In this guide
Short answer
Start researching housing four to six months before you leave and search hardest in the last three months, but only pay once you can verify the dates, the total cost and the contract. Researching, applying for a place and paying are three separate decisions, and treating them as one is what causes most problems.
Start too late and you have fewer options. Pay too early, before your destination or contract is confirmed, and you carry the risk. There is no universal booking date for exchange students: if your host university opens its residences on a set day, that call decides.
The housing timeline at a glance
| When | Goal | Do not do this yet |
|---|---|---|
| 6–5 months before | Learn the official options, neighbourhoods and waiting lists | Pay for a private offer before your destination and dates are firm |
| 4–3 months before | Compare total cost, commute and contract types | Choose on photos or the advertised rent alone |
| 2–1 months before | Close a verified option and prepare your arrival | Send irreversible money without a contract and checks |
| Last 2 weeks | Confirm keys, inventory, first payment and a plan B | Land without an address, a contact or a temporary fallback |
These dates are a planning tool from Odisea, not an Erasmus+ rule. In a tight market, start earlier. If your nomination comes late, build a stronger temporary plan.
Six months before: research without committing money
The Erasmus Student Charter says you should receive guidance on finding accommodation, so use it. Email the host university’s international office and ask for:
- its own, partner or recommended residences
- the opening date, waiting list and allocation criteria
- the usual neighbourhoods and the real travel time to your campus
- recent warnings about scams or providers
- the academic calendar and a sensible arrival date
Decide on a format at this stage too. If you are unsure, read our comparison of a room, a student residence or a shared flat.
Four months before: turn preferences into criteria
“Somewhere nice and cheap” will not narrow a search. Write down limits you can check:
- Monthly budget: rent, utilities, internet and transport together.
- Dates: an entry and exit that fit your semester.
- Location: the longest commute you will accept, including at night and at weekends.
- Privacy: single or shared room, bathroom and number of flatmates.
- Contract: notice, cancellation, deposit and individual or joint liability.
Run the budget through the cost calculator. A slightly pricier room within walking distance can leave you more money than a cheap one with two daily transfers. See also how to choose a neighbourhood.
Three months before: compare like with like
Do not compare an all-inclusive residence with a room that only shows the rent. Use the same fields for each option:
| Field | Question |
|---|---|
| Price | What do I pay each month, and what can change? |
| Entry | Is there a fee, reservation, deposit, first month or furnishing cost? |
| Exit | How much notice is needed, and what is the penalty? |
| Transport | How long is the real route to campus, and what does it cost? |
| Verification | Who is offering the home, and how do they prove they can rent it? |
Save the listing or a screenshot with the contract, so you can show what was promised if a condition changes.
Two months before: when booking makes sense
Book when all five of these are true:
- Your destination and dates are confirmed well enough.
- You know the total cost and can also cover the deposit.
- You have checked the identity, the address and the home itself.
- The contract matches the listing, and you understand the cancellation terms.
- The location works for your campus, not just for the city centre.
If one is missing, you still have an open question. Get the answer in writing before you pay, and read what to check before you sign.
If your place is not confirmed yet
Keep moving, but avoid obligations that are hard to cancel. You can join non-binding waiting lists, ask your university for a realistic acceptance date, get your documents ready, pick two backup neighbourhoods and ask about cancellation terms tied to admission. A nomination from your home university is not always final acceptance by the host.
The last month: prepare the move-in, not just the trip
- Confirm the date, time, contact person and how you collect the keys.
- Keep the contract, receipts, address and phone number available offline.
- Ask which furniture, bedding and kitchen items are actually included.
- Plan to take dated photos and an inventory on your first day.
- Book a cancellable first night if the key handover is uncertain.
If you are starting late
Urgency changes the plan but not the checks. Widen your search along transport lines, ask the university about temporary stays, and book a few cancellable days while you visit rooms. If an offer fails on identity, contract, address or payment method, keep looking, however close your flight is. Our student housing scam checklist covers what to verify.
Where to compare once you know your dates
Check with your university first, then compare the market. In Odisea housing you can select a city and continue to Uniplaces where a route is available. Affiliate notice: Odisea may earn a commission if you book through this partner offer. Any discount shown depends on eligible service fees and Uniplaces’ terms.
Frequently asked questions
Is six months too early to look for student housing?
Not for researching, asking your university and learning about calls. It may be too early to pay for a private offer if you do not yet have a destination or dates. Starting early does not mean committing money early.
Can I book before I receive my acceptance letter?
Only if you understand the risk or have suitable cancellation terms. Ask both universities what is missing and when it will arrive.
When do student residences fill up?
It depends entirely on the university and the city. Some allocate through a call or waiting list, and others have no residence at all. Ask for the opening date and the allocation criteria.
Should I buy my flight before booking a room?
There is no universal order. Make sure both allow reasonable changes and that you know your entry date. A cheap flight loses its value if it means paying for several nights before you get your keys.
What if my contract starts after I arrive?
Add temporary accommodation to your total cost and find out where you can leave your luggage. If the gap is long, compare changing the flight, negotiating the entry date or choosing another option.