ACCOMMODATION GUIDE FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
THIS GUIDE WILL HELP YOU CONSIDER YOUR HOUSING OPTIONS. IT HAS ADVICE ON WHERE TO LOOK FOR HOUSING AND WHERE TO GET SUPPORT AND ADVICE.
WELCOME TO USW
The University of South Wales has campuses at three locations: Cardiff, Newport and Pontypridd. Cardiff and Newport are both cities, while Pontypridd is a quieter town that is 20 minutes outside Cardiff, the capital city of Wales. There are good transport links between all three locations.
It’s important to think about where you would like to live when you come to study here. Bear in mind that you will need a permanent address to register for essential services in the UK, such as opening a bank account and registering with a doctor. Our key advice is to plan early and do some research.
There are many different types of accommodation for students in the UK. When deciding what's best for you, it's important to consider the following:
• What type of accommodation would best suit your needs?
• Would you prefer to live in a universityowned hall of residence or rent a house in the private sector?
• Are you looking for accommodation for yourself, or will you be bringing dependants (your spouse and/or children)?
• What is your budget?
• What is most important for your circumstances, e.g. proximity to campus, proximity to a city centre or to local schools, or living in a quiet area?
It is a good idea to think about the campus where you will be studying when considering your accommodation options, you'll want to ensure that travelling to attend your classes is as straightforward and affordable as possible. As an international student, it is vital that you attend your classes and engage fully with your course.
This isn't important from just an academic perspective. If you are an international student on a student route visa, you will need to attend regularly in order to comply with immigration regulations. Failure to attend your classes regularly could have serious consequences on your studies and could lead to you being withdrawn from your course and your visa being curtailed (or shortened).
It is also worth noting that UKVI regulations require international students to live within reasonable commuting distance of the university. We therefore require international students to have an address in South Wales or the South West of England. This is the case even if you have family living in other areas of the UK. Living too far away from campus will also be costly in terms of travel and significantly impact on your student experience. We therefore encourage you to explore accommodation options in the local area and to enjoy the great facilities and standard of living in south Wales.
HALLS OF RESIDENCE LIVING
YOU CAN BOOK UNIVERSITY-OWNED HALLS OF RESIDENCE BEFORE YOU COME TO THE UK.
There is a lot of information available about living in halls of residence and it’s a great option for international students especially during your first year. You can move straight into halls of residence as soon as you arrive in the UK, and it's very convenient for being close to classes. Living in halls is a great way to make new friends and there's lots of support immediately available.
Living in halls isn’t suitable for all students, but if you are coming to the UK on your own, we really encourage you to consider living in halls, as we believe it provides the best student experience and helps you transition quickly to life in the UK.
CARDIFF TO TREFOREST BY RAIL, 21 MINUTES, FROM £3.55 ONE WAY WITH A STUDENT RAILCARD
CARDIFF TO NEWPORT BY RAIL, 12 MINUTES, FROM £4.05 ONE WAY WITH A STUDENT RAIL CARD
Halls in Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital city of Wales, with something for everyone. Our creative campus is located here, and with great rail and bus links it's only a short commute to either Newport or Pontypridd campus too. Our student halls accommodation is situated a few minutes’ walk away from campus. The cost of halls of residence in Cardiff varies considerably.
Halls in Pontypridd
Our Treforest campus situated in Pontypridd is framed by peaceful green hills. It’s a friendly community with on campus accommodation, ranging from smaller rooms to self-contained studio flats. Prices range from £112-186 a week*, with bills included.
Halls in Newport
Rich in culture and tradition, Newport is a multicultural city full of opportunities. You’ll have everything on your doorstep with our student halls just metres from the campus. Prices start from £139.50 a week*, with bills included.
Though initially university accommodation may seem more expensive, remember all bills and your internet connection are included.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT LIVING IN HALLS OF RESIDENCE, PLEASE CONTACT THE ACCOMMODATION TEAM ON accom@southwales.ac.uk
WHAT YOU’LL NEED WHEN YOU ARRIVE
Halls bedrooms include a bed, wardrobe, storage, chair, desk and internet access. Shared kitchens include a microwave, cooker, toaster, kettle, refrigerator and freezer, and there are laundry facilities available at each residence. University-owned accommodation will provide a cleaner for the communal areas, but you will need to clean your own room and do your own laundry.
Rooms are fully furnished, but you will need to provide your own bedding and towels. At USW, you can pre-order a bedding pack if you need one. Once you have arrived, the Immigration and International Student Advice team can provide you with tips on where to purchase other items that you might need. You can also find out more about what to bring here. If you have any questions, you can contact them on international.advice@southwales.ac.uk.
HOW TO APPLY FOR HALLS OF RESIDENCE
• Apply for your course at USW
• Let us know you would like to accept your offer to study at USW
• You will receive information about how to apply for halls of residence
• You will need to confirm which halls you prefer
• We will send you further details on your room allocation and how to confirm your booking, which will include paying a deposit/prepayment.
• Once your booking is confirmed, we will send you your moving in details and dates, room and address details and an introduction to our accommodation team
PRIVATE RENTAL ACCOMMODATION
IF YOU DECIDE THAT HALLS OF RESIDENCE ARE NOT FOR YOU, OR IF YOU ARE COMING TO THE UK WITH YOUR FAMILY, YOU WILL NEED TO CONSIDER RENTING OFFCAMPUS ACCOMMODATION IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
There is a choice of private rentals in Cardiff, Pontypridd and Newport. Although we encourage students looking for private sector accommodation to start doing their research early, you should not arrange private rented accommodation before you travel to the UK and before you have seen the property.
If you enter into a tenancy agreement with a landlord and later change your mind, you will be held to the agreement. It is therefore never a good idea to arrange private accommodation without viewing the property first.
THINGS TO CONSIDER
If you are looking to rent a whole house or apartment, rather than just a room, Monthly rental costs start from £800 in Pontypridd and Newport, and £1,475 in Cardiff. Most private houses accommodate an average of 3 or 4 individual bedrooms.
Remember to consider the following checklist when looking at monthly rent costs:
• Are utility bills included? (Think about electricity, water, gas, wi-fi, etc.)
• Is the accommodation furnished or unfurnished?
• What are the terms and conditions of the contract? (For example, are there costs for damages/ repairs, a termination policy etc.)
• Keep in mind that, if a UK guarantor is required and you don't have one, some companies provide such services for a fee (we recommend you check terms and conditions of the agreement as well). If you aren't able to provide a UK guarantor, you may also be asked to pay several months rent upfront when you sign the contract.
Remember: Bills will be an additional cost on top of your rental fee if you rent private accommodation. Should you decide to live in private rented accommodation, you will also need to factor in the cost of staying in a hotel or guest house when you first arrive which can sometimes be expensive.
As noted above, it’s important that you view a property before signing a contract and you should be aware of fake landlords that sometimes prey on international students pretending to offer housing that doesn’t actually exist.
Rental agencies can be an easy way to search for a house, but they usually charge administration fees and you are not guaranteed to find better accommodation via an agency. Always look for rental agencies that are accredited. You can find out if your agency is accredited through Rent Smart Wales.
ARRIVING TO THE UK
International students who opt for private rented accommodation usually book temporary accommodation in a guest house or hotels when they first arrive in the UK. This will give you somewhere to stay whilst you search for longerterm housing.
There are lots of websites that can be used to find temporary accommodation in local hotels:
• Newport Student Village
Yugo
Pads for Students
Premier Inn or Travelodge
hotels.com
booking.com
WE HAVE A HANDY PRIVATE ACCOMMODATION SEARCH TOOL ON OUR WEBSITE WHICH YOU CAN ACCESS HERE:
STUDENTS WITH DEPENDANTS
Private rented accommodation is currently in high demand in the local area as it is throughout the UK. This is particularly the case if you are coming with your family and are looking for an entire house to rent. Living in a hotel for a long period of time can be expensive. If you have dependants, particularly children, we would strongly encourage you to travel on your own first and arrange for your spouse and children to travel once you have secured suitable accommodation.
FIND OUT
MORE
USEFUL RESOURCES
We strongly recommend that before you travel to the UK, you visit the UKCISA (UK Council for International Student Affairs) UKCISAinternational student advice and guidancePlanning your housing. It has the most up to date advice on what to consider, what type of contract you would have, whether you need a deposit and other helpful advice.
Once you have read the information, we advise you spend time looking at these websites:
• Student Accommodation in Cardiff | Rightmove
• Student Properties in Cardiff | StuRents
• Student Accommodation in Newport | Rightmove
• Student Properties in Newport | StuRents
Resources to help you find a room within a shared household include Student Pad, and UniAcco, a firm that can help with your search and help you link up with others looking for accommodation in the same area:
• Student Pad
• Student Accommodation | Compare, Consult & Choose | UniAcco
LET’S PACK!
LUGGAGE
• Valid Passport
• Travel insurance policy number and emergency contact details.
• All supporting documents and certificates for your Visa – UKVI decision letter, supporting parents letter if under 18, health and vaccination certificates.
• Any important correspondence from the University.
• Small amount of currency, around £500.
Most airlines allow 20-23kg of checked luggage and there are strict size and weight restrictions on all hand luggage. Please check with your airline for up-to-date instructions before you fly.
WHAT TO PACK
• A good selection of clothing suitable for all weather conditions. You can purchase more suitable clothing once in the UK if needed.
• Mobile, laptop, phone and chargers.
• Adaptable plug socket and a 13-amp three prong plug. Electrical items that you bring with you must have a CE certification marking and conform to UK standards.
• A few small items to remind you of home –photos, books, posters etc.
WHAT NOT TO BRING
• Candles, joss stick, ‘hookah’ pipes or any item that uses a naked flame
• Heaters, refrigerators or large electrical items.
• Weapons or replica weapons, including guns, swords, knives, pepper spray etc.
SUSTAINABILITY
• To help reduce your carbon footprint, consider packing items which help cut down on single use plastics.
• Why not try using re-usable bags to help store some of your items while you travel? Once you’ve unpacked, you can use them to carry items while out shopping for your new room .
• You can also try travelling with reusable water bottles, coffee cups and lunch boxes.
USEFUL CONTACTS
For Immigration and International support visit: https://intadvice.southwales.ac.uk/welcome/
For family support and information, visit: https://intadvice.southwales.ac.uk/welcome/ family-support-information/
Accommodation office
+44 1443 48245 accom@southwales.ac.uk
Financial and budgeting advice money@southwales.ac.uk
Immigration and International Student Advice (IISA) team
+44 1443 482083 international.advice@southwales.ac.uk
UKCISA: www.ukcisa.org.uk/information--advice
Study UK: www.study-uk.britishcouncil.org/movinguk/money-budgeting
Which? Student budget calculator: www.which.co.uk/money/university-andstudent-finance/student-budget-calculator
Temporary Accommodation
www.trivago.co.uk
www.tripadviser.com.uk hotels.com booking.com
General Information
www.stayinwales.co.uk maps.google.co.uk www.visitcardiff.com
Travel www.thetrainline.com www.nationalexpress.com
For information about the University in Welsh / Am wybodaeth am y Brifysgol yn y Gymraeg: www.decymru.ac.uk
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