Canadian Province Invests in Over 1,500 Student Beds at University of British Columbia

British Columbia, the third-largest province in Canada, is investing in 1,508 new student beds on the University of British Columbia’s Vancouver campus in an effort to help students find affordable housing and ease the rental housing market in the area.

In a press release issued on Tuesday (August 20, 2024), the government of British Columbia said that the total cost of this student housing project is about $560 million. For this amount, the provincial government has allocated $300 million, and the remaining $260 million will be provided by the University of British Columbia.

British Columbia Premier David Eby said people want to find housing near where they work and study, and the Canadian province has been rapidly building new housing to meet that need, Erudera.com reports.

“Our government is building on-campus housing at an unprecedented pace – including our biggest project to date right here at UBC – helping more students find a safe, secure and affordable place to call home and relieving pressure on the rental market. This is just one way our government is tackling the housing crisis so everyone can find a good home at every stage of life,” Eby said.

By investing in this number of beds, British Columbia might meet or surpass the target of building 12,000 beds by 2028. As of now, 5,260 of these planned beds are completed.

B.C. Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon said that student housing is an important part of the work to solve the housing crisis and offer more accommodation.

“With more affordable housing on campus, students can travel less, save more, and have more opportunity to focus on their studies. Increasing the supply of student housing also takes significant pressure off the local rental market. This project is a win-win for students and for the community.” Kahlon said.

The new complex will be located in the Lower Mall Precinct at UBC and will include five buildings, with 1,508 new student housing beds, of which 1,333 new and 175 replacements.

Additionally, according to the release, there will also be:

• 400-seat dining hall
• 37 new childcare spaces
• common amenity space
• academic and administrative office space for the displaced St. John’s College.

Canada is one of the most desirable study destinations for international students, and British Columbia stands out as one of the top choices. The province said 175,000 international students from over 150 countries study at public and private colleges.

In an attempt to address pressure on the rental housing market, Canadian authorities introduced a two-year cap on international students earlier this year, which is expected to result in a 35 percent drop in approved study permits.

Following the announcement, the British Columbia government capped the number of international students in tertiary institutions at 30 percent. It said it would not permit post-secondary institutions to enroll international students for the next two years.

Read Also:

>> Study Visas Not a Path to Residency, Canadian Immigration Minister Says