Nestled at the tip of Point Grey, UBC is British Columbia’s highest-ranked university. Students and professors come here from around the world to study and teach. Accordingly, there are a wide variety of housing options available. UBC is not the most affordable place to live, but the large student and recent graduate population give it a lot of energy and fun – and the amenities nearb are all student-oriented.
While UBC itself offers a lot of housing options for students, all of these are either available through a lottery system, or are quite expensive. The residential areas surrounding UBC offer a lot of low-rise, high-rise and single family housing options, most of which are for rent to students, faculty and UBC staff. These rents are still typically above the city average, but most students share accommodation with roommates, which makes living near to UBC more affordable. The UBC area is quiet overall, but does have some local amenities. Aside from the facilities owned and operated by UBC, there is a small commercial area just outside of the university commonly known as ‘the village’. The village is home to a number of restaurants and shops, as well as most services you might need on a regular basis. A few minutes off campus is the shopping strip along 10th ave, as well as shopping, restaurants and pubs along 4th.
If you like outdoor activities, you will enjoy living in the UBC area. Surrounded on 3 sides by the ocean and on the remaining side by Pacific Spirit Park, there are many trails to job, hike and walk. Even in the winter, the beaches are popular – and in the summer, they are almost always crowded. If you’re looking to explore your free-spirited side, Wreck Beach, Vancouver’s nude beach, is at the south-western tip of UBC. Nearby is the equestrian neighbourhood of Southlands, and the Museum of Anthropology – as well as the heritage-grade Cecil Green House – are always interesting to tour.
You will love living at UBC if you’re looking for:
- proximity to the university
- a quiet neighbourhood that still has a youthful vibe
- lots of outdoor recreational activities nearby