Student halls of residence in Bilbao

For an exchange or the full course, many young people seek the comfort of a student residence in Bilbao. It’s one of the most popular accommodation options. Here we give you interesting information about the residences, addressing everything from its advantages and disadvantages to details about private and university residences. We also show you where to find affordable options and answer the most frequently asked questions related to this type of accommodation.

It’s essential to keep in mind that in Bilbao there are both residences and Colegios Mayores (student halls). If you are wondering what the differences are between them, one of the main ones is that residences can be private or affiliated with a university, while colegios mayores are linked to a specific institution. This implies that in the colegios mayores you’ll only have the opportunity to meet students from the same university. Despite this distinction, they often operate similarly in other respects.

Pros and cons of living in a residence in Bilbao

These are some of the most notable features of this type of accommodation:

Pros of living in student dorms in Bilbao

It allows you to meet people as soon as you arrive in town, so you avoid feeling alone and lost. You will meet other students who are in the same situation as you.
You can live in a multicultural environment, with people from different parts of the world. We recommend that, in addition to delving into the Spanish and Basque cultures, you learn from the ways of life of your accommodation companions.
The residences, especially the private ones, have facilities that make the stay more enjoyable. For example, they may have a gym, games area, study room, cinema, outdoor terrace, laundry, and free bicycles.
The accommodation is fully furnished, with bedding, kitchenware and the necessary furniture such as a bed, desk, chair and wardrobe in the rooms.
The prices generally include bill expenses such as gas, water, electricity and Internet, so you don't have to add an extra amount at the end of each month to pay for them.
Cleaning of common spaces is included in the rental price, which solves one of the problems that most often arises between roommates.

Cons of living in student dorms in Bilbao

You have to share common spaces with many people, so they can be crowded with people and the only space you have to yourself is the room (if it’s a single room).
They usually have stricter coexistence rules than private flats. For example, there may be defined times for the use of common areas, including the kitchen, or rules related to receiving guests. This takes away a lot of freedom and independence.
If you are one of those who get FOMO, living in a residence with so many people may be a problem at times when you have to concentrate on studies.
Some accommodations have old furniture and fixtures, which makes them not very welcoming.
You can't meet your roommates before you arrive, even if you share a room, because residences cannot share their data.
It’s difficult to disconnect from the university experience. It's indeed a lot of fun, but sometimes it's also good to meet other people and experience the city differently.
Many university residences and colegios mayores include full board in their price, that is, it’s not optional. This causes the cost to increase considerably.

Private student residences in Bilbao

This type of residence usually has convenient locations for students. That is, they are usually found near university campuses, near the most frequented leisure sites, or both. Keep in mind that young people usually move around the city by bicycle, and residences are usually well connected with both bike paths and public transport.

Each private residence offers a different type of accommodation. For example, they may have compact studio flats, single rooms with a bathroom, single rooms with a shared bathroom and/or shared rooms. Some even have a combination of all these types of accommodation, or several of them.

These residences have services included, such as 24-hour security and cleaning of common areas. Furthermore, they give the opportunity to hire services that make your stay simpler. For example, you can hire room cleaning service, washing bed linen and towels, and meals. For meals there are usually two main options. On the one hand there is the half board (which includes breakfast and a meal) and on the other hand is the full board (which includes breakfast and two meals).

Normally private residences have more diverse facilities than university ones. Among the amenities they can have are gym, play area, study room, cinema, outdoor terrace, and laundry. Access to all of them is included with the rent, but in the laundry room you sometimes have to pay for each use.

University student halls of residence in Bilbao

The residences that are part of the same universities, and the colegios mayores (residence halls) that are subscribed to them, are normally located within the institution's campus, or very close to it. This provides the convenience of getting to classes and integrating easily, although it also makes it difficult to disconnect from university life.

In the university residences you can find both single rooms and studio flats for one or two people. The price of the latter is usually higher than that of the rooms, but they provide more privacy, especially when it comes to the kitchen and the use of the bathroom.

In some cases there are opening and closing dates of the residences or colegios mayores, to which you’ll have to adapt. Furthermore, many close during some periods, such as Christmas, New Year or Easter seasons. If you don't plan to go home or travel during those days, it can be quite a negative thing.

Regarding hazing (“novatadas”) (practices or rituals that humiliate newcomers so that they can become part of the group), they were banned a few years ago. However, it’s known that they continue to be carried out in some places. You must communicate this if it’s the case, since they have been prohibited due to situations of abuse in the past.

University Residences of the University of the Basque Country

The UPV/EHU has agreements with a residence and a colegio mayor. Both are mixed and offer the possibility of staying in single rooms, shared rooms and studio flats.

If you want to know about accommodation near the University of the Basque Country, read this article.

University Residence Halls of the University of Deusto

The institution has one subscribed colegio mayor, which is located in the Deusto neighborhood, very close to the University campus. The cost is usually quite high, since it includes full board.

If you want to know about accommodation near the University of Deusto, read this article.

Rent cheap student residences in Bilbao

To find a student residence with a good price, features and location, search with Erasmus Play! In our comparator you can see the different private residences, verified and available for your stay in the Basque city. Once you have made the reservation online and completely securely, you can move on to another important search: which are the best taverns to eat pintxos in Bilbao!

Frequently Asked Questions about student dorms in Bilbao

What are the requirements to apply for a place in a student residence in Bilbao?
The basic requirements are to be enrolled in a university in the city and have a valid ID or passport. However, pay close attention to what they ask for, because some ask to have medical insurance (which could be the European Health Card).
How much does a student residence in Bilbao cost?
The cost of rentals in the Basque city is usually quite high, which is also the case for residences. The price can vary between approximately €500 and €1,000 per month, it always depends on what they include in their price.
Are there scholarships for student residences in Bilbao?
It depends on the residence or colegio mayor and the institution you go to. In some cases you can apply for a scholarship, but they are not always granted. Of course, if you are going to Bilbao on Erasmus, the scholarship they give you is used to pay part of the accommodation.
What’s cheaper, an apartment or a student residence in Bilbao?
On average, private shared flats are cheaper than student residences. Keep in mind that this is generally because the latter offer services and facilities that the flats do not, such as food or cleaning of common areas.
Are there female university residences in Bilbao?
In the Basque city you’ll find both residences and colegios mayores that can be female, male or mixed. That way, you have the opportunity to choose the type of accommodation that is convenient for you, so you can feel comfortable where you live.