Private room
Shared room
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Entire place
Residence
Coliving
If you’re looking for accommodation and are considering student residences in Gothenburg, this article is for you! Here you’ll find the most important details about this type of accommodation: its pros and cons, the characteristics of private and university residences, how to rent cheap student residences and FAQs.
The first thing you need to know is that finding a student residence in Gothenburg is often very complicated and time-consuming. In fact, it’s sometimes a matter of waiting months to get on a list and be able to apply for accommodation. For this reason, most exchange students choose private rooms or flats, which are easier to find.
Characteristics of this type of accommodation are:
There isn’t a great variety of private student residences in this Swedish city. However, those that are available are located mainly in central neighbourhoods such as Johanneberg, Lindholmen and Guldheden.
Some of the private residences in Gothenburg may be religious, even though they accept people who don’t belong to their religion. These residences tend to have stricter regulations on different matters such as drinking alcohol, which may even be prohibited inside the building.
As for accommodation, they offer compact studio flats and rooms in shared flats. The first option is the most expensive, but gives the most privacy and independence.
Common areas include shared kitchens, laundry rooms and study rooms. In addition, some buildings offer gyms and play areas.
Services included usually are internet, heating and, in some cases, electricity. Check what is included so you know if you have to add some extra costs at the end of each month.
In Gothenburg, university halls of residence are usually managed through a points programme. One of the largest student accommodation organisations, SGS Studentbostäder, manages this type of accommodation. To get a place, you must register on their platform. You accumulate points each day you are on the waiting list.
When a residence is available, students with the most points are eligible for that place, but availability and the amount of points needed may vary depending on the location and demand at the time. In addition, it’s important to apply early due to high competition.
These residences tend to be furnished with the basics, such as bed, desk, chair and bookshelf. However, they don’t include other details such as light bulbs, curtains for the living room or shower, bed linen or towels.
Common use facilities usually are study rooms, gyms and exercise areas, function hall, lounges and games areas (including billiards).
If you are an exchange student on programmes such as Erasmus or Linnaeus, you can apply in the university's halls of residence as part of your application to study. If you are a full-year student, you have to join a queue where you earn points over time in order to gain access to certain flats when they become available.
If you want to know about accommodation near the University of Gothenburg, read this article.
This institution has several requirements for accepting students into its halls of residence, such as meeting a certain number of credits each semester. You can apply via Chalmers Studentbostäder.
If you want to know about accommodation near Chalmers University of Technology, read this article.
You can use student accommodation search engines that make it easy to find your ideal place quickly and affordably, like Erasmus Play. Here you can filter by the features you want and book online safely. After securing your place, you can get your things ready to make the most of your city experience, including winter days by the sea!
Generally you need to be enrolled at a University in the city, such as the University of Gothenburg or Chalmers. You need to register on the waiting list of SGS Studentbostäder or Chalmers Studentbostäder and accumulate points according to the time of enrolment. Priority is also given to international and exchange students in some cases.
There aren’t scholarships to cover the cost of student residences in Gothenburg, although Erasmus students can use this scholarship. It covers mobility and accommodation costs for European exchange students. In addition, some countries offer national scholarships that you can use to pay for accommodation abroad. Check with your home or host University to explore additional options.
A room in a shared flat is usually more expensive than a student residence, especially in central areas. The halls of residence, run by SGS and Chalmers Studentbostäder, offer more affordable rates and included services, which can be more affordable for students. However, high demand for places may limit availability, forcing some students to opt for shared flats, which, although more expensive, offer greater flexibility.
ASAP! Residencies are in high demand, especially before each semester. Registering your application months in advance, ideally as soon as you confirm your university acceptance, increases your chances of getting a place.
Student residences usually include heating, essential for the cold Swedish winters, and internet access. They also offer common areas such as laundry facilities and study rooms. In some residences, electricity isn’t included in the rent, so this may be an additional cost to consider.