Find accommodation as an international student

Accommodation in Manchester is in very high demand. Whether you are a new or returning student, it’s important to start looking for accommodation as soon as possible.

You can apply for university accommodation once you have accepted our course offer as your first choice. You will get an email from Residential Services once our accommodation booking system has opened which will explain how to apply.

This guide will help you find out what accommodation options are available and where to go for advice if you are an international student. You can also find out more about our accommodation, including locations, facilities, pricing, and how to apply on our accommodation pages.

Your accommodation options

University-owned accommodation

We have different types of accommodation to choose from and you can compare our halls of residence to find the best for you.

Our accommodation contracts run from September to July. Bookings via the University accommodation portal open in March each year.

If you haven’t lived on campus before, you can read about life in university halls.

Private accommodation

There are private halls of residence in Manchester. You can use services like Manchester Student Homes and other popular housing websites to search for accommodation. It’s a good idea to explore your options online and check feedback on websites like StudentCrowd.

Manchester Student Homes

Manchester Student Homes is a free, university-run housing service for students. They offer advice and can help you search for approved, credible landlords and properties. They also have a list of private halls currently accredited by the service.

Manchester Student Homes has created the International Friendly Standard to recognise landlords and private halls providing a fair and transparent service to international students.

Manchester Student Homes also offer a student message board, a free online service to meet and chat with other students who want to live together in the Manchester area. It can help you find available rooms and flatmates.

Popular UK housing websites

You can also use other websites to search for your accommodation. Some of these include:

Before you sign a contract using one of these sites or transfer any money, contact Manchester Student Homes to check your contract.

Temporary accommodation

If you require temporary accommodation when you first arrive in Manchester, please be aware that this type of accommodation is in very high demand and can be expensive.

Manchester Student Homes publishes a list of temporary accommodation properties.

Useful links

How to find student accommodation
Follow these top tips to successfully get the accommodation you want:
start your search early—we recommend looking for accommodation as soon as you have confirmed your place at the University
browse the links provided in this guide
use Manchester Student Homes or reputable estate agents
get Manchester Student Homes to check your contract
never give money over until your contract has been checked
avoid using WhatsApp groups to find accommodation
avoid sub-let rooms
atay within the room occupancy limit
visit the house first
meet your housemates
check reviews of landlords
Accommodation outside the city centre
When searching for accommodation in Manchester, you can also search in areas further out from the city centre.
We expect you to live within a reasonable distance of the campus. Manchester Student Homes provides a helpful guide on the City and local areas around the University which can be accessed here.
These are local areas, listed by how far they are from campus and how long it takes to get there on public transport:
Salford/Weaste: 3 miles, 15 minutes
Chorlton: 3 miles, 20 minutes
Eccles: 5 miles, 25 minutes
Swinton: 6 miles, 25 minutes
Denton: 6 miles, 40 minutes
Urmston: 6 miles, 20 minutes
Middleton: 8 miles, 15 min
Walkden: 9 miles, 30 minutes
Oldham: 9 miles, 45 minutes
Stockport: 9 miles, 10 minutes
Atherton: 12 miles, 35 minutes
Radcliffe: 12 miles, 30 minutes
Leigh: 14 miles, 40 minutes
Bury: 14 miles, 35 minutes
Bolton: 14 miles, 30 minutes
Macclesfield: 16 miles, 33 minutes
Rochdale: 20 miles, 45 minutes
Blackburn: 21 miles, 48 minutes
Preston: 27 miles, 31 minutes
Huddersfield: 30 miles, 30-40 minutes
Liverpool: 35 miles, 45 minutes
Family accommodation

Manchester Met does not offer accommodation for couples or family accommodation.
If you are looking for family accommodation you may want to consider widening your search beyond the City Centre.
Manchester Student Homes offer some further advice on searching for family accommodation in the City.
Rent, bills and other costs
Accommodation costs can differ depending on various factors such as whether it’s University accommodation or private, what facilities you need (private bathroom/ kitchen), how many people you want to share with, or location.
It is important to consider what you need from your accommodation as well as your budget , incorporating all costs.
Visit the Manchester Student Homes website to check the cost of average rents for private accommodation.
You can also check rents for University-owned accommodation.
Manchester Student Homes has advice about budgeting for water, gas, electricity and other monthly bills.
Council tax applies to all residential properties. You can apply for an exemption if:
you are a full-time student on course lasting nine months or longer
and live in university halls or private accommodation where everyone else is also a full-time student
The exemption applies from the day you start your course and until your course ends.
Get a guarantor

Some landlords require a guarantor before a tenancy agreement can be completed.
A guarantor is someone, such as a family member who agrees to pay the rent if you cannot. They might also be liable for other costs, for example if the property is damaged while you live there.
Becoming a guarantor is a legal commitment. Landlords can take legal action against your guarantor if rent or other costs are not paid.
Always check if you need a guarantor for the accommodation you plan to rent.
Think about who might be your guarantor before you start looking for a property.
Manchester Met is partnered with a Guarantor Scheme for students.
If you are having difficulties getting a guarantor, Housing Hand can provide support. It is affiliated with Manchester Met.
Protect yourself from fraud

There is an increasing number of rental frauds on the internet.
These can look credible – some have genuine addresses with realistic photos, for example on Facebook or Gumtree.
In these scams, the room or property is not available to rent, does not belong to the advertiser and should never have been offered.
We advise you not to sign up for accommodation, especially a room, on a website unless you can verify for certain that it is genuine.
Contact Manchester Student Homes or the Students’ Union Advice Centre to get advice before you pay any money.
For more information, visit Action Fraud’s guide to protecting yourself from rental fraud.
Your legal rights
UK law helps to protect you as a renter.
Manchester Student Homes provides helpful advice about your rights as a student tenant, including:
accommodation contract and tenancy agreements
deposits. Most landlords will ask for a deposit in case their property is damaged. It is normally about one month’s rent. Your landlord must follow rules about the deposit.
moving out and getting your deposit back
The Students’ Union Advice Centre also publishes a helpful guide to searching for housing.
If you rent from the University, you will also benefit from our accommodation guarantee.