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It is important that you secure a place to stay before you arrive in Ottawa.

Well before you arrive, you should do one of the following:

Whatever your plans, there are resources available to help you organize your living arrangements in Ottawa.

Temporary Accommodations
You need to make arrangements for temporary accommodation if:
  • You will be securing permanent off-campus accommodation after your arrival
  • You have already secured permanent accommodation but are arriving before the move in date
Please refer to the Short-Term Accommodations Listing for some suggestions of suitable short term accommodations.  These include hostels, bed and breakfasts, and extended stay hotels. It is strongly recommended that students make reservations to secure their temporary accommodations prior to traveling.  Students arriving in September should keep in mind that the first weekend in September is a holiday in Canada so hotels will fill up very quickly.  Students arriving in January should check the university calendar to confirm holiday dates and hours of operation. Note that the majority of hotels will require that a credit card number be provided upon making a reservation as well as arrival and check-in. If you will be traveling alone and you don’t have a credit card, make sure to discuss an alternative arrangement upon making a reservation.
Permanent Accommodations
All students will need some form of permanent accommodations, and there are a number of options available:

On-Campus

Carleton Residence

Carleton offers a number of styles of on-campus residence including a variety of meal plans.  You must apply for a room in residence prior to arrival.  The deadline to apply for residence is typically early June. For information about securing a room in residence, residence options at Carleton, or residence application deadlines,  please visit the Department of Housing website.  For any other matters concerning your accommodation in residence you may contact the Department of Housing at accommodations@carleton.ca.  

Off-Campus

Off-campus Housing

There are a wide variety of rental options in Ottawa, and with proper research you can find somewhere you are happy to call home. Ideally, you should be in the city or have a friend visit potential rentals before you sign a lease or contract.  Weigh your options based on type of accommodation, convenience to campus and amenities, and your budget.  Make sure to take this list of considerations into account when choosing off-campus housing. Carleton University’s Department of Housing offers online resources  to assist students looking for off campus accommodations. These include information about areas close to the university as well as available rental listings. We highly recommend making use of these resources if you are unfamiliar with renting in Ottawa. For more details visit the Off Campus Housing website. Living off campus?  Want to stay engaged with the Carleton community?  Visit the SEO Off-Campus Student Life website for more information!

Homestay

Homestay provides international students an opportunity to learn about and experience Canadian culture while living with a local family. Families are generally chosen because of their commitment to involving students in family life and their interest in learning about other cultures. Most often homestays will include a bed with clean linen, private storage for your belongings, access to a bathroom with your own clean towels, a quiet place to study (often in your own room), access to laundry facilities, and some or all meals may be included. There are several private homestay organizations in Ottawa that you can research to find what best suits your needs.