Student housing
Gothenburg is Sweden’s second-largest city, attracting both students and companies. As more people move to Gothenburg to study or work, housing has become scarce. We encourage you to start your housing search as early as possible. This page provides information for all international students seeking housing in Gothenburg.
Finding housing
Because Gothenburg is a popular city, it can take a long time to secure a student room in time for the autumn semester. You may wait a year or more before receiving an offer for student housing. It is often easier to find accommodation during the spring semester, as fewer programmes start then.
Fortunately, there are alternatives such as long‑stay hotels, hostels, or renting a room in an apartment or house. While many students prefer private student housing, renting a room from a Swedish family can help you learn Swedish faster and become familiar with Swedish culture and customs.
To increase your chances of finding accommodation quickly, broaden your search beyond the city centre, where competition is highest. Include areas outside the city centre in your search. Gothenburg’s public transport is efficient and extensive, so living outside the city centre is not a problem. You can always move closer to your classes later—the priority is to secure accommodation initially.
Eligible categories for University student housing
Our ability to offer student housing is regulated by Swedish law.
Students eligible for university‑provided housing include:
- Fee paying students
- Exchange students
Ordinance regarding the possibility for universities to provide housing
Exchange and fee paying students
Academic Housing at University of Gothenburg offers a limited number of student rooms and apartments to exchange students and fee paying students. Learn more about housing options for exchange and fee paying students here:
SGS – housing for all students
SGS is a student housing operator that manages Gothenburg’s largest selection of student accommodation. All students—national and international, fee paying, non‑fee paying, exchange, and doctoral—can apply.
You may register as soon as you start considering applying to University of Gothenburg to maximise your time in the queue. This increases your chance of securing an apartment or room. Although the waiting time is usually about 18 months, you may be offered accommodation sooner. It is worth checking SGS frequently for last‑minute cancellations and new availability.
Please note that registering with SGS in advance will not affect your chances of receiving university housing, as SGS and the University housing are separate providers.
Insurance
Home insurance for freemover students in Sweden
Home insurance (hemförsäkring) is not included in rent. If you are a freemover student (non‑exchange or non‑fee paying), you are responsible for purchasing it.
Home insurance typically covers:
- Personal property: Covers repair or replacement if belongings are stolen, damaged, or lost.
- Liability: Covers costs if you cause damage to property, such as water leaks.
- Legal expenses: May help cover legal fees in disputes.
- Travel insurance: Some policies include cover for emergencies abroad.
Home insurance is available from most Swedish insurance companies. Student union members may have access to subsidised insurance with good coverage at a lower cost.
More ways of finding housing
The Move to Gothenburg web portal offers helpful information for finding housing in and around Gothenburg. Whether you are moving to Gothenburg to study or work, you will find tips on where to look, how to broaden your search, and what to consider. It also covers tenancy rights, aspects of first‑ and second‑hand renting, considerations when buying a home, and more.
Tips on finding housing on movetogothenburg.com
Chalmers Studentbostäder
Housing agency Chalmers Studentbostäder (CSB) maintains 2,382 student apartments within walking distance of Chalmers’ Johanneberg and Lindholmen campuses. Students from Chalmers and University of Gothenburg can apply by registering in the housing queue. Available apartments are usually listed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Short term housing solutions
If you have not found accommodation at the start of the semester, many hostels and hotels in Gothenburg offer long‑stay options. Contact the Gothenburg Visitor Centre for a complete list.
Gothenburg Visitor Centre
Student Stories
Adelric Wong's housing story
In my first year in Gothenburg, securing a place was rather difficult, so I signed up with several housing queues in the meantime to secure queue time, but realistically, I knew I had to find a place to stay there and then. So, with minimal availability or alternatives otherwise, I turned to booking places via Airbnb, moved from one place to another every few months. Then, I found a room in a shared apartment through private rentals via Boplats, and stayed there for some months. Following that, I obtained long-term accommodation through SBS and stayed at the Lindholmen container apartments. I stayed there pretty long, before I was eligible in my second year of studies with sufficient student housing queue time with SGS and applied for an apartment near Lindholmen near one of my friends so we could become neighbours. It was definitely a wild journey in my first year, constantly changing neighbourhoods and adjusting to new housing environments.
Any advice to future students regarding this?
My suggestion to new students is that you should be willing to make an initial compromise and stay out of your comfort zone while upgrading your living situation over time whenever opportunity and availability presents itself, but it is best to not be too picky for the first few accommodations you get, especially if you lack any significant queue time as there are more pressing matters to focus on, such as university studies.