Two study abroad students holding notebooks walk outside

Housing for International Students: What Parents Need to Know

In 2025, when the nonprofit Forum on Education Abroad surveyed people who had studied internationally, it found that an impressive 90% of the graduates of study abroad programs believed the experience was important in their career success.

For parents of a child who is considering enrolling in an international undergraduate or graduate degree program, it can be helpful to consider many aspects of the program before their child commits to it. For instance, what are the housing options available to students in the program? Learning about the different types of housing for international students can help families plan ahead so students are able to get the most out of their experience.

Key Takeaways

In 2025, 90% of study abroad graduates said international education contributed meaningfully to their career success, according to a survey from the nonprofit Forum on Education Abroad.
Parents should evaluate international housing by location, safety, cost, convenience, and their child’s readiness for independence.
Dorms, host families, apartments, and shared rentals each offer different tradeoffs in structure, immersion, privacy, and affordability.

Why Should Your Child Study Abroad?

Studying abroad can be an enriching experience that offers students a wide variety of potential benefits. For example, it can enable a student to:

Pursue personal growth and build their self-confidence and maturity
Strengthen their cultural awareness and develop a more expansive world view
Learn another language, which can be valuable in an increasingly global world
Acquire credentials for their resume or graduate school application, and demonstrate their ability to manage the challenge of studying and living abroad
Build a global network of fellow students and professors that can be helpful in starting their career
Develop soft skills in areas such as communication, problem-solving, and resilience

In addition, a student also can get an excellent education abroad and earn an undergraduate or graduate degree in a field such as:

International relations and diplomacy
International business
Business analytics
Data science
International hospitality and tourism management
Computer science
Sustainability management

How to Choose a Study Abroad Location

Before thinking about the specifics of international student housing, it is important for parents to explore which location aligns best with their child’s goals.

If a student has specific academic objectives and wants to study a particular discipline, for example, they can narrow down their location options to those that offer an education in that discipline. Similarly, a student whose primary objective is to study in a particular country can limit their search to programs in that country.

Beyond those broad considerations, parents together with their child also can:

Learn about the cultural environment in a program’s location, which means thinking about factors such as whether the program is in an urban or rural location, and whether it offers a lifestyle that parallels the child’s interests
Research alumni networks and what students who have participated in the study abroad program have to say about their experiences
Compare programs costs with their education budget
Consider whether the child wants to learn a new language or study abroad in a language they already know
Find out about the activities, clubs, or organizations that a program offers

If they have the resources to do it, visiting the campuses of the study abroad programs they are considering also can help a potential student and their parents get a sense of what it would be like to enroll in them.

For general information and tips about studying abroad, the U.S. Department of State offers students and their parents information such as safety, healthcare, and travel advice.

What Should Parents Consider About Housing for International Students?

Parents researching housing for international students to plan for their child’s study abroad experience can consider the factors outlined below.

Location

Thinking about the location of the available student housing within a city can be a good place to start. For example, if learning a language is a top priority for a student, then choosing an area that is not a prime destination for tourists can help the student acquire stronger skills in the new language. Other location-related considerations include the housing’s distance to campus, public transportation options, and the extent to which the location would be conducive to studying.

In many cases, universities offer students and their parents housing guides that provide them with information on the housing locations for their study abroad programs.

Safety

Safety is always a key consideration, and to help ensure that the international housing for students is safe, parents can research the safety reputations of particular cities. They also can vet the general area in which housing is located and learn about any requirements for landlords that are related to safety. Additionally, obtaining information on the safest routes to campus from a particular location and the safest modes of transportation can be helpful.

It is also beneficial for parents to ensure that they understand the requirements in rental agreements, particularly those in areas related to safety or insurance. If they do not understand the language in those agreements, they should obtain a reliable translation.

Kinds of Housing

Parents also can consider which types of housing might work best for their child. For example, depending on the study abroad program, the child may be able to:

Live in housing that a university manages (such as a dormitory), which would typically offer a relatively structured type of living environment
Reside with a local family, which could offer greater immersion into the culture and more opportunities to learn a new language
Rent an apartment off campus, which could offer more privacy
Enter into a shared rental arrangement with roommates, which could help parents and their child stay within their budget

Cost

Giving consideration to how much parents can afford to pay for housing is important. For example, the price of staying in a dormitory might include meals and utilities, while living in an apartment would entail paying for rent as well as meals and utilities. Of course, if the student plans to have roommates, this can reduce the cost of an apartment.

Extent of Student Independence

Parents also can consider how much independence they would like their child to have. For example, living in an apartment could offer the child more independence than living in a dormitory, but they need to be prepared for that level of independence.

Convenience

An often overlooked consideration in making a housing choice is how convenient each of the various options would be, both for the student and for their parents. For example, considering how easy it will be for a student to travel to campus from a particular type of housing or how convenient it would be for their parents to visit can be beneficial.

Quality International Student Housing Is Key in Getting a Good Education Abroad

Finding good housing for students who study internationally can be an important element in preparing for the study abroad experience. Researching a program’s housing options can help parents and their children make good choices.

Anyone who has an interest in studying abroad can explore the international undergraduate and graduate degree programs that Schiller International University offers to learn how one of our programs can help them reach their goals. With campuses in Heidelberg, Madrid, Paris, and Tampa, we offer students a unique global perspective and the opportunity to earn a degree in business, data science, international relations, or sustainability.

If you have always wanted to study abroad, now is a great time to take your first step on the path to a truly international education.