INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
Moving to a different country for university comes with enough to think about. Here's everything international students need to know about finding accommodation in the UK, from all things booking right through to move-in day, we've got you covered
With luxury ensuite student bedrooms and facilities, caring and attentive staff, properties managed 24/7 - 365 days a year, plus safe and secure student communities, our accommodation is the perfect option for all students.
Whether it's your first time away from home or you have experience living in a different country, when you first arrive at true it will feel like your arriving somewhere that already feels like home.
Don't worry, we've got you. Here at true, we offer the same payment terms for international students and UK students! Pay in termly or monthly instalments with an international guarantor! For more details on this, head to the 'Guarantor & Payments' section below.
All our main tenancies are cleverly created to ensure you don't miss the start of your Academic Year, no matter what University you're studying in. We want students to move into true, get settled in, and then have time to get to know their new area before officially starting University classes. However, if you want to move in before the tenancy start date we can almost always accommodate this. Of course it's due to room availability at the time you enquire, so we recommend getting in touch as soon as possible once you've booked your room.
Our properties are all situated in main UK cities, and due to this there are many ways you can arrive to true. We would always recommend getting a taxi from the airport as this will bring you right to our door, which is handy if you have a lot of luggage!
Before you check in, we send pre-arrival communications which details our address (plus other really useful information), so keep an eye out for this in your inbox!
As our staff work 24/7, they will be there to welcome you no matter what time you arrive, even if it's 2am in the morning! They'll be there with a smile and a friendly hand to help you take your luggage to your new room.
You can pay your rent by bank, bank transfer, or card.
You can select how you'd like to pay your rent via your own personal online account. Here it will state how much you owe, when your rent is due and give you the correct details to make this payment. You can change your payment method within the year to suit what works best for you at the time.
Moving country for university comes with a lot of paperwork, and we can't complete your visa application or advise on immigration law - that's between you, your university and the UK government. What we can do is make the accommodation side as simple as possible while you handle it:
- A booking confirmation or tenancy agreement you can use as proof of address for your visa application
- Flexible cancellation terms if your visa is delayed or refused
- A team on hand if your university's international office needs anything confirmed from us directly
All our students get exclusive access to our true student+ app. Our app unlocks an enhanced true living experience giving seamless access to wellness, community and exclusive ‘+perks’ all at your fingertips. Within this app you will be added to our resident group, this is where our students can connect and meet each other before you even check in!
Once check in comes we'd of course recommend getting involved in as many trueLife events as possible. You can view and book onto these via the true student+ app too. This will help you meet like-minded people and for a fresh friendship to start!
Guarantor & Payments
Here at true student, we offer 3 payment terms; annual (1 full payment upfront), termly (4 payments) or monthly (for 44- or 51- week bookings this is split over 11 or 12 monthly payments). Unlike many other accommodation providers, we offer both UK and International students the same payment options - because we want to ensure your payment structure suits you and your needs as much as possible. If you want to pay your rent in termly or monthly instalments, you would need a guarantor.
A guarantor is someone over the age of 25 who takes joint financial responsibility for your tenancy and is liable to pay your rent if you are, for any reason, unable to pay an amount owed to true student. This is standard practice for accommodation, especially for students. You will need to name a guarantor when you make your booking if you select to pay your rent in instalments. This person will need be in full-time employment, a home owner and/or renting accommodation, and sign a guarantor agreement. We will only contact your guarantor if there is a delay in payment or we have concerns over the terms of your tenancy agreement being followed.
When booking a room at true, during your onboarding you will be asked how you'd like to pay your rent. If you select an instalment option it will then ask for your guarantor details. Once these are submitted we will email your guarantor directly where they will then need to complete their details, upload proof of ID (passport or driving licence) as well as proof of address (this can only be a utility bill dated within the last 3 months). Finally they must sign the agreement that states the terms and conditions of being a guarantor.
Update on International Guarantor Deadlines
To help our team get ready for our September check in, we've added some new deadlines for our international guarantors.
All international guarantor applications currently in progress must be fully completed, approved and signed by 21 August 2026. We will continue accepting new international guarantor applications until 28 August 2026. Any new application submitted by 28 August must be fully completed, approved and signed by 31 August 2026. No new personal international guarantor applications will be accepted after 28 August, we're really sorry about this but there isn't enough time to get them signed, agreed and in place before our tenancy start date of the 4th September. Any application that remains incomplete after 31 August will not be accepted. Students who miss these deadlines and still wish to pay by instalments would need to use an approved professional guarantor company, such as Housing Hand or RentGuarantor. Otherwise, they would be required to pay their rent in full.
Before you're set to arrive at true student, we will send you pre-arrival communications via email which contain everything you will need to know about your arrival to true plus what to expect from your first few weeks.
We recommend giving this a thorough read as it contains everything you will need to know to ensure your check-in goes as smoothly as possible.
We have partnered with Unpacked so you can create your own pack of uni essentials. If you choose delivery to your new true student home, the pack you create will be waiting for you in your room when you arrive!
You can view a large host of information on things like registering with a GP, opening a bank account, getting a UK SIM, and more, via our true student+ app. In addition our friendly onsite team can help with any other questions that you might have once you arrive at true, such a public transport, and the best way to get to Uni.
Life at true student
We are so proud to say that we've had students from over 120 different countries around the world stay with us at true, and we can't wait for this number to grow.
true student is for everyone, no matter where they come from, and we always champion community, culture and diversity within our properties.
Our award-winning trueLife events programme doesn't just offer great experiences, but it brings students together, championing celebrations across the world such as Chinese New Year, Thanksgiving, Oktoberfest, Holi and many more.
Our teams and other guests love to learn about the cultures from across the world and we pride ourselves on making sure everything we do is with full inclusivity in mind.
Wellbeing at true student
To us, it's not just about what we do, it's about how we make you feel.
We host a variety of weekly trueLife events that are centred around community, health and wellbeing. As our guest, you can join weekly fitness classes, cooking classes, away days and much, much more. Our tailored events help our guests to settle into their new living environment and meet new friends.
Wellbeing lies at the heart of what we do and with this in mind, our team are trained to offer advice that helps our guests to overcome a range of issues. We have team members specifically trained on Mental Health First Aid as well of First Aid trained.
Safety & Security at true
true takes safety seriously. We will always have a dedicated member of staff or security guard on-site 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to give you peace of mind.
Our Electronic door entry systems, intercoms and CCTV ensure that everyone who lives with us benefits from the highest security standards, so the only thing you have to worry about is your studies.
Our staff's main concern is keeping you and our other guests safe when living with us. They are also on hand to help with any question or issue you may have, or even if you just fancy a cuppa tea and a chat after a long day at uni.
Get to know our true rooms
We're proud that we do things the 'true' way, and that falls into the ethos of how we name our bedrooms. When looking at our availability, you'll see that we have 2 main room types; true Studios and true Apartments.
If you're looking for private student accommodation in the UK, our true Studios are the perfect choice. All of our private student studio apartments come with a fully equipped kitchenette, giving you your own personal space while still having access to all that our properties have to offer. For those that like a large room type, we'd recommend you check out the 'Premium' or 'Superior' Studios (Studio types vary across our true student properties). We're also happy to note that all our studio rooms come with free dual occupancy.
Our true Apartments are shared student accommodation. Other providers call this room type an 'ensuite', but we think they're so much more than this...hence the name, true Apartment! They are the perfect way to get that student halls experience while at uni. You'll have your own room and bathroom with the social aspect of a shared kitchen and lounge. Share with people you already know or friends you haven’t met yet!
All-Inclusive Student Accommodation
No matter what fantastic room you pick, you will enjoy an all-inclusive living experience. This means that all your utility bills are included in the rent you pay. This includes; unlimited WiFi, gas, electricity and water. Your rent also comes with contents insurance for your belongings as standard too. Our incredible onsite gyms, other social spaces and our trueLife events are of course included within your rent, so you really do get everything here at true!
0114 321 0366 press option 1 for sales and 2 for the site team
Reserving a room at true student couldn't be easier! All you need to do is...
1. Click 'reserve a room' in the top right hand corner.
2. Select your perfect room and the tenancy length.
3. Quickly enter your details.
4. Pay the advanced rent payment, this will be conveniently deducted from your first rental instalment automatically.
5. Confirm your booking!
After this, we will email you directly asking you to easily set up your true student account, complete onboarding and sign your contract online. Easy peasy!
You can book directly with true using our website. In order for the booking to be confirmed, all required documents must be returned including guarantor agreement, tenancy agreement and provision for your rent payments. A booking will only be confirmed by true once the onboarding process is complete and all the necessary documentation has been supplied.
A guarantor is someone over the age of 25 who takes joint financial responsibility for your tenancy and is liable to pay your rent if you are, for any reason, unable to pay an amount owed to true student. This is standard practice for accommodation, especially for students. You will need to name a guarantor when you make your booking if you select to pay your rent in instalments. This person will need be in full-time employment, a home owner and/or renting accommodation, and sign a guarantor agreement. We will only contact your guarantor if there is a delay in payment or we have concerns over the terms of your tenancy agreement being followed.
Please note, we do accept international guarantors. Feel free to contact the team via hello@truestudent.com for more details on this.
No, we do not charge deposits. However, to reserve a room you will need to pay a £150 advanced rent payment. This will be taken of your first months rent.
true takes safety seriously. We have a dedicated member of staff or security guard on-site 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to give you peace of mind.
Our Electronic door entry systems, intercoms and CCTV ensure that everyone who lives with us benefits from the highest security standards, so the only thing they have to worry about is your studies.
Regarding booking a room for the academic year 2026/2027, there is a 5-day cooling off period for bookings made until 31st July 2026 following signature of this Tenancy Agreement, after which the Tenancy Agreement is legally binding (the "Cooling Off Period"). For bookings made on or after 1st August 2026, there is no cooling off period. If the tenant were to take occupation within their cooling off period, the Tenancy Agreement would be legally binding from the date of occupation and the cooling off period will end immediately. For the full terms and conditions, please click here
If you'd like more information on this, please get in touch with a member of the team who are happy to help
All utility bills including broadband Wi-Fi and contents insurance for your belongings are all included.
You are responsible for the purchase of a TV license if you intend to watch or record live terrestrial TV programmes or use BBC iPlayer, even if you have been provided with a TV by true Student. For further information, visit www.tvlicensing.co.uk.
The real question is what isn't there to do at true! Here are just a few of the ways in which we give our residents a truly unforgettable experience during their stay:
Our communal zones and weekly events calendar mean that getting to know like-minded people at true won't be an issue! Keep an eye on our social media channels to see what we get up to.
Contents insurance is automatically included with your rent. When you arrive, we’ll provide you with details of the policy and, if you need anything extra adding to the cover, you can contact the provider to make an upgrade.
If you are a foreign national, in order to take up your offer at your preferred University, you will need a UK visa. For more information, please visit the https://www.ukcisa.org.uk/
If you are an international student coming from abroad, we recommend buying a UK SIM card for your phone to help keep bill costs down.
There are two options you can choose from if you are looking to set up your phone here in the UK.
Here are some UK phone providers to help you get started, however talk to any of our staff who will be able to help:
It is important that whilst you are living in the UK that you register with a doctor. As a full-time student, you may qualify for free NHS treatment. Depending on which university you are with, they will be able to provide you with details of medical and dentistry practices in the area.
the best place to live in the UK as an international student
