Corporate Housing for International Students

Posted on Monday, July 21 2025

Over the past few years, Canada has become an increasingly popular destination for international students at colleges and universities: The total number of international students is now at about 1,000,000 across the country.

And while recent legislation is reducing the annual number of student visas by about 10%, popular locations like Vancouver, Halifax and Toronto continue to attract large numbers of students from all over the world, with more than 25,000 international students at the University of Toronto alone.

Housing needs for international students

While in many ways, international students are just like their Canadian counterparts, they have slightly different needs when it comes to their housing. International students require housing that is:

• Reliable and ‘as advertised’, since most international students have to choose their accommodation before they’ve arrived in their new city
• Close to campus and public transportation, since very few international students have access to a car of their own
• In a walkable location for things like groceries and other supplies
• In a safe neighbourhood, so that returning from late-night classes or study sessions isn’t considered risky
• Quiet and secure – many international students, even undergrads, prefer not to be in ‘party’ houses
• Acceptable to parents, who may be a big part of the process
• Flexible stay lengths, to accommodate academic schedules or short-term changes
• Furnished options, since most international students won’t have their own furniture and won’t want to make a significant investment
• Speedy, reliable wifi for daily schoolwork
• Responsive property management, to smoothly handle arrivals and departures

Why corporate housing can be a great resource for international students

Many colleges and universities offer furnished on-campus accommodation for international students, often with meal plans, and these can be a good option for new students. However, many schools don’t guarantee on-campus accommodation, or only guarantee it for the first year of study. And on-campus housing can require sharing a room, bathroom, kitchen and other facilities with strangers, which can be overwhelming in combination with adapting to a whole new country.

Many international students prefer to live off-campus so they can get out of the university ‘bubble’ and experience more of the local culture. They also choose off-campus housing if they anticipate hosting friends and family from their home country and need privacy and space to do this.

This is where corporate housing can be a good option. Accredited, recognized corporate housing, especially in larger cities, delivers a variety of benefits, including:

• WSIWYG: Reputable corporate housing providers have high standards to maintain, which means that, upon arrival, students will find that the accommodations they’ve chosen via online photos and videos are in fact as good or better than what they expected. There are no unpleasant surprises
• Lots of options: Some of our international students choose compact studio suites because they’re staying alone, while others choose a 2- or even 3-bedroom option so they can live with friends from home, or easily accommodate visits from family for extended periods
• Fully furnished and fully equipped: Our suites, homes and townhomes aren’t just furnished with a bed and a desk. They are fully furnished with everything you’d have in a regular home, including dishes and kitchenware as well as sheets and towels. Students don’t need to bring anything more than their clothes
• Flexible stay lengths and no requirement for long-term leases: International students may return to their home countries in the summer breaks, or may only need to be in Canada for a semester or two. Either way, it doesn’t make sense to get locked in to a year-long lease. Depending on location, minimum stays for corporate housing in Canada can be as brief as a few days, or as long as a year – making it ideal for international students
• Safe, secure and well-managed: Corporate housing has to be safe and secure to protect all their guests, making it a good option for international students who may be looking for an extra layer of protection. Additionally, larger corporate housing companies like Premiere have dedicated customer service, cleaning and maintenance staff who are on-call to address issues, no matter when they arise.

Corporate housing is a great fit for international students

With more than 1500 furnished suites, homes and townhomes, plus a network of more than 10,000 properties across Canada, we have a property perfect for your international student journey. Get in touch to learn more about how we can help you find the right one for you.

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