Students Life

English Score Requirement

MINIMUM IELTS SCORE

MINIMUM TOEFL IBT

Note: Language proficiency requirements can vary on program basis.

Accomodation

Housing Options for International Students

When you apply to your program – remember you also need to apply to find a place to live! We can help with that. You may choose to live in International Homestay, in Student Housing, or in a rental apartment.

It is important to arrange your housing early.  Space in the Homestay Program and Student Housing is limited. You should submit your Homestay or Student Housing application as soon as you have received your offer of admission to the College.  If you plan to live in off-campus housing, you may need to arrange short-term accommodations at a local hotel or motel upon your arrival and allow yourself one to two weeks to secure long-term housing. 

International Homestay
Experience Canadian life by living with a host family!

Our Homestay Program offers an excellent opportunity for international students to improve their English and learn about Canadian culture while living with a Canadian family in Cranbrook. For your safety, host families have been carefully screened and homes have been inspected by program staff. 

Features of the Homestay Program:

• You will be provided with your own private, furnished bedroom and access to bathroom and laundry facilities.
• Three meals per day are included in the homestay fee. You may have to prepare your own breakfast and lunch. Dinner is usually a hot meal prepared by your host family.
• You must be prepared to eat Canadian food, clean up after yourself, and follow the rules of your homestay family.
• For your safety, all host families are visited and interviewed by the College before a student is placed with them.

On-Campus Housing

• The Village
  • Located just steps from the Cranbrook main campus, you’ll be able to travel to and from classes in minutes. And with the buildings bordering the Cranbrook Community Forest, you also have easy access to recreation trails right outside your door.
  • The Village features a private bathroom for each student and coin-operated laundry on each floor. Two-storey buildings have a combined social/study lounge on the second floor while our three-storey buildings feature a study lounge on the top floor and a combined lounge on the second. One of our three 3-storey buildings provides accessible units.
• Purcell House
  • Purcell House is a secure building which provides housing for 96 students at the Cranbrook campus. Located near the main entrance of Kootenay Centre, means you can make it to classes in minutes.

Off-Campus Housing Options
The housing market in the College region, like most regions in BC, is very competitive. We recommend you begin your search for off-campus housing as soon as you receive your acceptance letter.

Happipad
College of the Rockies has partnered with Happipad to support your search for off-campus housing that meets your needs. Happipad will match you with compatible homeowners in the area and you will be supported throughout the entire experience from when your search begins right up until move-out day. Nervous about renting from strangers? Happipad has several measures in place designed to protect you, including flexible terms, a contract, background checks, and insurance options.

Important Tips and Information

• Off-campus housing landlords may require references before agreeing to rent to you. You may also be asked personal questions like “do you have a job?”, etc.
• If you secure housing in advance of attending the College, you may be expected to pay rent for the weeks or months before you arrive in order to hold the rental for you. If possible, we encourage you to take the housing opportunity, despite the extra cost.
• Make sure you know which campus your program is being held at and what the travel distance is from a potential rental to the campus. If you do not have a vehicle, you will want to ensure your housing is located within the same city in which you’re studying. Google Maps can tell you the distance, but keep in mind, weather can impact how long it takes you to commute. Give yourself more than enough time to drive to your campus.
• Move-in dates for off-campus housing are usually the first day of each month. You will likely also be required to give your landlord a full month’s notice when you plan to move out.  Your landlord may also require you to pay a damage deposit. This deposit is usually half a month’s rent, and it will be returned to you when you move out, if the property remains in the same condition as when you moved in.
• Many rental units do not come furnished. Ensure you know whether yours is or not, and be prepared to purchase furniture, bedding, kitchen items, etc., after you move in.

Scholarships

Features of College of The Rockies - Cranbrook Campus