Whether it is a semester abroad, a summer session or a full bachelor’s or master’s degree, whether in the USA, New Zealand, Great Britain, Canada, Chile or Malaysia: students have to live somewhere during their studies abroad. There are various accommodation options for students abroad, which we would like to introduce below.
Student residence for studying abroad
Student dormitories at foreign universities are typical accommodation when studying abroad. Many foreign universities have such accommodation for students, but not all. Halls of residence can either directly on campus are the college and off the campus.
Dormitory life on campus
Especially with dormitories directly on campus, students benefit from having all the university’s facilities, such as lecture halls and course rooms, close by. All important contacts are also nearby. It is also not far to the canteens or food courts and the university’s own sports facilities. Those who would like to use the leisure activities at the university do not have to plan a longer journey. Living on campus is a great opportunity to get to know the typical campus life for which the USA is particularly famous.
Student residences offer a good opportunity to make new contacts with other students quickly, especially at the beginning of their studies abroad. However, you cannot always choose your roommates. If you want to live in a student residence hall, you should therefore have a certain amount of tolerance and serenity. For example, when it gets a little louder again at a party in the dormitory. In the student dormitories, students usually have to adhere to certain rules. These concern, for example, the night’s sleep or the use of alcohol. So it doesn’t hurt to find out about the house rules of the dormitory before renting a room.
Rent a room in the dormitory
A room in the student dormitory can be organized well before departure. The student dormitory is therefore well suited as accommodation for students who would like to have a permanent place to stay before arriving in the country of study. It is advisable to apply for a dorm room as early as possible. The application deadlines for dormitory spaces vary depending on the university.
Incidentally, some universities, for example in the USA, require undergraduate students to live on campus for at least a few semesters.
Living in a student residence: costs
When it comes to the price of rooms in student dormitories, the following often applies: the closer the dormitory is to the university, the higher the rental price for the accommodation. How expensive a dorm room is, of course, cannot be said in general terms. That depends on the country of study, the university, the dormitory and the type of room. Many dormitories offer single and double rooms with or without a bathroom and sometimes with a shared kitchen for several rooms. It is also not uncommon for the university to rent fully furnished apartments that several students can share. The more “luxurious” an area in the dormitory is, for example in terms of size, number of beds and furnishings, the more expensive it is usually.The rental price usually includes ancillary costs such as electricity and gas. In some countries it is often mandatory to book meals in addition to the dormitory room using a meal plan. This is not uncommon in the USA and Canada, for example. A compulsory meal plan helps ensure that the student dormitory is not the cheapest option for accommodation when studying abroad. Of course, a meal plan has the advantage that the students usually do not have to shop or cook, at least during the week.
Advantages and disadvantages of the student residence at a glance
advantages
disadvantage
Book the room in the dormitory from home
In some cases more expensive than other accommodation options such as a flat share
Additional costs are usually included in the rental price
Sometimes no own cooking facilities and mandatory “meal plan”
Meals can also be booked
Often greater distance to the (inner) city
Quickly establishing contacts with other students
Volume from other residents
Short ways
More rules than, for example, in a shared apartment or your own apartment
Low transport costs
Campus life
Flat share or your own apartment while studying abroad
Anyone who decides against living in a student residence while studying abroad can look for private accommodation. Those who prefer to be alone will certainly feel in good hands in their own apartment. However, moving into a rented apartment alone is the most expensive option for studying abroad.
Many students decide to live in a private shared apartment while studying abroad. As is customary with us, you can become the new roommate in an existing shared apartment or found a new flat share with others. However, there are countries in which the concept of shared accommodation is rather unknown.
Everyone has individual criteria for a suitable apartment for studying abroad or for a semester abroad. The location is often an important criterion. Some prefer an apartment close to the university, others prefer to live near the city or the beach – depending on the local conditions.
If you want to live in private accommodation while studying abroad, you should know that it is not always possible to rent a furnished apartment. Thus, purchasing new furniture can result in additional costs. As a rule, additional costs are incurred in addition to the rental costs, for example for electricity and gas.
