Renting near your school as a student in Singapore
Singapore is small — most campuses are within 30–40 minutes by MRT. Students typically choose one of three: sharing near campus, a student residence (homestay/shared apartment), or central flat-sharing close to internships. Area by area:
Updated: 2026-09-03Author: PropertyCoco Rental Content TeamReviewed by: Singapore licensed real estate agentData source: Live listings from the platform and partner landlords/operators, refreshed daily
NUS → Clementi belt
NUS sits on Kent Ridge in the west; Clementi is the closest living hub with direct buses and MRT to campus. Extending towards Jurong East works on a tight budget.
NTU → west of Jurong
NTU is in the west at Jurong; Boon Lay and Jurong East along the line are most convenient, and rents here sit below the city centre.
City campuses (SMU / SIM / Kaplan / PSB)
SMU is at Dhoby Ghaut downtown, SIM near Queenstown, Kaplan and PSB close to the city belt — live centrally or on an MRT line (Bugis, Novena, Paya Lebar) for both class and internship access.
Other campuses (SIT / SUTD / SUSS / INSEAD / MDIS)
SIT's main campus is at Punggol Coast — stay in Punggol or along Serangoon for the easiest commute. SUTD sits next to Expo in the east, so Simei and Bedok work well. SUSS shares the Clementi belt with SIM; INSEAD is at one-north and MDIS in Queenstown, both a short MRT hop to the city with plenty of condos nearby. Every school has a dedicated "near-campus" Q&A page with live listings on this site.
Student residence or flat-sharing?
- Student residences (homestay/shared apartment): managed, often with utilities and cleaning included — a calm start for first-timers.
- Ordinary flat-sharing: freer and cheaper long-term; confirm the minimum lease and cooking rules.
- Use the student-apartment entry and the school-area listings below to shortlist.
FAQ
How early should international students start looking?
Intake months (January and July–August) move fast — start contacting agents 4–8 weeks ahead, earlier for popular areas.
Student residence or flat-sharing — which is better?
Residences include management and are easier for newcomers; flat-sharing costs less over time. Starting short then renewing is also common.
Any rules for under-18 students renting alone?
Most landlords will not sign with under-18s alone; a homestay with guardianship is the usual arrangement. Follow your school's and the official visa requirements.
Browse real listings
All propertiesThese Q&A pages land on live listings matching each filter.