Information for international students

On this page:

• Choosing your accommodation
• Tenancy agreement
• Rent and guarantors
• Arrivals and temporary accommodation
• Commuting to university

Choosing your accommodation

We strongly recommend that you apply for accommodation through our accommodation services website. Applying for accommodation through third-party providers, websites, or agents is strongly discouraged, as they may not have been vetted or visited by accommodation services.

All the University's halls of residence and properties on our Studentpad website meet the Snug student housing standard. This means we have vetted them and they are safe, reliable and of a high standard.

You should attend one of the University’s pre-departure briefing sessions before arriving in Sheffield. These sessions cover important topics like visas, immigration, travel preparation and applying for accommodation.

Accommodation guarantee

If you’re travelling without dependents, you're guaranteed a room offer in one of our halls of residence near the University campuses. All university allocated halls of residence are single occupancy and self-catered.

We have a variety of room types to suit all budgets from £85 to £210 per week inclusive of utility bills, WIFI and contents insurance.

The University does not offer family accommodation. If your family is coming with you, you should find suitable private sector accommodation.

Applying for halls of residence

You should apply for accommodation online as soon as you've received a full-time course offer from Sheffield Hallam. It doesn't matter if the offer is conditional or unconditional, or if you have made us your firm or insurance choice, you can still apply.

You'll receive an accommodation offer when your course offer status becomes unconditional firm and all academic requirements are met.

If you've accepted an accommodation offer through the University but were unsuccessful in obtaining a UK visa, you must tell accommodation services and your landlord as soon as possible.

You will need to do this before your accommodation contract starts. You may need to give a specific amount of notice to avoid incurring fees, so check your tenancy terms and conditions.

English language course students (TESOL and LEAP)

When you apply, add your English language course start and end dates to the additional notes section of the online application form.

We have rooms available across several halls within close walking distance of campus or can help you to find private sector accommodation if you prefer.

Once you have applied, we will contact you with further information about the options available.

If your English language course starts after 1 September 2024, please select your year of study as 2024/25 when applying.

Private sector accommodation

You can find and apply for private sector accommodation through Sheffield Hallam Studentpad. You can also apply by selecting 'private sector accommodation' in our accommodation portal.

Once you've applied, we'll offer tailored information and support to help you find suitable accommodation. We recommend that you finalise private sector accommodation arrangements after you have arrived in Sheffield.

If you're renting a property in the private sector, do not pay for anything or sign any contracts until you've viewed the property. You must also read the contract terms and conditions in full before signing anything.

Additional requirements

Make sure to include any preferences or requirements in the notes section of your online accommodation application, and state any special needs, disabilities and medical conditions.

All room allocations are conducted according to our equality and diversity guidelines and accommodation allocation criteria.

Tenancy agreement

A tenancy agreement is a contract you sign when renting a property. It is legally binding, so make sure you're happy with your accommodation before signing.

This applies to online agreements too. If you click through to 'sign' a contract, this will be binding. The contract applies even if you do not pay a deposit or provide guarantor details.

Rent and guarantors

Renting for the first time can seem complicated. But it doesn't have to be.

Here's your rundown of everything you need to know about renting – from deposits, advanced rent payments and guarantors, to when to pay your rent.

To pay rent in instalments over the academic year, you will need a guarantor. Without one you may be expected to pay the rent in full before you can move in. A guarantor is an adult who will be responsible for paying your rent if you do not.

This guarantor may need to live in the UK depending on the contract. If you can't find a guarantor in the UK, you may need to pay the annual rent in full when you accept an accommodation offer.

The University cannot act as your guarantor. There are third party guarantor companies, but they are not affiliated with the university and will cost money.

Arrivals and temporary accommodation

If you need to arrive earlier than your contract start date, you must contact your landlord directly to make suitable arrangements. You may have to pay extra if you arrive early.

If you can't move into your rental early and you arrive without a place to stay, you will have to book a hotel. We have preferential rates with a number of hotels in Sheffield. Find out which offer cheaper rates and how to book them.

The University cannot provide temporary accommodation. If you're planning to find student accommodation when you arrive, make sure you arrange accommodation for while you're here.

Commuting to University

You should consider commuting distance to the University when deciding where to live. We're responsible for monitoring your attendance and engagement, so you will need to be able to attend lectures, seminars and other learning activities regularly.

You'll need to live within a commutable distance to comply. A commutable distance is within 40 miles from City Campus (S1 1WB) or within one-hour travel time by your chosen mode of transport.

We recommend you live no further than 25 miles from campus to limit how expensive it will be for you to commute.

Costs of commuting

If you are commuting within South Yorkshire and North Derbyshire, please check Travel South Yorkshire for the cost of bus travel. To check train prices, go to nationalrail.co.uk.

If you're planning to commute by car, check the current fuel costs in the UK. As a guide the average fuel consumption is 8.6 litres per 100 miles for petrol cars and 8 litres per 100 miles for diesel vehicles.

How far is Sheffield from…?

Need help?

Our international experience team can help you in your transition to the UK and throughout your time at Sheffield Hallam. For more information visit international experience.