The Ultimate Guide To Student Accommodation

Okay so you're hitting the big smoke and need to find student accommodation in Dublin. Only problem is you have no idea where to even start looking. Well fear not, College Times is here to help you with house hunting in Dublin - this is the college edition, so if you are starting out as a fresher, an erasmus, foreign student, a masters/PHD, student we have compiled the ultimate guide to student accommodation in Dublin.

I can tell you that after three years in this city and countless hours spent on daft.ie that everything is all going to be okay. Repeat after me- I will find a nice place to live and not be homeless come September'. No matter what you're budget is, where you are, or what you want -College Times is here to help you figure your shit out and find the ultimate place to live. So how do we make this easier ? There are so many universities to think of we will divide this up by College and further subdivide it by your options, the area, and then what prices/expectations you have (i.e the damage). I've capped the rent at €600 a month (using Daft.ie) as paying more then that for your own room is obscene.

UCD

UCD is Irelands largest university and the largest campus and house hunting can always be a bit hectic. Firstly - its on the south side and due to this logistical position its price range always seem to be higher then what you might expect.

Areas to view:

• Clonskeagh
• Donnybrook
• Mountmerrion
• Tenenure

Alternatively you can live in the city centre and commute- UCD extremely well serviced in terms of buses and there are great cycle routes (which always cuts down of bus fares).

The Options:

On Campus As a fresher living on campus always has its benefits- you make friends a little easier, it takes minutes to get to class, you pay rent in two installments with most utility bills and bills covered.

Digs are Pricey but you have bills/food/washing provided.

Off Campus Everyone has different price ranges- it's possible to find a shared room in Dublin for less than €300 a month.

The Damage:

Campus- averages at about €7,600 Digs- Prices for digs range between  €4200 - 6000 House near UCD- work out at about €500 per month for a room but you can find options starting at about €350 for a single room.

Trinity

Areas to view:  

• Dublin 1,2 0r 3
• Temple Bar
• IFSC
• ChristChurch

The Options: 

Again in Trinity there is always the campus option with prices starting at (€4,300-5,100) considering its prime location this is actually quite reasonable. Living off campus is also a great option - Trinity's central location means that basically everything is walking distance if you live in the city centre.

The Damage:

•  Campus range between 4,300-5,100
• Off campus and centrally located (Single bedroom can range anywhere between €400 euros to €700- shared rooms are a much cheaper alternative and very easy to find with prices ranging from €200- €350)

DCU

Areas To View:

Generally anywhere in Dublin 9 areas particularly-

• Santry
• Whitehall
• Glasnevin

The Options:

DCU's 'not so central' location means that its rent is more reasonable then the previous universities listed. With reasonable campus fees and a great selection of property options this is a great place to find accommodation.

The Damage:

• Campus- €4,390- €4,820
• Off Campus Single room from around €380-€500 averaging at around €400 for a standard room.

DBS

Areas To View:

• Dublin 2
• Dublin 8

The Options: 

DBS on Aungier Street is very central and its easy to find a reasonably priced room. Options are again Digs or living in a shared house. No on-campus accommodation means its can be difficult for international students to find a place to live when they have no idea where or what to look for. Try websites like daft and rent.ie and search in areas located in Dublin 2 and Dublin 8.

The Damage :

A single room will cost you about €500 a month so it can be a lot easier to find a shared room. This is an option taken by many international students in Dublin. You can find a really cheap shared room in Dublin- the lowest end of this price scale is about €200-€300 but you will be sharing with 1-2 other people and generally lacking space for actual movement.

DIT

Areas To View:

Due to the many different campuses of DIT the best things to do a 'college campus' search on Daft.ie to find accommodation close to whatever campus you are studying in.

The Options: 

There are so many DIT options I don't even know where to start. DIT has booked out many blocks of accommodation close to its numerous campuses to give students the upper hand when looking for accommodation.  You can find a room at Griffith Hall of Residence, JB's student residence and the Gateway student village. All these options are listed on the website. Alternatively do a search for a shared room closer to where you live you are going to classes.

The Damage: 

Really varied - on campus accommodation Rent in Dublin can vary widely from less than €300 per month for a shared room, up to €993 or more for a one bedroom unit in Dublin 2. (average prices supplied by DIT website)

IADT

Areas To View: 

The Options:

Again Digs is an option here, along with finding your own room or sharing. Prices in these areas are slightly higher then average so spend your time looking and expand the distance from the actual college if you find rents to high. The actual college is well serviced by buses so living further away is always an option if you need to save on rent.

The Damage:

Rather pricy so those looking for cheaper prices might want to look towards the city centre and commute again this area is well serviced by buses so if you find the rooms to expensive try expanding your search. Single rooms average out at about €450-500 but sharing is always a cheaper option.   

You will eventually find the perfect place. Make sure not to rush into anything and always have a clear idea in your mind exactly what you want.