Student halls of residence in Granada

Granada is one of the most popular destinations for an exchange and Erasmus in Spain. In fact, even though it’s a relatively small city, it’s chosen by a large number of Spanish and international students every year. Many of them look for student residences in Granada, being one of the most chosen types of accommodation. Here you can find everything you need to know about them, from the advantages and disadvantages to information on private and university residences, including where to find cheap residences and answers to the most frequently asked questions about this type of accommodation.

The first thing you have to keep in mind is that in Granada there are both residences and colegios mayores (student halls). What is the main difference between them? The residences can be private or be part of a University, while the colegios mayores are always attached to a specific institution. This means that in the student halls you can only meet students who go to the same university as you. Aside from that, they tend to work in a very similar way.

Pros and cons of living in a residence in Granada

Some of the most notable pros and cons are:

Pros of living in student dorms in Granada

They all have common spaces that you can enjoy with your roommates. Among them there may be: rooms to watch television, karaoke room, garden or terrace, dining room, study room, gym, and even an outdoor pool!
You can live in a dynamic and multicultural space, in which your roommates surely come from different parts of the world. Take the opportunity to learn about their cultures, in addition to delving into the culture of Granada, of course.
Cleaning of common areas is included in the price, so it won’t be a problem in coexistence, as per usual in private shared apartments. The cleaning of the rooms is not always included, but sometimes it is and other times you can add it for an extra monthly amount.
The residences usually have 24-hour security.
Normally there are laundry rooms with several washing machines in which to do the laundry (the most common thing is that you have to insert coins to use it). In addition, some residences offer a change of the sheets and towels weekly, so you don't have to worry about that issue.
Residences, especially those in the private sector, are well equipped to spend the hot and cold seasons. Keep in mind that in Granada the temperatures in summer are very high, reaching 35ºC, while in winter it usually freezes, with temperatures between 6-11ºC.

Cons of living in student dorms in Granada

Although having meals included can be an advantage, for some people not having a kitchen to be able to prepare your own dishes can be a disadvantage. Even with room and board included, it can be much more limiting if you have a specific diet (such as vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, etc.).
When booking, frequently you have to pay an extra amount, which is not the deposit and is not returned.
There are often specific rules of coexistence. For example, sometimes you cannot have visits or their entry and exit times may be restricted. Additionally, they cannot use common spaces.
Some colegios mayores are not well conditioned, especially for the very hot months, since that is when there are often fewer students.
When it comes to residences that host many people, it may happen that common areas are always occupied and it’s difficult to use them.
Living with many people can make concentrating on studies difficult, because there is always something happening.

Private student residences in Granada

Granada is a student city that welcomes thousands of Spanish and international students every year (in search of that Granada charm that we have all heard about at some point). Because of this, it’s normal that the availability of accommodation in private student residences is very high, although they also tend to rent out quickly! For this reason, one of the first things you have to know is that it’s advisable to search and book as soon as possible when finding your ideal residence.

Private residences in the city of the Alhambra can have many rooms and accommodate a large number of people, or they can be smaller and have less than twenty rooms. Thanks to this, you will have the possibility of choosing if you want to live with many people or in a more intimate environment.

When it comes to the type of accommodation they offer, it’s very varied. You can find single rooms, rooms shared between two or three people, studio apartments and complete apartments with their own common spaces (in addition to those of the residence itself). An important fact to keep in mind: most of the rooms in Granada have a private bathroom!

Private residences usually include bed linen and towels in their rooms, as well as their cleaning service. Regarding studio flats, they don’t usually have an oven, although they do have a microwave and ceramic stove.

Another detail that you have to know is that some residences in Granada forbid sticking anything to the bedroom wall (although they usually have designated magnetic spaces so you can hang whatever you want). This may keep you from decorating the space in any way you want. However, mind that private residences are often renovated and have bright spaces, so they tend to be cosy.

University student halls of residence in Granada

This type of accommodation is offered by the universities themselves, which can be managed by them or have agreements with residences and/or colegios mayores. One of the conditions that this type of accommodation has is to be enrolled in the University to which they belong.

It’s common for university residences and colegios mayores in this Andalusian city to only accept people of the same gender, especially in the case of women. However, several residences are male and several that are mixed.

Typically, these residences are within or very close to the campus of the University to which they belong. It’s an advantage to be able to get to classes quickly and to integrate into university life, but it makes it very difficult for you to disconnect from it and enjoy other aspects of the city. Also, some residences are far from the centre of Granada, so you will take longer to get to the places where young people go in their free time. This happens, for example, if you live near the Cartuja Campus or the Faculty of Fine Arts of the University of Granada.

University Residences of the University of Granada

This institution has agreements with eight residences. These have different locations, which can be in the centre, in the north and even in the city of Ronda, so you have to look carefully at which one is most convenient for you.

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

Rent cheap student residences in Granada

We know that what you want is to find a cheap student residence in the Andalusian city, that has all your favourite features and a good location. That's what Erasmus Play is for, the comparator in which you can see all the available and verified residences and rent the idea for you simply, quickly and 100% online. This way you can solve the accommodation issue quickly and concentrate on finding the best place to go for tapas or see the best flamenco!

Frequently Asked Questions about student dorms in Granada

What are the requirements to apply for a place in a student residence in Granada?
To be enrolled in a university (in the case of university residences and colegios mayores it must be the institution to which they belong or are attached). Sometimes they may ask for a guarantor for the reservation, this is if you do not make payment for the entire stay in advance.
What’s cheaper, an apartment or a student residence in Granada?
Normally the cost of residences is much higher than that of a private apartment. This applies both to rooms and studio apartments. However, it’s because residences offer many more amenities and services compared to private flats, so you have to see what you prefer.
How much does a student residence in Granada cost?
The minimum cost of a shared room in this Andalusian city is around €400 per month per person. On average, the estimate is that a single room is between €600-700 per month.
When to apply for a student residence in Granada?
We recommend that you do it as soon as the destination is assigned to you. Remember that the Andalusian city receives a large number of students every year, so the accommodation search is usually very competitive, especially when the start of classes approaches.
Are there female university residences in Granada?
Yeah! You’ll find both female and male residences and university colegios mayores. Thanks to that, you can choose accommodation there and feel comfortable where you’ll live.