International Accommodation Guide 2023-24

ACCOMMODATION GUIDE FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

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 dependents (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 Failure to attend your classes regularly could have serious consequences on your studies and could lead to you being withdrawn from your course and your visa being curtailed (or shortened).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.

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.

WHAT TO EXPECT

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.

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 in the private sector. 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.

International students who opt for private rented accommodation usually book temporary accommodation in a guest house or hotels for 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

• Cardiff Council

• Premier Inn Hotels

• Travel Lodge

It may take you several weeks to find more permanent accommodation.

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 dependents, 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.

LIVING IN HALLS IS A GREAT WAY TO MAKE NEW FRIENDS.

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

UNIVERSITY HALLS OF RESIDENCE

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.

PRIVATE RENTAL ACCOMMODATION

If you don’t want to live in Halls of Residence or if Halls of Residence aren’t suitable for you, you can consider private rented accommodation. There is a choice of private rentals in Cardiff, Pontypridd and Newport. Private accommodation is off-campus accommodation that students can find through letting agencies here in Wales.

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.

As noted above, it’s important that you view a property before signing a contract and you should be aware of the fake landlords that sometimes prey on international students pretending to offer housing that doesn’t actually exist.

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.

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

HERE:

WE HAVE A HANDY PRIVATE ACCOMMODATION SEARCH TOOL ON OUR WEBSITE WHICH YOU CAN ACCESS

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 sticks or use naked flames or ‘hookah’ pipes.

• 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 traveling with reusable water bottles, coffee cups and lunch boxes.

HALLS OF RESIDENCE

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. International students studying on a course at the Cardiff campus will receive updated information regarding available accommodation within Cardiff.

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 attic rooms to self-contained studio flats. Prices range from £98-£180 a week, with bills included.

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 meters from the campus. Prices start from £105 a week, with bills included.

Though initially university accommodation may seem more expensive, remember all bills and your internet connection are included.

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.

CARDIFF TO TREFOREST BY RAIL, 25 MINUTES, FROM £3.40 ONE WAY WITH A STUDENT RAILCARD

CARDIFF TO NEWPORT BY RAIL, 15 MINUTES, FROM £3.95 ONE WAY WITH A STUDENT RAIL CARD

STUDENTS WITH DEPENDANTS

ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS FOR YOU ALL

The University of South Wales does not provide accommodation for families, though our studio flats at Pontypridd campus can accommodate a partner.

Private sector accommodation is currently in high demand in the area, and it could take several weeks for newly-arrived students to find suitable family housing.

We therefore recommend that you initially come to the UK on your own, and stay in temporary, single housing while you look for a family home. Once you have found longer-term housing for yourself and your family, your family can travel to the UK.

Make sure you have enough money to cover the costs of temporary accommodation suitable for a family. Hotel costs start from around £75 a night for a standard double in Pontypridd, £95 a night for a standard double in Newport, and £80 a night for a standard double in Cardiff. Monthly rental costs start from £800 in Pontypridd and Newport, and £1,475 in Cardiff.

Requirements for students with families will vary. As a guide, these are the factors that students with families consider when looking for suitable housing:

• is the housing safe for children?

• do you want a location close to healthcare services, childcare provision, schools, parks/play areas, bus routes, supermarkets, car parking, parent and toddler groups, ante-natal classes?

• do you want a quieter location, removed from undergraduate residences?

• is the quantity and quality of social space important to you?

• is the quality of study space important?

• does the property offer long-term housing contracts?

• is it affordable?

FURTHER SUPPORT CAN BE FOUND ON OUR FAMILY SUPPORT WEBPAGE:

intadvice.southwales .ac.uk/welcome/familysupport-information

We strongly recommend that before you travel 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.

Resources for whole homes suitable for families:

• Student Accommodation in Cardiff | Rightmove

• Student Properties in Cardiff | StuRents

• Student Accommodation in Newport | Rightmove

• Student Properties in Newport | StuRents

Resources for 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

If you are bringing your family with you to the UK, please make sure you have a look at our welcome page for families.

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

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

The content of this booklet is correct at the time of print, August 2023. For the most up-to-date information, please visit: www.southwales.ac.uk.

You have received this because you have applied to study at the University of South Wales. If you no longer want to receive information, please let us know: www.southwales.ac.uk/contact

Produced by the University of South Wales’s Future Students Department.

Design: USW Print and Design 01443 482 677

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