Anyone looking for housing for a semester abroad faces two very different types of accommodation that have little in common: a room in a shared flat and a place in a student residence. Until recently, both appeared mixed together in the same search on ESH, and telling them apart meant opening listings one by one.
There is now a section dedicated exclusively to Erasmus student housing, separate from the rooms and apartments circuit, with filters designed for those who prefer to move into an organised facility rather than build a living situation from scratch.
This guide explains what has changed, where the available residences are located today, what a student residence rent actually covers and how the booking process works.
What's New: A Dedicated Search Infrastructure for Student Residences
The section is accessible from the student housing search on the site. The protection protocols are the same as the rest of the platform: every host's identity is verified before the listing goes live, you can submit multiple applications in parallel and no amount is charged until your application is approved.
The difference lies in the nature of the offer. These are not individual units managed by private landlords, but beds and rooms inside organised residential complexes, with internal regulations and uniform service standards. It also means you don't choose your housemates — the residence assigns them.
Geographic Distribution: Active Urban Locations
In this first phase, the residence offer on ESH covers Spain exclusively. It's worth saying this clearly: for Italian destinations, the dedicated search does not yet cover universities on the peninsula.
| City | Indicative monthly price | Room type |
|---|---|---|
| Seville | €394.45 | Double / Triple |
| Logroño | €410.59 | Double / Triple |
| Bormujos | €427.37 | Double / Triple |
| Burjassot | €458.25 | Double / Triple |
| Lleida | €500 | Single with shared kitchen |
| Burgos | varies by room type | Double / Triple / Single |
These figures are indicative and vary based on room type, contract length and included services. Actual availability and final rent must be verified on the platform during your search.
Two names on this list deserve an explanation, because nobody searches for them directly — yet they are among the most interesting options for students.
Burjassot is not just any town in the Valencia area: it hosts the Campus de Burjassot-Paterna of the Universitat de València, home to the faculties of Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Pharmacy and the Higher School of Engineering, as well as the university's Science Park. The campus is connected to the other university hubs by the tram network. For Erasmus students in a science subject at Valencia, living in Burjassot means being on campus, not commuting to it.
Bormujos is located in the metropolitan area of Seville, to the west of the city, in the Aljarafe district. It costs less than central Seville but requires a daily commute: this should be assessed based on real journey times to your faculty, not kilometres on a map.
The other cities each correspond to their own public university: the Universidad de La Rioja in Logroño, the Universitat de Lleida in Lleida, and the Universidad de Burgos in Burgos.
Student Residence vs Shared Flat: A Comparative Analysis of Housing Options
Neither option is inherently better than the other — they are two different things that suit different needs.
In a student residence, the monthly fee is all-inclusive: utilities, internet connection, maintenance and cleaning of common areas are all part of the monthly fee, and the contract is already structured around the length of a semester. You pay a single amount and have nothing to negotiate. In a shared flat you pay less, you choose who you live with and you're embedded in the fabric of the city, but you manage bills, house dynamics and contract terms yourself.
Who Should Choose a Student Residence
It's a good fit for those who:
- are arriving in a new city without knowing anyone and want to eliminate all practical hassle, with a single all-inclusive monthly fee;
- prefer a contract already structured around the exact length of their semester, without negotiating clauses;
- prioritise predictable monthly spending over finding the lowest possible price.
It's less suitable for those who:
- are looking for the lowest possible rent, which remains the domain of the shared flat;
- want a less structured experience and more direct contact with local life;
- already know someone in the city or want to choose their own housemates.
For rental market dynamics and a neighbourhood map of Spanish destinations, you can check out the Erasmus accommodation guide for Seville, one of the cities covered by the residence network.
Search and Booking Process: Step by Step
How to search and book
- 1Set your city and dates: destination, arrival date and length of stay.
- 2Compare room types: filter by single, double or triple and compare rates across different residences.
- 3Check the conditions: photos, included services and contract specifics, before submitting your application.
- 4Submit your applications: you can apply to multiple residences at the same time, with no charge until one confirms.
- 5Protected payment: once approved, an automatic payment attempt is triggered, with 6 hours to switch payment method if it fails. Funds are held via Stripe until check-in, and the first monthly payment is released to the residence 24 hours after your arrival.
The ESH Service Fee equals 60% of the first monthly rent plus 22% VAT, capped at a maximum of €350 VAT included, and is shown separately from the rent before any payment is made.
Who Is ESH — Erasmus Student Housing
Erasmus Student Housing is a student housing marketplace founded in 2025 by former Erasmus students to bring transparency and security to the search for accommodation during international mobility. Listing is free for landlords, each of whom undergoes a preliminary identity verification; booking funds are protected via Stripe until check-in. The platform covers the main Italian university hubs and a growing number of Spanish cities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are utilities included in the monthly fee? As a rule, the monthly fee covers energy consumption, internet connection and cleaning of common areas. Exact conditions vary by residence and are listed in each individual listing.
Can I apply to more than one residence at the same time? Yes. When one residence accepts your application, all other active requests are automatically cancelled.
When is the payment charged? Only after the residence accepts your application. Nothing is charged before that point.
What if the payment attempt fails? You have 6 hours to enter an alternative payment method before the booking expires.
Can I choose my housemates in a student residence? No. Unlike a shared flat, room and housemate assignments in student residences follow the facility's own criteria.
In Summary
The new dedicated Erasmus student housing section separates the search for university residences from that for rooms and apartments. The current offer is concentrated in Spain, with options starting from around €394 per month. Whether you choose an organised residence or a room in a shared flat, the application process and protected payment work the same way across the entire platform.
Explore available residences in the student housing search on eshousing.com and set up your search for your next semester.
