Student apartments explained

If an en-suite room just isn’t enough space, but the idea of a house-share gives you a headache, a student apartment could be just what you’re looking for.

While halls and house-shares are the best-known accommodation types for students, student apartments offer you another way to stay at uni. With a student apartment you get your own room in a private apartment complete with bathroom, kitchen and dining space. They offer much more space than a room in halls, and a lot more privacy than the average house-share. (They’re also different from our one-person student studios which give you an open-plan bedroom, kitchen and dining area.)

You can rent a student apartment through a private landlord or a student accommodation provider – though keep in mind that the type of space you get can be quite different, depending on which you choose.

At Student Roost, most of our student apartments are either one or two bedrooms, making them a good option for students who want to live alone or with just one other person. Better yet, even though you have your own apartment, you still have access to all the support and communal spaces onsite. This includes a 24-hour support team, plus social spaces and events so you can meet other residents and make new friends. Essentially, our student apartments give you the best of both – a bit more privacy when you want it, but plenty of opportunity to socialise too.

The cost of a student apartment varies depending on the city you want to live in and the provider. At Student Roost, all our apartment rents come with all bills included – this means your electricity, gas, water and Wi-Fi are all covered, so you don’t need to worry about extra costs cropping up halfway through term. To get an idea of student apartment costs for your city, you can browse our locations here.

If you’re looking for an apartment as a student, you can either apply through a private landlord or through a student accommodation provider. Both options have pros and cons – it comes down to what you’re looking for in your accommodation.

Applying through a private landlord

The pros:

• A wide choice of apartment options in different areas of the city
• Ideal if you want to live further away from the main student community

The cons:

• Apartments in popular city centre locations can get booked very quickly, so you’ll need to act fast to arrange a viewing
• Application processes can be lengthy and require you to provide extensive proof that you can afford to pay the rent
• You may not be able to cancel your rental agreement if your uni plans change
• You’ll need to set up and pay all your bills (including gas, electric and Wi-Fi) separately

Applying through a student accommodation provider

The pros:

• Apartments are specifically designed for student lifestyles, with onsite support and social events
• The application process is specifically for students – you still need to provide the correct paperwork and a guarantor, but it’s designed to be straightforward
• Flexible cancellation policies can make it easier to end your tenancy agreement if your uni plans change before you arrive
• With some student accommodation providers (like Student Roost) all your bills are included in your rent price

The cons:

• You’ll likely have less choice of locations or apartment types
• Rents are often higher than with private landlords but keep in mind that all your bills are often included in the cost

Yes! When you book with us at Student Roost you can make a group booking with your friends. Rooms in some of our apartments can sell out quickly, so if this is something you’d like to do, we recommend you book early to make sure you don’t miss out.

If you want to share with just one friend (or boyfriend/girlfriend) and you’re happy to share a room, you could also look at dual occupancy options for some of our studio apartments. 

Can a non-student live in student apartments?

At Student Roost all our accommodation is for students only. Every one of our properties is focused on creating a student community where you can meet new people who are studying at uni too. 

Yes, international students coming to the UK have two main options for renting an apartment: you can either rent with a specialist student accommodation provider (like Student Roost) or rent from a private landlord.

Our student apartments are a popular choice with international students. They give you a bit more space which can help it to feel more like a home from home, particularly if you’re not planning to travel home in the holidays. As an international student you can rent a room in a student apartment from Student Roost in exactly the same way that you’d rent any other room type.

Our student apartments also give you a bit of extra support compared with renting from a private landlord. With us, you’ll have a support team available 24 hours a day. They can help you with all sorts of questions about independent living and getting around the city. We also have a lively events calendar and plenty of social spaces in all our properties, helping you to make new friends here in the UK.

If you choose to rent your apartment through a private landlord you won’t get the same level of onsite support or social events, though you will likely have a wider range of apartments to choose from.

Whichever option you choose, you’ll need to make sure you complete and share all the right documents so that your application can be approved.

International students can apply for an apartment in the UK either through a private landlord or through a specialist student accommodation provider like Student Roost. In both cases, you’ll need to provide all the correct documentation and a guarantor before your application is approved. The main difference is that because student accommodation providers only deal with applications from students, the booking process is designed to support your specific needs and guide you through the process. You may find this easier if this is your first time moving to the UK.

With most private landlords you’ll also need to set up and pay all your bills separately to your rent. This means contacting electricity, water and Wi-Fi companies to create accounts. With student accommodation providers you usually don’t need to do this as all your bills are included within your rent. It can make moving in a lot easier.

Student apartments are popular options so it’s a good idea to start looking as soon as you’ve had your offer of a place. If you’re a second or third year and want to live with friends, there’s no time like the present to secure your room! 

If you’re putting off booking in case your plans change, it’s worth looking at the booking and cancellation policy. At Student Roost, we know that life happens, so we have a cancellation policy to help.

Can student loans cover apartment rent?

Yes, if you rent an apartment through a student accommodation provider (like us) you can use your student loan to cover part or all of the cost of your rent. UK students are usually eligible for a maintenance loan to help with the cost of student living, including rent. If you’re an international student you’ll need to check if there are any student loan schemes in your home country.

How to get an apartment as a grad student

Apartments are often a popular choice with postgraduate students as they give you a bit more privacy for quiet study. It’s also a good option if you want to live with friends you’ve made during your undergraduate years. Renting with specialist student accommodation providers, like Student Roost, makes it easier to get everything sorted. You pay a single weekly rent and it covers your room, plus all your bills – electricity, gas, water, Wi-Fi – so you can focus on your studies.

Our student apartments offer a great option if you’re looking for a bit more space and quiet time for study, but still want to stay connected to the student community. Ready to find your student apartment? Browse all our locations to see the room types available.