London is the number one study-abroad destination, according to some studies. This city has been hosting international students from around the world for more than a century and today also, it is equally popular among international students. London has numerous universities and colleges where international and domestic students get higher education. Imperial College London in this city has been ranked 2nd among 1500 ranked universities in the world in the QS World University Rankings 2025.
When international students are enrolled in London, the first thing they need is accommodation. There is no shortage of accommodations in London for international students. In fact, there are different types of student accommodation available in this capital city of the UK.
Here, we will mention the types of student accommodations in London including accommodation options and accommodation variants.
Accommodation Options for Students in London
There are different accommodation options available for students in London among which four options are widely popular.
#1. On-Campus Accommodation
On-campus accommodation is the type of accommodation that is found on the campus or attached to the campus. Such accommodations are owned by universities and their major purpose is to accommodate students. Such accommodations are often termed as halls of residence. You can find some basic amenities for students in such accommodations such as study desks and chairs, internet, storage spaces, etc. Some accommodations have a few high-end facilities also such as games rooms.
However, students living in these accommodations get opportunities to use the high-end facilities of universities easily such as gyms, libraries, and more.
#2. Off-Campus Student Accommodation
You can also get off-campus student accommodation in London located outside of the premises of universities. These accommodations are developed by private developers and are termed PBSA (Purpose-Built Student Accommodation). Such accommodations are the complexes, which are the perfect alternatives to the halls of residence.
These off-campus accommodations for students come equipped with several basic and high-end amenities. In the basic amenities, you can find study desks and chairs, Wi-Fi internet connections, laundries, dining features, storage spaces, and more. High-end amenities include study rooms, gyms, yoga rooms, cinemas, games rooms, swimming pools, and a lot more.
#3. Private Rental Apartments
Numerous private rental apartments are also available for student housing in London. These are the usual apartments where students can rent rooms. These apartments have general amenities and students get full freedom here.
#4. Homestays
Homestays are the arrangements in which some families provide rooms to students in their houses. In homestays, students get opportunities to immerse themselves in British culture since they see the daily lives of families in London.
Student Accommodation Variants
There are different variants of accommodations available in London, which you can read below.
Ensuite Rooms: Ensuite rooms are the rooms occupied by one person and each room has an ensuite bathroom. Students have to use shared kitchens and living rooms in the flats or units where they are located.
Non-Ensuite Rooms: Non-ensuite rooms are similar to ensuite rooms with the only difference that they don’t have ensuite bathrooms and students have to use shared bathrooms.
Shared Rooms: Shared rooms are occupied by multiple occupants and all occupants have to use shared kitchens and bathrooms.
Studios: Studios are self-contained units with attached bathrooms and kitchen areas. Some studios are available for one occupant only whereas others are allotted to two occupants.
Apartments: Apartments come available with one or more bedrooms. Each bedroom is occupied by either one or two residents. Bedrooms in some apartments have ensuite bathrooms whereas some apartments have shared bathrooms for all residents. Other units such as kitchens and lounges are shared by all the residents.
How to Get Student Accommodation in London?
You can easily get accommodation in London today with the help of some online platforms. “University Living” is a popular platform that provides its services through its website Universityliving.com or its mobile app. You find lists of accommodations in different cities on this platform. You can visit London’s page and find the lists of student housings, private apartments, and homestays in different sections under different tabs. You can see their details by clicking their names or images and know the details. For university accommodations, you need to visit universities’ websites.
