Room types & locations

Shared bedroom with shared facilities (budget category 1)

You live in one room (sleep, study, eat) with another student of the same gender, with separate beds. In most cases, the kitchenette is inside the room. Roommates are not matched by age or study programme, but in your housing application form you can indicate your wish to share with a friend. You and your roommate will have to make agreements on basic household rules.

Private bedroom with shared facilities (budget category 1, 2 & 3)

You have your own room (for sleeping and studying), but you share facilities with other students. In some cases a shared living room is also available.

Small (budget category 1 & 2):
In a small private room with shared facilities (kitchen & bathroom) you have your own bedroom and you share a kitchen and bathroom with 2-20 other students of mixed gender. It is not possible to sign up with a friend for the same building.

Larger (budget category 3)
In a larger private room with shared facilities (kitchen & bathroom) you have your own bedroom and you share a kitchen and bathroom with fewer other students of mixed gender. It is not possible to sign up with a friend for the same building.

Private bedroom with private facilities (budget category 3 & 4)

You have your own room/studio (for sleeping and studying) and your own kitchenette* and bathroom. Some of these rooms are suitable for couples (budget category 4). The more expensive rooms in category 4 are generally larger than the other rooms, and some have a more decorated and/or contemporary interior, or include sports- or entertainment facilities within or around the building.
_{*) rooms at The Student Hotel West have a shared kitchen.}

Rooms within a room type may be different, but the basics of the rooms remain the same. All our rooms have basic furnishing. To get an impression, watch the slideshow 'room types' above of the different room types available in the 4 budget categories.

Room types are linked to 4 budget categories. When filling in the housing application form you need to enter a budget category (you cannot choose a specific room type within the budget category, as this depends on availability).

_{*) rooms at The Student Hotel West have a shared kitchen.}

These rental rates are per calendar month (including electricity, water, gas and internet). Check the cost of living in Amsterdam and public transport costs before determining your monthly budget.

Please be aware that we unfortunately cannot meet any requests for a particular room type in a specific budget category, as this depends on availability. For example: we cannot guarantee a specific request for a private room with private facilities in category 3, as this category also offers rooms with shared facilities.

We will however try to place as many students in their preferred budget category. We will not offer students a room above their maximum budget category.

If you would like to live in a shared room with a friend, you and your friend must both be eligible for AUAS housing or UvA housing and both apply separately via our housing form. You are both required to pay the AUAS/UvA housing fee. You can state your wish to share in your application forms. Sharing with a friend is only possible in budget category 1 (shared rooms). The request for a share can unfortunately never be guaranteed. The mentioned rental rate is per person, not per room and you will both receive a separate rental contract.

It is unfortunately not possible to sign up with a friend in the budget categories 2, 3 and 4. If you want to share a flat or appartment together with friends, we advise you to search the private market instead.

Difference between shared and couples rooms:

We have a limited number of couples rooms. If you intend to study in Amsterdam and decide to bring your partner, or if both you and your partner plan to study in Amsterdam and want to live together, you may apply for a couples room. These are studio apartments suitable for couples without accompanying children. The studios have a double bed or two beds and private facilities (kitchenette/bathroom).
Only one of you needs to be an AUAS student and you only need one housing application, but you are required to pay the double AUAS housing fee. In your application form, you can request a couples room in budget category 4. The mentioned monthly rates are per room, not per person. If we run out of couples rooms, we will contact you for an alternative. The rental contract will be in your name, but your partner can also register on this address with the municipality. Please note that you will have to fill out a permission to register at address form for the person who’s name is not on the rental contract. See the arrival website for more details on registration with the municipality.

Difference between shared and couples rooms:

The AUAS does not own one big campus where all rooms are located. Instead, we offer housing in several different off-campus buildings throughout the city of Amsterdam and the neighbouring town Diemen. The student housing buildings are mostly situated in residential neighborhoods. You will live like a true local!

The maximum travel time from student housing to the AUAS campuses is relatively low for Dutch and European standards. Amsterdam is a fairly small city compared to other capital cities. All student buildings can be reached easily by public transport or by bike within 50 minutes max. Unfortunately, you cannot choose your location or a specific building. All students are assigned randomly to rooms within their budget category.

Location and budget category are not linked. Student housing in a higher budget category is not necessarily more conveniently located than accommodation offered in a lower budget category.

Learn more about the Amsterdam neighbourhoods , public transport and the different AUAS university locations . Not sure where your AUAS programme is located? Ask your international office .

Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, is a city with a pleasant and multicultural atmosphere that will quickly make you feel at home. Recently, it was ranked as one of the safest cities worldwide and the second safest city in Europe. However, as in every city, incidents do occur so it is wise to take normal safety precautions.

Amsterdam was listed as one of the top safest cities worldwide in The Economist's Safe Cities Index . In this list, Amsterdam scored high for both infrastructure and personal safety. Students also indicate that they view Amsterdam as a safe place to live.

Precautions

As with any city, it is always helpful to take precautions. ‘Petty crime’, theft – especially of bicycles – and pickpocketing does occur in Amsterdam, particularly in the city centre, on trains, trams and near the tourist sites. Pickpockets are known to target major events (especially during the summer season).

Here are a few precautions you should take when visiting any big city:

• Make sure you always watch your belongings, especially in crowded places, when waiting at a bus stop, travelling by public transport, shopping and so on.
• Avoid walking alone in poorly lit and unpopulated areas after dark.
• Do not use ATM’s at night in quiet areas.
• Bike theft is common in Amsterdam. If you have a bicycle, make sure you always properly lock both the wheel and frame, preferably by locking it to a bicycle rack.

In the Netherlands, student housing buildings are mostly situated in residential areas/neighbourhoods where locals reside. You will live together with other (international) students in your student building with cooking facilities in your own room, mixed-gender floor or apartment.

If you prefer more of an on campus living style with catering/meal plans, security, additional facilities/amenities or a 24/7 doorman, we advise that you search for upmarket housing. You can do this on the private market.

Most international student rooms are situated on floors with only international students and sometimes a few Dutch students, from several universities and institutions of higher education in Amsterdam. You will be expected to comply with existing house rules and respect cultural differences. Mixed-gender (M/F/X) housing is common in the Netherlands. If you have a private room with shared facilities (kitchen/bathroom), you will share with both female and male tenants.

Resident Assistants (RA’s) are Dutch students who live with international students in a number of buildings. They can help with all kinds of questions about the building, your room or your housemates. Also, the RA’s often organise social outings and activities. Most buildings have a designated caretaker who will take care of maintenance requests and issues.

AUAS student housing has a partnership with several housing corporations which offer affordable student housing across Amsterdam and the surrounding area. The rooms are owned and managed by the housing providers, but reserved by the AUAS for our international students.

When you have applied for AUAS housing, your information will be forwarded to one of these housing providers, who will send you a room offer. You will sign a rental contract and rent directly from one of these housing partners:

• De Key
• DUWO
• StuNest-Spartaan
• Student Experience (location NDSM and Minervahaven)
• OurCampus Diemen
• The Student Hotel West

In the housing application form in budget category 4, you can find an option indicating if you are also interested in one of our non-regular housing options:

• The Student Hotel Amsterdam West
• Student Experience Minervahaven

These options are offered separately from the regular rooms, because the monthly rent is higher than the rent indicated in category 4. Additionally, these options are only available to students who are staying two semesters. If you prefer a more campus-style feeling, The Student Hotel or Student Experience may be a good option for you.

The Student Hotel - Amsterdam West

Students who choose The Student Hotel - Amsterdam West will automatically be offered a room there. The Student Hotel Amsterdam West offers:

• Fully furnished rooms with a private en-suite bathroom and a shared kitchen.
• The rent is maximum €920 a month, depending on the total duration of your contract (10,11,12 months).
• The rooms have a start date of 1 September 2022, which is about 2 weeks later than the regular housing options.

Student Experience - Minervahaven

Students who choose Student Experience - Minervahaven will automatically be offered a room there. The Student Experience – Minervahaven offers:

• Fully furnished rooms with a private bathroom and private kitchen.
• The monthly rent is maximum €985.
• The rooms at Student Experience Minervahaven have a similar rental period as the regular rental dates (around 19 August 2022 to 13 August 2023).

Please visit the website of The Student Hotel- Amsterdam West and Student Experience – Minervahaven to find out more about their location and facilities. If rooms run out in these locations, you will be automatically offered an alternative room in budget category 4.