Are you a university student planning to study in the UK?
There are a few things worth knowing about student accommodation in the UK before you start your search.
- Plan ahead and start your search early — accommodation in the most popular cities tends to fill up quickly.
- Here at Hallbookers, you can compare your options across the UK. Get in touch if you have any questions.
Why student accommodation can be hard to find
Across the UK, students — both domestic and international — are looking to secure a place in university halls or private student accommodation each year.
Finding a good place to live while studying can be tough, particularly in some cities. High demand and limited supply push up costs, and many students worry about covering their living expenses while finding somewhere suitable to stay.
As an alternative to university halls, purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) — also known as private student accommodation — has become increasingly popular in the UK in recent years, offering a range of facilities that university halls often can’t match. Read more about PBSA in the UK.
Ten UK cities where student accommodation is hardest to find
Looking at the cities where student housing is hardest to find shows how demand, cost, and local supply all play a part in making the search more difficult for students.
- Manchester — Often cited as one of the cities with the biggest shortages of student accommodation, given the size of its student population.
- London — The capital has a highly competitive rental market, which makes finding suitable and affordable student accommodation particularly challenging.
- Oxford and Cambridge — Both university cities have a limited housing supply relative to their student populations.
- Edinburgh — A popular destination for international students, which puts pressure on the local supply of accommodation.
- Bristol — A large student population combined with limited housing stock makes accommodation harder to secure.
- Brighton — Known for high demand and a limited supply of student housing.
- Birmingham — Several universities and a large student population contribute to accommodation shortages.
- Leeds — A popular student city with a shortage of affordable options in certain areas.
- Glasgow — A significant student population creates high demand for accommodation.
- Southampton — A large student population means accommodation can be harder to come by.
As a student, it helps to plan ahead, start your search early, and consider alternative options such as private student accommodation (PBSA), shared houses, or university-managed halls to widen your options.
Private student accommodation by city
- Private student accommodation in Manchester
- Private student accommodation in London
- Private student accommodation in Oxford and Cambridge
- Private student accommodation in Edinburgh
- Private student accommodation in Bristol
- Private student accommodation in Brighton
- Private student accommodation in Birmingham
- Private student accommodation in Leeds
- Private student accommodation in Glasgow
- Private student accommodation in Southampton
