Skip to main content
Coming to Laurier

Coming to Laurier

Moving to a new area to embark on your academic pursuits can involve major life changes. The following information and resources aim to aid in the transition into life in our Laurier communities. 

Cost of Living

Average Housing Costs

Finding a home to live in when you arrive to Canada can be stressful, which is why we would like to provide as much information as possible for you. These resources can help you look for affordable housing to live in Waterloo Region and Brantford.

Waterloo

Brantford

Life in Waterloo

Culture

Our Waterloo campus is located in a culturally diverse community of Kitchener-Waterloo with various entertainment, dining, and recreational opportunities for you, as well as buying ethnic and cultural foods and groceries.

Things to do with Families

There are many activities you and your family to do in Waterloo. From museums, the library, swimming pools, to Waterloo Park and Waterloo Public Square, Waterloo is a family-oriented community.

School Board Rules

There are many high-quality educational institutions offered in Waterloo Region, from elementary and high schools to post-secondary institutions and many other options for continuing education.

Childcare and Family Services

Waterloo offers various childcare services. It is important to register for priority access prior to enrolment in which you can register using OneList, the Region of waterloo's central childcare waitlist. You can also check the eligibility for the Canada Child Benefit (CCB), a tax-free monthly payment made to families to help with the cost of raising children under the age of 18.

Life in Brantford

Culture

A combination of healthy arts, festivals, and culture scenes are integrated into the City of Brantford.

Things to do with Families

From museums, the library, and swimming pool, to ice-skating at Wayne Gretzky Sports Centre and strolling around Harmony Square, there are many activities for you and your family to do in Brantford.

School and Board Rules

Brantford has many high-quality educational institutions, including elementary and secondary schools, private schools, adult education, and universities and colleges.

Childcare and Family Services

The City of Brantford offers various childcare services to support families. It is important to register for priority access prior to enrolment in which you can register using OneList, an online registration system that allows you to search for licensed child care programs for children under the age of 12 . You can also check the eligibility for the Canada Child Benefit (CCB), a tax-free monthly payment made to families to help with the cost of raising children under the age of 18.

Health Insurance and Medical Services

UHIP and GSA Health/Dental

As an international student, you have access to extended Health and Dental benefits that complement the basic coverage through UHIP. For more information about coverage and plan costs, visit our webpage.

Tuition

Financial planning is important especially when adjusting your life in another country, which is why we want to ease your stress by providing as much information as possible about tuition and fees based on the type of graduate degree program. Visit our incidental fee breakdown for a thorough breakdown of these fees.

Student Support Services

To help international students adapt to the community, Laurier wants to ensure that your experience here is the best it can be. With a variety of services including financial support and English language support, we also offer professional development support to prepare you after graduation. External services for English Language support are additionally available.

Public Transportation

The public transit at the City of Waterloo makes it very convenient for students to travel within Kitchener-Waterloo region or to another city. Specifically, the Laurier's Waterloo Campus is located in proximity to a large number of transit systems, including GRT, GO Transit, Greyhound, and VIA Rail. Visit our webpage on public transit for more information.

Jobs

On/Off-campus work

Working while you're in Canada is helpful to earn some income as well as developing skills to prepare yourself for a full-time job after graduation. You can check navigator for both on-campus and off-campus job opportunities.

Getting a SIN (and Why)

As an international student, you are eligible to work part-time in Canada if you have a study permit and a social insurance number (SIN)

Banking Options

Opening up a bank account is one of the essentials when you arrive in Canada.

Follow the steps:

  1. Prepare required documents: passport, study permit, letter of acceptance, and travellers' cheques
  2. Select a bank or credit union
  3. Choose your account types: chequing/savings/foreign currency accounts

Bank webpages:

×