Accommodation for Erasmus students

There are different accommodation options depending on whether you are studying at Kingston University for:

• a complete academic year; or
• one semester only.

All accommodation is offered on a self-catering basis. However, there are student cafes across our campuses.

Find out more from our Accommodation website.

We do not provide accommodation for accompanying family members.

Students studying for a complete academic year

If you are studying at Kingston for a complete academic year, i.e. September - June, you can apply for a room in our halls of residence. If you prefer, you can ask for lodgings instead. Once you have accepted your place of study, you will be sent information about applying by email from the accommodation team.

You will share a flat with between two and nine other students, dependent upon which hall you choose. Flats are normally composed of both male and female students from a range of different backgrounds and courses.

All our halls:

• have a range of rooms, some with en-suite facilities and others with shared bathrooms;
• are self-catering;
• have WiFi internet access; and
• do not include bed linen, crockery, cutlery or cooking equipment. However, you can purchase these quite cheaply in the local shopping centre.

When you take a hall room, you sign a legal contract for the 40-week academic year, so benefit from keeping your room during the Christmas and Easter vacations. However, if you decide to move out, you will be liable for rent until we can find a new tenant. 

Find out about accommodation costs.

Students studying for a semester only

If you are studying at Kingston for a semester only, you are not eligible to apply for hall rooms. However, you can apply for lodgings or Airbnb options.

You live with the owner in their house in a single room and will have:

• a furnished bedroom, including a desk, chair and storage;
• access to the kitchen to prepare your meals;
• access to the bathroom; and
• bedding and cooking utensils/equipment.

Please remember that this is not the same as being placed with a host family, as you will live separately from the householder.   

Each household is slightly different so it is important to clarify with the householder exactly what is available – such as use of washing machine, availability/cost of internet, use of family rooms, pets, smoking etc.

How to apply

All lodgings are advertised on the KU Student Homes website. The Property Type will be listed as "Lodgings" or "Resident Landlord Property" in the advert.

Make sure the contract length for the lodging is appropriate for your period of study. If you will be at Kingston for Study Option 2 – Autumn Semester (Teaching Block One) – this will be listed as September to December. If you will be at Kingston for Study Option 3 – Spring Semester (Teaching Block Two) – this will be listed as January to April.

The advert will contain the contact details for the landlord/landlady. You will need to contact them to make arrangements as quickly as possible as lodgings are often in high demand. Don't be afraid to ask for more information such as pictures or documentation before committing to a contract.

Accepting your room

As soon as you have received these details, you must contact your landlord/lady to:

• confirm your acceptance of the lodging;
• let them know your time and date of arrival (if known); and
• ask any questions you have about the lodgings – such as whether you will have use of the washing machine or telephone and the landlord/lady's policy about guests.

Items to bring with you

Your landlord/lady will provide your bed linen. You will also have use of cooking utensils and kitchen equipment to prepare your meals. 

If you wish to send any items to your lodgings before your arrival, please confirm first with your landlord/landlady that this is acceptable.

Paying your rent

On arrival you must:

• make a deposit payment of one week's rent to the landlord/lady on arrival together with one week's rent in advance; and
• pay your rent weekly on the same day.

Your landlord/lady will refund your deposit when you leave, less any charges, such as covering the cost of breakages.

Find out about accommodation costs.

If you prefer a flat or bed-sit where there is no resident landlord, you can find details about private accommodation on the Accommodation Services' web pages. Airbnb is also quite popular.

Accommodation costs

This is a guide to housing costs.

Semester only students: you pay the rent on a weekly basis, one week in advance. You also pay a deposit on arrival of one week's rent. Meals are not included. Rent, which includes all bills, is usually between £85 and £130 per week (though sometimes higher).

Academic year students: you pay the fees in three instalments – October, January and May. Meals are not included. For 2022/23, rents vary from £115 to £206, dependent upon hall.