A practical guide to student accommodation in Europe
Finding accommodation at your study destination in Europe can be a challenge. This article guides you through the process and points out the most important things to take care of.
When to start looking for student accommodation in Europe?
To prepare for your study abroad experience, it is important to start searching for student housing early.
It may be more difficult to find a suitable place to live in some European study destinations. In fact, some European countries and universities advise against travelling to the country if you have not arranged housing before August or September.
Therefore, it is useful to find out more about the housing situation in your host country.
What are the student housing options?
As an international student, you have several housing options to choose from. The most common options are university residences and private student housing.
Where to find student accommodation online?
Some useful platforms to start looking for student accommodation are
- HousingAnywhere: an international booking platform where students going on an exchange or an internship abroad can sublet their room or rent a room
- Uniplaces: on online marketplace for booking student accommodations with thousands of verified properties
- ErasmusU: student housing platform and online community for students
Arranging student housing in Europe: top tips
- Do as much research as you can online and apply for accommodations remotely
- Consider staying with a local host or a guest family
- Check whether you are eligible to receive rent benefits
- Find out whether you need to take out property insurance
- Make sure to check your rental contract carefully before signing it
- Avoid scams and beware of rents that seem to good to be true