Accommodation

UVic will be a place for you to call home, regardless of where you choose to live. Living on campus has its advantages: your friends live next door and you're only steps away from class. But living off campus has advantages too: more personal space and time away from school to explore everything Victoria has to offer.

Living on campus

On-campus accommodation is not guaranteed for exchange students. UVic offers two types of on-campus accommodation for exchange students: dormitory buildings and cluster units. For information about both of these options, visit the Residence Services website.

If you would like to live on campus for the 2013/2014 academic year, you must:

1. Submit an online Undergraduate or Graduate Student Residence Application form anytime on or after March 1, 2013. A limited number of rooms on campus are available to exchange students. Each year the number of applications exceed available space, so apply as early as possible to improve your chances of getting a room.
2. The Residence Application form will ask for your UVic student number. Please enter V00000002 on the form to identify yourself as an exchange student.
3. You must pay a $50 non-refundable Residence Application fee. Residence fees can be paid by wire transfer from an international bank or by credit card prior to your arrival on campus. Contact Residence Services at 250-721-8395 or resadmin@uvic.ca for further information. Please identify yourself as an exchange student in your communication with Residence Services.
4. Wait for confirmation from Residence Services.
5. If your Residence Application is accepted, you will receive an email confirmation that includes your move in date. If you want to request an earlier move in date, or if you intend to arrive at UVic when Residence Services is closed, contact Residence Services at 250-721-8395 or resadmin@uvic.ca. Please identify yourself as an exchange student in your communication with Residence Services. If you plan to arrive after the start of term, you must inform Residence Services or your residence assignment will be cancelled.
6. Further information about moving in and out of residence is available on the Winter Housing website.

Living off campus

If living with a Canadian family appeals to you, visit the Homestay Program website. If you prefer more independence, Residence Services at UVic maintains a list of available off-campus rental opportunities, including suites, apartments, houses and shared living situations. You can view this list on the Off-Campus Housing Listings website.

You should only agree to rent an off-campus accommodation after you have inspected it yourself and met the landlord. Do not let someone else choose a potential dwelling on your behalf. Standards of accommodation vary and only you can determine the suitability of a potential home.

TIP: The International and Exchange Student Services (IESS) office can help you find off-campus accommodation after you arrive in Victoria.

When should I arrive?

It can be very difficult to secure rental accommodation from out of town, so plan to arrive in Victoria at least two or three weeks before the start of term to allow plenty of time for searching. We recommend you reserve temporary accommodation before you arrive. For temporary on-campus options, check out the Visitor Housing website. Victoria also has many hotels, hostels and bed and breakfast inns. You can find them listed on the Tourism Victoria website.

Know your rights

Be sure to familiarize yourself with the legal rights and responsibilities for tenants and landlords in British Columbia. You can find this information on the Residential Tenancy Branch website. The Tenant Survival Guide is another great resource and is available in several languages on the Tenant Resource & Advisory Centre website.