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 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), plus 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.