Moving abroad to become an international student requires care and organization, whether you’re researching student housing options, finding roommates, or shopping for housewares, but you don’t have to tackle the process alone.
ApplyBoard has partnered with three innovative companies in the student living space to make your move easier:
- Find secure and pre-vetted student housing in 640 global cities with University Living
- Prepare for student life in Canada with My Dorm Store‘s institution-approved home goods packages—delivered to your dorm, so you can focus on settling in, not shopping
- Headed to Germany, Ireland, or the UK? Bokz‘s student kits can be tailored to fit your needs, arrive at your new home, and include wellness benefits
Read on to learn more about each of these partners, and how they can help set you up for success as an international student.
Balance your budget as an international student with our cost of living guides for Australia, Canada, Germany, Ireland, the UK, and the US.
Find Student Housing with University Living
Next to deciding where you’re going to study, figuring out your living arrangement is one of the most important decisions you’ll make as an international student. Most leases last for a school year or longer, so it’s wise to research carefully when looking for housing. Know what you’re getting into, understand how your lease or housing agreement works, and what’s included with your new home. (Some inclusions might be utilities like heat and water, wi-fi, garbage pickup, or laundry.)
The good news is that lining up housing as an international student can be fast and user-friendly when you work with University Living (UL). From browsing to booking, it doesn’t take long to lock in your perfect space.
Step 1: Search and Compare Options
Choose from over 65,000 properties across 640+ global cities. Properties are verified by the UL team, giving you peace of mind that what you see online is what you’ll get in person, and can be toured from anywhere with wifi thanks to a video-based property tour.
Plus, the UL platform’s filters make it easy to narrow down options based on your preferences and study location.
Step 2: Connect with the Experts
Whether it’s 3 AM or 3 PM, University Living experts are ready to support you through LiveChat. If you’re having trouble deciding between different options or just have some questions, the UL team is ready to help.
Step 3: Book and Manage Your Housing, Hassle-Free
Once you’ve found the perfect property, just add it to your cart, proceed to payment, and secure your housing effortlessly. Found a more affordable rate for the same property elsewhere? UL’s Price Match Guarantee means they’ll match that rate.
Many of the rooms available through UL are furnished. This means you won’t have to hunt for furniture or haul light fixtures across town on the bus. Once you land, you’re home.
After moving in, your rent bill includes your housing, utilities, and internet. This all-in-one approach makes keeping up with your bills fast and easy.
Ready to find your new home? ApplyBoard can connect you directly with accommodations experts at University Living.
Streamline Your First Weeks with Bokz
If you’re headed to Germany, Ireland, or the UK as an international student, when you arrive, you’ll probably be excited—but also tired and jet-lagged. Going out to buy sheets or towels, or going back to the store because you didn’t buy a frying pan, doesn’t sound like much fun.
Luckily, Bokz can save you time and energy. Their team delivers living essentials (and a ton of wellness perks) to your door. Every student kit they offer comes with a trial subscription to Pirkx, an online platform with services which include telemedicine (a 24/7 helpline), gym discounts, financial guidance, and free virtual athletics classes. You’ll also score discounts on everything from movie tickets to eyewear through Pirkx.
Bokz offers four carefully curated options. The Classic includes bedding (pillows, sheets, duvet with a cover), towels, and kitchen materials including chopping boards, cutlery, glasses, and dishes. It comes with three months of access to Pirkx, but you can boost your coverage to one year with the Classic+.
More of a minimalist? The Essential might be the Bokz for you. It has all of the bedding and towels of the Classic, but pares down the housewares to key items, making it a good fit for students in residence or who plan to eat on campus more often. Want to have a year of Pirkx? Go for the Essential+.
Feel at Home Thanks to My Dorm Store
My Dorm Store (MDS) has partnered with colleges and universities across Canada to support incoming students’ housing experience. Whether you just need the basics, bedding-wise, or are looking for a bit of glam with the Deluxe Bedding Package, their team has done the research to ensure their kits are comfortable, fit the beds in student housing (at participating institutions), and suit different budgets. You don’t need to measure your room—or know if your bed is a full or ¾ size—because, if MDS works with your institution, they’ll have that information on file.
Living off-campus? From boot racks and cutlery to cleaning materials, the Household Essentials, Kitchen Essentials, and Cleaning Essentials kits are built for you.
Every MDS kit is customizable. You’ll find a couple of options on the order form, or you can contact MDS for a more personalized kit. Or, create a unique move-in kit with the “Build Your Dorm Package” option. Add on tech packs, housewares, towels, laundry kits, and more.
Plus, thanks to MDS’ partnerships with academic institutions, the packages will arrive at student housing before you do. So, everything you need to settle in will be waiting.
Whether your study journey takes you to Vancouver, Galway, Munich, or Edinburgh, you can take the hassle out of moving—and moving in—with these innovative, convenient student housing options.
Ready to study at the university or college of your dreams? Create your free ApplyBoard account and get started today.
