Accommodation

If you are coming to Groningen for the first time, and you apply within a few days, you can rent one of the rooms the University has reserved for new international students with SSH Student Housing. SSH is a non-profit housing corporation specialised in student accommodation, with furnished rooms available for a maximum of one year. You can choose from a single or double room or a studio, with prices currently ranging from €300 to €660 a month, including all utilities (rent, heating, electricity, furniture, and internet access). Make sure to check the website for the latest information on room pricing.

Please note that you will have to pay a reservation fee (€100) as well as the first and last month’s rent at the time of your reservation. There are several  SSH International Student Houses  across the city where you can live with students from all over the world.

SSH housing is not available for PhD students except in the case of ultra-short-stay contracts (details can be received from the relevant graduate school).

On April 15, students can register at SSH Groningen. Degree students can reserve a room from May 2nd onward and exchange students from June 20. Please be aware that reservations are fully booked within a few days.

Simply go to the SSH website, click on Groningen  and then on "Reserve your room or residence in Groningen". Remember to apply as early as possible. You are able to reserve your room once you have received a conditional, provisional or unconditional offer from the University - don’t delay!

Please follow these steps:

1. Once you have an offer from the UG, you can register for accommodation at SSH. After you register, you will receive information from us about how to finalise your registration.

2. You can start looking for a room on the SSH site and book it (it’s a fully automated process). During this process, you will automatically sign the rental agreement.

3. After the booking is finalised, please pay the reservation fee and the first and last month’s rent within 24 hours using a MasterCard or Visa.

Please note that once you have reserved a room with SSH, you have a limited timeframe within which to cancel your reservation. Once the contract has started it can only be terminated prematurely in the case of specific personal circumstances. Details on cancellation options for an SSH rental contract can also be found on the page linked above.

In case all SSH accommodation is fully booked, you need to look for private accommodation in or around Groningen or Leeuwarden. Be aware, accommodation in the city of Groningen is high in demand, be prepared also to look outside Groningen. There are several ways to find private accommodation in the city. We have worked with the Groningen Municipality and Hanze University of Applied Sciences to create a website called  At Home In Groningen  (AHIG), which offers student rooms with reliable landlords that have been screened by the municipality and provides additional information about living in Groningen. Another option is to search for a room on Hospi Housing, which connects students with verified local hosts and guest families. The platform allows you to search accommodation and contact hosts for free but charges a one-time fee once you have found a room. Living with a local host is a great way to quickly get to know the ins and outs of your new city.

Alternatively, you can search for accommodation in the private sector e.g. via rental agencies or social media (Facebook for example), but we ask you to be aware of scammers as this is a serious problem in student cities such as Groningen. Until you have seen your room in person and received your keys, don’t pay any money. A list of housing alternatives can be found on the AHIG website.

You can also email (housingUG rug.nl) the University of Groningen should you need further information.

Will you study at Campus Fryslân in Leeuwarden or are you planning to stay in Leeuwarden for your study in Groningen? Based on our experience in previous years, accommodation in Leeuwarden is relatively easier, however the city has experienced a shortage of places. Therefore we highly recommend starting your search as soon as possible after receiving an offer from the university. Most available accommodation is shared in the private sector, e.g. via rental agencies or social media. Please be aware that scammers are also active in Leeuwarden. Until you have seen your room in person and received your keys, don’t pay any money.

We urge you to be aware that there are untrustworthy landlords and unreliable room rental agencies out there. A few things to keep in mind:

• Many students will be trying to find a place to live at the beginning of the academic year and during the summer months. It’s therefore wise to start looking for a room as early as possible.
• Always use official websites or companies that you can trace to a physical address.
• The agency costs and rental fees of both commercial agencies and private landlords can be high. Remain critical, visit the room beforehand and always read your contract carefully.
• Be aware of scammers.
• Do not rely on waiting lists
• Do not pay anything before you have a written contract and always ask for a receipt of payment.
• If the rent looks too good to be true for the location/type of housing, or the pictures are unidentifiable, you might be looking at something that is not genuine.
• Avoid identity theft: never send a copy of your passport to strangers. If you do share a copy of your passport, make sure to block personal
• If you wish to rent a room in a building that has three or more residents, you should check if the proprietor has the correct permit.
• Do not go to a viewing alone. If possible, take a Dutch speaker with you.