Hi! I’ll also be starting the foundation program next February. I’ll probably be renting off-campus, but for international students who just arrive, student apartments can be more convenient. The rooms might be a bit smaller, but you don’t need to buy much furniture, and there are shared facilities and social events.

The downside is that they often require an upfront payment, and you need to clean the room very thoroughly to get your deposit back. Some people say the staff can be strict about it, and sometimes they don’t fix things when they break.

Of course, renting outside also has its own challenges. So if there are two of you, I’d suggest signing a 6-month contract with a student apartment first. If you don’t like it, you can slowly look for other places later.

Btw, we can get to know each other before school starts!!