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Housing Options

Before making your accommodation selection, please review the following information to ensure you clearly understand the choices available to you. If you are a new international student, we recommend you spend at least your first semester in Homestay or Peerstay.

On-Campus Residences

www.viuresidences.ca

Our on-campus residence village is located near the heart of the campus, close to classrooms, cafeterias, gymnasium, library, bookstore, and the Centre for International Education. The 389 spaces offer a mix of accommodation choices from single private rooms with semi-private bathroom to 4 bedroom apartments. Rooms are wired for telephone, cable television, and Internet access. There are specially-designed suites for students with disabilities.

The following is a selection of some of the fun, adventurous, and community-oriented activities that residents can be involved in:

  • Community Barbeques
  • Pot luck dinners
  • Movie nights
  • Sports tournaments
  • Games nights
  • River rafting
  • Community kitchens
  • Community Watch Program
  • Food Drives
  • Yoga and relaxation activities
  • Christmas tree decorating
  • Theme parties
  • Volunteering for recycling and safety programs

Our new residence village features

  • Outdoor Sand Volleyball court
  • Outdoor basketball
  • Picnic areas and walking paths
  • Indoor community lounge with table tennis and video games
  • Indoor quiet lounge for study and socialization

Students living in residence also have easy access to Malaspina events, activities and nearby Nanaimo Parks and Recreation facilities, including the Nanaimo Aquatic Centre.

The Residence Advisor program has been established to enhance the overall well-being of all residents, as well as to offer student Resident Advisors (RAs) the opportunity to gain leadership skills. RAs will be your guide to maximizing the benefits of living in residence, and will support you in reaching your academic goals.

Student residence does not provide bedding, dishes or food. In emergency cases, bed linens and pillowcases are available for a short-term loan. Students can bring all bedding supplies from their home country or purchase them upon their arrival in Nanaimo. Kitchen facilities are available in the Student Residences; meals can also be purchased in two campus cafeterias, open weekdays during school hours.

If you want to live in the Student Residence, please call Western Student Housing directly or e-mail them for additional information. Application for a room in Student Residence must be made well in advance.

For more information visit: viuresidences.ca

Contact:

Western Student Housing, 750 Fourth Street, Nanaimo, B.C., V9R 6C5,

Phone: 250-754-6338
Fax: 250-754-4291
manager@viuresidences.ca
reslife@viuresidences.ca

 

Homestay/Peerstay

Homestay/ Peerstay Program

The purpose of the Homestay/Peerstay Program (HS/PS) is to provide international students with a supportive and welcoming environment in a Canadian family’s home. It is also an opportunity to learn and practice English. Host families are very valuable in helping students become familiar with Canadian customs and culture and introducing them to the Nanaimo community. All hosts have been carefully screened by the Vancouver Island University Homestay office.

We recommend that new international students spend at least their first semester in Nanaimo in Homestay or Peerstay.

Living in Homestay or Peerstay

When living in Homestay or Peerstay, students will have their own private bedroom and a quiet area to study, while sharing the rest of the house with family members. In Homestay, food is provided by the family, but cooking and meal preparation is shared by all family members. Students will be taught to make their own breakfast and lunch, while family members will prepare dinners. Students are treated like part of the family.

Peerstay is much the same as Homestay, except students buy their own food, prepare all of their own meals and clean their own dishes, and clean up the kitchen after meal preparation.  Both Homestay and Peerstay students are expected to keep their bedrooms and bathrooms clean. Most Canadian families share household chores.

In Homestay/Peerstay, the host family provides bedroom furniture, bedding, towels, kitchen utensils, etc.  Students are responsible for purchasing their own toiletries.

 

Cost:

  • Homestay: $700 per month or $25.00 per night (increasing to $780/$27 January 1, 2013).
  • Peerstay: $450 per month or $15.00 per night (will not increase at this time). 

For Homestay and Peerstay students, a $700 refundable deposit (increasing to $780 January 1, 2013) and a non-refundable $200 placement fee are required before a host will be selected. Please note that the deposit is not used to pay a monthly Homestay or Peerstay fee.  The deposit will be refunded to the student when the student leaves the HS/PS Program.

 

Application Process:

To apply, the Homestay/Peerstay Office must receive the following:

  • Completed PDF Student Profile (pages 1 – 7, including a signed Letter of Agreement)
  • Fees (see Fee Payment form, page 8 of the Student Profile)
  • Arrival details to Nanaimo (page 9 of the Student Profile)

In order to place a student with a Homestay or Peerstay family, the Homestay/Peerstay Office must receive fees (as outlined on the Fee Payment form), completed student profile and arrival details at least six weeks before the semester start date. 

Students who have not submitted their Student Profile, Homestay/Peerstay placement fee and deposit, two months advance Homestay or Peerstay fees, and arrival details to Nanaimo a minimum of 6 weeks before classes/orientation are not guaranteed placement on their arrival date. We will provide a list of temporary accommodation choices in Nanaimo while we continue to locate an appropriate placement for the student. Please book temporary accommodations as soon as possible as it will be very busy.

Students who cancel their application after being placed with a host family will forfeit 50% of the Homestay/Peerstay deposit. If the student cancels before being placed with a family, the student will only forfeit the application fee.

The VIU Homestay/Peerstay Program is only available to International students who are currently attending classes at VIU or Malaspina High School.

Those found living with a VIU Homestay or Peerstay family who are no longer enrolled, attending VIU students, will have two weeks to move out of Homestay or Peerstay. The 30 days notice policy is in effect.

For Malaspina High School Homestay information please see viu.ca/highschool

For more information about the Homestay/Peerstay Program, please visit: (link coming soon).

 

Off-Campus Housing

There are many different types of apartments, room and board, and shared housing opportunities in Nanaimo. Students can find an apartment on arrival in Nanaimo; they may want to stay in homestay or peerstay for their first month while they look for an apartment. It is also possible to rent an apartment before arrival by checking the sites above.