Housing

In general, students have three options for housing in China. Students can rent an apartment off-campus or live in an on-campus apartment or dormitory. For short periods of time, it may also be convenient to rent a hotel.


Prices for Accommodation

Prices for apartments, dorms and hotels vary from city to city and neighborhood to neighborhood. Like anywhere else, prices are related to quality and comfort. Size is one of the most important factors; a small one-bedroom apartment with a shared kitchen and bathroom is cheap, while an apartment with a large kitchen, living room and bathroom is much more expensive.

The age of a building also affects the price. Older buildings are more likely to have broken appliances and tend to have poor insulation. Plumbing and other utilities are more likely to have problems in older buildings than newer ones.

Distance from convenient locations also affects price: being close to the center of town, a subway or major bus route will make an apartment more expensive than one with a less convenient location.


Off-campus Housing

Off-campus housing consists of several types. Students can rent a one-bedroom apartment on their own or a larger one with friends. The most common way of finding an apartment on your own is to go to a neighbourhood that you’d like to live in and visit one of the real estate agencies there. You do not need an appointment; you can just tell them what you’re looking for and agents can show you various apartments. Usually there is English-speaking service in areas with a high foreigner population, otherwise bring a Chinese-speaking friend or classmate.

It’s also possible to directly rent an apartment (or find a roommate) through local expat magazines or websites. Major cities have their own classified housing ads. You can search through these or post your own ad looking for an apartment or roommate. If you’d like to know how much housing costs in a particular city, please contact us with the type of accommodation you’re looking for and we can help estimate the cost.

Some foreign students choose to do a home stay. This means that the student lives with a Chinese person or family and directly pays them rent in return for a room and (sometimes) food. Host families often do this to make money on the side and practice English, but it’s also common that host families speak little or no English.

Most apartments include a washing machine (but not a dryer), a refrigerator, a television and may or may not come fully furnished. Utility costs vary from city to city and the methods of payment vary greatly. In many cities, an apartment comes with a card that can be filled with money at a bank. This money buys certain amounts of electricity and is inserted into a machine in the apartment. This recharges the electricity.


On-campus Housing

On-campus accommodation comes in the form of a dormitory or a student apartment. Dormitories are generally one-bedroom shared with between two students. A small bathroom is usually included. Sometimes there is a shared kitchen on each floor. Room do not usually come with refrigerators but usually do include a television. Different schools have different types of internet connections. Utilities are usually included in the rent for a dorm room.

Some schools have on-campus apartments. These are similar to off-campus apartments in most ways, though each school has different accommodations. At an on-campus apartment, utilities may or may not be included in the rent.

Foreign students have their own dormitories and apartments separate from Chinese students. You can request to be in the same dorm or apartment as a friend, otherwise you will be placed with another international student. Note that if you don’t share a language with your roommate, you will most likely use Chinese to communicate with him or her.

Dormitories generally generally cost an average of 50 RMB per day per person, and on-campus apartments can be 75 RMB a day or more. If there is enough room, a student can usually pay extra and have a dormitory room or apartment to him or herself.


Registering With the Police

Every foreigner in China is required to register with the police within 10 days of moving into a new residence. If you don’t register, you’ll be fined and given a warning. Further violations can result in deportation. You must take the following to your local police station:

-    Your valid passport and visa

-    Both copies of your rental contract (yours and your landlords)

-    A copy of your landlord’s deed to the apartment (the first time you register at any given residence, your landlord must come along and bring the original deed)

When you register the police will give you a piece of paper called a Temporary Register Permit. Keep this piece of paper; it’s necessary to renew or reapply for a visa while in China. Remember that you must re-register at the police station each time you renew or get a new visa, and each time you move into a new residence.

If you live on-campus, the school will automatically register you and you will not need to do it on your own. Talk to your school’s administration about getting a Temporary Residence Form if necessary. Hotels registered to let foreigners stay can also provide you with a Temporary Residence Form.