The largest provincial investment in on-campus student housing in British Columbia is taking place at the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Vancouver. This $560-million initiative aims to add 1,508 new student housing beds, significantly expanding access to affordable student accommodation. This expansion supports the provincial target of building 12,000 student beds by 2028, with more than 5,260 beds already completed and operational across the province.
Investment and Impact on Housing Crisis
Premier David Eby emphasized the importance of creating affordable on-campus housing to help students find homes near their institutions and alleviate pressure on local rental markets. The provincial government’s contribution of $300 million toward this project highlights its commitment to addressing the broader housing crisis in B.C. The project is scheduled to begin construction in fall 2026 and will be completed in phases starting in 2028.
This investment is part of the broader “Homes for People” action plan, which includes $2 billion in funding to develop student housing across B.C. Currently, 10,766 student beds are in progress throughout the province. These investments help reduce student competition for off-campus rental housing, thereby easing the strain on rental markets in high-demand areas like UBC.
UBC’s Commitment to Expanding Student Housing
UBC has long recognized the importance of increasing student housing. Over the past 14 years, the university has invested $700 million to build more than 6,000 student housing beds. With the new project, UBC is poised to meet its goal of adding 3,300 more beds on its Vancouver campus by the mid-2030s, in line with its Campus Plan 2050 and Housing Action Plan.
This latest project at UBC will provide housing primarily for graduate students and will include modern amenities, such as a 400-seat dining hall, 37 child care spaces, and academic and administrative office space. One of the five buildings will be constructed using mass timber, targeting LEED Gold certification to support sustainability goals.
UBC’s president, Benoit-Antoine Bacon, expressed gratitude for the provincial government’s support, stating that this collaborative effort will help alleviate significant pressures on both students and the local rental market, enabling the university to create an environment where academic success and well-being can thrive.
Broader Provincial Investments in Student Housing
Student housing developments are happening not only at UBC but across the entire province. Below are highlights of some key projects already completed or underway:
Lower Mainland
- 383 beds at Simon Fraser University, Burnaby ($115.6 million total, $73 million from the province)
- 470 beds at the British Columbia Institute of Technology, Burnaby ($141.7 million total, $129 million from the province)
- 368 beds and academic space at Douglas College, New Westminster ($332.5 million total, $232.3 million government contribution)
Interior
- 533 beds at Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops ($38 million total, $25.5 million from the province)
- 220 beds at UBC Okanagan, Kelowna ($25 million total, $18.7 million from the province)
- 148 beds at Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops (Completed November 2023)
Northern B.C. and Vancouver Island
- 108 beds at Coast Mountain College, Terrace (Opened October 2021)
- 783 new beds at the University of Victoria, Victoria (Opened September 2023)
- 423 beds at Camosun College, Lansdowne ($154.7 million total, $151.7 million from the province)
These investments demonstrate the government’s broader efforts to tackle the housing crisis through targeted student housing development. Expanding student accommodations helps not only students but also communities facing rental housing shortages.
