Accommodation advice for international students
It’s important to learn about where you're going to live and make arrangements to book accommodation as early as you can. You’ll find all the information you need on this page to help you find student accommodation that’s right for you.
Video tours by international alumni
Accommodation options
You have the following options:
- University-allocated accommodation on or close to our campuses
- Privately-owned accommodation close to our campuses
All NTU-approved accommodation options are modern, safe, and located within a short distance of everything you need. Some of our international students prefer the convenience of University accommodation, particularly first-year undergraduate students. Others choose private halls of residence or renting a private house with friends.
Whatever you’re looking for, there are housing options for all students to suit all budgets and individual requirements.
Accommodation for students under 18 years old
Find accommodation options available for international students if you are under the age of 18 (at the start of your course).
Pre-sessional English (PEAP) students
Accommodation for your PEAP course
Our accommodation booking guidance takes you through all the steps needed to book accommodation for your PEAP course. If you have any questions, please contact our friendly accommodation team by email at accommodation@ntu.ac.uk.
Accommodation contracts
Accommodation contracts for PEAP students run from 13 July 2025 to 23 August 2025 inclusive. Accommodation for your follow-on degree course should be booked separately.
Short-term accommodation
If you require short-term accommodation before 13 July and/or after 23 August, please contact our Student Accommodation Services team on accommodation@ntu.ac.uk after you have made your reservation for PEAP accommodation.
How and when to book your accommodation
How to book:
- 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.
When to book:
- Bookings for September 2025 are open.
- International student accommodation in Nottingham is guaranteed for the duration of your degree course.
- 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.
Accommodation guarantee terms and conditions:
- Applicable to new international students studying a full time foundation, undergraduate or postgraduate degree course starting in September 2025.
- The offer of accommodation may include NTU, partner and private accommodation
- Only students studying at the NTU City or Clifton Campuses are eligible for this guarantee.
- Students will need to reapply for accommodation each year via our online accommodation portal.
- Students are not guaranteed the same room and/or building for the duration of their degree course, and may have to move halls at the end of each academic year.
- Students attending programmes for a single semester only (including for the purposes of resits) or seeking family accommodation are not eligible for this guarantee.
- Students aged <18 at the start of their accommodation contract are not eligible for this guarantee.
- Students who decline the offer of accommodation or fail to accept within the specified timescale will forfeit the guarantee, and the accommodation offer will be withdrawn.
- Students who fall into rent arrears will not be able to rebook for a following year and forfeit the guarantee.
Contacting our NTU Accommodation Team
Our team has lots of experience helping international students through the process of booking accommodation so please contact us if you need any help or advice.
You can email us at accommodation@ntu.ac.uk or call us by phone on +44 (0)115 848 2894.
Lines are open Monday-Friday from 9:30 to 16:00 UK time.
How to choose your accommodation
It's best to start your research as soon as possible and it's useful to think about what you will be comfortable with:
- What is your budget? Be realistic about what you can afford.
- Are you a social person or do you prefer peace and quiet? You could share a place with other students or live on your own.
- Do you want an en-suite bathroom or are you happy to share with others? Shared facilities are often cheaper, but privacy may be more important to you.
- Look through our accommodation options, taking note of their facilities and location, and make a shortlist of the ones that might be right for you.
- Think about how long you need your accommodation for. Most of our contracts start in September, run throughout the academic year, and include the Christmas and Easter holidays. However, we also offer flexible accommodation contracts – perfect if you're a Pre-sessional English (PEAP) or exchange student, starting a Masters course in January, or an exchange or study abroad course.
- If you choose to stay in a privately-owned shared house please prioritise Unipol properties where possible and make sure that you are booking through a reputable agent. Unipol is a student housing provider in Nottingham which ensures landlords are accredited and reaches standards set by Nottingham City Council.
- Many privately owned accommodation providers require a UK Guarantor.
Need somewhere to stay for a short time?
There are many hotels and bed and breakfasts available in Nottingham, which are perfect if you need somewhere for a couple of nights, or if you have friends or family coming to visit.
Visit Nottingham's tourism website, Visit Nottinghamshire for details of places to stay short-term.
PhD students: bringing your spouse or family
If you plan to bring your spouse or family with you, please read the information below for support and advice.
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 - £1,300 per month for family accommodation in Nottingham, depending on the area. You should confirm whether it comes furnished/unfurnished and if bills are included.
- NTU works with Unipol which is a student housing provider in Nottingham who can offer advice and guidance and ensure that 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 are well connected to the campus you’ll be studying at. Nottingham has a good bus and tram networks that connect 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 is a diagram to show Nottingham postcodes.
- If it is 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 3-5 properties ready to view when you arrive or ask trusted friends/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 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 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 will 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 no damages) the tenant should receive their deposit back.
- In addition to the deposit, you will be asked to pay rent upfront for at least 3 months, and in some cases up to 12 months. If you cannot do this, you will be asked to provide a UK-based guarantor. NTU works with YourGuarantor.
- 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 are speaking with and where possible check they are reputable letting agents/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 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.
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.
Things to consider before making plans to travel
Please be aware that NTU does not currently provide university accommodation for families or couples.
There is currently very limited family housing available to rent in Nottingham. We advise you to consider this before making plans to travel with your family to study with us.
Please note that from 1 January 2024, you can only bring dependents if you are studying a PhD, other doctoral qualification, or a research-based higher degree.
Find more information about eligibility to bring dependents.