A guide to choosing the best student accommodation for you
Choosing the right student accommodation can sometimes feel overwhelming, especially if you’re going into your first year of university or if you’re going into your second year and want to explore other options. As an international student, it will be home away from home, so it’s important to choose a place where you’ll feel comfortable.
So, in this guide we’ll tell you all about university accommodation options, along with pros and cons of each, and tips to make the best choice for yourself.
But first, here are some room types you are likely to encounter during your room search, whether it’s university halls, private student accommodation or shared housing.
Depending on the countries and universities you are looking at these are the most common room types:
| Room type | What is it? |
| Studio | A studio is a room where you will have your own kitchen, bathroom and room for yourself. Kitchen and bedroom are usually in the same division. |
| En-suite | An en-suite is where you will get a room for yourself, along with your own bathroom. The kitchen is shared with the rest of your flatmates |
| Standard/single | You will share the kitchen and bathroom with the rest of your flatmates. |
| Double | This is where you will share a bedroom with a roommate, and kitchen and toilets will be shared with the rest of the flat. |
University halls of residence
University halls of residence are student accommodation managed by the university. These are typically on-campus or nearby university facilities. They will always have bills included, so you don’t have to worry every month about how much you spend on water, gas and electricity. However, be mindful of your usage.
These are usually chosen by first year students, because of the ease of making friends and integrating quickly. However, sometimes second and third year students also opt to stay in university halls. This is because the university usually offers a discount for people staying at halls, or because it’s simply more convenient for them.
Halls of residence, also known as student dorms, are popular options for students at university in countries such as the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
Within university halls of residence, some universities offer the option of having two to three meals included in your monthly rent (catered) or without the meals included (self-catered).
In on-campus housing in the United States, Canada, meal plans are often mandatory.
People living in catered halls will still have access to kitchen facilities, as some universities don’t offer catering on weekends.
Depending on the country and university you are applying to, there is also a broad range of choices on what room types might be available to you.
| Pros | Cons |
| Good location for university | Limited independence |
| Monitored by university staff | More expensive than other options |
| Great for making friends | Might be further away from city centre and shops |
Public Student Accommodation
Publicly funded student accommodation gives you the option of living in student halls in areas close to your university, but rather than being run by your university, they are publicly funded.
These types of accommodation usually service an area, rather than a specific university.
Examples of these include CROUS accommodation in France and studierendenWERK accommodation in Germany.
This type of accommodation is usually found in European countries where there are no university-run halls of residence, and provides students with a cheaper alternative to private rented accommodation.
The types of rooms the private student accommodations offer are very similar to the student halls. You can choose from studios, en-suite rooms, and shared amenities.
| Pros | Cons |
| Monitored by maintenance and security 24/7 | High competition for places |
| Usually the cheapest accommodation | Not as involved with university life |
| Modern amenities (gym, common rooms…) | Further away from campus |
Private student accommodation
Private student accommodation is just like halls, but instead of being owned by the university, it’s owned by a private company. Another difference is that this type of accommodation doesn’t usually provide catering.
They are more focused on self-catering, providing the students with fully equipped kitchens either in shared flats or studios. Some accommodation might provide on-site cafes or vending machines, but full catering is rare.
The types of rooms the private student accommodations offer are very similar to the student halls. You can choose from studios, en-suite rooms, and shared amenities.
It’s usually chosen by students in their second or third year, and students looking for more independence and modern facilities. Examples of private halls include Unite in the UK and UniLodge in Australia.
| Pros | Cons |
| Monitored by maintenance and security 24/7 | Can be very expensive |
| Flexible option (living arrangements and prices) | Not as involved with university life |
| Modern amenities (gym, common rooms…) | Further away from campus |
Shared housing
Shared housing is renting a house or apartment completely independent from university. You can either do this with your friends, or just rent a room and be allocated with random people who also rented a room there. Within a shared housing, you can have from one up to ten housemates.
In this accommodation form, you can choose from studio, as some houses offer studios within, to en-suite or all shared amenities. With the en-suite and shared amenities bedroom, it is always guaranteed you’ll share a kitchen with the rest of your housemates, so it’s important you all get along and establish rules and duties at the beginning of the academic year.
This sort of accommodation is frequently chosen by second and third year students, where they have established a good friends group and usually move in all together.
| Pros | Cons |
| Cheaper than university and private accommodations | Bills might not be included in the monthly rent price |
| Freedom and independence | Can be far away from campus and city centre |
| More space compared to university halls | Lack of maintenance support |
Homestay
This is where a student chooses to stay with a local host family that welcomes them. This gives the student the opportunity to completely immerse in the culture of the country they’re going to live in, helps break down language barriers, and it’s also a more affordable option.
This type of accommodation is very popular in Australia and New Zealand, where there are networks of homestay housing run by your university to vet homestays, like the Australian Homestay Network, which will make all the living arrangements for you.
| Pros | Cons |
| Absorb all the cultural experience | Less independent |
| More affordable than other options | Cultural adjustments |
| Don’t spend much time cooking | Restricted social life |
Private rental
A lot of mature and postgraduate students choose to rent an apartment or house of their own. This is a good option if you prioritise independence and privacy, but it is also a lot pricier. On one hand, private rental gives you the opportunity to choose your location and style of accommodation. However, on the other hand, it’s a lot more responsibility on you with all the house maintenance and bills, as well as more expensive.
Private rental accommodation is often the only option for students in countries where on-campus accommodation is not usually available, such as in the Netherlands.
Websites such as Amberstudent are designed to help students search for private accommodation, but you can also search on local Facebook groups, and your university may also provide you with a list of vetted private rental suppliers.
| Pros | Cons |
| Complete privacy and independence | Responsible for all maintenance and bills |
| Freedom to choose style and location of accommodation | A lot more expensive, specially if renting alone |
How to choose the right accommodation for you
- Budget Considerations: Consider your budget and if it’s flexible. Think if this budget includes bills, or if you’re willing to set more money apart monthly for the bills.
- Location: Think about whether you’d like to live more near campus or if that’s something that doesn’t bother you.
- Social Life vs. Independence: Decide if you are looking for a more social setting and looking to meet new people, or if you want your privacy.
- Visit Before You Commit: Always always visit your accommodation before signing the contract. If this is not possible, request a video or a virtual tour. This is not entirely necessary for university halls.
Conclusion
All accommodations for students have their cons and pros, so it’s important to think of what’s important to you, set a budget and work around that.
The sooner you start looking, the more likely it is that you find your perfect accommodation within your budget. So whether that is university halls, private halls, shared housing or your own apartment all to yourself, don’t leave it until the last minute.