Moving for university is always an exciting experience and if you’re an international student – or going to be! – then this excitement is made even greater by the prospect of being in a new country. The drawback, however, is that being in a different country can make all the necessary processes a bit more difficult, which is why we’ve put together the only international student accommodation guide you will need, to make sure the process is spelled out as simply as possible.
What are your options for international student accommodation?
There are two main options for international student accommodation; to live in University Halls of Residence or to rent private accommodation. Of course, there are requirements and caveats for both these options, which we’ve broken down below:
University Halls of Residence
Halls of Residence are a great introduction to living in the UK as they act as a sort of bridge between living at home and living independently. Usually, all bills will be included in the cost of the rent, and the rent charged will usually be on a sliding scale related to the quality of the accommodation available. For example, new build individual bedrooms with their own en-suites and a large, modern, communal kitchen will be charged at a higher rent than older Halls of Residence, which may have shared bathrooms and smaller communal areas. In addition to the benefit of having all bills included, there may be benefits such as parking, an on-campus postal collection service and/or perhaps even an on-site gym. If you are attending a campus university you will have the unrivalled benefit of being just a 10-minute walk away from all your lectures (you’ll realise how much of a difference this makes once you’ve slept through your alarm a few times!).
In addition to this, at some universities in the UK you may have the option of choosing between catered and un-catered accommodation. This basically means you could have all meals provided throughout your academic semesters, which can save you an inordinate amount of time when studying. However, you are beholden to the menus of the day, and how good the kitchen staff are! A word of warning on this; before you make your decision try to research the size of the communal kitchen you would have to use if you were to opt for un-catered accommodation, as well as what cooking equipment you will have access to and how close the nearest supermarket is.
If you’re a first-year student, then living in halls is a must-have experience for your first year. It’s an opportunity to make friends from different background and studies, so that your time at university doesn’t become too insular. Who knows? You could end up making friends for life! However, if you’re a more private person sometimes having to share communal areas can be a little wearing and if you’re not a first-year student you may wish to consider another type of accommodation.
Though universities in the UK do reserve some rooms for international student accommodation beyond first-year, most of the time halls are put aside for only first-year students, so you may struggle to make it on to the list. And if you do get on to the list you won’t be grouped with other students who are at the same point in your studies; instead, you will most likely be placed in ‘spare’ rooms on a floor of first-year students. As first-years – or ‘Freshers’ – can be a bit rambunctious you should consider how much of an impact this may have on your studies.
To apply for international student accommodation via your university you will usually be emailed information regarding the different types of accommodation available once you have been officially accepted. If this doesn’t happen make sure to get in touch with your university’s accommodation organisers, so that they can get this information to you as soon as possible. You will then be able to view and choose the type of accommodation you would like to live in. Usually this is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so try to come to a decision quickly! If your application for a room is accepted, then you may need to pay the rent in advance. Usually this is on a term-by-term basis, but it could be for the whole academic year.
Private rented accommodation
The other option available to you is to rent privately. You can do this through a lettings agency, or find a privately managed property through a large property portal like Rightmove, Zoopla, SpareRoom. Many student property providers start taking reservations for their properties partway through the first term of the academic year (so October onwards), so if you’re trying to sort out international student accommodation during the summer months then you might find that it’s a little difficult to find something that suits your needs.
This is where approaching a lettings agency local to the area you’ll be studying in can really come in handy, as you can give them a list of your requirements and leave the hard work of finding the right property to them. With a letting agency you are also much more likely to benefit from such things as video tours, which can give you a better idea of the pros and cons and layout of the property. This means you can avoid having to travel to view properties in advance of starting your studies. Whether you rent privately through an agency we strongly recommend doing everything you can to see the property via a video if you cannot do so in person.
It will become much easier to secure private rented accommodation once you have started at university and made some friends. From this point on you will be in the perfect position to find flatmates and plan your accommodation for the next academic year.
There are no rooms left! What do I do?
Try not to panic. There will always be a spare room available; it’s just a matter of finding it. If you’ve left sorting your international student accommodation until the last minute, or you’ve just been very unlucky, there will still be options. At many universities the accommodation organisers will have a list of local people who are willing to rent rooms, also known as a homestay. Homestays are actually a great way to immerse yourself in the language and culture, as well as a means to building a local support network. They are also significantly cheaper, which is a great benefit if you’re on a budget.
However, it’s worth bearing in mind that they’re usually cheaper because you won’t have as much private space, and you will be sharing with a person, couple or family. The dynamics of the household will differ massively with each of these living arrangements, and you may find ‘living the student life’, i.e. coming back home in the early hours, is discouraged as it is disruptive to others in the house.
Your other backup option is hostels, which will also be extremely cheap. However hostels are usually set-up as dormitory style accommodation, which means sacrificing quite a lot of privacy. If you’re really struggling to find something that’s right, make sure to get in touch with your university as they may have resources to help you out.
Important things to consider when looking for international student accommodation
- The first thing to do is to get all your paperwork in order, as any landlord or agency will need these to finalise your rental contract. This will include proof of income and/or funds, visa status and identification.
- Ensure you have the funds ready to hand. In the UK any reputable landlord will ask for the details of a guarantor. This is someone who can ‘guarantee’ your rent; that is, they will pay your rent if you fail to do so, meaning the landlord doesn’t lose out. You will have to have a UK based guarantor, which, if you’re not from the UK, can be a difficult thing for an international student to organise. You can find out more about what a UK based guarantor is in our article here, but there is a way around this; usually you would pay your year of accommodation in advance, meaning the funds are already secured for the landlord and so there is no need for a guarantor.
- Starting as early as possible will give you the best chance of finding the perfect home from home.
- Do you research into all the international student accommodation options available and try to approach it with an open mind, at least to begin with.
- Have a shortlist of needs and a good idea of your budget so that you don’t waste time looking at properties that are not appropriate for you.
- Do some research into your university location and what the various areas are. You’ll want to consider such things as proximity to campus, to transport, to local supermarkets and what student areas there are, if any. When doing your research consider what it is that you enjoy or will need and start from there. For example, if you’re a gym buff you will want to make sure you live close to a gym as this will save you a lot of time throughout the year, leaving more for studying!
- Use social forums for your university to your advantage. You can get reviews from fellow students, insider knowledge and maybe even find out about spare rooms that are available.
- Get in touch with your university if you’re struggling.
Shipping belongings to your international student accommodation
Another headache for you to resolve is how to get all your belongings to your new home. Thankfully, you don’t have to drag it all on to the airplane. There are plenty of door-to-door shipping services, which will make navigating your way to your new home for the first time a lot easier without dragging multiple bags behind you. UPS, DHL and FedEx are all popular and reputable options.
Make sure to ask what is included before you sign your contract as you will need furnished international student accommodation that includes a bed with mattress, desk and chair and storage furniture at the very least. If your room has all this then it’s almost a guarantee that the communal areas will also be fully furnished. This then means that all you will need for daily living (beyond your clothes and personal items of course!) is cooking and eating utensils, which you can buy cheaply once you’ve moved in.
If you’re worried about feeling at home in your new host country then don’t worry; you’re not alone and there are things you can do to improve any feelings of homesickness you may have. Our blog post on how to make your student accommodation feel more like home could be just the thing you need. And if this doesn’t do it then make sure you’re embracing the student life as much as possible, joining societies and clubs that align with your interests, or even that have been formed by other people from your home country.
We hope this has helped you on your journey to find international student accommodation. If you’re looking to rent property as a student in Bangor please get in touch today by emailing us at lettings@varcityltd.com, calling us on 01248 719254 or by filling in the contact form on our website. A member of our team will then be in touch to find the perfect home for you, and they can also guide you through the process of renting internationally. Best of luck!