Important Facts

Helpful Information to study in Vancouver, B.C.

New country, new cultures, new customs, new practices, and new policies – we recognize that all these can be daunting to a new comer to the country. As such, at Eton, we are committed to helping make your educational experience as pleasant as possible while helping you through a smooth transition to student life on campus. Wherever you come from, you will find Eton College to be a distinctly different and caring institution that places our students’ well being at the top of everything we do.

To begin, here is some helpful information to prepare you for your study and stay in Vancouver.

• Immigration and Study Permits:
  

Anyone who wishes to study in Canada and who is not a Canadian citizen or permanent resident needs a study permit and/or a temporary resident visa. The Canadian visa office in your country will have information on procedures and what documents need to be submitted together with the application for a study permit and/or temporary resident visa.

For more information, visit the following websites:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/study.asp

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/student.asp  

• Medical & Dental Insurance:
  

Citizens, Permanent Residents and long term visitors to the country, including students are required to have some form of medical and dental insurance coverage to cover the cost of any medical/dental treatments or emergencies in Canada. As these treatments can be costly for those without such coverage, Eton College requires that all its students arrange for such medical/dental insurance coverage for the entire duration of their study here. As this type of coverage is not provided for foreign students by the BC government, it is important that you secure this coverage through private health/dental insurance providers in your home country or in Vancouver prior to or immediately upon arrival. 

 For private insurance providers in Vancouver, you may wish to check out the following websites:

http://www.kanetix.ca/travel-students-to-canada

http://www.studyinsured.com/

http://www.pac.bluecross.ca/corp/default.aspx

• Cost of Living 
  

Before you arrive in Vancouver, make sure you have adequate funds to support your entire stay. Living expenses can vary depending on your lifestyle. For example, shared accommodations in the city can cost $500 upwards per month. Living alone will cost at least $800 a month. Choosing to live further away from the city will allow you to save on rent but will require a longer commute. Apart from rent, other typical expenses incurred by a student will include food, transportation, medical insurance, recreation, household and personal supplies.

For a sample of living costs in Vancouver:

Living in Vancouver

• Getting Around
  

Vancouver boasts of an excellent transit system that is clean, reliable and affordable. TransLink, a local transportation authority, provides an integrated public transportation system of buses, SkyTrain, SeaBus and the West Coast Express, a commuter rail service. Downtown Vancouver and most major cities are also bicycle friendly with dedicated bike lanes to ensure the safety of two-wheeled cyclists. If you choose to live outside the city, there are also trains that provide comfortable, convenient commutes.

Map of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada:

Google Map of Vancouver

For transit information:

http://www.translink.ca/

 For travelling around Canada:

http://www.canada.travel/selectCountry.html

• Banking & Finances 
  

Vancouver is home to a number of global banking institutions that have accessible branches all over the city. Once you arrive, it is advisable to open an account with a bank and familiarize yourself with the local banking regulations. If you need to exchange currency, make sure to deal only with banks or reputable currency converters. 

For information on currency exchange:

http://www.bankofcanada.ca/rates/exchange/daily-converter/

http://www.xe.com/ecc/input.cgi