International students travelling without dependants are guaranteed student accommodation in our partner halls of residence close to the University campuses.  We offer a wide range of properties to fit different budgets. You can search and apply for accommodation online. The sooner you apply, the more likely you are to get your first choice of property. All accommodation booked through the University is approved by the Snug student housing scheme. 

If you sign a tenancy agreement (housing contract) this is legally binding and you will be required to pay the rent for the whole period, so do make sure you are happy with the accommodation before you sign. This includes online tenancy agreements; if you proceed to click through to ‘sign’ a contract, this will be binding. The contract applies even if you do not pay a deposit or provide a guarantor’s details.

Please note that accommodation contracts with partner halls have a standard duration and a fixed start and end date which cannot be moved. If you need to arrive earlier than the contract start date, you must contact your landlord directly to negotiate. If they can accommodate an earlier arrival, you will be offered a short-term contract for the additional stay and you will be required to pay extra.

We do not offer accommodation for families. International students planning bring their spouses and dependent children to Sheffield for the duration of their course, need to secure private accommodation. Please read the guidance for families and follow the instructions carefully to avoid problems at the start of your course.

Important: Booking temporary accommodation on arrival

The University does not offer temporary accommodation. If you are planning to look for student accommodation once you have arrived, you must arrange temporary accommodation for your first couple of nights in Sheffield. If you arrive without a place to stay, you will have to book in a hotel which may cost up to £120 per night. 

If you are planning to look for private student accommodation

Some international students choose to live in private accommodation. You can contact any local letting agent and view properties on their websites. However, we do not advise you to sign any contracts before you have actually viewed the property. If you sign a tenancy agreement (housing contract) this is legally binding and you will have to pay the rent even if you choose not to live there. This applies even if you do not pay a deposit or provide a guarantor’s details. Many tenancy agreements are now ‘online’ and if you proceed to click through to ‘sign’ a contract, this will be binding.

Aim to have a list of 3-5 suitable properties ready to view when you arrive or ask a trusted friend or a family member to view them on your behalf.

When selecting where to live, you need to consider the cost of travel to the University. The University is responsible for monitoring international students’ engagement therefore you are required to attend lectures and other teaching and learning activities on campus regularly. 

To ensure that international students comply, the University requires that you reside within a commutable distance of the campus, which is defined to be within 40 miles from City Campus (S1 1WB) or within one-hour travel time by the student’s chosen mode of transport. Please note, we recommend that you live no farther than 25 miles from campus to avoid paying the higher costs associated with longer-distance commute. 

How far is Sheffield from…?

How much will it cost to commute?

Students should also consider the costs associated with regular travel. 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. For the cost of commute by car, please 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.