Student Accommodation Birmingham: Areas, Costs & Guide (2026)

Birmingham is a go-to city for thousands of students across the UK. From its lively nightlife to huge shopping centres and live events, there’s always something happening to keep student life interesting. 

Birmingham is well-connected, with reliable public transport and quick links across the region. Whether you’re heading to the University of Birmingham, Birmingham City University, Aston University, or one of the city’s colleges, getting around is pretty straightforward.

Although Birmingham is cheaper than London for student living (based on rent prices), that’s not saying much! Student housing can still take a chunk out of your budget. Add bills into the mix, and your costs can climb quickly, so you need to start planning to stay on top of your finances. 

If you’re coming to Birmingham to study, or you’re already here and moving out of halls, start your student house search as soon as possible. This guide outlines the best student neighbourhoods, average rental costs, and how to manage student bills.

Studying somewhere else, or just need some general advice? Read our student moving guide or our guides to other cities. 

Keep reading to learn more about student accommodation in Birmingham.

Where to live in Birmingham? Breaking down the city’s best student neighbourhoods 📍

Birmingham is a major city just over an hour by train from London. Although it’s a large, built-up city, there are plenty of parks and green spaces. 

The student population is spread across Birmingham and the surrounding areas, with different neighbourhoods offering their own vibe. Here are some of the most popular areas for students to live.

Selly Oak: Best student community 🫶

• A short walk or bus ride from the University of Birmingham, with frequent buses and a local train station.
• A mix of large student house shares and purpose-built student accommodation.
• Tons of social spaces with a busy student community,  it’s one of Birmingham’s most student-heavy areas.
• Close to green spaces, including Cannon Hill Park and Edgbaston Reservoir.
• Generally more affordable than living in Birmingham city centre, making it more popular with second- and third-year students in house shares.

Edgbaston: Best for green living 🌳

• Located just south of Birmingham city centre, within walking distance of the University of Birmingham, and a 15-25 minute bus ride away from Aston. 
• A mix of purpose-built student accommodation and student house shares.
• Quieter and more residential than Selly Oak, so it's ideal if you want a slower-paced area.

Harborne: For chill seekers with a higher budgets 🏘️

• Around 10–15 minutes by bus to the University of Birmingham and 20–25 minutes to the city centre, depending on traffic.
• Known for its relaxed atmosphere, with independent cafés, pubs, restaurants, and local shops along Harborne High Street.
• Mostly larger houses and smaller, quieter student house shares, making it popular with postgraduates and final-year students.
• Typically more expensive than Selly Oak and Edgbaston, but ideal if something more upmarket is in your budget.

King’s Heath: Best spot for culture and creativity ☕

• Exciting, creative neighbourhood in south Birmingham, and feels a bit more like a community than some of the other areas on the list.  
• Around 20–30 minutes by bus to the University of Birmingham, 35–45 minutes to Aston University, and 30–40 minutes to Birmingham City University.
• Also well connected to Birmingham city centre, with journeys taking 25–35 minutes by bus.
• Known for its independent cafés, street food spots, live music venues, and arts scene.
• Mostly shared houses and smaller flats, often better value than areas closer to campus.
• Close to green spaces, including Kings Heath Park and Highbury Park.

Birmingham City Centre: Best for convenience👍 

• Generally one of the more expensive areas to live, but popular with students who want everything on their doorstep.
• More popular with Aston University and Birmingham City students 'cause it's closer to their campuses. 
• Mostly modern flats and purpose-built student accommodation, rather than traditional house shares.

It really depends on your priorities and where you’re studying. University of Birmingham’s main campus actually sits a few miles outside of the city centre, so if you’re heading there, you’ll want to look at the Selly Oak, Edgbaston, and Harborne areas. 

For Aston and Birmingham City students, you might want to opt for city-centre living, or plan extra travel time to lectures. 

Whatever you choose, you’ll need to know what to expect to pay in rent. Let’s look at each area and the average student accommodation costs. 

Average rent costs 💷

Now that you have an idea of each area, here’s a guide to how much each costs on average.

Types of student housing in Birmingham

(Average rent costs as of December 2025)

Bills Included vs. Rent-Only?

Student halls typicallyinclude bills in your rent, so you only have to think about one payment each month.

In astudent house, you’ll need toorganise your own bills. This is an extra step, but it gives you more control, and can be cheaper overall as you can choose your suppliers. Even a bills package can be cheaper than a bills-included deal if you choose the right one. If you’re looking for cheap student accommodation in Birmingham, then this is your best option.

Neversorted bills yourselfbefore? Find out what to expect in our Birmingham student bills guide.

Make it simple with abills package with Fusedand put you choice of bills into one payment and split the cost with your housemates. Everyone has their own direct debit, so there’s no awkward chasing or missed payments.

Average student accommodation rent by area in Birmingham🏘️

Here’s what you can expect to pay for housing in each area:

(Average rent costs as of December 2025)

Private student housing vs. Purpose-built halls: Which is right for you in Birmingham? 🤔

Choosing student accommodation in Birmingham really comes down to where you’re studying and how you spend your time. Student halls are great for first-year students, especially if you’ve never lived away from home before. You’ll meet new people, and only have one monthly payment that covers both rent and bills, which keeps things simple.

After their first year in halls, most students move in with friends. To help you decide what’s right for you, here’s a quick breakdown of the two main types of student accommodation in Birmingham and how they compare.

Purpose-built student halls (PBSA)

Student halls are either owned by the university (typically for first-year students) or by private developers (popular with international students and students seeking luxury, independent living). 

Heading to uni for the first time? Read ouruni packing guide so you don’t forget anything! 

Most PBSAs include bills, on-site security, and en-suite rooms, so there’s very little to sort out upon arrival. Birmingham has plenty of options when it comes to student halls, depending on where you study.

In halls, guest policies can be fairly strict, so if you’re asking, “Can my boyfriend/girlfriend stay over?” The answer is usually yes, but there will be restrictions. 

Halls are convenient and social, but the don’t offer the same independence and life experience as a proper student home.

Student housing

By second year, most students are keen to move out of halls and into a student house. Doing food shops together, sofa rotting with a takeaway, or hosting pres for a night out are all part of the student experience.

Birmingham has loads of student-friendly neighbourhoods to choose from, like Selly Oak, Edgbaston, Harborne, and King’s Heath. 

Where you end up usually comes down to where your campus is, how much you want to spend, and whether you’re after buzzing student energy or something a bit more chilled.

What about bills? Depending on the tenancy agreement, you might be offered a bills included deal, but it’s more likely you’ll need to sort your own bills, either separately or with a bills package.

House hunting 101: A checklist for group shares ✅

1. Start the house search early
   Aim to start looking between November and January for the next academic year. E.g. In Nov ‘26, start looking for Sept ‘27. The earlier you start, the more choice you’ll have, and the better your chances of grabbing a decent house.
   
   
2. Find a guarantor
   A guarantor is someone who agrees to cover the rent if you can’t, typically a parent or guardian. Most student landlords will ask for one, so it’s best to get this sorted as soon as possible.
   
   
3. Save up for your deposit
   You’ll usually need to pay around five weeks’ rent upfront as a deposit. This is held in a government-approved deposit protection scheme and, as long as you look after the house and pay your rent, you should get it back at the end of your tenancy.
   
   Moving from one house to another? Read ourguide to getting your deposit back so you don’t lose out.
   
   
4. Furnished or unfurnished?
   A typical Birmingham student house is already furnished, so you won’t need to worry about buying a bed or a desk. Not sure what to take? Take a look at our guide towhat to pack for uni.
   
   
5. Go through the inventory on move-in day
   As soon as you get the keys, take photos of everything, especially any existing damage. Keep this as evidence if there are any deposit disputes at the end of your tenancy. 

Solving the bill headache 💆‍♀️

Now you’ve found your dream student house, you’ll need to sort the bills. 

As a student in Birmingham, you need to budget for: 

• Power: Gas and electricity
• Water and sewerage
• Broadband
• TV Licence

You’re exempt from paying council tax as a full-time student, but you’ll need to tell Birmingham City Council. Check out these easy steps to contacting your council to find out how. 

Average student bills in Birmingham 💳

Here’s a quick overview of average bills for students in rent-only student houses in Birmingham:

Total bills per person per month (split between four housemates): £74

Student bills packages 📦

Student life is complicated enough without having to juggle a bunch of different suppliers and chasing your housemates for their share every month. Take away the stress and bundle all your bills into one simple monthly payment with Fused.

Choose a superfast broadband deals with providers like Virgin Media, BT and Sky, so you can stay scrolling, streaming or studying with no issues. 

Student houses can get cold in winter. An unlimited energy package means no bill shocks and the freedom to keep the heating on when cold really kicks in.

Birmingham student life? Bostin’!

Birmingham has everything you want from a student city. With great nightlife, unreal food options, green spaces, and solid transport links, it’s a brilliant place to study.

Whether you’re moving into halls in your first year, house hunting with mates in Selly Oak or Edgbaston, or settling in the city centre, planning ahead really does make a difference. 

Remember, your choice depends on where you’re studying. The University of Birmingham, Aston University, and Birmingham City University each have different commute times and costs. 

Once you’ve found your student house, sorting your bills doesn’t have to be another headache. With Fused, you can bundle energy, water, broadband, and your TV licence into one simple monthly payment, split evenly between housemates. That means less admin, fewer awkward money chats, and more time to enjoy student life in Birmingham.