Accessibility in Residence

A group of students gathered at Ponderosa Commons

At UBC and in Student Housing and Community Services, we are committed to providing supportive and inclusive living and learning environments with resources, services and supports for students with disabilities or ongoing medical conditions.

Each residence at UBC offers a number of rooms with accessible room layouts and accessibility features. Depending on availability, we do our best to offer eligible students housing that will meet their disability-related housing needs.

Additionally, the majority of residence buildings at UBC also have barrier-free entry and accessible common areas, including commonsblocks, house and floor lounges, and washrooms.

Accessible student housing options

Depending on the nature of a student’s disability or chronic health condition, they may qualify for one of three categories of accessible student housing:

A fully accessible room/unit—for students who require more comprehensive accessibility features and a fully accessible room/unit layout.
A standard room outfitted with relevant accessibility features—for students who require accessibility features that can be incorporated into a standard room, such as a visual fire alarm.
A standard room/unit—for students who have a disability-related need to live on campus, but not for specific accessibility features or room/unit layouts.

Residence and room assignments

If you are approved for one of these three categories of accessible student housing, you will be offered an appropriate room in any residence where you are eligible to live.

While we will consider the preferences you listed in your application, placement in a specific residence is ultimately based on availability.

As mentioned above, if you require specific accessibility features or room/unit layouts, we will do our best to place you in one with the most current layout and features.

Living on campus: vibrant, but sometimes noisy

Living in residence at UBC is a communal living experience.

In many instances, living in residence includes shared or close-proximity accommodation, communal dining and vibrant, but busy spaces with limited noise control.

Students have limited choice regarding the residence and room type where they are assigned. We encourage you to consider these factors when deciding whether or not to apply for student housing.

Eligibility for accessible student housing

To be eligible for accessible student housing, your disability or chronic health condition must present significant functional limitations, which:

a) reduces your housing options and/or
b) requires you to live on campus to equitably access the full academic experience.

View examples of eligible applications for accessible student housing and examples of conditions that are typically not eligible.

Additional eligibility requirements

Visit eligibility to ensure you meet the all of the eligibility requirements for living in residence.

Apply for UBC and residence on time

In addition to the primary eligibility requirements, you need to apply for UBC and residence on time.

First Year residence applicants: Winter Session residence

If you are a future first year UBC student, to be eligible for accessible Winter Session student housing (September–April), you must apply and accept your offer of admission to UBC on time, as follows:

Residence Application deadline: you must submit your application for residence by May 1.*
UBC admissions offer acceptance deadline: you must receive and accept UBC’s offer of academic admission by June 1.

*Submit your residence application and your application for accessible housing as soon as you apply for admission to UBC, or shortly afterwards—and no later than the May 1 deadline. You do not need to wait until you’ve received an offer of academic admission from UBC.

Upper Year residence applicants: year round residence

If you are a new or returning upper year residence applicant, to be eligible, you must accept your residence offer by the deadline stated in your offer email.

Examples of eligible applications for accessible student housing

Approval for accessible housing is not guaranteed. It is based on demonstrated need, rather than preference, and there must be a clear, direct and logical link between your disability or condition and the type of accessible student housing you request in the application.

To help you determine if you might be eligible for accessible student housing, here are some examples of eligible scenarios:

Mobility limitations: a student who uses a wheelchair or has another major mobility limitation and requires a wheelchair accessible room.
Functional limitations: a student who has functional limitations and requires a room with direct access to a bathroom.
Service animal support: a student with a visual impairment, and a registered service animal, who requires housing that offers easy wayfinding and clear pathways.

Conditions that are typically not eligible

While not always, the following disorders or conditions typically do not present limitations that require accessible student housing:

ADHD
Anxiety or depression
Learning disabilities, such as dyslexia or dyscalculia
Sensitivity to noise
Mild asthma or allergies
Food allergies/dietary needs—which for first year residents on the residence meal plan are typically addressed through dining accommodations, rather than housing assignment changes. Read more about nutritional support and how Food Services accommodates dietary restrictions.
Short-term injuries (i.e., broken bones)

However, for some of the above conditions, a student may be eligible for accommodations related to academic coursework, which can be applied for by registering with the Centre for Accessibility.

Am I eligible to bring a registered service animal to residence?

Registered service animals are welcome in residence at UBC. If you require the support of a registered service animal, you do not need to request approval to bring them. However, please indicate that information when submitting the Accessible Student Housing Request Form.

Letting the Centre for Accessibility know about your registered service animal at the time of application means we can ensure ahead of time that a residence and room/unit you may be offered is equipped with features that support your and your service animal’s needs.

Please note that registered service animals differ from emotional support animals. To inquire about emotional support animals, please contact us.

What about financial limitations or difficulty finding a place to rent?

While we acknowledge the challenges associated with the challenging rental market and the financial barriers that students may experience in renting off-campus, these scenarios are not unique to students with disabilities or chronic health conditions. As such, those factors are not part of the evaluation process for accessible student housing.

Apply for accessible student housing

How to apply for accessible student housing

Follow these steps to apply for accessible student housing:

Download a copy of the Accessible Student Housing Medical Assessment Form and have it completed by a registered physician, nurse practitioner, psychologist or other qualified medical professional with the credentials to diagnose and prescribe treatment.
Complete the UBC Centre for Accessibility’s Accessible Student Housing Request Form—and attach your completed copy of the Accessible Student Housing Medical Assessment Form.

When to apply for accessible student housing

Submit your application for accessible housing at the same time you apply to UBC or promptly afterward. Ensure you apply for residence by the relevant deadline.

How and when will I find out if I qualify?

Once you submit the Accessible Student Housing Request Form (with the Medical Assessment Form attached) your request will be reviewed by the Centre for Accessibility—and within four to six weeks they’ll email you to let you know if you qualify (i.e., if they will be providing a recommendation to us).

FAQs

Which office determines if a student is eligible for accessible student housing?

UBC’s Centre for Accessibility (CFA) reviews medical documentation to assess a disability-related need for  accessible housing. The CFA then works in close collaboration with Student Housing and, where relevant, other UBC partners to determine a suitable housing placement, based on the student’s needs and the types of accessible rooms/units that are currently available.

Additional questions?

Please contact us if you have any additional questions about accessibility in residence.

Learn more

To learn more about accessibility in residence and UBC, check out the following resources:

Getting Started