Guide · Accommodation · 4 min read
Finding a room abroad from Nepal: where to look, what it costs, and how not to get scammed.
For most of our students, finding a room is harder than getting the visa, especially in Amsterdam, Utrecht, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Sydney and Melbourne. Apply for university housing the day you accept your offer, book a short first stay if nothing is confirmed, and never pay a deposit for a room you haven't seen, by video at least, with a signed contract. Rent is the biggest cost after tuition, and sharing in year 1 saves the most.
The short version
- Apply for university housing the day you accept your offer. Rooms go in order, and queues in Sweden, Denmark and the Netherlands are long.
- No room confirmed? Book 2 to 4 weeks of short stay and view rooms in person.
- Bonds and deposits: often 4 weeks' rent in Australia, up to 5 weeks in England, up to 3 months' basic rent in Germany.
- Never pay before you've seen the room (on a live video at least) and signed a contract in the landlord's real name.
- Sharing a room or flat in year 1 is the biggest single saving most students can make.
Your options, in order
| Option | Good for | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| University or student-foundation housing | Year 1; safe contracts; furnished | Apply on offer day; queues |
| A room in a shared flat or house | Year 2 onwards; lower rent | Viewing before paying; who’s on the lease |
| Homestay with a family | Under-18s, or students who want meals included | Higher cost, set rules |
| Private student blocks | Convenience, bills included | The highest rent of these |
| A short stay (hostel, short let) | Your first 2 to 4 weeks | Whether you can register the address in Europe |
Rent by country, a room
| Country | A room, a month | Where it’s hardest |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | A shared room often AUD 250 to 400 a week in Sydney and Melbourne; less in Adelaide and regional cities | Sydney, Melbourne |
| United Kingdom | £450 to £700 in many cities outside London; much more in London | London, Bristol, Edinburgh |
| Germany | A shared flat (WG) €300 to €450 in smaller cities; more in Munich, Frankfurt, Berlin | Munich |
| Netherlands | €500 to €900 | Amsterdam, Utrecht |
| Belgium | €450 to €700 in Leuven, Ghent, Antwerp | Brussels |
| Finland | €350 to €500 outside Helsinki | Helsinki |
| Sweden | SEK 4,500 to 7,000 | Stockholm, Lund |
| Denmark | DKK 4,000 to 6,500 | Copenhagen |
| Norway | NOK 5,000 to 8,000 | Oslo, Tromsø |
What our students reported for FY 2025/26, for a room in a shared home. Studios cost much more.
Bonds and deposits
| Country | Usually | Protection |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | 4 weeks’ rent | Lodged with the state bond authority, not kept by the landlord |
| England | Up to 5 weeks’ rent for most tenancies | Must be in a government-approved deposit scheme |
| Germany | Up to 3 months’ basic rent (Kaution) | Held separately by the landlord |
| Netherlands, Belgium | Often 1 to 2 months’ rent | Set in the contract |
| Nordics | Often 1 to 3 months’ rent | Set in the contract |
Budget the deposit and the first month’s rent together; it’s the largest payment of your first week.
Queues and timing
| Country | Student housing works by |
|---|---|
| Sweden | Queues run by student housing companies; join the day you’re admitted |
| Denmark | Housing offices and queues; some universities reserve rooms for international students |
| Finland | Student housing foundations, such as HOAS in Helsinki and TOAS in Tampere; apply after admission |
| Norway | Student welfare organisations, such as SiO in Oslo |
| Netherlands | Some universities reserve rooms through partners; most students search privately |
| Germany | The Studierendenwerk halls, with waiting lists; WG rooms privately |
| UK, Australia | University halls on offer; private rooms after |
The scams that target new students
| Sign | Why |
|---|---|
| The rent is far below every other listing | The room doesn’t exist |
| The landlord is “abroad” and will post the keys | They can’t show you the room because there isn’t one |
| Pay a deposit by money transfer, crypto or to a personal account abroad | It can’t be traced or returned |
| No contract, or a contract in a different name | You have no rights and no address to register |
| Pressure: “three other students want it today” | To make you pay before you check |
Safe practice: a live video viewing at least, a contract in the landlord’s real name, payment by bank transfer to an account in the same name, and a receipt.
From our files. Our counsellors ask graduates in the city to check any private room a new student is about to pay for from Nepal. Most listings check out. The ones that don’t share the same signs: rent well below the area, a landlord who can’t do a live video, and a request to pay to an account in another name.
Year 1, then year 2
Take university or foundation housing in year 1 if you can get it, even if it costs a little more: the contract is safe, it’s often furnished, and it gives you an address to register from day one. In year 2, move into a shared flat with friends you’ve met. That’s where the savings are.
Our view
Start housing the day you accept your offer, not the week you fly. Read our pre-departure checklist for what to bring, and send us any listing before you pay: 186 of our graduates abroad take calls from new students, and many know the streets.
