Best Type Of Accommodation for Students Going Abroad

One of the first items in the list of preparations for students going abroad is – or should be – accommodation. It is no use signing up for your favourite course in your favourite university abroad if you arrive there and have nowhere to sleep, after all, is it?



Fortunately, students going abroad will find that they are well catered for in terms of accommodation options. Most student towns offer plenty of spaces that students can rent for a more or less flat fee, most of which fall into one of three categories: host family accommodation, dormitory rooms or shared flats.

It is hard, and perhaps unfair, to state that either of these types of accommodation is better than the others; they each cater to specific types of personalities, ambitions, goals and lifestyles, and each individual student is likely to find that one of them is better for him or her than any of the others.

Host family accommodation, for instance, is perfect for those seeking total immersion, partial or full board and a quieter lifestyle. Host family stays are generally organised by the school or by an agency, and will normally include one, two or even three meals a day, allowing students going abroad to save a fair bit of money on nourishment. The downside is that, for students who like to be out and about, the rules most host families set for their tenants will likely not go over well.

More outgoing and sociable students, on the other hand, might want to try dormitory living. Normally located at the heart of the campuses themselves, ‘dorm’ rooms allow students boarding in them to be at the epicentre of the academic scene, and the shared nature of most of these rooms helps prompt the social aspect many students going abroad are looking for. However, this type of lodging will be less well suited for those seeking to learn the local language and customs, as the dormitory crowd tends to be international. For those who want to come into contact with as many cultures as possible, however, this is also an excellent option!

Finally, staying in a small apartment, shared with one or two students, can be a good option for those who value their privacy and like to follow their own schedule outside of school hours. The downside in this case is, of course, that renting a flat in most cities in the world can be significantly more expensive than staying with a family or in dormitories.

In the end, however, there is no absolute best or worst type of accommodation. It all comes down to each student’s personality and what he or she wishes to derive from their stay abroad.