A guide to UCD accommodation for international students

Knowing your accommodation options as a new international student at University College Dublin is essential to making your student experience as smooth and enjoyable as possible. 

This short guide will explain the difference between on-campus and off-campus accommodation, the benefits of both and how to find the right accommodation for you. It will also provide you with helpful information on accommodation fees and rent. 

Types of Accommodation

There are two types of accommodation available to you as an international student at UCD: on-campus and off-campus accommodation. 

On-campus accommodation allows you to live on the UCD campus, meaning you can enjoy campus life to its fullest by immersing yourself in UCD’s vibrant culture.

Typical off-campus options include digs (living in a family home with home-cooked meals often included), or house and apartment shares with fellow students. There are advantages to living either on or off-campus, but whichever option you choose, UCD is here to support you every step of the way.

On-Campus Accommodation

All on-campus residences include a 24/7 support team, an on-site maintenance team and on-site laundry facilities. They are all also within walking distance of campus facilities, from lecture theatres to libraries and cafés. 

On-campus residences include a private or twin room with either a private ensuite or a shared bathroom. Shared kitchens allow you to cook your own meals, but there are also catered packages available in some residences for those who prefer to have their meals cooked for them after a busy day of classes. Students with disabilities can also avail of adapted facilities to suit their needs. 

UCD residences are dotted around campus and popular locations include Belgrove, Merville, Ashfield, Glenomena, Roebuck Halls, Roebuck Castle, and the UCD Village. 

If you are applying to the Smurfit Graduate Business School, there are also on-campus accommodation options available there in either Proby or Blackrock Halls. 

To find out more about on-campus accommodation and the application process, visit the UCD Residences website.

Off-Campus Accommodation

Off-campus accommodation options are more varied and they depend on what you are looking for, whether that’s a house share, an apartment share or digs. 

One of the best ways to find off-campus accommodation is through (opens in a new window)UCD’s Accommodation Pad website, which allows you to search for various types of accommodation options in the areas surrounding UCD. You can set filters to search by area, the maximum amount of rent you can afford, the date of availability, the number of rooms and more.

(opens in a new window)Daft.ie is another popular website for researching housing options in Dublin, which also allows you to filter your searches to suit your needs. 

There are plenty of off-campus accommodation options available every trimester, but you should always research your accommodation options thoroughly before committing. It is also advisable to view a property in person before paying a deposit. 

In addition, we advise that you do not transfer deposits/rent to non-Irish bank accounts, which could be part of an accommodation scam. For more information on how to protect yourself in relation to scams, check out the (opens in a new window)FraudSmart website. 

(opens in a new window)SecureProp is a useful service for verifying rental properties and advertisements online. Another helpful website for checking off-campus options in the Purpose Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) sector is (opens in a new window)StudentHouse.com.

Fees

We couldn’t talk about accommodation options without talking about fees or rent. 

Fees change from year to year for on-campus accommodation at UCD, but the most up-to-date information is available on the UCD Residences website, where you can download a guide to fees and payment options. There is also a useful FAQ section, where you can find answers to all of the most common questions. 

Rent for off-campus accommodation varies depending on what area you want to live in, the style of accommodation and the size of the room. To get an idea of current rents in Dublin, visit the (opens in a new window)UCD Accommodation Pad website or (opens in a new window)Daft.ie. 

You may also wish to visit the (opens in a new window)Residential Tenancies Board website and the (opens in a new window)Student Union’s Accommodation page. Finally, follow (opens in a new window)UCD ResLife on Instagram for helpful information and advice about UCD accommodation.