Accommodation – A guide for international students

You will have a range of options to choose from, with varying costs attached. Student accommodation in Ireland falls into four broad types:

1. On-campus accommodation: Campus accommodation in halls of residence is always in demand and can be relatively expensive. It is generally organized as apartments of 4 to 8 students, with a private bedroom and a shared kitchen, living room and bathroom. Rent must normally be paid at the start of each semester, rather than on a monthly basis. An advance deposit is also required, refunded when you leave. Utilities such as heating are usually extra, although several halls of residence include heat and electricity in their initial charge and deduct payment for usage in excess of the average allowed for from the deposit. It is important to check specific arrangements with your college.
2. Long-term student hostel: There is limited availability for this option but it can be quite flexible. You stay in a hostel with other students and your monthly rent provides for use of a communal living area and kitchen, along with a bedroom. Breakfast and sometimes dinner will be included in the rent, as are utility bills.
3. Accommodation with a family: You can live as a paying guest in an Irish home, where you have your own room with space to study, but otherwise share the house with the family. This is a popular option with students attending English language schools, especially for short courses, but is also an arrangement that works well for many further and higher education students. In Ireland, accommodation with a family is commonly known as living in ‘digs’; in other countries, it may be better known as ‘homestay’. Normally, morning and evening meals will be provided but you will need to buy your own midday meal on campus or elsewhere. There are no extra charges for heat, light etc., and some of your laundries will be done.
4. Private rented accommodation: The options here include renting a bed-sit, a flat/apartment or sharing a house. It is usually cheaper to share accommodation with others.

A bed-sit is an essentially a single room unit with basic cooking facilities (a mini-kitchen area), a bed and some additional furniture. Toilet and bathroom facilities are generally shared with the other occupants of the building through there may be a self-contained shower.

A flat or apartment will offer a kitchen and living room (possibly combined), a bathroom and one or more bedrooms. Again, quality and cost vary. A compact one bedroom unit may cost little more than a bed-sit, while a for flat/apartment will cost substantially more.

A house or apartment share with other people can be the cheapest, as bills are divided among more people. Sharing a room can reduce costs even further.

In all cases, rents are usually payable monthly and in advance. At the beginning of a letting period, you pay a deposit of one month’s rent, which will be refunded when you leave (provided you have not caused any damage to the premises). The normal length of a lease is 9 or 12 months, and it can be difficult to find anything shorter. If you break a lease without notice or if you do not adhere to the terms of the lease, you will lose your deposit.