International Student Accommodation

International students who apply for accommodation by 31 May and hold an unconditional or conditional offer with Luma as firm choice receive guaranteed hall places. We prioritise international students in allocation due to distance from home and visa arrival requirements.

Extended 50-week contracts accommodate earlier arrival from 19 September. Standard 44-week contracts begin mid-September. Premium en-suite rooms in Scholars Village and Beacon Court are popular—apply early to secure preferred hall.

International Welcome Week precedes general Welcome Week, covering visa compliance, banking, mobile phones, town orientation and social events with peers from your region and academic school. Resident tutors in each hall support cultural adjustment and practical questions about British customs and academic expectations.

Kitchen equipment sharing arrangements in flats help international and home students learn from each other. Halal, vegetarian and vegan dietary needs are supported through campus catering and local shops in Luma town centre.

Some international students prefer private rented housing after first year or from arrival if halls are unsuitable for family dependants. The accommodation office provides guidance on tenancy agreements, deposit protection and avoiding scams targeting international students.

Never transfer money for private housing before viewing the property or verifying landlord credentials through the university-approved letting list.