Accommodation Guidelines for International Students
If you are an undergraduate student looking for on-campus accommodation in semester 2, please note that semester 2 rooms are extremely limited and it is essential that you look at off-campus options as soon as possible.
If you are a postgraduate student looking for on-campus accommodation in semester 2, please note that as postgraduate rooms in campus residences are available on a 50 week basis only from September, semester 2-only rooms are not available. Please see off-campus options below.
Accommodation in Dublin is always a challenge, and it's best to start your search early. Make sure you organise accommodation before the start of term. Please note, on-campus housing is unfortunately heavily oversubscribed. As there are typically several applicants for every room, it is important to plan for an unsuccessful lottery outcome. Make sure you explore off-campus accommodation options, and if you are offered a room off-campus, you are strongly advised to accept it.
Because of the high demand for housing, rental scams are on the rise! Before paying for a room, check Threshold's advice on how to spot a scam.
Resources in DCU: StudentPad, the official DCUSU off-campus accommodation listings. DCUSU provides this platform to help Dublin City University students find suitable accommodation.
Neighbourhoods and areas near to DCU
It is useful to familiarise yourself with DCU's location before starting your search. When searching for a room, filters that identify areas close to the University include:
- Dublin 5: Artane, Killester, Raheny, Donnycarney
- Dublin 7: Phibsboro
- Dublin 9: Beaumont, Santry, Drumcondra
- Dublin 11: Glasnevin, Finglas
Student residences close to DCU:
- Gateway Student Village
- Shanowen Square
- Shanowen Hall
- Schoolhouse Court
- Uninest Student Residences
- Aspen
Please note that these residences are not affiliated with DCU.
General housing listings in Dublin and elsewhere:
Know your rights
Beware of scams
DCU Rooms manage on-campus accommodation. On-campus housing is unfortunately heavily oversubscribed. It is important to plan for an unsuccessful lottery outcome and secure a room as soon as possible. See off-campus accommodation options above.
Applications for international students will close on June 12th. A lottery will be held in mid-June and students will be notified of their status shortly after by email only.
Are you enrolling in DCU in 2023/4 to study for a full degree (undergraduate or postgraduate), and wish to apply for accommodation on campus? Applications for international students will open for the 2023/4 academic year on April 3rd and will close on June 12th.
- Go to dcuaccommodation.ie, create an account and make an application.
- If you do not have a DCU student ID number, enter the title of your course code instead (e.g. MSc in Computing)
- When choosing your Year of Study, choose "International Undergraduate" or "International Postgraduate" in the drop down menu. Ignore 1st year, 2nd year etc.
- If you are asked to pay a €50 application fee, you have chosen the wrong student type. There should be NO application fee. Review your application and make sure to identify yourself as an international student at every step of the way.
- Please note that as Campus Residences receive a larger number of student applications who are looking for accommodation than the number of rooms available, all rooms are assigned via a random lottery system.
- After submission, your application automatically goes on file to be included in our bedroom lottery. Once the lottery has been run, you will be emailed with an update on your application status to inform you whether you have been successful or not.
- When you receive an offer, you will be given five days to pay a deposit to reserve your room. If you do not pay this deposit by the deadline, your offer of a room will be rescinded and the room will be offered to another student.
- Check the room offer from DCU Accommodation Ltd for details of the cancellation and deposit refund policy and all relevant terms & conditions
Are you visiting DCU in 2023/4, and wish to apply for accommodation on campus? Applications for international students will open for the 2023/4 academic year on April 3rd and will close on June 12th.
- Go to dcuaccommodation.ie, create an account, and make an application.
- if you do not yet have a DCU student ID number, enter the title of your home university/institution instead.
- for your contact email address, please use your home university email where possible. (If not, it's fine to use your personal email).
- when choosing your Year of Study, choose 'International Undergraduate' in the drop down menu. Ignore 1st year, 2nd year etc.
- If you are a postgraduate student, please choose International Undergraduate, as you are visiting for one semester only
- When asked for PPSN, simply enter 'Erasmus+ or Study Abroad'
- if you are asked to pay a €50 application fee, you have chosen the wrong student type. There should be NO application fee. Review your application and make sure to identify yourself as an international student at every step of the way
Please note that as Campus Residences receive a larger number of student applications who are looking for accommodation than the number of rooms available, all rooms are assigned via a random lottery system.
After submission, your application automatically goes on file to be included in our bedroom lottery. Once the lottery has been run, you will be emailed with an update on your application status to inform you whether you have been successful or not.
When you receive an offer, you will be given five days to pay a deposit to reserve your room. If you do not pay this deposit by the deadline, your offer of a room will be rescinded and the room will be offered to another student.
Check the room offer from DCU Accommodation Ltd for details of the cancellation and deposit refund policy and all relevant terms & conditions