How do find student accommodation for international students in Columbia?

The expenses of studying abroad can be overwhelming and while the tuition costs are high, paying more for your accommodation can be really stressful. Different cities perform well when it comes to university ranks, employers, and job opportunities, but when it comes to affordability, the living costs can be quite helpful. Having said that, you need to look for an affordable student apartment. Thus to help you better, we have to weigh how you should look for student accommodation at Columbia, understand the factors to be considered, and choose what’s best for you.

How to locate student accommodation?

A lot of students who want to study abroad opt for on-campus accommodation during the first year and move into a private student accommodation Columbia for the subsequent years. This also provides you the time to understand which locality is best suited for you. You can locate student accommodation through one of the following ways:

The best way to start looking for student housing is through your university website. Not only for locating on-campus accommodation, but they will assist you to find appropriate off-campus housing options with links to rental listings and contacts of agents.

Apart from this, there is an online platform that will offer you all the needed resources to rent proper student accommodation. Last, but not least, you can always talk to your seniors to get some good advice for renting apartments.

Points to consider before renting student housing

Safety is one of the major concerns for international students who seek student accommodation. You must not forget to check different factors related to emergencies and daily essentials in the area where you are renting accommodation. Here are some of the points that you must note while considering housing.

Distance from the university: Look for accommodation that is close to the campus so while you get to explore the new locality and make new friends, you can easily enjoy the campus life and use campus amenities.

Availability of daily necessities: If you go for living off-campus, you can run to the grocery store every now and then to take care of your daily requirements. Therefore, do not forget to check whether you can easily find daily necessities in proximity or not.

Cafes, restaurants, and hangout spots: Obviously, you need a place to hang out or unwind. Renting a room in an area that is surrounded by cafes, restaurants, hangout spots, and shopping areas will help you enjoy your social life every bit.

Safety: Ensure your area is safe as well as student-friendly. You can check this through an online search or even ask the students living in and around that area. You need to look for accommodation that offers secured doors to entry, CCTV, security guard, etc.

Access to public transport: Your place of stay must be easily accessible travel by public transport as this can lower your commuting cost as well as save you time.

Distance from the hospital: In an emergency, you should have a hospital nearby. Having a hospital located close to the apartment is best. However, you can also look for medical facilities inside the university campus.

Types of accommodation available

On-campus student housing

On-campus student housing happens to be one of the most popular as well as budget-friendly accommodations for international students. Some universities want the freshers to live on-campus.

The universities comprise residence halls, apartments as well as private suites. Based on your preference you can get a room. Common amenities available to students living in dorms include a common room, TV, kitchen, laundry services, meal plans, etc. You can enjoy timely meals in the dining halls as per the package you go for.

Off-campus student housing

Among the off-campus student housing, you can go for an apartment or a home stay. Student apartments are the most preferred option who wants to live independently. The senior year students and the graduate students are most likely to opt for such accommodations. It tends to be an expensive option if you are considering a place in a prime location. Before renting an apartment, there are different factors you should look for like distance from the campus, the safety of the neighborhood, availability of daily necessities, etc. if you rent an apartment, you can get access to a private room, share or private kitchen, bathroom, etc. Look for student accommodation near the University of South Carolina.

Hey my Friends I am sophia from Canada. I have done my studies at the University of Waterloo in architecture. Now, I work in a real estate firm, and as well as I also do blogging.