Pre-Arrival Information

New student checklist 

Apply for a Study Permit

Once you have received your offer of admission to UNBC. You can submit your study permit application. Please see the IRCC website for more information about how to apply for your study permit  

Make Travel Plans 

Before you book flights and make travel plans to Prince George. Make sure you are aware of UNBC semester dates and make plans to arrive before the start of the semester. 

You should arrange housing before you arrive in Prince George. You will need to decide if you want to stay on or off campus. If you stay in UNBC housing be aware of the deadlines and move in dates.

It is reasonable for students to arrive a couple weeks before the start of the semester. Be advised that you cannot start working before you begin your program. 

Cost of Living

Cost of living in BC can vary depending on whether you are staying on campus, off campus, living with roommates or renting by yourself. Students can expect to pay between $750 to $1500 a month for accommodations depending on the living arrangements. Students should take into account additional costs per month:

Accommodations: $750-$1500 (See housing options below)

Food: $400-$1,000

Utilities: $50-$150 (Ask your landlord to see if utilities are included in costs of rent)

Transportation: $50-$200

BC MSP: $75.00 

Students may find the Government of Canada budget calculator of livingcost.org website helpful in estimating expenses. 

Stay in Touch with UNBC 

UNBC will stay in connect with you through your myUNBC account  account and your UNBC email. We also recommend that you download the myUNBC app and follow us on social media for important updates. 

Don't forget to sign up for a pre-arrival information session. 

Register for classes

You should register for classes before you arrive. Late registration may result in students not being able to register in their top choice class or being waitlisted. 

Prepare for Arrival

Make sure that you have responded to the UNBC arrival email, this will ensure that you receive a voucher for the Prince George Airport Shuttle. The shuttle is not run by UNBC and may not be available for all flights depending on arrival time. Review our webpage about Arriving in Canada for document information and the UNBC Packing Checklist.