Living with family
We provide information, support and events to address the questions and concerns of our international family community.
Housing for families
Residence Servicesoffers accommodation inVarsity CourtsԻCrowsnest Hallfor students with families.
To live invarsity courtsbuildings students must:
- Be in a full-time program leading to a UCalgary degree
- Live with a spouse or common-law partner or have children
To live inCrowsnest Hallstudents must:
- Be enrolled in a full-time program leading to a UCalgary degree
- Be a graduate student with no children
- Note: accommodation for couples in Crowsnest Hall is limited and high in demand
Apply to live on-campus through the Residence Services website.
Some benefits of living in Varsity Court and Crowsnest Hall include:
- A significant residence life program, with regular activities for children and their families (and for adults as well) offered multiple times a month
- Close proximity to the main campus, hospital services, public transit, and a local shopping centre (Market Mall)
- Rental contracts are monthly agreements which provides more flexibility for how long students choose to stay or move out
- On site laundry services (paid separately)
- A chance to live in an extremely diverse community
If you are moving to Calgary with a family and are arranging to live off-campus, there are several factors to consider when choosing a place to live:
- Proximity to the university, a school for any minor children, grocery stores, childcare, public transit (bus or train stops), community, parks, and how much space you may require (eg. a house versus an apartment)
Explore different Calgary neighbourhoods:
Immigration information for partners and children
Visit thefor more information.
Healthcare and families
As a full-time UCalgary student working towards a degree, you have two components to your health insurance:
- Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP) which is the free provincial plan that all Alberta residents must register for.
- Supplemental Health & Dental coverage through either the Student Union (undergraduate) or Graduate Students Association (graduate)
Learn more about health insurance options for new Alberta residents. If you are in Calgary with family members (married spouses and single children under the age of 21), you will register for AHCIP together. More details are available.
You can also choose to add your family members to your supplemental Health & Dental plan through the Students Union or Graduate Students Association during the first few weeks of studies, for an additional cost. More details are available through the SU and GSA health and dental websites.
- Graduate Student Association:
- Students' Union:
Social programs and events for families
International Student Services Newsletter:Sign-up to receive emails with international student and family-focused information and events.
Writing Symbols Lodge:Sign-up to receive emails with events open to students and spouses hosted by the Writing Symbols Lodge (formerly, the Native Centre). Visit theirwebsitefor more information.
Graduate Student Association (GSA):Sign up for theto stay up to date on all the event and programming opportunities (scroll down). The GSA hosts events year-round, they also offer discounted tickets to several attractions in and around Calgary, including the zoo, the Telus Spark Science Centre, the Calgary Tower, and more! Visitto purchase your tickets.
UCalgary Strong Festival:The annual festival takes place during the last day of classes and is free to all members of the community. There is live music, interactive games, wellness activities, and snacks! Visit theirwebsitefor updates.
English language learning resources for partners and spouses
Most on-campus language support resources are specifically available to UCalgary students. As such, partners and spouses of UCalgary students are not able to independently access these services, but may gain exposure and informal practice with language skills by attending social and informational events that are open to the public.
Visit office websites to search upcoming events that are open to public.
Calgary Public Library (CPL):The CPL provides several programs open to residents of Calgary (good for adults as well as families with children). Some programs require registration and some do not (you can just show up and attend). Learn more about these programs or. Select “Newcomers & ESL” then “Apply”. Below are some available programs that require registration, and some programs that do not.
Require Registration:
- ESL Conversation Club (Intermediate):Practice your English speaking skills in this program
- ESL Writing Club (Intermediate):Practice your English writing skills in this program
- Learn English Story time:You can practice your English with other parents and children (ages 0-5) who speak the same first language; offered in different languages (eg. Korean, Punjabi, Spanish)
- EEL School Success:(for ages 6-8) children who are learning English are paired with teenager volunteers who help with learning new words. Includes presentation for parents on how to support their child’s learning
Do Not Require Registration:
- ESL Coffee and Conversation (90 minutes):no registration required. Practice your English speaking and listening skills in informal drop-in setting. Coffee is provided.
- New Friends & Neighborhood Groups for Women:Join this group to practice English, make friends, and learn about resources with other women. Free childcare provided.
Explore the Calgary Public Library website:
Meet Up:There are several meetup groups for anyone who is passionate about learning English and improving their language skills (). People with any level of English are welcome to join. Some popular groups include:
- Calgary International Students and English learners
- The Calgary English as a Second language Meetup group
- Calgary Language lovers
There are some groups specifically for families and single parents (for example, Calgary Moms and Tots Playgroup). Kids play and parents can chat. Learn more.
Cultural Associations in Calgary:Different organizations may provide resources in various languages. For example, the Calgary Chinese Cultural Association offers Stepping Stones English Literacy Program (instructors use both Chinese and English in the classroom). Learn more here:
ESL Program List in Calgary:A list of English as a Second Language (ESL) programs in Calgary is available on the.Note: some programs are limited to Permanent Residents or Citizens. Immigrant Services Calgary also provides interpretation and translation services, literacy programs, and citizenship test preparation classes.
Bringing your family with you while you study in Canada
Many students studying in Canada are anxious about having to leave their spouse and/or children behind in their home country.
Accessing services on-campus with your partner or spouse
Since most on-campus services are funded through student services fees, there are a limited number of supports that partners or spouses can access with their student partner.
Through the payment of fees, students are automatically enrolled as Active Living members and can access services and programs. Students also have the option of adding their families. The cost to add family members is $122 per term, per family.
Please note that people under 17 years of age have restricted access to active living facilities due to risk of injury. There are, however, areas children and teenagers can access such as the swimming pool, children's summer day camps, open court times, and so forth. For more information visit theirwebsite.
Liliana Gonzalez, Career Development Specialist, International Students can support international students & their partners/spouses.
- International Advising Appointments:Internationalstudents can book an appointment under the international student career services calendar on behalf of the spouse on careerlink.ucalgary.ca.
- International Student Workshops: Spouses/partners are also welcome to come to the “international student” workshops; they can find the workshops under the careerlink career services calendar and the titles would include (international students) in them. The student can register for the workshop on behalf of the spouse.
- Online Resources: students and spouses/partnerscan access information online through the Career Services website
The majority of services and events are available to students and their spouses. To learn more about what the centre offers clickhere.
ISS offers immigration support to all students including your spouse and/or children. If you need to access this service, make sure to drop by the office with your family along with your UCID card.
SLA is the on-campus law clinic that provides free representation and legal assistance to UCalgary students. They are located in Murray Fraser Hall 3390. You can contact them by calling 403.220.6637. SLA is open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Learn more visiting their.
Please note that the SLA is unable to assist in the following family matters: parenting matters involving Child and Family Services, divorce matters, and matters filed with the Court of the Queen's Bench.
Chiropractic, nutritional, and massage services can be booked for a fee by non-students by calling 403.210.9355 or visiting theirwebsitefor more information.
The WRC has two lactation rooms open to anyone who wishes to use them, for free. They are available on a first-come first-served basis. The WRC is located on the 4th floor of MacEwan Student Centre. To learn more about services and programs offered at the WRC, clickhere.