About Cambridge
Cambridge is very popular among students. According to the National Student Survey (NSS) and the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), students enjoy staying in Cambridge. Here is a breakdown of the proportion of international students by level of study in Cambridge:
Undergraduate: 35%
Postgraduate: 65%
Doctoral: 80%
The proportion of international students in Cambridge has been increasing steadily over the past few years due to a number of factors, including the growing reputation of Cambridge’s universities, the increasing globalisation of higher education, and the UK government's policy of encouraging international students to study in the UK.
Popular Student Accommodation Areas in Cambridge
Cambridge has several areas that are student-friendly. They all offer a vibrant and diverse life for students to explore and get used to different cultures. These neighbourhoods usually affect the cost of public transportation fares. The further you travel from the city centre, the higher the fare.
Popular Cambridge areas among university students are Mill Road, Hills Road, and Newnham. There are a few things to keep in mind while searching for the perfect student area to stay in, including transportation, cost, and amenities.
Students living on Mill Road will be near Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) Cambridge Campus, the University of Cambridge, Cambridge Regional College, and Hills Road Sixth Form College. The purpose-built student accommodation options would cost around £190-£400/week.
Travel time from Mill Road to the city centre by different modes of transportation:
Bus - 15-20 minutes
Bike - 10-15 minutes
Car - 5-10 minutes
Walking - 20-30 minutes
Students living in Hills Road would pay around £180-£340/week. Nearby universities include the Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) Cambridge Campus, the University of Cambridge, Cambridge Regional College, and Hills Road Sixth Form College.
Travel time from Hills Road to the city centre by different modes of transportation:
Bus - 20-25 minutes
Bike - 15-20 minutes
Car - 5-10 minutes
Walking - 30-40 minutes
Students living in Newnham would pay around £180-£340/week. Nearby universities include Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) Cambridge Campus, the University of Cambridge, Cambridge Regional College, and Hills Road Sixth Form College.
Travel time from Newnham to the city centre by different modes of transportation:
Bus - 15-20 minutes
Bike - 10-15 minutes
Car - 5-10 minutes
Walking - 20-25 minutes
Best Student Accommodation in Cambridge
Cambridge offers a wide choice of student room options, and students can explore different areas in Cambridge that are close to their colleges and budgets.
Popular student housing in Cambridge that provide almost every room type are The Cam Foundry, Student Castle Cambridge, Collegiate Castle Street, and The Railyard - Cambridge.
Discover Student Room Types in Cambridge (Approx. £300 - £2,170/ month)
The purpose-built student accommodation in Cambridge typically includes a variety of amenities and features included in the bills; it varies from high-speed Wi-Fi to on-site gyms according to the provider's terms and conditions. But broadly, we suggest a student should consider budget, needs, and preferences while making decisions.
Here, we have categorised the room types given below based on preferences and budgets to help you in your decision-making.
Type 1: Affordable student rooms in Cambridge:
These cost around £440- £700 per month on average and are recommended for comfortable sharing space students. Typically, such properties are houses or apartments.
Shared room
Amenities: Self-contained apartments with multiple bedrooms, shared bathrooms, and shared kitchens
Mill Road’s average rent: £500/month
Newnham’s average rent: £490/month
Hills Road’s average rent: £500/ month
Triple/Quadruple rooms
Amenities: Private bedrooms, shared bathrooms, and shared kitchens
Mill Road’s average rent: £300/month
Newnham’s average rent: £390/month
Hills Road’s average rent: £300/ month
Entire place
Amenities: Private bedrooms, shared bathrooms, and shared kitchens
Mill Road’s average rent: £600/month
Newnham’s average rent: £590/month
Hills Road’s average rent: £500/ month
Type 2: Affordable student rooms in Cambridge with privacy: These rooms cost around £500 to £1,182 per month.
Student Single Room
Amenities: Private bedrooms, shared bathrooms, and shared kitchens
Mill Road’s average rent: £500/month
Newnham’s average rent: £590/month
Hills Road’s average rent: £590/month
Recommended student single rooms are The Cam Foundry and The Railyard - Cambridge.
Student-shared Flats
Amenities: Private Bedrooms in shared houses or flats, shared bathrooms, and shared kitchens
Mill Road’s average rent: £700/month
Newnham’s average rent: £690/month
Hills Road’s average rent: £700/month
Recommended student shared flats are Student Castle Cambridge.
Student Twin Rooms
Amenities: One room with two single beds, a shared bathroom, and a shared kitchen
Mill Road’s average rent: £650/month
Newnham’s average rent: £700/month
Hills Road’s average rent: £640/month
Recommended student twin rooms are Student Castle Cambridge.
Student Double Room
- Amenities: One bedroom with a double bed, a shared bathroom, and a shared kitchen
Mill Road’s average rent: £650/month
Newnham’s average rent: £700/month
Hills Road’s average rent: £700/month
Room Type 3: Cambridge student rooms with privacy, quiet space, and proximity to the city centre cost around £500 to £1,200 per month.
Cambridge Student Flats
Amenities: Private bedrooms, private bathrooms, and private kitchens
Mill Road’s average rent: £600/month
Newnham’s average rent: £600/month
Hills Road’s average rent: £650/month
Browse through Cambridge student flats such as Student Castle Cambridge.
Cambridge Student En-Suite Rooms
Amenities: Single bedrooms, private bathrooms, and shared kitchens
Mill Road’s average rent: £500/month
Newnham’s average rent: £450/month
Hills Road’s average rent: £450/month
Browse through students' en-suits in Cambridge, such as The Cam Foundry and The Railyard - Cambridge.
Cambridge Student Studios
Amenities: private bedrooms, private bathrooms, and private kitchens
Mill Road’s average rent: £1,200/month
Newnham’s average rent: £1,250/month
Hills Road’s average rent: £1,200/month
Browse through students' studios in Cambridge, such as Student Castle Cambridge, The Cam Foundry, and Collegiate Castle Street.
Room Type 4: Students who prefer amenities over budget
- Student penthouses in Cambridge cost around £1,285-£2,170 per month.
These are suitable for students who prefer to have private bedrooms, a private balcony, a terrace, spacious rooms, and a top floor.
International students in Cambridge, UK also search for:
1 Bedroom Private Lets | 2 Bedroom Apartment | 3 Bedroom Apartment | 4 bedroom + Apartment | Pet friendly Properties | No Deposit Required | Apartments/ Flats/studio for rent | Short stay |
| 4-Bedroom Apartment near the River cam | Kingfisher Cambridge Central West Apartment - 2nd floor | 49 Byron Square Modern and Spacious 3 Bed Home with Free Parking | Cambridge City Rooms - Single Room with Shared Kitchen | Vibrant 2-bed Apartment | |||
| Luxery three bedroom townhouse | Nice four bedroom townhouse | Kingfisher Cambridge Central West Apartment - 2 bedrooms | Amazing apartment for 4 in Cambridge | Beautiful and New Home for 5 in West Cambridge | Excellent studio in Cambridge | ||
| Fine one bedroom apartment in Cambridge | 2-Bedroom House, Central Cambridge | Majestic Three-Bedroom flat | Beautiful apartment with private balcony | Beautifull Woodland Park Residence | Union Lane Apartments |
Cost of Living in Cambridge for Students (Approx. £340 - £650)
It varies depending on students’ lifestyle choices, but overall, apart from your Cambridge student accommodation rent, other expenses cannot be ignored. We have suggestions to help you save money while living in Cambridge as a student:
Food: £120-£260/month on average.
We suggest buying groceries that cost around £90/month and cooking your own meal.
Shop from grocery stores such as Asda, Aldi, and Lidl, as well as larger chains like Tesco. They have some specific days for students' discounts.
Transportation: £60-£150/month on average
Use the Stagecoach Student Bus Pass; it offers unlimited travel on Stagecoach buses in Cambridge for a specific period. Prices start at around £150.
Many bus routes in Cambridge offer discounted fares for students. Show your student ID when purchasing a ticket.
Walking is always an option if you enjoy it. It’s free, which will help you save money.
Kitchen Essentials: Market worth around £30-£50.
Former students generally leave their kitchen essentials on the property while leaving the city due to airport luggage weight restrictions. You can find someone in your friend's circle and reuse the stuff.
Bedding Essentials: Market worth around £60-£100.
Only a few providers provide bedding packs to their tenants as part of their bills or as an offer. Otherwise, after move-in, students have to buy on their own.
Due to airport luggage weight restrictions, former students generally leave their bedding essentials on the property while leaving the city. You can find someone in your friend's circle and reuse the stuff.
Bathroom Essentials: Market worth around £40-£50.
While booking a student room, the focus remains on whether it has shared or private bathrooms, but forget about bathroom essentials. Students can check online, where some websites provide discounted prices from market prices.
Cleaning Essentials: Market worth around £30- £40
