Student Accommodation

How does student accommodation work at LiU?

If you are a degree student

Linköping University does not offer accommodation to degree students, so you will need to find housing on your own. Most housing companies in Sweden use online queue systems, where you earn one point for each day you are registered, so it is important to understand how the queue system works and start early. Some students are not able to find anything before arriving so they stay in temporary accommodation while they find a place to live.

Learn more about the different housing providers through the links below. If information is only available in Swedish, you can contact the housing provider directly or use an online translation tool.

Tip: Join housing queues as soon as you seriously consider studying at LiU. Registration is often free and does not commit you to renting accommodation, but collecting queue points early can significantly improve your options if you decide to study here.

If you are an exchange student

LiU can offer accommodation to some exchange students, but there is no guarantee you will receive a offer. If there are more applicants than rooms, priority will be given to students whose application forms were received first.

LiU has an agreement with the housing company Heimstaden in Linköping and Studentbo in Norrköping. Whether or not you will be allocated a room, at the latest you will be notified by post and email by November/December if you are arriving for the spring semester and May/June if you are arriving for the autumn semester. Rooms are rented on a full month basis only. So, for example, if you have been allocated the room from the first of August but arrive mid-month, you still must pay the rent for the whole month.

Keys can be collected from the Info Centre during office hours only. If you have been allocated and accepted the housing offer from LiU, make sure to read through the FAQ for the LiU student accommodation before arrival.

Your accommodation journey in 5 steps

1. Register online

There are four main landlords for student accommodation: Heimstaden and Studentbostäder in Linköping, and Studentbo and SBS Studentbostäder in Norrköping. Most student accommodation in Sweden is allocated through queue systems, where you earn one point for each day you are registered. The earlier you join a queue, the more options you may have when it is time to apply for housing. Because admission results are released relatively late, we strongly recommend joining the queues as soon as you seriously consider studying at LiU.

2. Apply for a maximum of 5 different options per landlord

Once you have received your admission results, you can begin applying for available accommodation. Most landlords limit the number of active applications you can have at one time, so it is important to apply strategically and consider several different housing options. To maximise your chances, register with multiple landlords and remain flexible regarding accommodation type and location.

3. Wait for an answer from the landlords

Applications are processed by the housing providers, who determine which applicants receive offers based on their own rules and queue systems. Make sure to regularly check both your email and your housing account, as some offers require a response within a short timeframe. Missing an offer could mean starting the process again.

4. Accept or decline your offer

If you receive an offer, you will need to decide whether to accept or decline it. Before accepting, carefully review the rental price, contract period, and move-in date. Keep in mind that some landlords may remove applicants from their queue if they repeatedly decline offers or fail to respond.

5. Moving date

When you accept a housing offer, you also agree to the conditions stated in the contract, including the rent and move-in date. In Sweden, student accommodation contracts often begin on the first day of a calendar month, and you are generally required to pay rent from the contract start date even if you arrive later. Make sure to plan your travel and arrival accordingly.

Accommodation providers

Student housing

Studentbostäder – Student accommodation provided by Linköping municipality.
Studentbo – Student accommodation provided by Norrköping municipality.
Byggvesta – A student complex close to Campus Valla in Linköping.
Heimstaden – (in Swedish) Housing company in Linköping and Norrköping.
SBS – Student apartments in the center of Norrköping.
K2A – 90 newly built student apartments in Vallastaden, Linköping.
Victoriahem – Student apartments in both Linköping and Norrköping
KOMBO- Landlords advertise rooms, apartments or other accommodation to students.

A woman sitting on a couch using a laptop computer.

Housing in Linköping

Stångåstaden – A municipal housing company in Linköping.
Landlords in Linköping – (In swedish) List maintained by Linköping municipality.
Qasa – A housing company where you can rent both furnished and unfurnished rooms.
Subleases or shared accommodation can be found using sites like Blocket or Facebook groups in Linköping.

Housing in Norrköping

Hyresbostäder (in Swedish) – Norrköping's municipal housing company
List of landlords (in Swedish) – Provided by Norrköping municipality.
Qasa – A housing company where you can rent both furnished and unfurnished rooms.
Subleases or shared accommodation can be found using sites like Blocket or Facebook groups in Norrköping.

Types of accommodation

Student rooms (corridor)

A student room is typically around 20 sqm and includes a private bathroom. Most rooms are located in corridors or halls with shared kitchens and common areas, known in Sweden as corridor rooms. Both furnished and unfurnished options are available. Furnished rooms usually include a bed, desk, chair, lamps and fire alarm, but you will need to bring your own duvet, pillow and bed linen. You will also have your own section of a shared fridge and freezer.

Student rooms are often located in dedicated student housing areas close to campus. Rent starts at approximately SEK 4,000 per month and usually includes electricity, heating and internet. While you must be admitted to LiU before signing a contract, you can register with housing providers and start collecting queue points well in advance.

Corridor rooms are the most popular accommodation option among international students. They are affordable, close to campus, and offer an easy way to meet other students and build a social network from day one.

Apartments

You can rent apartments of varying sizes through several housing companies. While some companies have student specific queues, you can also apply for the same apartments as a private citizen. It may be easier to find a larger apartment and look for a roommate/s to move in when the semester starts, as smaller apartments are often more popular. Find housing companies through the official list of landlords provided by the municipalities of each city.

Private housing

Private landlords often don’t use queues to choose applicants but will rent available rooms within an apartment or a house to whoever is first to apply or by reviewing applications individually. Find private landlords through the Norrköping or Linköping list of landlords, or on private advertising sites.

Be aware of housing scam

Rental frauds have become increasingly common during the last years in Sweden. Tenants are tricked into paying an upfront fee for an accommodation that does not exist or cannot be rented.

Students who wanted to secure accommodation before arriving for their studies have also been caught up in scams targeting foreign students.

Learn more about protecting yourself from scammers here and read more about how to avoid fraud in Sweden here.

Which city am I moving to?

Linköping University has campuses in two cities, Linköping and Norrköping, and your study location will depend on the programme you have been admitted to. Most programmes are primarily based on one campus, so it is important to check where your classes will take place before choosing accommodation.

Students can choose to live in either campus city. Expanding your housing search to both Linköping and Norrköping can significantly increase your chances of finding suitable accommodation. You may also consider living in nearby towns or rural areas if you are comfortable with a longer commute.

Factors

When deciding where to live, consider factors such as travel time, housing costs, lifestyle preferences, and access to campus facilities. The two campus cities are well connected and offer different living environments. Linköping is a larger student city with a vibrant campus atmosphere, while Norrköping combines student life with a historic city centre and waterfront surroundings.

For example, if your programme is taught at Campus Valla in Linköping but you find accommodation in Norrköping, you can travel between the cities free of charge using the LiU Campus Bus. This gives you the flexibility to take advantage of housing opportunities in both locations while still maintaining convenient access to your studies.

Housing guarantee in Norrköping

"Studentbo" will guarantee that you will be offered accommodation if you have been accepted to a course (only applies if you study at least two semesters) or programme on Campus Norrköping.

If you have been offered a place to study on Campus Norrköping and you don’t already live in there, you can rest easy in your decision to accept a place to study in Norrköping knowing you will have somewhere to live.

Studentbo offers student accommodation close to the city center and Campus Norrköping and you can choose between your own apartment, corridor accommodation and combo accommodation.

Campus cities and our region

Linköping University's three main campuses are located in the cities of Linköping and Norrköping which are both located in the region of Östergötland. Find out what our campus cities and the region have to offer.

Campus bus

Use the free Campus Bus between Linköping and Norrköping

Opportunities

Don't limit yourself. Look at housing opportunities in both cities

Placing

Check your programme's campus before choosing accommodation

Temporary & emergency solutions

What happens if I can’t find accommodation before the semester starts?

Temporary accommodation

As student rooms are only available for full calendar months, you might need to stay in temporary accommodation if you have not settled into a apartment when the semester starts. There are several youth hostels in both Linköping and Norrköping. It might be difficult to get a room immediately before the term starts, so it is recommended that you book well in advance. Make sure you reach an agreement with the hostel regarding when and how to pick up your key if you arrive late in the evening. There is often a charge for bed linen in youth hostels, so make sure to bring your own if you want to save some money. You can also find temporary accommodation through short-term solutions such as Airbnb or couch-surfing.

Feeling lost?

We recommend checking out KOMBO, a student-run association at LiU that works with all aspects of student accommodation from legal advocacy, student representation and advertises private accommodation. KOMBO has created a lot of content to help students find accommodation, how to avoid scams, and have even created guides to help international students be able to search in Swedish and get an insider’s look at finding accommodation.

KOMBO: Good to know guide

Emergency accommodation

If you have trouble finding somewhere to live after you’ve been admitted, contact KOMBO. They can help you with emergency lodging between 1 August to 30 September if you have nowhere to stay when the semester starts.

Note: KOMBO can only help with emergency lodging for admitted students, meaning they will not be able to provide lodging for family members coming with you.

KOMBO - Emergency Housing

Kombo. International student searching residence

Inspiration

En blå bakgrund med texten ”Boendeförfarandet”.

The accommodation process

This video will guide you through the accommodation process and provide you with some tips on how to find accommodation.