Exchange semesters, summer schools, language courses, and internships create a need for short-term housing that the standard 12-month lease market doesn’t serve. The sweet spot is 1–6 months — too long for hotels/hostels, too short for the standard rental process.
Housing Types
University Summer Accommodation
Many universities rent vacant dorm rooms during summer break (June–September in the Northern Hemisphere, December–February in Australia).
- UK: LSE, UCL, Edinburgh · £150–300
- Australia: UNSW, Melbourne Uni · AUD 250–450
- US: NYU, UCLA, BU · USD 250–500
- Canada: UBC, UofT, McGill · CAD 200–400
- Singapore: NUS, NTU · SGD 150–300
Pros: On campus, legitimate, usually good value. Cons: Dates are fixed (must match summer break), and availability varies.
Coliving Operators
- Common: US (NYC, LA, SF, DC, Chicago) · 3 months · USD 900–1,800
- Habyt: Germany, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Netherlands · 1 month · €600–1,200
- Outsite: 40+ locations globally · 1 night · USD 800–2,000
- Selina: 25+ countries, 150+ locations · 1 night · USD 500–1,500
- The Collective: London (Canary Wharf, Old Oak) · 3 months · £1,200–1,800
- Quarters: UK, Germany, Netherlands · 1 month · £900–1,500
Pros: All-inclusive, furnished, professional management, built-in community. Cons: 20–40% premium over local rent.
Sublets
The holy grail of short-term housing. Find students going on exchange or internship who need someone to take their room.
Where to find:
- University housing Facebook groups (search “[University] Housing/Sublets”)
- University accommodation office notice boards
- SpareRoom (UK), Flatmates.com.au (Australia), WG-Gesucht (Germany)
- Roomi (US cities)
Strategy: Post a “housing wanted” ad 6–8 weeks before arrival. Subletters almost always offer below market rate because they’re desperate to fill the room.
Homestay
Living with a local family. Particularly common for language students and under-18s. More expensive than sublets but offers cultural immersion and usually includes meals.
- UK: £180–280
- Australia: AUD 280–380
- US: USD 200–400
- Canada: CAD 220–350
- Ireland: €180–250
- New Zealand: NZD 280–350
6-Month Lease Hack
In some countries, you can sign a standard 12-month lease and legally break it after 6 months with the right break clause. In the UK, a 6-month break clause is standard in many student lets (both sides can end the tenancy at 6 months with 1 month’s notice). In Germany, the statutory notice period is 3 months, so a 12-month contract effectively becomes 9 months minimum. Check the break clause before signing.
Cost Comparison: 3-Month Stay in London
- Airbnb (private room, monthly discount): £1,200 · £3,600
- University summer housing: £800 · £2,400
- Sublet (SpareRoom): £700 · £2,100
- Coliving (The Collective): £1,500 · £4,500
- Homestay: £900 · £2,700
Winner: Sublet. But it requires the most effort and luck.
FAQ
Can I use Airbnb for a full semester? Yes, but the math gets worse the longer you stay. Airbnb’s 30-day monthly discounts max out at 20–30% off. By month 4–5, you’ve paid significantly more than finding a local option.
What about the US F-1 visa 30-day rule? International students on F-1 visas can’t enter the US more than 30 days before their program start date. Plan accordingly — you can’t arrive in July for a September start.
OSHC for Australian study abroad → | Travel insurance for short stays →