Accommodation
Homestay
The Langara College Homestay Program offers international students an opportunity to practice speaking English and to learn about Canadian culture while living with a local family.
Other Rental Accommodation
As an alternative to homestay, you may wish to consider independent rental accommodation in an apartment or house. In this case, consult the bulletin boards around campus for notices posted by students looking for roommates or by people who have apartments for rent. You can also check the classified ads in the local newspapers or online. Alternatively, you can use the services of an agency such as Bell Accommodation, who will assist you in finding accommodation in return for a fee.
Before you enter into a rental agreement with a landlord, we encourage you to become familiar with your rights and responsibilities under the BC Residential Tenancy Act.
We also recommend that you attend our “Finding Housing” workshop, offered twice per semester.
Shopping for household items
If you are living on your own (ie. not in homestay), you will likely need to purchase some household items such as bedding, food, and toiletries. You will find that different communities in Vancouver cater to different shopping needs. Some communities have concentrations of a specific type of ethnic market, others have expensive clothing and restaurants, and yet others have quality used goods. Garage sales are held at peoples’ homes throughout the city. The shops and sales are as diverse as local residents and their tastes.
- Supermarkets - largest variety of foods, distributed throughout a city and in all towns with more than a few thousand people. You can likely meet most of your grocery shopping needs at these stores.
- Corner and Convenience stores - small family-owned businesses or national chains located on street corners. Relatively expensive, but convenient.
- Bulk & Discount stores - least expensive shopping alternative, but a membership fee may be required. Shoppers are required to buy large quantities of individual items.
Some supermarkets or grocery stores located in or near Vancouver are:
- No Frills
- Marketplace IGA
- Safeway
- Save-On-Foods
- The Real Canadian Superstore
- T & T Supermarket (specializes in Asian foods)
- H-Mart (specializes in Korean foods)
The closest shopping mall to Langara College is Oakridge Centre, located at the corner of Cambie Street and 41st Avenue (Canada Line station: Oakridge-41st). If you are living near Langara, Oakridge is a convenient location to purchase groceries and other household items.
Phone/communication
Students in Homestay
If you will be living with a homestay family, please contact the Homestay office to determine what access you will have to telephone and internet services.
Students in Other Accommodation
Telephone
Depending on your needs and preferences, you may choose to set up a landline, a mobile phone, or both.
Landline phones can be arranged through Telus or Shaw. Contact them by phone or online to learn more about rate plans and details.
Your monthly landline fee includes free local calls. If you plan to call long-distance from your landline, make sure to add a long-distance package to your plan, or purchase phone cards (which may offer better rates). Alternatively, many students now use internet telephone services such as Skype for long-distance calls.
Please note that Telus and Shaw also offer cable television and internet service, and discounts may be available if you purchase multiple services from the same provider. Take this into consideration when deciding on a company and plan.
Mobile or cellular phone service can be arranged through a variety of companies, including Telus, Bell, Rogers, Fido, Virgin Mobile, Solo, and many others. Again, make sure to shop around to get the best deal based on your needs. Note that some companies may require a contract of up to 3 years, so be very clear on what you are signing when entering into an agreement.
Internet
High-speed internet service is offered by both Telus and Shaw. Please visit their websites for more details. Alternatively, you may consider using a smaller independent company for your internet service – plans and rates may vary.
You will also have access to internet service at Langara. Several computer labs are available for student use, or you can use your student ID to log in to the free wireless internet on your laptop or mobile device when you are on campus. Visit the Information and Educational Technology Services pages for more information about computer labs and internet service at Langara.
Banking
Upon arrival in Canada, you should open an account with a Canadian financial institution. We recommend that you contact different banks to find out the types of accounts and rates that they offer so that you can decide which option is best for you. Make sure to ask if each bank offers student accounts, which typically have lower fees.
The following banks have locations near Langara:
- BMO Bank of Montreal
- Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC)
- HSBC
- Royal Bank of Canada*
- Scotiabank
- TD Canada Trust
* RBC also operates an automated teller machine (ATM) on-campus at Langara. It is located in the main foyer of the A building, across from the information desk.
In order to open a bank account, you will need the following documents:
- Passport or BCID
- Study permit
- Langara student ID card
- Confirmation of enrollment (download from your myLangara account)
- Proof of your address in Canada (e.g. a bill that has been mailed to your home)
You may require additional documents, depending on the bank and type of account you choose. Make sure to ask your bank what information you will need to provide to open an account.
Public Transit
Vancouver offers a safe and convenient public transit system, including regularly scheduled buses, SkyTrains and SeaBuses. This network is operated by TransLink. Visit the TransLink website for information about transit routes and schedules.
Regular Studies students in the UT and Career programs receive a U-Pass each semester that they are registered in courses. This affordable pass allows students to travel in all 3 transit zones. The cost of the U-Pass is included in your student fees.
Students in LEAP, STEP and other Continuing Studies programs are not eligible for the U-Pass. If you are an ESL or Continuing Studies student, you should purchase a monthly pass for the zones you will travel in most often (Langara is in Zone 1, but if you live outside of Vancouver you will need a 2- or 3-zone pass). Passes can be purchased at the Langara Bookstore, or at convenience stores around Vancouver.
Medical Insurance
As an international student, you must have comprehensive health and accident insurance to provide coverage for treatment of illness or injury during your stay in British Columbia (BC). Medical services in BC can be very expensive if you do not have a medical plan. A hospital stay can cost thousands of dollars per day for those with no insurance coverage.
There are two types of basic insurance: public (MSP) and private insurance.
Public Insurance: BC Medical Services Plan
The Medical Services Plan of BC (MSP) is mandatory medical coverage for all British Columbia residents. All residents of BC, including international students, are legally required to enrol in MSP. It covers basic medical services such as doctors’ visits (in most cases) and hospitalization.
International students qualify after a waiting period of three months from the date of arrival in BC. The current premium for MSP coverage is $60.50 per month.
Upon enrolment in MSP, you will receive a BC CareCard. You can present this card at a doctor’s office or hospital to receive basic medical services free of charge.
You should apply for MSP as soon as you arrive in BC. You can complete an application at the IE office (room A107) and we will mail it on your behalf, along with a copy of your study permit. Your application will take 6-8 weeks to process, and your coverage will be effective on the first day of your fourth calendar month in BC. While you wait for your MSP coverage to become effective, you should arrange for private insurance coverage.
Private Insurance
For the three-month waiting period, Langara College has made arrangements for students to obtain private medical coverage through Axis Insurance Managers Inc. You can contact them to purchase coverage:
Axis Insurance Managers Inc.
+1-604-685-4288
107-1965 West 4th Ave, Vancouver
info@axisinsurance.ca
www.studentsure.com
Alternatively, you may wish to make arrangements with a different company for your private insurance. In this case, please note that we recommend a minimum of $2 million CAD in coverage.
When accessing medical services (ie. Visiting a doctor or hospital) with private insurance, you will need to pay up-front and then send your receipts to the insurance company for reimbursement.
Extended Health Insurance (UT and Career programs only)
All full-time University Transfer or Career program students who are enrolled in 9 or more credits in the Fall Semester are automatically covered by the Langara Students' Union Health & Dental Plan. This plan will pay for expenses not covered by MSP; however, in order to receive coverage through this plan, you must have basic insurance coverage (ie. MSP or private medical insurance). The cost of the plan is included in your student fees. For further information about this plan, click here.
Connecting with the IE office
During your first week of classes, please come and see us in room A107 to drop off your important documents and get connected with all the great programs and services we offer!
Important documents
All international students at Langara are required to submit the following important documents to the IE office:
- Passport photo page
- Valid study permit
- Proof of valid medical insurance (BC Care Card or private medical insurance)
Please bring these documents to room A107 during the first week of classes. Without these documents, students are not permitted to study at Langara.
IE News
Every Friday while classes are in session, the IE News will be emailed to your myLangara account. Make sure to check your myLangara account for this weekly email, which includes important reminders and details of events on and off campus.
Our International Education Facebook page helps you stay connected to events and activities as they happen! Make sure to like our page to get updates in your news feed about what’s happening at Langara and around Vancouver.
College services
Langara offers many services to help all students succeed in their academic and personal lives. Here is a list of services available to Langara students:
