Month: May 2023

This article was written by and originally appeared on the student-ran GLOCAL Experience blog. You can view the original article here, and make sure to keep up-to-date with the GLOCAL Experience for a greater insight into life as a GLOCAL student. 

The GLOCAL Experience asked some of the current cohort VI students to share their experiences of finding housing in Glasgow with the hope their answers will help you navigate the housing market and find your home away from home for the semester in Glasgow!

You can use the following University of Glasgow links to find more information on University of Glasgow Postgraduate Accommodation, types of accommodation, and postgraduate advice. You can also find advice from the Student Representative Council (SRC), here

Note: The GLOCAL Consortium values our student and alumni communities enormously but it’s important to note that the content of the GLOCAL Experience website and social media accounts do not in any way represent the official view or position of the Consortium or any of the Consortium partner universities.

Where are you from: Germany

What websites/methods did you use to find accommodation: I mostly used SpareRoom.

When did you start looking for housing: April 2022

When did you secure housing: May 2022

What kind of housing did you have?: En-suite room with shared kitchen in private student dorm (UniteStudents Blackfriars)

Where in Glasgow were you located? How long did it take you to get to school?: My place was in the Merchant City and a 25 minute bike ride from campus

If you could change one thing about your search or give someone your biggest piece of advice, what would it be?: The dorm staff were very slow with finding a replacement tenant for my room and that was stressful. Don’t hesitate to keep annoying them to hurry up if you’re in that situation!

Where are you from: Cuba

What websites/methods did you use to find accommodation: I used SpareRoom, Facebook Groups without any luck. I found my place thanks to a Cuban Erasmus friend who stayed there the previous year, and talked with the owner on my behalf.

When did you start looking for housing: June 2022

When did you secure housing: August 2022

What kind of housing did you have?: One bedroom in a house share with two other UofG students

Where in Glasgow were you located? How long did it take you to get to school?: West End, 10 min walk from the University

How much did you pay for your housing per month?: 500£

If you could change one thing about your search or give someone your biggest piece of advice, what would it be?: Be careful with scams, they are very common while looking for accommodation. For me, the most helpful thing was the support of my friend, I reached her for advice and guidance. Use your friends, they are your best allies.

Where are you from: Kosova

What websites/methods did you use to find accommodation: SpareRoom/Word of mouth

When did you start looking for housing: August 2022

When did you secure housing: September 2022

What kind of housing did you have?: A two bedroom apartment, with one kitchen and a bathroom

Where in Glasgow were you located? How long did it take you to get to school?: I was located in the city center, a three minute subway to school

How much did you pay for your housing per month?: 1000£

If you could change one thing about your search or give someone your biggest piece of advice, what would it be?: Have an idea of what it is that you want, then ask as many people as you can. If you want a student accommodation, then start in early June (apply as soon as the application is open).

Where are you from: South Africa

What websites/methods did you use to find accommodation: Unite Students accommodation

When did you start looking for housing: July 2022

When did you secure housing: August 2022

What kind of housing did you have?: Bedroom in shared flat with other students

Where in Glasgow were you located? How long did it take you to get to school?: City Center near Buchanan bus station, it took me 45 mins (subway/bus) to get to university.

How much did you pay for your housing per month?: 600£

If you could change one thing about your search or give someone your biggest piece of advice, what would it be?: Search early so you have more options

Where are you from: Canada/United States

What websites/methods did you use to find accommodation: I used SpareRoom and Facebook Groups/Marketplace

When did you start looking for housing: June 2022

When did you secure housing: August 2022

What kind of housing did you have?: I was in Havannah House, a student accommodation where I had a room and a private bathroom, and a shared kitchen with eight other students.

Where in Glasgow were you located? How long did it take you to get to school?: I was in Merchant City, it took me about 45 minutes by Train + Subway to get to school.

How much did you pay for your housing per month?: 720£/month (But because I signed up last minute I had to pay the four months upfront…)

If you could change one thing about your search or give someone your biggest piece of advice, what would it be?: If you are looking on the private market, you should keep track of the market early on to get a general idea of the price ranges, but do not pay yet for the services until a month out from the start of the school year.(Like SpareRoom premium, which you need if you want to snag something on there). I wasted time + money paying early when there were no accommodations available for the fall yet.

If you want to do student accommodation from private companies there are a handful of companies in Glasgow that you can book through (Havannah House, Unite Students, Collegelands etc) but you have to book with them early (I think they open registration for the 2023/2024 academic year in May or June).

Also, if a student accommodation is offered by UoG/GLOCAL TAKE IT. The first email that was sent out I ignored and regretted; I had many more months of stress, fruitless searching, and lost money as a result! The second email sent out in late August I accepted in a second (and by that point everyone was desperate; I heard through the grapevine that only the people who answered within 4 minutes got rooms). I have 0 regrets for doing student accommodation, the market is tough.

Where are you from: Mexico

What websites/methods did you use to find accommodation: I went straight to the student accommodation they offered us from the Master’s, Unite Students

When did you start looking for housing: June 2022

When did you secure housing: July 2022

What kind of housing did you have?: One bedroom with private bathroom in a 5 bedroom floor with shared kitchen at a student accommodation

Where in Glasgow were you located? How long did it take you to get to school?: I was in the city center, it took me 30 minutes to get to school: 15 minutes walking to Buchanan Street and 15 minutes riding the subway to Hillhead

How much did you pay for your housing per month?: 621 £

If you could change one thing about your search or give someone your biggest piece of advice, what would it be?: If you need to secure practical and convenient housing, the student accommodation is limited and you have to hurry to secure one but it is a great option. If you are more flexible, however, I later found out people were paying similar to what I was paying in much, much nicer apartments near the university by looking at the private market (mostly negotiating with landlords they found via Airbnb).

Where are you from: Taiwan

What websites/methods did you use to find accommodation: I used Spareroom and Facebook groups like Taiwanese in Glasgow

When did you start looking for housing: May 2022

When did you secure housing: August 2022

What kind of housing did you have?: One bedroom with a live in landlord in an apartment

Where in Glasgow were you located? How long did it take you to get to school?: I was located in the East part of Glasgow, near Glasgow green and Barrais Market. It’s a 10 minutes walk to Bridgeton train station. So I usually take a train to Partick station then take the subway to the nearest stop next to school. In total about 45 minutes-1 hour to get to school

How much did you pay for your housing per month?: 425£ per month (including water and internet), 75£ for electricity per month

If you could change one thing about your search or give someone your biggest piece of advice, what would it be?: I would’ve started searching from April

Where are you from: Ethiopia

What websites/methods did you use to find accommodation: After exhausting all those apps/websites, I tried searching facebook groups for Ethiopians in Glasgow/ Ethiopians in Scotland and I found someone who knew someone that had a spare room to rent.

When did you start looking for housing: June/July 2022

When did you secure housing: Mid-August 2022

What kind of housing did you have?: One bedroom in a house with a family

Where in Glasgow were you located? How long did it take you to get to school?: I was in the south (Gorbals). It took about 45 min by bus to get to school

How much did you pay for your housing per month?: Around 300£ (I got so lucky)

If you could change one thing about your search or give someone your biggest piece of advice, what would it be?: I wish and really hope that Glasgow uni or GLOCAL would provide AFFORDABLE student housing. A piece of advice for you guys would be: 1. Try to look for an apartment with other GLOCAL students and 2. If money isn’t that of an issue for you, secure the student residence that GLOCAL suggests before it gets full. GOOD LUCK 🙂

Editor’s note: When Leilt says she got so lucky she got VERY VERY lucky. Unless you find a family arrangement such as this with someone from your culture/background who will give you such a discount, do not expect to find something around 300…Ping-Yi above and Ekaterina below had similar luck with their prices for the same reason. 

Where are you from: France/Japan

What websites/methods did you use to find accommodation: SpareRoom

When did you start looking for housing: March 2022

When did you secure housing: May 2022

What kind of housing did you have?: A 3-bedroom apartment

Where in Glasgow were you located? How long did it take you to get to school?: Govan – 10 minutes to school (by subway)

How much did you pay for your housing per month?: Around 500£

If you could change one thing about your search or give someone your biggest piece of advice, what would it be?: In Europe, the housing market can be very competitive so if a landlord replies with a favorable response, it is required to secure the apartment as soon as possible.

Where are you from: Mexico

What websites/methods did you use to find accommodation: Spareroom and FB groups

When did you start looking for housing: Early July 2022

When did you secure housing: September 2022

What kind of housing did you have?: One bedroom in a shared flat w/other 7 students

Where in Glasgow were you located? How long did it take you to get to school?: West End and it took me less than a 10 min walk to get to school

How much did you pay for your housing per month?: Around 650£

If you could change one thing about your search or give someone your biggest piece of advice, what would it be?: Contact your classmates earlier so you can help each other.

Where are you from: Russia

What websites/methods did you use to find accommodation: SpareRoom, Russian community group in Facebook

When did you start looking for housing: June 2022

When did you secure housing: Late September 2022

What kind of housing did you have?: One bedroom in 2-bedrooms apartment (living with landlord)

Where in Glasgow were you located? How long did it take you to get to school?: Southside (close to Kinning Park metro station), it took me 45 min by walking or 30 min by subway to go to Uni

How much did you pay for your housing per month?: Around 460£

If you could change one thing about your search or give someone your biggest piece of advice, what would it be?: By September, a few options became available, so it may not be necessary to overly worry if you haven’t secured a room in advance. It’s also worth asking for help in your country’s Facebook groups to see if anyone is willing to host you. Typically, people from the same country are willing to lend a hand. Personally, I was able to find a place to stay for the first two weeks before my longer-term rental began through this approach.