One of the most important tasks after submitting your Kastu application is to start looking for accommodation in the city where you want to study.
There are several ways and places to find accommodation once you’ve been admitted to a university abroad:
- Dormitories. Most international students live in local student dormitories offered by the university they are applying to. Dormitory accommodation is paid.
- Apartment rental. Some students rent apartments together with other students from Lithuania whom they met during the application process, or later with new friends from other countries they meet at the start of the academic year!
Choose the option that suits you best, but most importantly – start looking for accommodation as early as possible!
It’s best to start looking for accommodation in early spring, as later it can become very difficult to find a free spot – after all, there are plenty of people like you arriving from all over the world! |
Where to start?
All universities, even those without their own dormitories, offer some accommodation options for new students. However, the number of rooms provided by the university is usually limited, so the earlier you apply, the better your chances of having a roof over your head.
- Carefully read the “Accommodation” section on the Kastu website under your university’s description.
- Carefully read the “Accommodation/Housing” section on your university’s official website.
- Start actively searching!
How to avoid scams
The beginning of the semester is the busiest time for searching for accommodation, which also means that fraudulent rental listings are much more common.
- When looking for accommodation, we recommend staying alert and carefully reviewing the photos in the listing. Upload the images to Google Images to check if they are being used in other, unrelated ads.
- If you cannot view the property in person, always ask the landlord to show it via a video call, or send another student to check it for you (Kastu coordinators can share their contacts).
- Never send money before seeing the property and signing a contract.
- Do not transfer money to bank accounts outside the country where the accommodation is located, and never send cash through money transfer services. If someone asks you to send money via WesternUnion or a similar platform, it is likely a scam.
- Avoid deals that seem too cheap compared to similar listings nearby. Never pay an extra “selection fee” to be chosen as a tenant—this is illegal, and if you get scammed, you won’t get the money back.
- Stay away from listings that say you cannot register your residence at the address. This may indicate the rental is illegal or overcrowded.
- Check if there are Facebook groups in your target country/city where people share reports of scam ads and profiles.
Average monthly costs for accommodation/utilities
Denmark | Netherlands | Belgium | Sweden | Finland | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Average costs* | 400–600 | 400–750 | 400–600 | 250–550 | 300–500 |
*Actual housing costs depend on the location and the condition of the accommodation.
