for food scraps, donations, recyclables, e-waste and trash.

Students face assessments if there’s any damage to residence property or required cleaning was not completed to our satisfaction.

After moving in: These policies are clearly defined in your Residence Contract. Cancellation must be initiated using the Online Service Centre.

Before moving in: See Cancellations & Refunds.

We use a random computer system in Winter Session Residences. All eligible applications are treated equally.

Around Febuary 1. See important dates to confirm.

Residence offers are sent by email in mid-February. Those selected will receive a deadline to accept the offer and pay a deposit. All others will be put on a waitlist.

Less than 10 per cent of returning students who apply get an offer.

Apply to live in Year Round Residence. Once accepted, you will be eligible for a new contract each year until you finish your studies at UBC or choose to move out. Year Round residents are often eligible to sublet.

After receiving a residence offer, go online to update your application preferences and submit a roommate grouping request.

Before moving in, see Cancellations & Refunds. After moving in, refer to your Residence Contract.

Sublets are typically only approved for students who have a Year Round Contract and usually in the summer.

Yes. Residents do not have the automatic right to sublet their accommodation. Sublets are permitted only in certain residences, and only when the resident has satisfied all applicable requirements. Submitting an application does not guarantee that the request will be approved.

The sublessee must meet at least one of the following requirements:

• A current UBC student (this includes UBC-O students) who will be registered in credit courses or in a graduate program at UBC, during the sublet term.
• A UBC student employed by a UBC department in a research capacity. Proof of employment is required. A copy of the appointment notice is sufficient.
• A student from another university performing research directed by a UBC department. Proof of UBC sponsorship and student status is required. Please attach proof of UBC employment of sponsorship.
• If the sublet request is for the summer session (May-August), the sublessee was registered as a full-time UBC student in the immediately-preceding session (i.e. Term 2 of the Winter Session).

The sublessee must also meet all of the following requirements:

• Be in good standing with SHHS (i.e. no current evictions or denial of visiting privileges on file and in good financial standing).
• Be the same gender as the resident in shared units (not applicable to studio or one-bedroom units).
• Meet the age requirements applicable to your resident.

Residents may sublet their unit during the months of May–August. Sublets during winter session may be considered in situations in which the university has required the student to leave campus to complete their degree requirements (e.g. Co-op program).

Residents living in Marine Drive, Thunderbird, Ponderosa Commons, Iona House and Fraser Hall can apply to sublet their room.

Thirty (30) days. Short term periods (less than a month) are not usually approved.

You should apply at least five days before the requested sublet start date.

Residents may sublet their unit during the months of May – August. Sublets during winter session may be considered in situations in which the university has required the student to leave campus to complete their degree requirements (e.g. Co-op program).

For May–August sublets, once applications open, submit it online as soon as possible. You may not receive a response from the RLM prior to your departure, but we will contact you as soon as possible.

The process of reviewing forms for approval takes between two to four weeks.

Residents can use our sublet forum to connect with others interesting in subletting.

You remain fully responsible under your residence contract during the sublet, which includes paying rent and other related feeds on time during the sublet term.

If you have accepted a contract offer by signing your contract card at the Front Desk, you may drop off your unit keys at the Front Desk before you leave campus and explain that they are for your sublessee. They will be placed in an envelope with the sublessee’s name on it and left in your mailbox. When your sublessee arrives they must provide the Front Desk photo ID in order to receive their envelope with the keys.

If you have not signed your contract card at the Front Desk, and you will not be present to hand your keys to your sublessee, you will need to sign your contract card electronically before the keys will be released to your sublessee. Contact your Front Desk to find out how to sign your contract card.

Yes. All registered sublessees are eligible to receive mail to your mailbox during their stay.  You are responsible for providing them the mailbox key.

Since your sublessee will be registered in our system, the Front Desk will be able to provide them with a new key.  A charge for the replacement key will be posted to your Housing account as the contract holder of the unit.

As the contract holder, you remain responsible for the actions of your sublessee.  If your sublessee violates our Standards Agreement, you may face the consequences of their actions.