Accommodation and residence

Full-time students are required to live in Cambridge.  

Colleges generally accommodate all undergraduates and can house some postgraduate students. 

If you will not be in College accommodation, the University’s Accommodation Service may be able to help you find a suitable place to live. They offer University-owned self-contained properties and have information on available private accommodation located throughout Cambridge.   

Some property listings on the internet, which can look credible, may be fraudulent. Unless you can verify for certain it is genuine, it is best not to sign up for accommodation online until you have seen it in person. You can contact the Accommodation Service for advice. 

Council Tax

Council tax is paid to the local authorities for services they provide and applies to residential properties. 

• Full-time students on courses of one academic year (9 months) or longer are normally exempt from having to pay council tax if they live in University or College accommodation or private accommodation where everyone who lives in the property is a full-time student or their dependant family member. 
• If this applies to your circumstances, you can apply for an exemption. Those living within the boundaries of Cambridge City Council can do this online. 
• The exemption applies from the day you start your course and until your course ends.