Student Accommodation in Durham

How Much Does Student Accommodation in Durham Cost?

Durham sits around 16% above the national average for student accommodation costs — which sounds steep, until you factor in that the city is 38% cheaper than London for overall living costs. The average private house share in Durham runs around £122 per person per week excluding bills, while purpose-built student accommodation averages £155 per week with bills included.

The table below draws on verified 2025–26 data.

Wondering how much is student accommodation in Durham per month costs? Here are the pricing details.

• Shared rooms in Gilesgate or Neville's Cross average £360–£560/month
• En-suites near Claypath or the Viaduct run £588–£1,020/month
• City-centre studios through PBSA providers can exceed £2,000/month at the premium end.

The most reliable floor for cheapest student accommodation Durham per week sits at £90–£103 in outer areas, with some Gilesgate HMOs coming in below £100. Most purpose-built blocks make student accommodation Durham bills included standard practice to make living convenient.

Types of Student Accommodation in Durham

Durham's housing market has a genuinely different structure, and understanding it before you search saves a lot of time. Durham University runs a collegiate system across 17 colleges, and most undergraduates live in their allocated college for at least their first year, some Bailey colleges house students for all three years through their own internal ballot system.

Here's what the private and PBSA market looks like.

1. En-suite rooms — Your own bedroom and bathroom with a shared kitchen among flatmates, most commonly offered through PBSA blocks near the Science Site and Claypath. The standard room type at en-suite student accommodation Durham providers, with rents from around £147/week and all bills covered as standard.
2. Non En-suite rooms — Private bedroom with shared bathroom and kitchen, most common in the Victorian and Edwardian terraced HMOs in Claypath and the Viaduct. The most affordable route into the private market for students moving out of college, though bills aren't always included in these properties.
3. Studio flats — A fully self-contained space with your own kitchen and bathroom, no sharing required. Student studio flat Durham options are available through various providers, as well as several city-centre PBSA blocks, and tend to suit postgraduates and international students who prefer independent living and the certainty of all-inclusive billing from day one.
4. Shared houses (HMOs) — A room in a private terraced house with fellow students, concentrated heavily in the Viaduct, Claypath, and Gilesgate areas. The most searched property type for second and third-year Durham students leaving college. This is the core of private student accommodation Durham for returning students, and while rents start low, bills are typically separate.
5. University and college accommodation — Durham University houses students through its 17 colleges, which are split between The Bailey and The Hill. College allocation is handled by the university directly, with returning students entering a ballot for second-year rooms in some colleges.

Best Areas for Student Accommodation in Durham

Durham's geography shapes the housing conversation in a way that few other UK cities do. The university precinct sits on a peninsula formed by a loop of the River Wear, The Bailey on the peninsula itself, and The Hill to the south and west. Where you live in relation to these two clusters, and which side of the river you're on, genuinely affects your daily commute to lectures.

The table below reflects verified data for 2026.

Key Highlights

• Claypath has been one of the top student areas in Durham all along, lies adjacent to a street full of cafes, pubs, and even a Tesco Express, and boasts an impressive array of HMOs and PBSAs.
• For best areas to live in Durham as a student attending The Hill colleges or the Science Site, Church Street and Neville's Cross offer the most convenient access, while students based at Bailey colleges generally gravitate toward the city centre and Elvet.
• Gilesgate and Neville's Cross are the most consistent picks for student accommodation Durham cheap options, rents here start from £90/week, and Arriva buses provide a 10-minute connection back to the main university buildings.

Student Accommodation Near Top Durham Universities

A) Near Durham University

The collegiate nature of Durham University ensures that the whole city itself is its campus, comprising 17 colleges located from The Bailey at the river peninsula to The Hill further to the south, linked by the Science Site, Business School, and Elvet Riverside lecture theatres. Second and third-year students moving out of college tend to cluster in Claypath, the Viaduct, and Church Street, all of which keep them within a 10–15 minute walk of whichever site they study at. For student accommodation near Durham University, the three most consistently booked PBSA options are Unite Students Durham, Chapel Heights by Student Roost, and Fresh Durham.

B) Near New College Durham

New College Durham is situated in Framwellgate Moor, which lies northwest of the centre of Durham, with excellent bus links directly to the centre of Durham. The best areas off campus that can be used by students from New College Durham are the Viaduct and North Road area, as they have good links to the centre via Arriva buses and the train station. Popular accommodation for students near New College Durham are Unite Students North Road, Student Roost Chapel Heights, and Fresh Durham.

Student Accommodation in Durham for International Students

Durham University has over 4,500 international students from 156 countries — around 33% of the total student body, making it one of the more internationally diverse universities in England outside London. The city's housing market's pace means international students need to plan earlier than they might expect.

Here's what to know before booking international student accommodation Durham.

• No UK Guarantor Required: Most PBSA providers in Durham do not require a UK-based guarantor, making student accommodation Durham without guarantor genuinely accessible for international students. Advance rent or an international guarantor service covers the requirement at most providers. Gradding Homes confirms each property's exact policy before you apply.
• When to Book: Durham's housing market is one of the fastest-moving outside London and Oxford, given the most popular rooms near the city centre and Science Site regularly sell out by January. The standard advice is to begin searching in October or November for a September intake, with serious bookings made before Christmas wherever possible. Durham University college accommodation for first-year international students is allocated through the university's own admissions process and takes priority.
• Documents Needed to Book: Standard requirements are a valid passport, a UK student visa or CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) letter, a university offer or enrolment letter, and proof of funds.
• Safe & Compact: Durham is consistently cited among England's safest university cities, and its compact layout means most safe student accommodation Durham options sit within walking distance of both the university and the city's main social and commercial areas.