Before you choose

Where will you live?

Schools around the world offer a handful of accommodation types, and the names are not obvious the first time you read them. Here is what each one actually means, in plain language, so you can compare offers on more than price.

These are the options that exist most commonly. Not every school offers all of them, and availability changes by city and by season. What counts is what is written in the offer you receive.

The five options you will see most often

Read them in order. They run from the most supported, where someone is looking after you, to the most independent, where everything is your responsibility.

Homestay (host family)

You live with a local family, in their home

What it is

You get your own bedroom in the home of a family that has been selected by the school or by a partner agency. You share the living areas and eat with them, usually breakfast and dinner. It is the most common choice for language students, because you keep practising the language after class ends.

Best for

First trip abroad, students under 18, anyone who wants to improve quickly and does not want to worry about cooking, bills or furniture.

Usually included

Private bedroom, furnished
Meals, most often breakfast and dinner
Utilities, internet and usually laundry
Someone at home who knows the city

Worth checking

Ask how long the journey to school is and by what transport, how many meals are included and on which days, whether the family hosts other students, and whether your diet can be catered for. Say clearly if you have allergies, or if you do not eat certain foods.

Typical price: Often the best value once meals and bills are counted, because almost everything is in one price.

Student residence or hall

A building for students, run by the school or a partner

What it is

A residence reserved for students, either run by the school itself or by a company it works with. You get your own room, sometimes with a private bathroom, and share kitchens and common areas. Some are catered, meaning meals are served, and some are self catered, meaning you cook.

Best for

Students who want independence but still want staff on site, a built in social life and no contracts to sign on their own.

Usually included

Furnished room, often with a study desk
Bills and internet in one price
Shared kitchen, laundry and common areas
On site staff or a resident adviser

Worth checking

Ask whether meals are included and how many, whether the bathroom is private or shared and with how many people, and what the rules are on guests and noise. Places are limited, so these fill early.

Typical price: Predictable, because bills are normally included. Catered residences cost more than self catered ones.

Private student residence

A modern building designed only for students

What it is

Buildings run by private companies, built specifically for students, ranging from a room in a shared flat to a self contained studio. They are usually near the centre or on a good transport route, with a gym, study rooms, secure entry and organised social events.

Best for

Students who want privacy and modern facilities, and who are comfortable living without meals provided.

Usually included

Furnished room or studio, sometimes with a private kitchen
Electricity, water and internet in the rent
24 hour secure access and on site management
Shared study and social spaces

Worth checking

Confirm what the minimum stay is, because some buildings only rent by term or by semester and that may not match a short course. Check the cancellation terms before paying anything.

Typical price: More expensive than a school residence, with studios at the top of the range.

Shared apartment

Your own room in a flat shared with others

What it is

You rent one bedroom in an apartment and share the kitchen, bathroom and living room with other students or young professionals. In some countries this is called a flatshare or flatting. It is normally the cheapest way to live independently.

Best for

Students staying longer, on a tighter budget, who are comfortable organising their own food and daily life.

Usually included

A private bedroom, usually furnished
Shared kitchen, bathroom and living areas

Worth checking

Bills are often not included, so ask what you pay on top of the rent. Ask who else lives there and how many people share the bathroom. For a short course, ask the school to arrange it, rather than renting from a stranger online before you arrive.

Typical price: Usually the lowest rent, but remember to add bills and food.

Studio or private apartment

A place entirely to yourself

What it is

A self contained apartment for you alone, or for you and the person travelling with you. You have your own kitchen and bathroom, and complete privacy. It is the most independent option and normally the most expensive.

Best for

Students travelling with a partner or family, older students, or anyone who needs quiet and their own space to work.

Usually included

A private kitchen and bathroom
Furniture, in a student let

Worth checking

You will usually manage your own bills, and you get none of the ready made social life the other options provide. Ask whether a deposit is required and under what conditions it is returned.

Typical price: The highest of the options, especially in central areas of large cities.

If nothing is booked for your first nights

Some students prefer to spend the first days in a hostel, hotel or short let while they see the city and meet people before committing to a room. That is a normal way to start, but never leave your very first night unbooked, and tell the school when you arrive so someone is expecting you.

How it changes by region

The five options above exist almost everywhere. What changes is which one is common, what it is called locally and what tends to be included.

Europe

Homestay and shared apartments dominate for language students. Many university residences are subsidised and very cheap, but they are heavily oversubscribed and usually reserved for enrolled degree students. In large cities like Amsterdam and Paris, rooms go fast, so book early rather than on arrival. The United Kingdom works differently enough to have its own section below.

United Kingdom

Not the same market as the rest of Europe, and worth reading on its own. Homestay is sold by meal plan and you will see the words on your offer: self-catering means you cook, bed and breakfast means breakfast only, half board means breakfast plus an evening meal on weekdays. Residences come as en-suite, a private room and bathroom with a shared kitchen, or studio, where the kitchen is yours too. In London a journey of 30 to 60 minutes by bus or underground is normal and does not mean the host is far out. Bed linen is normally provided and changed weekly, but towels almost never are, so pack them. Laundry is often once a week in a homestay and paid per load in a residence. Full-time students are exempt from council tax, and the school gives you the letter that proves it. Whatever you book, message your host or the residence with your arrival time before you fly: many have no reception in the evening.

United States

Homestay is the standard option for language students and for anyone under 18, typically 20 to 45 minutes from the school. Private rentals are harder for a short stay because leases usually run 12 months and landlords ask for a credit history or a guarantor, which is why arranging accommodation through the school is normally simpler.

Canada

Homestay is very widely used and usually includes meals. Shared apartments are the common independent choice. Winter matters more than students expect, so ask how far you will walk to transport and whether heating is included in the price.

Australia

Homestay and share houses are both common, and purpose built student residences are widespread in the big cities. For students under 18, the school itself must approve where you live and issue the welfare confirmation your visa requires, so this is not something to arrange on your own.

New Zealand

Homestay, called private board locally, usually includes three meals a day. Sharing a flat is known as flatting and is the cheapest option. Students under 18 are required by law to live in homestay, a catered hall or with an approved caregiver.

Not sure which one suits you?

Tell us how you like to live and what your budget is, and we will explain which option makes sense for your city and course. We deal with the school for you.

Talk to us

General guidance for international students, updated August 2026. Prices and availability vary by city, school and season, and the offer you receive is what counts.