The University of British Columbia

Growing enrolments, more demand for university housing, and growth in UBC's guarantee to entering first year students all combine to create a situation where all current students who wish to live on campus cannot be accommodated.

We believe this is the most reasonable and objective way to match supply and demand. Everyone has a compelling reason to live on campus.

A computer program will randomly select enough returning students to fill the available number of beds set aside.

The lottery is a weighted lottery system.  Due to the University's desire to have students involved on campus beyond the classroom, Student Housing has been asked to make the Housing Lottery more favourable to students who get involved.

The University desires students that are involved on campus.  Students who are more involved will in essence have their name submitted twice in the lottery.

No.  The lottery is still random.  Theoretically a person who is involved will have an improved chance of getting a space however a lucky person who has not been actively involved may still get a space and an unlucky student who has been involved may not get a space.

Any involvement should be documented on an Activity Record - click here  or from the Nicola Student Housing Office.

Be a good community member within residence.  Your participation and involvement on your floor will be noted.  First year students wishing to return will be judged on a different criteria than returning students who have had more opportunities.

Students living in residence with 3 points will not receive additional weighting regardless of their campus involvement.

The On-line application is available. You will have until February 1, 2012 to complete the application form and submit payment of the application fee.

We have found that the fee will encourage only those seriously interested in living in residence to apply.

By the end of February 2012.  Both those selected by the lottery process and those who are not will be notified by e-mail.

A waitlist is automatically created and we will be able to provide some indication in your e-mail as to whether your space on the waitlist might result in a space becoming available.

If being away from campus during the 12-13 Winter Session is a possibility, you will still have to participate in the lottery.  When your plans for next year are confirmed, please contact the main office in Nicola to provide your specific information.

No. The summer stay-through application process is separate from the lottery process. 
The outcome of the lottery does not affect your chances of applying for summer housing.

In the e-mail you receive advising you of your waitlist number we endeavour to give you some sense of whether you will need to find off campus accommodation.  To be safe, it is best to make alternate arrangements.

Student Housing continues to grow substantially each year.  We have opened 1130 new beds since 2006 and another 214 beds were opened in September 2011.