The four best spots to study off-campus in Metro Vancouver
Sometimes you just need a change of scenery
Finding a great study spot can be hard to come by. When I first started attending Kwantlen Polytechnic University in September 2019, I spent a lot of my time studying on campus or at home.
After many failed attempts to find the perfect place to study with a stable Wi-Fi connection, I can finally say I’ve found four ideal spots. Although KPU has five spacious and incredible campuses, it’s nice to change your surroundings and find something new to enjoy.
- Waves Coffee House, 599 6th St., New Westminster
Located on the corner of 6th Street and 6th Ave, this coffee shop in the uptown neighbourhood is a five-minute bus ride from the New Westminster SkyTrain Station.
The place is spacious and has a patio for when the weather is nice. The staff always greet you when you walk in and say farewell when guests leave, making it a friendly and comfortable environment while studying.
They offer various food options from sandwiches to cheesecake and occasionally have new items to try while offering a variety of drinks from lattes, teas, and their Belgian hot chocolate.
As a journalism and history student, I always worry about the Wi-Fi connection when I study off-campus. The connection here is strong and has a separate password-protected server, so you can also feel cyber safe when studying.
Although it’s roughly an hour transit ride from the KPU Surrey campus, it’s worth visiting if you are in the area.
- Black Tiger Coffee Co., #110 – 19255 Fraser Hwy, Surrey
This local coffee shop is a good spot for its space, Wi-Fi, and music selection for studying.
Black Tiger Coffee Co. offers a variety of differently-sized tables to work on group projects or seat just one to two people. They have three large windows that light up the café, so you can enjoy the sun while studying.
The white walls and green decor give the shop a warm atmosphere and make you feel relaxed while studying or chatting with classmates. They offer a variety of donuts, like the maple brownie, and provide dairy alternatives for their drinks.
For those who live near the KPU Langley campus, Black Tiger Coffee Co. is only a 20-minute bus ride away, making it accessible if you need a caffeine pick-me-up.
- Surrey Public Library, 10350 University Drive, Surrey
With over three floors and tons of computers and printers to access, the City Centre Branch is a spacious and great study spot off-campus if you enjoy the KPU Library.
The library is quiet and perfect for writing those larger assignments or essays near the end of the semester when we need a place to concentrate, and it’s free.
The internet connection is stable, and they offer a café on the first floor for snacks or coffee to enjoy. While this branch is a 30-minute transit ride from the KPU Surrey Campus, the Newton Branch is not too far for people to sit and study. And who knows, maybe you will find a new book to read while you’re there.
- Coffeeholic, #6 – 405 North Road, Coquitlam
Only an eight-minute walk from the Lougheed Town Centre SkyTrain station, this coffee shop is my all-time favourite and a great place to study in the summer since they have air conditioning.
They are open every day until 7:00 pm and offer a wide variety of great food like their spicy chicken panini and offer lots of dairy alternatives for their drinks.
There are many tables to sit at, and most have an outlet nearby, so you don’t have to worry about your laptop battery dying. With many windows, unique lights, and quiet background music, the atmosphere is relaxing, and you can focus on assignments for hours. The staff is always friendly, and the Wi-Fi connection is also strong.
It’s not too busy or loud, making it a great place to study. Although it’s a one-hour commute from the KPU Surrey campus, it’s worth the trip. Especially in the summer when you need a place to cool off.
