Accommodation

The first thing you may want to do is ask your university about the accommodation they can offer. You should make sure you are aware of any application deadlines as university accommodation is very popular and can get booked up quickly.  But you don’t have to live in university accommodation as there are lots of private accommodation options available to you too.

We are unable to find accommodation for you at this point but we can make recommendations, we strongly advise you to look into all available options and give careful thought to how much you wish to spend and how far you’re willing to travel to university each day, before committing to an accommodation contract. Some universities and local councils run their own accreditation schemes for private housing ensuring that the accommodation meets a minimum standard and that tenants are treated fairly.

Be wary of any scams that rogue landlords use to try and extort money from international students.  Be cautious of sending any money to someone that you don’t know, haven’t met and for any property you have not had a chance to view yourself.  Using local letting agents is one way to find accommodation and checking to see if they are accredited with Propertymark or the National Approved Letting Scheme will give you a little bit more protection and assurance.  If you are looking at private housing then please seek advice from your university housing service or Students’ Union.

Significant portions of university students choose to live the first year of studies within halls of residence. It is often available only to first year students and options range from catered to self-catered; shared bathrooms to en suite. The community feel and abundant social life gained from living Halls have assisted in their adjustment to independent living. Additionally, the proximity of Halls to shops, lecture halls and gyms may ease this process.

Many universities offer a housing arrangement whereby the student can rent out a room from a private landlord, with the liaison between the two parties tackled by the university. This accommodation option offers the more independent feel that many university students crave, with the simultaneous safety net of university-led contact between student and landlord.

Brought about by the huge demand for accommodation for university students, private sector halls of residence are a relatively new attachment to the plethora of lodging options for students. Private halls tend to be based on the same principles as those of University-owned halls of residence – communal areas, shared bathrooms etc. – except they are not limited to students from specific universities.

Students can also choose to live with a “host family”. Some students rent out rooms in family houses within the proximity of their university. Students who opt for a home-stay benefit both from the familiarity and comfort that living in another family home brings, along with the opportunity to experience one of the many lifestyles, cultures and perspectives that host families come from. This type of accommodation is more popular among pre-university students.