Accommodation advice for international students

For advice on how to book University accommodation using our online booking system, visit our how to book page. You can choose the residence, flat and room you would like. Please note the following:

• To reserve your place, you must have enough money to book your accommodation online using a credit or debit card. Otherwise, you can pay by bank transfer, but you need to contact Student Accommodation Services in advance to do this.
• You won’t be able to open a bank account until you arrive in the UK, and the transfer of money may then take a few weeks.

• Bookings for September will typically open in early-Spring, prior to the start of the academic year.
• International student accommodation in Nottingham is guaranteed for the first year of your degree.
• We strongly advise you to book accommodation before you travel to the UK. Please note that family accommodation to rent in Nottingham is currently very limited.
• Some students choose to view accommodation before signing a contract. We do not recommend that you do this because there is a risk that there will not be the right accommodation available for you. If you choose to do this, you need to plan to arrive before the start of your course so you have time to search for a house and do not miss important induction activities and the start of your academic study. Make sure you have temporary accommodation (such as a hotel) booked in Nottingham before you arrive. This is very important because Nottingham is very busy in September and January with new arrivals.

Please visit our Accommodation guarantee page for more details.

If you choose to live in private accommodation, you may be asked to provide a UK guarantor. This is someone who agrees to pay your rent if you fall behind.

Not everyone is able to provide a UK guarantor, so NTU has partnered with Housing Hand, who can act as your guarantor. Apply to start you Housing Hand guarantor application.

Please note that NTU and UPP accommodation does not require a guarantor.

There is currently very limited family housing available to rent in Nottingham. We advise you to take this into consideration before making plans to travel with your family to study with us.

If you are a PhD student and plan to come with your spouse or family, please ensure you have researched the accommodation options in and around Nottingham before you decide to move to the UK.

You'll find some tips here for house-hunting:

• Start searching for rental properties using Unipol, Rightmove and Zoopla. You should expect to pay around £750 to £1,300 per month for family accommodation in Nottingham, depending on the area. You should confirm whether it comes furnished or unfurnished, and if bills are included.
• NTU works with Unipol, which is a student housing provider in Nottingham. Unipol can offer advice and guidance, and ensures landlords are accredited and therefore reach standards set by Nottingham City Council. We recommend that you prioritise Unipol properties where possible.
• When searching for properties, make sure you're well connected to the campus you’ll be studying at. Nottingham has a good bus and tram network that connects to suburbs such as Clifton, West Bridgford, Mapperley, Sherwood, Wilford, Hucknall, Hyson Green, Bulwell and Beeston. Check the bus network map and tram website to see the transport links.
• UK addresses have 'postcodes' that cover towns and suburbs. You can search for properties by place name or postcode. Here's a diagram showing Nottingham postcodes.
• If it's not possible to secure accommodation prior to your arrival, we suggest that you travel to the UK before your course begins. This will give you time for your house search and means you won't miss out on important induction activity and the start of your academic study. Aim to have 3 to 5 properties ready to view when you arrive, or ask trusted friends or family in the UK to view them on your behalf.

Further guidance is available on the Unipol website.

There is currently very limited family housing available to rent in Nottingham. We advise you to take this into consideration before making plans to travel with your family to study with us.

If you're a PhD student and plan to come with your spouse or family, please ensure you have researched the accommodation options in and around Nottingham before you decide to move to the UK.

You'll find some general advice about property rental in the points below:

• Right-to-rent checks and immigration status will be required by landlords for you and your family members. Find out more on the UKCISA website.
• You'll be asked to pay a refundable tenancy deposit for your chosen property. The deposit should be held by an approved tenancy deposit scheme. At the end of the tenancy (if there are no damages) the tenant should get their deposit back.
• In addition to the deposit, you'll be asked to pay rent up front for at least 3 months, and in some cases up to 12 months. If you cannot do this, you'll be asked to provide a UK-based guarantor.
• Nottingham Trent Students' Union (NTSU) provides housing advice and a tenancy agreement service. If you require further clarity on contracts, you can book an appointment with an adviser.
• Take caution before signing any tenancy contracts as these are legally binding documents. Unfortunately, scams can happen, so please verify who you're speaking with, and where possible check they're reputable letting agents or landlords.

There is currently very limited family housing available to rent in Nottingham. We advise you to take this into consideration before making plans to travel with your family to study with us.

If you're a PhD student and plan to come with your spouse or family, please ensure you've researched the accommodation options in and around Nottingham before you decide to move to the UK.

As well as accommodation, you may also have to arrange childcare, education and health services for you and your family. Depending on where you live, you can access information from local councils including Nottingham City Council, which covers Nottingham city centre and Clifton. Nottinghamshire County Council covers areas such as Rushcliffe, Brackenhurst and Southwell.

Our International Student Support team can also provide guidance on these matters.