Sunday October 5, 2025 | VICTORIA, BC
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
More than 500 new student beds are coming to the University of Victoria (UVic), as announed on Friday October 3.
This is made possible with provincial funding approved for student housing designed for upper-year undergraduate and graduate students.
“Our government is building the infrastructure that growing communities need, and investing in on-campus housing benefits both students and the broader community,” said Bowinn Ma, Minister of Infrastructure.
“With over 500 new beds on campus, more students can learn closer to home while relieving pressure on the local rental market,” said Ma in a news release on October 3.
The new building will include:
- a highrise tower with 360 beds in 90 four-bedroom apartment-style units for upper-year undergraduate students;
- a seven-storey adjacent wing will contain 150 studio apartment units for graduate students;
- amenities for students to connect, including a student lounge, outdoor and multi-purpose spaces, and a community kitchen; and
- secure athletic storage for sports equipment and bicycles.
Delivering a fully electric, zero-carbon building designed to achieve LEED Gold certification supports the objectives of CleanBC and UVic’s climate and sustainability action plan. The building will serve as a model of climate-resilient design and demonstrates the Province’s commitment to a more sustainable future.
Benefits of on-campus:
This new student residence will enable more students to live on campus, building the campus community and providing students with greater access to on-campus supports and resources. It will also expand housing options for upper-year undergraduate and graduate students. For those who apply in time, first-year UVic students are currently guaranteed housing to help ease the transition to university.
A few years ago, housing was established for first-year and undergrad students at the campus that is located in Saanich.
“An important part of building a stronger B.C. is ensuring post-secondary students have a clear path to get the skills and training they need to secure a great job in their field, and that means making sure they have access to good supports while in school,” said Jessie Sunner, Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills. “Access to safe and secure on-campus housing means students are closer to services and can spend more time focusing on their studies.”
“The new student residence will be transformative for our upper-year undergraduate and graduate students, many of whom face challenges finding affordable housing near campus,” said Qwul’sih’yah’maht, Robina Thomas, acting president and vice-chancellor, University of Victoria. “Living on campus gives students better access to academic and wellness supports and strengthens their connections to peers, which allows them to help focus on what matters, their education.”
“This new housing will provide students with stable, affordable homes right on campus, helping them focus on their studies and thrive in our community,”said local MLA Diana Gibson (Oak Bay-Gordon Head).
“It will also help to reduce the pressure on housing near the university, making housing more accessible for families in the region. It’s a meaningful investment in community, the future of higher education and in the people who help drive it forward.” said Gibson who is BC Minister of Citizens’ Services.
Funding:
The estimated capital cost of the project is $178 million, with $121 million from the Province and $57 million from UVic. Construction is expected to start in spring 2026.
Since 2018, the Province has committed $2 billion to build on-campus student housing at post-secondary institutions throughout B.C. To date, nearly 6,900 student housing beds have been built throughout the province, with another 4,800 underway.
===== RELATED:
- NDP leader discusses housing crisis with grad students at UVic (August 30, 2023)
- Fall season student housing challenge at UVic (August 29, 2023)
- UVic students challenged on where to live (August 17, 2021)
- Over 600 new student housing units coming to UVic (November 15, 2018)
- NEWS SECTIONS: POST SECONDARY | UNIVERISTY of VICTORIA