Accomodation

• 3 meals per day (lunch you will bring to school from Monday to Friday).
• Private, furnished bedroom with access to washroom and laundry facilities (shared rooms are also available).
• A safe, convenient location with good accessibility to Royal Canadian Institute of Technology.

If you do not wish to participate in a Homestay, Royal Canadian Institute of Technology can also suggest alternative types of accommodation such as apartments, hotels and hostels.

Royal Canadian Institute of Technology also offers an airport pickup service. If requested on your application form, you will be greeted by a school representative after clearing Customs and Immigration at Vancouver International airport. The airport pickup fee is $70.

If a homestay is required, there is a non-refundable placement fee of $230.00 to find a family, after which there is a fee of $760.00 for four (4) weeks which starts from the date of arrival to Vancouver and includes room and board. Extra nights, as well as staying for less than one month are charged at a rate of $30.00 per night. One month’s notice is required in order to extend your stay or to leave earlier than originally planned.

• Download Homestay Application Form

What is a homestay?

The most popular choice of accommodation for students studying abroad is a homestay, where you’ll live with a family from the country that you’re studying in. There are many different kinds of homestay arrangements which may be available, including:

• Households with or without other students
• Private bedrooms, or shared with another student
• Families with or without children

Home Stay Rates

Placement Fee – $230
4 Weeks Fee – $760 ($800 per month)
Daily Fee – $30
Airport Pickup Service – $70

* All prices are in Canadian Dollars.

Why Choose Homestay?

There are several reasons for the popularity of homestays with students:

Language Immersion

A homestay situation can be very beneficial to learning a foreign language, since they provide an excellent chance to practice your new conversation skills and vocabulary, in a friendly, informal setting. Since your host-family likely do not speak your native language, you’ll be motivated to improve your language of study.

Convenience

A homestay situation makes getting settled-in relatively easy and inexpensive. You’ll have a furnished room, and you might also have access to other household amenities like: laundry facilities, television, a computer, etc. As well, depending on the package you have chosen, your host-family will prepare some or all of your meals for you, or you may also be able to cook some yourself, if you’d like.

Culture

Living with your homestay family will allow you to experience a lot of culture, even if you are only staying for a short length of time. You’ll be able to learn a lot from your hosts, and they will probably enjoy learning from you, as well. Also, your host-family can help show you around the community, may arrange trips and activities for you, and give you their “local” advice!

What is it like living with a homestay family?

Homestay families are usually friendly and welcoming of international students; they are selected by the school, which also conducts regular inspections. Most students find their homestay experience to be a very rewarding one, and it is not unusual for friendships between students and families to continue for a long time after the course is over! Your host-family can provide you with many things to make your visit experience an enjoyable and productive experience.

What if I want to change my accommodation?

While most students find their homestay experience to be a good one, it is possible that you may want a change of accommodation. If so, you should notify a counselor at the school, or us, as soon as possible.

It is also not uncommon for students to live in with a host-family for several months, and then move into an apartment or similar housing. If you’d like to live in a homestay for only the first few weeks or month, please notify us on your application. If you decide you’d like to move out later, just remember that you may need to give up to 30 day’s notice, depending on the situation.

Can I share my homestay room? Can my spouse share my homestay with me?

A few homestay families will provide twin or double accommodation requests. This must be applied for early as the number of spaces for twin or double rooms is limited. Please be cautious about the homestay family’s personal perspective on shared accommodations when booking a shared room. Unmarried couples need to be clear on their application of their status to avoid any troubles with the family’s personal perspective. Please contact the college for the cost of shared/double accommodations.

Can I have homestay without having to have the meals, or all the meals?

Generally one of the big advantages to staying in homestay is the interaction that occurs with your host family over dinner.  Sometimes arrangements can be made for you to have the room only, or to have the room and dinner only. Please contact the college for the cost of this option.