Housing

U of A Residence Services

The University operates a number of student residences. Living on campus may be a good option (at least initially) if you're from elsewhere and don't know the city well. Note that new international students are guaranteed residence placement in their first year. On the down side, the monthly rates are high. It's probably cheaper to live off campus.

Rental listings

The University of Alberta Students' Union operates its own housing registry for off-campus, non-University-owned rentals. Craigslist is a popular forum for apartment and roommate ads. And you'll also find lots of postings at kijiji, liveonrent.com, rentfaster.ca, and rentersonline.com.

Unfortunately, Edmonton real estate is unusually expensive. You may decide that it's worth saving money by sharing a place with roommates. There are usually lots of options for September, since that's the start of our school year.

Temporary accommodation

If you need a place to stay while you're apartment hunting, you may consider Hostelling International in Old Strathcona or the GO backpackers hostel downtown. If you're advernturous, there's also couchsurfing.

Rooms are availble on campus during the summer (May to August only) at the Lister Centre Dormitory and the St. Joseph's College Residence.

Getting around

Edmonton is car-centric on the whole, but there is a good bus and subway system, and most students and postdocs make do without a car. It's convenient enough so long as you live near campus or on a regular transit route.

If you're looking at apartments farther afield, keep in mind that the subway (Edmonton LRT) route is somewhat limited.

View Edmonton's LRT Line in a larger map