The quality of your stay in another country while studying can depend largely on your living quarters. You may be getting a good education but you can still be miserable if you do not live in a place you can consider your home. There are several options for student housing in Canada.

The most common form of student housing would be the dormitory. This is more commonly known as a campus residence in Canada. Though this term used to have a negative connotation of some sort attached to it, the current status of campus residences dispels any such notions. Campus residences in Canada offer a variety of options to the international student. The more traditional types would have a common living area, washrooms, and cafeteria or dining area. However, the newer campus residences allow students to have their own room with their own study area. Having a room to yourself would mean higher costs but you can opt to have a roommate to lower the price. Of course, you would have to consider the fact that you probably won’t have a say in who would share your room with.

For married couples or for those who prefer more quiet and privacy, there are in-campus options which are similar to flats. Cluster housing, as the arrangement is called, is usually reserved for those who are more than 19 years old, for married couples, or for those who have families with them. This arrangement is very convenient though it may cost more.

You can also choose to live off campus. However, choosing to do so would mean that you would have to arrange everything by yourself, as the school does not have any jurisdiction outside of the campus. You can rent a flat or a room, depending on your budget. You can also share a flat with other people, if you would wish to do so. Living off-campus means that you would be totally immersed in the culture of your new country. It also means that you would have more responsibilities and, perhaps, expenses.

In choosing your accommodations, you should consider all your options, preferences, and budget.

This city which is located in the Atlantic Coast of Canada, truly lives up to its tagline “One hundred thousand welcomes!” It is also known as the education province of Canada due to its popularity with students. What makes Nova Scotia THE place to go to?

With the most number of post-secondary academic institutions per capita in Canada, you can rest assured that you will be getting quality education. In Nova Scotia, you can choose from the widest range of programs available. Whether you are looking to finish your bachelors, masters, or doctoral degree, you will be able to find an academic institution to suit your needs.

All of the universities in Nova Scotia are funded by the government. As such, the cost of education can be as low as 6,148 GBP per year. This includes tuition, accommodations, food, health insurance, and other expenses that you may have such as transportation. To further lessen the burden on you financially, you may apply for scholarships and other financial aid programs.

For scholarships and in-campus housing, it is best that you send in your application by January or February. If your application proves successful, the scholarship or housing would take effect in September of that same year.

Living in Nova Scotia is not all about burying your nose in the books. Part of its allure is being able to immerse one’s self in nature and other extra-curricular activities. It is said that no matter where you are in Nova Scotia, you are not more than 35 kms from the coast. As such, you will have a wide range of leisurely activities to choose from. If you are more into cultural experiences, then you won’t be disappointed as well. Nova Scotia is full of history and cultural awareness is promoted through festivals, art galleries, museums, and the like.

Being the province with the highest Internet usage in Canada, Nova Scotia offers you a continuous link with your family and friends back home. That is not to say that you will not find a new set of friends to help you enjoy your stay in Nova Scotia. It is quite the opposite, in fact. The residents of this province are known to be among the friendliest and welcoming in the country!

Alberta has rightfully gained the title of Canada’s “Energy Province” with its abundant resources. All of Canada’s heavy oil and oil sand reserves can be found in Alberta. More so, more than 60% of Canada’s crude oil reserves are found in this province as well. In addition to that, Alberta is home to 85% of Canada’s natural gas and 63% of its coal.

It is thus no wonder that students from all over Canada and the world choose to study in Alberta to focus on science and technology as relating to energy. In addition to Alberta’s numerous colleges and universities, there are more than 40 research centres based in this province. These centres are highly specialised and focus on the development of technology. Some examples of the fields that are covered are: agriculture, engineering research, lasers, medical research, microelectronics, telecommunications, and oil sands technology.

One of the main offerings of Alberta’s educational system is the option for students to transfer from one academic institution to another. This is particularly helpful to international students who might prefer a cosier atmosphere in the beginning and then move on to the bigger universities later on. This arrangement also benefits those who would like to change fields in the middle of their studies.

You also have the choice between studying and living in the bigger cities or in the quieter smaller cities. For the former, Edmonton or Calgary would suit your preferences. As for the latter, you could go for places such as Lethbridge, Grande Prairie, Red Deer or Medicine Hat.

As for activities outside of the academe, Alberta does not fall short. Much like Canada’s other provinces, Alberta offers a wide variety of activities. Even better, Alberta is the sunniest place in Canada! It has four distinct seasons, dispelling any notions that it is always cold in Canada. Though it IS cold during the winter, it is only one season of the year. The rest of the time, you can engage in a lot of outdoor activities that will surely take the stress out of your academic pursuits. Being geographically diverse, Alberta offers activities such as hiking, mountain climbing, fishing, sailing, skiing, swimming, camping, and a lot more.