Finding a Room in Singapore: University Hostels, HDB Rules and Private Student Properties
What will a student room in Singapore cost you?
Weekly rent is only part of the bill in Singapore. Here are the lowest rate on our Singapore page, what it pays for and what official guidance says about deposits.
Where do Singapore room prices start?
Around S$250 a week. That is the entry point on our Singapore page, with bills inside the figure. Rooms with a shared bathroom sit at this end and whole apartments cost more. Work out the total for your full stay, not the weekly rate.
Do Singapore rents include bills?
Yes. Every property on our Singapore page includes bills in the weekly price, which keeps your budget simple and spares you setting up separate utility accounts in your own name for a stay of only a few months.
Usually one month's rent for a one year contract. HDB says you pay it on signing, together with the first month's rent. HDB advises tenants not to pay more than a month's rent, and to read every term of the tenancy agreement first.
University hostel fees are billed by semester
NUS and NTU bill hostel fees by the semester, not the week. At NUS a meal plan is compulsory in its Halls and Residential Colleges, and air-con use is charged separately. Add those up before weighing one against our NUS student accommodation page.
How do students get MRT discounts?
With an Undergraduate Concession Card. Full time undergraduates at NUS, NTU, SMU, SUTD and some other institutions can buy monthly passes for unlimited train and basic bus travel. Postgraduates cannot use it, so check eligibility with your university before you budget for travel.
How does housing work at each Singapore university?
Each university runs its own housing system with its own rules. Knowing them early shows where a private room fills the gap.
What kinds of hostel does NUS run?
NUS runs Halls of Residence, Houses, Residential Colleges and Student Residences. Halls and Residential Colleges have a compulsory meal plan, Houses offer single rooms without one, and Student Residences are condominium style with single, twin and studio options.
What if NUS has no room for you?
Arrange a private room before you leave home. NUS advises students without an on-campus place for their whole course to do this, and warns that it cannot mediate disputes with private providers, so read every agreement carefully.
How do NTU seniors keep a hall place?
Through CCA points. NTU guarantees new undergraduates a hall place for their first two years. After that, seniors enter a ballot that weighs co-curricular activity points from the previous year, so plan an off campus option for year three.
Is SMU housing open to exchange students?
No. SMU says it does not offer on-campus accommodation for exchange students, who rent privately instead. SMU sits downtown, near Bras Basah and Bencoolen stations, so a direct MRT line counts for a lot. See our SMU student accommodation page.
SUTD beside Upper Changi station
SUTD is at 8 Somapah Road beside Upper Changi station on the Downtown Line, in the east of the island. Our SUTD student accommodation page lists the properties nearest the campus first, so you can judge the daily trip before you book.
Where do Curtin Singapore students study?
At The Alpha in Science Park II. Haw Par Villa station on the Circle Line is a ten minute walk away. Our Curtin Singapore student accommodation page puts the nearest properties first, so you can see which one sits closest to your classes.
What rules apply when you rent privately in Singapore?
Singapore sets firm rules on who can rent out a home and for how long. They shape which rooms suit a student.
How long must an HDB room let last?
At least six months. HDB sets that as the minimum rental period for each tenant in a bedroom, so very short exchange stays will not fit. The flat owner must also keep living in the flat with you throughout.
HDB approval for room lets
The owner needs HDB approval before letting out a bedroom. Ask to see that approval, because an unauthorised let can bring penalties for the owner and even the loss of the flat, which could leave you looking for a new room.
What is the minimum stay in a condo?
Three consecutive months. URA applies that minimum to everyone staying in a private residential property, condos and private apartments included. It is also why SMU tells exchange students not to rely on Airbnb style bookings for their semester.
Occupancy caps in private homes
URA limits private homes under 90 square metres to six unrelated occupants. If a condo room advert seems to pack in more people than that, treat it as a warning sign and ask the agent how the unit stays within the rules.
Using agents and property portals
Estate agencies and property portals can find you a room, usually for a fee, says NUS. Ask what the agent charges and what the fee covers before you commit, and read the full agreement, since universities cannot settle private disputes.
Do exchange students need a Student's Pass?
Yes, for full time study. ICA says foreigners on full time courses in Singapore need a Student's Pass. Holders must also tell ICA when their home address changes, so keep a copy of your tenancy agreement, one of the documents ICA asks for.
Which MRT line links your room to your campus?
The properties on this page spread across the centre, the north east and the east of the island. Match the MRT line outside the door to the line your campus sits on.
Commune @ Henderson on Henderson Road
Commune @ Henderson is at 98 Henderson Road, south west of the city centre. It is the most central of our Singapore properties, roughly 2.2 miles out by the city centre marker on our map, so trips into town stay short.
Telok Kurau in the east
Campus by The Assembly Place is on Lorong K in Telok Kurau. SMU lists it as an option for its students and puts it about 11 minutes on foot from Kembangan station on the East West Line.
Woodleigh Park on the North East Line
STAY by The Assembly Place is at Woodleigh Park, in the north east, near Potong Pasir on the North East Line. That line runs south through the city to Outram Park, which helps students heading for Duke-NUS or the shops and offices downtown.
Kent Ridge station for NUS
Kent Ridge on the Circle Line is the closest station to the main NUS campus, with NUS internal shuttle buses outside, and Buona Vista and Clementi also work. From a room on another line, count the changes you would make each morning.
Outram Park station for Duke-NUS
Duke-NUS is at 8 College Road, and Outram Park on the East West, North East and Thomson East Coast lines is its nearest station. Three lines meet there, so a room on any one of them gives you a train without a change.
NTU sits in the far west
NTU's campus is at 50 Nanyang Avenue, and its Campus Rider shuttle runs to Pioneer station. It is a long way from the city centre, so check travel time to campus from any property on our map before you book.
シンガポールの学生寮に関するよくある質問
Best Student Hallsでは、シンガポールの学生向け宿泊施設を3件掲載しており、週あたりS$247からご利用いただけます。NTUとNUSの学生寮、カーティン・シンガポール校の学生向けオプション、HDBの部屋賃貸に関する情報もご覧いただけます。
