Costs of student housing and living in Amsterdam
What are the costs for UvA student housing?
Before you receive a room offer, you are required to pay a one-time UvA housing fee of €245 (1-semester students) or €485 (2-semester students). When registering for a couples room, the main tenant is asked to pay a double amount.
The UvA housing fee is non-refundable.
| Student type | UvA housing fee for one student | UvA housing fee for couple |
| Exchange students (1 semester) | €245 | €490 |
| Exchange students (2 semesters) | €485 | €970 |
| Bachelor's students (2 semesters) | €485 | €970 |
| Master's students (2 semesters) | €485 | €970 |
Why is the UvA housing fee needed?
The UvA housing fee is necessary to cover the costs that come with providing housing to international students. These costs cannot be covered by university funds, which are for academic purposes.
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See more detailed information about the UvA fee
- Firstly, the UvA does not own the student rooms. Therefore, we need to reserve the rooms at the different housing partners for international students. It is only possible to reserve the rooms for a full calendar year. We always have certain vacancy costs due to: change-overs, cleaning days, summer recess and cancellations after illness, insufficient study results and other personal circumstances.
- Secondly, the housing programme has certain running costs, such as paying in-house residential assistants and (credit card) payment services.
- Finally, the UvA is constantly seeking new locations and possibilities to house more students in the following academic year. In order to make certain locations (temporarily) suitable for students to live in, some costs such as cleaning, removing old furnishings, security, etc. are unavoidable.
What does the rent include?
Rent for student housing varies between €400 to €1000 per month. The exact figure is different for each room as it is based on type and size. The monthly rent includes gas, electricity, water usage bills and internet. The rent will be paid directly to the housing provider. Most students pay rent per month. It is also possible to pay in a lump sum with some of the housing providers.
Fixed rental period
When you sign your rental contract, you agree to a fixed rental period with a maximum of 2 semesters. It is neither possible to rent on a monthly basis, nor can you terminate your room contract early*. This means you will be responsible for the rent until the end of your contract.
* Unless you officially terminate your UvA study enrolment.
What additional costs does my housing provider charge?
After you receive a room offer, it is necessary to finalize the booking through the housing provider by paying the first month’s rent, administrative costs, and deposit. This means that the first payment can be a significant amount. Make sure you are ready to pay this, as it is needed to finalize the booking at the housing provider.
Your room reservation will be confirmed only after the housing provider has received your first payment prior to your arrival:
| Housing partner | Additional charges | Deposit | First rental payment |
| Lieven de Key | €150 | 2 months' rent | First six weeks' rent |
| DUWO | €230 | None | First month's rent and last six weeks' rent |
| OurCampus Amsterdam Diemen | €100 | €1.000 | First month's rent |
| Student Experience | None | €1.120 | First month's rent |
| StuNest - Spartaan |
€215 (€240 in case of couple) |
€1.500 | First months' rent |
What are the municipal taxes I need to pay?
Anyone living in self-contained accommodation (private bathroom, kitchen) has to pay local taxes for services such as waste collection and water. These taxes are not included in the rent. Tax bills are sent out once a year to you directly by the City of Amsterdam. Because this happens once a year, you may receive notice of this after you leave Amsterdam.
Exemption from municipal taxes
For some students it is possible to be exempted from local taxes. There are certain (financial) requirements you will need to meet. Please consult the municipality of Amsterdam for information on exemption from municipal taxes.
Can I receive the governmental rent benefit?
If you live in housing with private a bathroom and kitchen, you may be eligible for a rent benefit (in Dutch: huurtoeslag) from the Dutch government. This is a benefit granted by the Dutch government to those who have a lower income and relatively high costs for renting their house. Housing allowance is not deducted from your rent, but received separately. We advise you to see it as a nice potential bonus, and definitely not a guarantee.
The government tax office provides detailed information on rent benefit eligibility conditions and how to apply.