In this article
Where students study and live
The University of Luxembourg teaches mainly at its campus in Belval, in Esch-sur-Alzette in the south of the country, with sites in Kirchberg and Limpertsberg in Luxembourg City. Other institutions and many internships are in the capital.
That geography shapes the search:
- Students at Belval often live in Esch-sur-Alzette or nearby, or commute by train from Luxembourg City. Our guide to day trips within Luxembourg includes Esch-Belval and how to get there.
- Students at the Limpertsberg and Kirchberg sites, and interns in the capital, usually look in Luxembourg City: Limpertsberg, Bonnevoie, the Gare quarter, Rollingergrund and Hollerich are common choices.
Public transport is free across the country, including trains between Luxembourg City and Belval, which makes living in one and studying in the other realistic. See our guide to free public transport.
The main options
University housing
The University of Luxembourg runs a housing service that offers student residences and helps students find accommodation. Places are limited and allocated according to the university's rules and deadlines. Apply as soon as you are admitted, and read the conditions carefully.
A room in a shared flat
The most common route in Luxembourg City. Rooms in shared flats and divided houses are concentrated in quarters such as Limpertsberg, Bonnevoie and Rollingergrund. Since August 2024, shared flats under a joint lease must have a written colocation pact, and flatmates are jointly liable for the rent. Our guide to colocation rules explains what that means before you sign.
A room let on its own lease
Many furnished rooms are let individually by owners, with their own lease, in a house or apartment shared with other tenants. This avoids joint liability with people you do not know, which is why many students prefer it for a first year.
Studios
Studios are more expensive but offer independence. They are more common in the Gare quarter, Kirchberg and new developments.
What a room usually involves
A typical furnished student room in Luxembourg City includes a bed, a desk, a wardrobe and shared use of the kitchen and bathroom. Often, charges such as heating, water, electricity and internet are included in a single monthly amount; check exactly what is covered. Our guide to rental charges explains the difference between included charges and a reconciled advance.
The deposit is capped by law at two months' rent. Our guide to security deposits explains how it must be held and returned.
A realistic timeline
- As soon as you are admitted: apply for university housing, and start looking at private rooms in parallel.
- Three months before arrival: prepare your file, and start contacting landlords and agencies. For a September start, that means May or June.
- July and August: the busiest months. Rooms appear and disappear within days. Be ready to decide quickly.
- If nothing is secured: book a short-term stay for your first weeks and view rooms in person once you arrive.
Your application file as a student
Landlords want to know that the rent will be paid. As a student, your file will usually include:
- your identity document and admission letter or student card;
- proof of funding: a scholarship, a student loan, savings, or a parental guarantee;
- a guarantor's documents if a parent or relative guarantees the rent;
- a short, polite cover note with your programme, dates and contact details.
Our guide to the rental application file has the full list and a model cover note.
Financial help
Luxembourg's state financial aid for higher education, known as AideFi, combines a base grant, a means-tested grant, a family grant, a mobility grant and a student loan. The mobility grant is the part most relevant to housing: it supports students who study abroad and rent accommodation there, on condition that the rental runs for at least two consecutive months per semester and is not a property owned by a family member. Eligibility for AideFi as a resident depends on Luxembourg nationality or an equivalent EU or EEA residence right; non-resident applicants generally need to be workers in Luxembourg, or a dependant of one, with a minimum period of work history. Applications follow strict deadlines, typically 30 November for the winter semester and 31 May for the summer semester, so check the current dates and conditions before you plan around them.
The State's rent subsidy and rental guarantee aid may also apply to students renting in Luxembourg, depending on income and residence. Our guide to State help for tenants explains the housing aids.
Protecting yourself
Students are frequent targets of rental fraud, because they often search from abroad under time pressure. Never pay before seeing the room, in person or by live video, and never transfer money to a personal account abroad for a room you have not seen. Our guide to rental scams explains the warning signs.
Health insurance and other formalities
Alongside housing, students moving to Luxembourg need to sort out health cover early: EU students can usually rely on a European Health Insurance Card for a first period, while others typically need to affiliate with the Luxembourg health fund (CNS) or hold private cover, depending on their situation and length of stay. If you settle in Luxembourg for more than three months, you will also need to register with the commune. Our guides to healthcare in Luxembourg and registering with your commune cover both in detail, and are worth reading alongside your housing search rather than after you arrive.
Living well in a shared flat
- Agree on cleaning, bins and shared costs in the first week.
- Put the rules in writing, especially in a joint lease.
- Respect quiet hours; your flatmates may be working professionals.
- Keep receipts for shared purchases.
Our guide to waste and recycling will save you at least one argument about the bins.
Our take
Student housing in Luxembourg rewards the early and the prepared. Apply for university housing the day you are admitted, prepare a clear file with proof of funding, and start looking at private rooms at least three months ahead. For a first year, a furnished room on its own lease, close to a tram or a station, is usually the simplest and safest choice.
Several of our rooms in Limpertsberg and Rollingergrund suit students and young professionals. See what is available now.
Sources
This article explains the general framework of Luxembourg residential lease law and is not a substitute for legal advice on your individual contract. For official procedures and current forms, consult guichet.lu or your commune.
