Serviced apartments for students and interns: when they work

When are serviced apartments for students a good choice?

Wikipedia describes serviced accommodation as furnished lodging with stays typically ranging from a few nights to several months, offering residential-style amenities such as utilities, housekeeping and internet access. That range makes serviced apartments for students a natural fit for the awkward gaps in a student calendar: a summer placement, a short exchange, or the weeks between one housing contract ending and the next starting.

The University of London's housing service lists serviced apartments among its short-term options, next to halls of residence, homestays, independent halls and hostels. It points to them for students who want to cook for themselves, since the flats are self-catering.

Corporate housing, a close relative of serviced apartments, is described on Wikipedia as being rented by individuals, military personnel, intern groups or corporations. Interns are therefore a recognised user group in the wider serviced-accommodation market, not an unusual request.

• A good fit: a placement lasting weeks to a few months, a stay that starts before or ends after term-time housing, or a group of interns sharing one flat.
• A weaker fit: a full academic year, where university or private student housing may be set up for that length.
• Worth asking: whether the operator accepts students at all, and whether any booking needs an employer or university letter.

What are the alternatives to serviced apartments for students?

Check your own institution first. Many universities and employers keep lists of approved short-term housing, and some run summer housing for visiting interns. The London housing service sets out the main types and what each is good for, summarised below.

No option wins on every point. Hostels are the cheapest if you share a room, hotels give more privacy, homestays suit newcomers who want to practise the language, and serviced apartments suit anyone who wants a kitchen and a door of their own.

How do you find internship accommodation?

Start early. Berkeley's career centre says many on-campus housing options have applications that close in March or April, and that some competitive options close earlier. Serviced apartments for students and interns rarely work to such deadlines, but availability still tightens in cities with large intern intakes.

Lafayette College's guidance notes that many colleges and universities offer summer housing to interns, and that fees can be quite high in cities such as Washington D.C. Some universities also run buildings occupied only by other interns, which can make settling in easier.

Location matters as much as the room. Berkeley's advice is to choose housing near your internship, so compare the commute for each option before comparing anything else. Berkeley also states that inclusion of an option in its list is not an endorsement or recommendation, a good reminder to verify every listing yourself.

• Ask your employer whether it has a housing contact or former interns who can share tips.
• Ask your university's careers or housing office which short-term options it approves.
• Compare each option on commute, kitchen access, internet and the cancellation terms as well as the room.

How long can a student stay, and what is a minimum stay?

Aparthotels and similar operators usually work without a fixed contract. Wikipedia's article on apartment hotels says guests can leave when they choose, subject to the minimum length of stay the company sets, and that extended-stay hotels often discount longer stays beginning at 5 or 7 days. Whether a student-friendly rate exists is up to each operator.

For longer placements the guides on monthly serviced apartments and long-term serviced apartments explain how rates and terms change. Wikipedia's entry on corporate housing says it is typically used for stays averaging one month or more, so a stay of a term or a summer sits comfortably in that territory. As practical advice, a short message to the reservations team can confirm whether a student booking is accepted, whether any proof of enrolment or placement is asked for, and how extensions are handled.

Private short lets follow different rules. Wikipedia's article on short-term rentals says local rules set limits, citing New York City's ban on rentals under 30 days unless the host is present. These rules differ by city and change, so rely on the listing and the city's official pages rather than assumptions.

Can students share a serviced apartment?

Many operators offer multi-bedroom flats, which makes serviced apartments for students who want to share a practical option, and the University of London page notes sizes from studios up to five bedrooms. Sharing can spread the cost of a larger flat, but it creates practical questions that a single-guest booking never raises.

Ask who is named on the booking, how many people may stay, and whether extra guests are charged. Ask too whether city tax is counted per person or per room. Wikipedia's article on tourist taxes says hotel taxes are usually levied per room while arrival taxes apply to each traveller, and that rules vary widely by place. The guide to extra charges and city taxes covers this in more depth.

Agree between yourselves what happens if one person drops out, since the operator's terms may not allow a partial cancellation. It also helps to decide who handles messages with the operator, so that arrival times, key collection and any maintenance request go through one person rather than several. See aparthotel cancellation policies explained before paying.

Are serviced apartments cheaper than student accommodation?

There is no general answer, and no price appears here. Student halls and private student housing are built around term-length contracts, while serviced apartments are priced for flexible stays, so the cheapest option changes with your dates, city and group size.

Compare the full cost of each option rather than the headline rate, and be sure the serviced apartments for students you are weighing quote the same dates, occupancy and inclusions as the halls or homestay options. Add utilities, internet, cleaning, any deposit, taxes, laundry and the cost of travelling to work or campus. A kitchen can cut food spending, though only if you will cook.

For longer stays, the guide to whether serviced apartments are cheaper long term explains what changes as the length grows. Wikipedia reports that serviced apartments are increasingly chosen over hotels for longer stays, mainly for lower cost and home-style amenities; that comparison is with hotels, not with student halls.

How do you avoid accommodation scams and booking traps?

Students are often targeted by rental fraud. Coventry City Council warns that fraudsters advertise homes that do not exist or are already let, and try to trick you into paying an upfront fee. Its advice is to visit the property before paying any deposit, or ask someone you trust to view it, and to check that the person advertising it is genuine.

The US Federal Trade Commission gives similar advice for rentals: check that the address really exists, look at whether the rental company's own website lists the property, and be wary of anyone who says you can only pay by wire transfer, gift card, payment app or cryptocurrency. Rent far below comparable listings is another warning sign.

Professionally run serviced apartments booked through the operator's own site carry less of this risk than informal listings, but the checks still apply. Get the cancellation and refund terms before you pay.

What should a student check inside the apartment?

Study needs are specific. A table or desk, reliable internet and a quiet room matter more over weeks than a nice view. Ask the operator about internet speed or suitability for video calls, and about noise rules. The guide to working remotely from an aparthotel covers workspace and connectivity.

Wikipedia says extended-stay kitchens usually have at least a sink, a refrigerator, a microwave oven and a stovetop, and that these properties typically provide self-serve laundry facilities. Confirm the exact equipment, since kitchens vary and a student sharing with others may need more than the basics: enough plates, pans and fridge space for each person, and see what is included in a serviced apartment for the usual inclusions.

If you are staying a month or more, use the long-stay accommodation checklist. Cities such as London and New York have many serviced options, so aparthotels and serviced apartments in London is a sensible place to compare dates.

• Desk space and a chair you can use for hours.
• Internet included, and whether a router is shared with other flats.
• A kitchen with the basics you will actually use, and a fridge big enough for your group.
• Laundry on site or nearby, and how it is paid for.
• Cleaning schedule and linen changes.