On this page:

• Choosing your accommodation
• Tenancy agreement
• Rent and guarantors
• Arrivals and temporary accommodation
• Commuting to university

Choosing your accommodation

We strongly recommend that you apply for accommodation through our Accommodation services website. Applying for accommodation through third-party providers, websites, or agents is strongly discouraged, as they may not have been vetted or visited by accommodation services.

University halls of residence and properties on our Studentpad website meet the snug student housing standard.

We advise that you attend one of the University’s pre-departure briefing sessions before arriving in Sheffield. These sessions cover important topics like visas, immigration, travel preparation and applying for accommodation.

Guaranteed accommodation

If you’re travelling without dependents, you're guaranteed accommodation in one of our partner halls of residence near the University campuses. If you're looking for family accommodation, see our guidance for families for more information.

We have a variety of room types to suit all budgets from £91 to £190 per week inclusive of utility bills, WIFI and contents insurance.

All university allocated halls of residence are single occupancy and self-catered.

Applying for halls of residence

Apply for accommodation online as soon as you've received a full-time course offer from Sheffield Hallam. It doesn't matter if the offer is conditional or unconditional, or if you have made us your firm or insurance choice, you can still apply.

You'll receive an accommodation offer when your course offer status becomes unconditional firm and all academic requirements are met.

If you've accepted an accommodation offer through the University but were unsuccessful in obtaining a UK visa, you must tell accommodation services and your landlord as soon as possible, well before your accommodation contract starts. Please refer to your tenancy terms and conditions, as not doing so may result in upholding the contract and associated fees.

Private sector accommodation

For private sector accommodation, apply online through our website, indicating 'private sector' as your preference. Once you've applied, we'll offer tailored information and support to help you find suitable accommodation.

We recommend that you finalise private sector accommodation arrangements after you have arrived in Sheffield. Plan to arrive a few days early and book a hotel for in-person viewings before committing to a legally binding contract. You can also use Studentpad to search for snug approved properties in Sheffield.

Additional requirements

Please include any preferences or requirements in the notes section of your online accommodation application, and state any special needs. 

All room allocations are conducted according to our equality and diversity guidelines and accommodation allocation criteria.

Tenancy agreement

Your tenancy agreement (housing contract) is legally binding and you will need to pay the rent for the whole contract period, so make sure you're happy with your accommodation before signing. This applies to online agreements too – if you click through to 'sign' a contract, this will be binding. The contract applies even if you do not pay a deposit or provide guarantor details.

Rent and guarantors

You will need to have a guarantor, which may be required to be UK or international based. If this is not an option, you may need to pay the annual rent in full on acceptance of an offer of accommodation.

If you decide to choose private sector accommodation, we advise that you DO NOT transfer any money or sign a legally binding contract until you have viewed the accommodation and have read the contract terms and conditions in detail.

Please be aware that the University does not act as a guarantor service. Third party guarantor companies are available but not affiliated with Sheffield Hallam and will incur a fee.

Arrivals and temporary accommodation

If you need to arrive earlier than your contract start date, you must contact your landlord directly to make suitable arrangements. There may be an additional charge for early arrival. 

If arriving early isn't possible, you'll be advised to arrange alternative accommodation for that period. Sheffield Hallam holds preferential rates with a number of hotels, which can be found on our website.

Please note that the University doesn't provide temporary accommodation. If you plan to search for student housing upon arrival, arrange temporary accommodation for your first few nights in Sheffield. If you arrive without a place to stay, you will have to book a hotel.

Commuting to University

When selecting where to live, you need to consider the cost of travel to university. Sheffield Hallam is responsible for monitoring international students’ engagement therefore you will need to attend lectures and other teaching and learning activities on campus regularly. 

To make sure that international students comply, you will need to live within a commutable distance of the campus, which is within 40 miles from City Campus (S1 1WB) or within one-hour travel time by your chosen mode of transport. Please note, we recommend that you live no farther than 25 miles from campus to avoid paying the higher costs associated with longer-distance commute. 

Cost of commute

Students should also consider the costs associated with regular travel. If you are commuting within South Yorkshire and North Derbyshire, please check Travel South Yorkshire for the cost of bus travel. To check train prices, go to nationalrail.co.uk. For the cost of commuting by car, please check the current fuel costs in the UK. As a guide the average fuel consumption is 8.6 litres per 100 miles for petrol cars and 8 litres per 100 miles for diesel vehicles. 

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