Advantages and disadvantages of sharing a flat in Vancouver
Here are some of the most important advantages and disadvantages of living in shared flats in this Canadian city:
Advantages of sharing a flat in Vancouver
- There are accommodations in different areas of the city, so you will be able to choose the one that best suits your preferences. You can choose neighbourhoods that are close to the university you are going to, green areas and the city centre, where most of the popular entertainment venues are located.
- You will have a lower monthly rental cost than if you rent an entire apartment, so you can take advantage of your budget to do more activities, trips and experiences, enjoying Vancouver to the fullest.
Disadvantages of sharing a flat in Vancouver
- The cost of rent is usually quite high and sometimes the spaces can seem very expensive for what is offered.
- You have to reach an agreement with your roommates about the use of heating in winter, so everyone is comfortable in the apartment and nobody gets too hot or too cold.
App for your international exchange programme in Vancouver
There are a lot of apps that you can use to make your exchange in Vancouver the best it can be. In them, you will be able to carry out various procedures and see instructions for others, in addition to accessing benefits, services and experiences of students from other years who give recommendations and advice. One of the pieces of information young people give is that you keep in mind that it will rain regularly during your stay, so you have to be prepared for it to rain every day.
How to meet people in Vancouver?
In this section, we state some ways you have to get in touch with other international students in the Canadian city:
Student associations in Vancouver
Surely at your university, you will find a wide variety of societies and clubs to join For example, at the University of British Columbia there are more than 350 clubs and societies of the most diverse subjects that you can join, including from various nationalities, sports, from Amnesty International, from Curling, Tennis, Applied Sciences and even Biodiversity.
Facebook groups for international students in Vancouver
On Facebook, you will find several groups designed to make the exchange and integration of international students easier, such as the so-called “Vancouver International Students Group” or “International Students in Vancouver”. Likewise, the departments for international students of different universities usually create groups on this platform so that they can ask their questions and connect before and when they arrive in the city.
WhatsApp groups for international students in Vancouver
You will most likely find WhatsApp groups to join, where you can be in more direct contact with the other students and propose the plans you want to make, as well as join what others suggest.
Tips for sharing a student flat in Vancouver
We give you some tips to keep in mind when living in shared flats in this Canadian city:
- Traffic in the city is usually very chaotic, so we recommend that you determine where you are and the university you are going to attend so that you can choose accommodation with easy access to it. Keep in mind that you can use both public transport and bicycles to get around the city.
- If you like sports, in Vancouver you will be able to do different outdoor activities and share moments with your roommates. Some of these sports are hiking, skiing, sailing, kayaking, and cycling, among others.