Lakehead University — a guide for international students
Published 2026-03-23 · Updated 2026-07-23
For undergraduates and graduate students arriving at Lakehead University: this pulls Student Central, myPortal, the LUSU bus pass, the residence timetable and the Academic Support Zone into one start-of-term checklist.
Newcomer guide
The week-one paperwork, transit fares and health cover
Off-campus housing (Chinese)
Oliver Rd / Intercity / Port Arthur
On- and off-campus jobs (Chinese)
Read alongside what your permit allows
Used books and furniture (Chinese)
The cheapest way through a first term
Popular on the forum
Real discussions from lakebbs members, written in Chinese — tap to read the full thread.
Common searches
Lakehead University international students, is Lakehead University good, Thunder Bay student life, myPortal, LUSU bus pass.
FAQ
What is Lakehead University like?
Lakehead is a public university in Thunder Bay, Ontario, with over 1,800 international students from more than 90 countries (university figures, 2026). Classes are small and the city costs less to live in than the Greater Toronto Area. Chinese-language housing, classifieds and job information sits on the lakebbs Thunder Bay boards.
Which city is Lakehead University in?
The main campus is in Thunder Bay, Ontario, with a second campus in Orillia. Thunder Bay is the largest city in northwestern Ontario, with a city population of 108,843 at the 2021 census.
Are there many Chinese students, and where is the Chinese-language information?
The university does not publish a breakdown by nationality; the international total is 1,800+. Thunder Bay's Chinese community is small but active, and Lakehead's Chinese students trade housing, second-hand, carpool and everyday information on lakebbs (北獭).
Where is Student Central, and when can I walk in?
Student Central on the Thunder Bay campus is in UC1002. Published walk-in hours are Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Tuesday 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; phone service runs Monday to Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Which system handles offers, registration and course selection?
myPortal. Lakehead puts accepting your offer, paying the confirmation deposit, registering for courses and confirmation of enrolment into the myPortal self-service tools.
How does transit work for full-time undergraduates?
The 2025-26 compulsory ancillary fees for full-time Thunder Bay undergraduates include a LUSU bus pass fee of CAD 282. If you carry the full-time course load the university defines, you are normally assessed this automatically — don't buy monthly passes on top of it.
When do residence applications open?
Lakehead currently states that 2026-2027 Fall/Winter residence applications open in February or March 2026. New international students who register and pay the required residence down payment by 2026-06-01 can secure an on-campus housing guarantee.
Where do I go if I'm struggling academically?
The Academic Support Zone first. On the Thunder Bay campus it is in LI 2004, the second floor of the Chancellor Paterson Library, offering free daily academic support, group tutoring and writing assistance — far more effective than waiting until finals to fix it.
More guides
Compiled from Lakehead University's published student information and the local discussion on lakebbs, aimed at admission preparation, housing and commuting, and the step into local work.
Published 2026-03-23 · Updated 2026-07-23 · lakebbs editorial