Finding a suitable place to live will be a top priority for you. Currently, North Island College does not have student dormitories.
Off-Campus Housing
We have partnered with Places4Students to help you find a place to live, a roommate or a sublet – all you need is your NIC email address to register. The service is free. Helpful features include a distance calculator to NIC campuses and detailed listing of amenities.
Landlords can post listings online or call 1-866-766-0767 (toll free) to speak with customer service staff. This service is free.
Rental listings for Comox Valley
Rental listings for Campbell River
Rental listings for Port Alberni
You must live in the same community as the campus you are attending. Transit systems do not allow you to commute between campuses.
The average rent in our campus communities can range from $1,300 to $1,600 for a 1 bedroom suites/apartment; rent does not include WIFI and utilities such as electricity.
We highly recommend all students become familiar with the BC Tenancy Act before committing to an rental/lease agreement and become educated to identifying potential rental scams.
Steps to follow before moving in:
- Sign a Residential Tenancy Agreement (a rental or lease agreement)
- Pay the deposit (usually first and last month’s rent)
- Inspect the property and do a condition report (write down if anything is damaged or not working)
We highly recommend making temporary arrangements to stay a local motel for one to two weeks after you arrive. For more information about affordable local motels in your campus location, please see information below. Please budget accordingly.
Short-term Accommodation
If you are looking for a temporary accommodation when you arrive, you can stay a local motel or Air BnB. Check the web links below to search for options:
Campbell River Motels
Comox Valley Motels
Port Alberni Motels
Airbnb
Be careful to check map and location carefully — you want to be sure your accommodation is close to campus and on a bus route to get to the college)
If making a motel reservation, be sure to reference that you are an international student attending North Island College. Some motels such as the Super 8 in Courtenay may have discounts available for students who stay a minimum of 28 days, pending availability.
Additional Search Options:
NIC international students looking for a shared accommodation or students who have are seeking a roommate can post on the International Students of North Island College. This is a private group hosted by NIC students and not monitored by Office of Global Engagement (OGE).
Craigslist and Kijiji in your campus community are also options for finding private rentals. We strongly recommend that you do not enter into a rental agreement or send any money until you have seen the space for rent in person and have met the landlord and feel comfortable. Beware of scams or who will request your money up front without providing you with a tour of actual rental unit or a contract.
Disclaimer:
North Island College provides this information as a service to its students but does NOT take responsibility for the agreements made between students and landlords. North Island College does not screen, inspect or approve any landlord, student or accommodation.
To protect yourself, always visit the accommodation in person before signing a rental/lease agreement and before giving the landlord any money.