Parents, Guardians and Families

Information and resources for parents, guardians and families of students living in residence.

Residence is so much more than a place for your student to sleep and study. Students and alumni tell us that living on campus helped them become better students and feel like part of a community.

Research shows that students who live in residence tend to be more successful in their academic studies, have increased self-confidence, and develop stronger life skills compared to students who commute.

The UBC Student Housing team is here to help support your student’s residence experience and academic achievement, along with their personal growth and wellbeing.

Hello from our Director, Student Residence

On this page

• Applications, dates, fees and payments
• New to residence guides
• Information privacy
• Eating on campus
• Campus community
• Health and wellbeing
• Safety and security
• How parents can help

Applications, dates, fees and payments

Find out how to apply and what it costs, plus when and how to pay.

• Applications: Get the essential application facts and find out how to apply.
• Dates: Keep track of all the important residence dates and deadlines.
• Fees and payments: Find out the fees for your residence area, when to pay and how to make a payment at fees and payments.
• Next year: If your student is entering first year, now is the time to start thinking about staying in residence next year.

New to residence guides

To help students prepare for life in residence at UBC, you and your student can check out their new to residence guide for a pre-arrival checklist, virtual residence tours, how tos, resources and more:

• Winter Session Residence Guide—for students moving into one of our Winter Session residences.
• Year Round Residence Guide—for students moving into one of our Year Round residences.

Plus, visit our Move In Guide to find out what your student needs to do before they leave home, what to bring (and not bring) to residence, and what to expect on move in day.

Information privacy

Your student’s records and information at UBC are protected under BC’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA), which means that the information your student provides to UBC and information UBC has on file about their academic progress, conduct and wellbeing, or their student housing application and information is not available to anybody other than them—even you. However, your student can authorize you to access certain information or data, if needed, by granting third-party authorization.

Learn more about information privacy and student housing.

Eating on campus

At UBC, it’s easy to enjoy delicious, high-quality foods every day.

• First year students who live in Orchard Commons, Place Vanier and Totem Park, purchase a required Residence Meal Plan. Those assigned to a suite-style residence have their own shared kitchen, but might also consider purchasing the UBCcard Value Plan or an All Access Dining Swipe Plan.
• Upper year students who live in a suite-style residence have a shared kitchen and can cook in their suite or eat elsewhere on campus—and can enjoy added convenience and savings with a UBCcard Value Plan.
• Dietary supports: UBC Food Services’ dietitians provide student residents with advice and support on healthy eating, and managing food allergies while dining on campus.

Campus community

Being part of a diverse community is one of the numerous benefits of living on campus. We recognize that for many student residents, this may be their first experience living more independently, so we have lots of tips and resources to help them thrive.

• Expectations of student residents
• Living with roommates and building community together
• Meet the Student Housing team
• Getting involved and overcoming loneliness
• UBC’s Equity and Inclusion Office
• Resources for Indigenous students
• Å¡xÊ·ta:təχʷəm—a space for Indigenous students at the Longhouse
• Find information and resources from Student Services about religion and spirituality and read our Residence Life blog post about spirituality.

Plus, find what you need to know about learning on Musqueam territory and learn more about the Indigenous names at Totem Park and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) names at tə šxʷhəleləm̓s tə k̓ʷaƛ̓kʷəʔaʔɬ.

Health and wellbeing

Between academics, paid or volunteer work, clubs, sports, friends and family, student life is vibrant and full. Staying healthy and taking care of personal wellbeing is also a critical part of student success. We encourage parents to discuss these topics with their student before they move to campus and throughout their time at UBC.

• Health insurance: Learn about basic and extended health insurance for UBC students.
• Health and wellbeing: Find key residence and UBC resources to support your student’s health and wellbeing, including our Counsellor in Residence program.
• Fitness facilities: Our residence commonsblocks include fully-equipped fitness facilities, and we offer free fitness and yoga classes for residents. Plus, there are plenty of additional UBC Recreation fitness facilities and classes open to all UBC students.
• Substance use: Learn more about alcohol, cannabis and nicotine use on campus, along with information about substance use and harm reduction.
• Sex and sexual health: Learning more about sex and sexual health—including information about navigating sex and consent—can help someone have safer, respectful, and enjoyable experiences. See our Residence Life blog post, Consent (for parents and guardians), as well.
• Understanding stress: Learn more about stress and the stress response.
• Sustainability in residence: Find out more about sustainability features in our residence buildings and more.

Safety and security

• Safety and security: Find out about how we can all contribute to safe and secure residence communities.
• Emergency Preparedness: Advice to help your student prepare for a variety of emergency situations.

How parents and guardians can help

As your student begins their new life on campus, it is an important transition point both for them and in your relationship with them as a parent. Finding the balance between giving them their independence and providing the support they still need from you is key.

Check out these UBC Residence Life blog posts to help you navigate this evolution.

• How parents can help
• Distance parenting
• I’m worried, my student isn’t replying

Plus, be sure to visit grownandflown.com for a wealth of great articles on parenting university-age students, including articles such as 6 Things You Should Never Do as the Parent of a College Student.