In this article
- Finding Housing Abroad: The Number One Challenge for International Students
- Types of housing available
- Reliable platforms by country
- Scams to avoid
- Checklist before signing a lease
- Realistic budgets by city (2025)
Finding Housing Abroad: The Number One Challenge for International Students
Finding somewhere to live is often the most stressful part of preparing to study abroad. In major cities such as London, Amsterdam, Toronto and Melbourne, the student rental market is extremely tight, so start looking 3 to 6 months before you arrive to have the widest possible choice.
This guide walks you through the housing options in each country, reliable platforms, pitfalls to avoid and realistic budgets.
Also worth reading: Student Housing Abroad: Which Options to Choose and When to Apply (2026).
Types of housing available
1. University halls (campus housing)
This is generally the most recommended option for international students in their first year. Pros: safety, a student community, proximity to campus and easier day-to-day management. Cons: limited places, sometimes expensive, and less freedom.
- UK: British universities often guarantee a place in halls for first-year students. Price: 120–350 GBP/week depending on the room type and city.
- USA: Many American universities require freshmen to live in dorms. Price: 1,000–2,500 USD/month all-inclusive.
- Canada: University residences are available, but places are limited. Price: 800–1,800 CAD/month.
- Netherlands: Housing is managed by local student housing organizations (SSH, DUWO). It is very hard to get: join the waiting lists as soon as you receive your offer.
2. Flatsharing (shared accommodation)
The cheapest option, and often the most sociable. You share an apartment with 2 to 5 other people (students or young professionals). Ideal for settling in and keeping costs down.
3. Private studio
More expensive, but more comfortable and independent. Recommended for students who need quiet to work or who keep unusual hours.
4. Homestay
You live with a local family, often with breakfast included. Excellent for improving your language skills; more expensive than a student flatshare, but with plenty of support. Ideal for intensive language programs or short stays.
For more on this topic, see also: Universities with Guaranteed First-Year Housing: A Useful List.
Reliable platforms by country
United Kingdom
- Unite Students (unitestudents.com): the largest chain of private student residences in the UK
- Student.com: an international marketplace for student housing
- HousingAnywhere: ideal for short- and medium-term rentals
- Rightmove / Zoopla: for standard apartments (shared housing)
- SpareRoom: the go-to site for finding a flatshare in the UK
United States
- Off-campus housing through your university: every university has a dedicated page listing recommended off-campus housing
- Zillow / Apartments.com: for standard apartments
- Craigslist: plenty of listings, but a higher risk of scams
- Facebook Marketplace / student Facebook groups: very active in college towns
Canada
- Kijiji: Canada’s popular classified ads site
- PadMapper: aggregates rental listings
- Facebook Marketplace: active in every major city
- Uniplaces: specializes in housing for international students
Continental Europe
- Uniplaces: present in 15 countries, focused on students
- HousingAnywhere: strong in the Netherlands, Germany, Spain and Belgium
- Nestpick: short-term furnished housing
- Idealista (Spain/Italy), ImmobilienScout24 (Germany), Funda (Netherlands): national platforms
Scams to avoid
- Listings that are too good to be true: a studio in central London for €500/month in 2025 is a scam.
- Landlords who ask for a bank transfer before a viewing: never send money without having seen the property (in person, or on a live video call with the landlord).
- “Agents” who charge hefty agency fees: in the UK, letting fees for tenants have been illegal since 2019.
- Airbnb listings for long-term rentals: no legal protection and no tenancy agreement.
Checklist before signing a lease
- Check that the landlord actually owns the property (ask for proof of ownership or official documents)
- Read the entire lease before signing
- Ask for a move-in inventory signed by both parties
- Confirm what is included: are water, electricity, internet and heating included?
- Check the deposit policy and the conditions for getting it back
- Make sure you have renters’ insurance (compulsory in most countries)
Realistic budgets by city (2025)
- London: 900–1,600 GBP/month (room in a shared apartment)
- New York: 1,500–2,500 USD/month (room in a shared apartment)
- Toronto: 1,200–2,000 CAD/month (room in a shared apartment)
- Amsterdam: €900–1,400/month (room in a shared apartment)
- Barcelona: €600–1,000/month (room in a shared apartment)
- Berlin: €600–950/month (room in a shared apartment)
- Montreal: 700–1,200 CAD/month (room in a shared apartment)
Conclusion
Finding housing abroad takes planning, vigilance and flexibility. The best options go quickly, especially in cities popular with tourists and students. Start your search as soon as you have your offer letter in hand. Your Dream School works with trusted housing platforms to help you find safe accommodation in the city where you will study.
To learn more, read our guide: Credit Transfers and Transfer Admissions Abroad: The Guide.
Author
With a Bachelor's (LLB) from UCL and Assas, and the Grande Ecole program at HEC Paris, Adam co-founded Your Dream School in 2018. Since then the company has coached more than 1,000 students through university admissions and interview preparation for top global institutions.
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