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

Quick links:

• Where to live? Breaking down Newcastle’s best student neighbourhoods
• Average rent costs
• Average student accommodation rent by area in Newcastle
• Private student housing vs. Purpose-built halls: Which is right for you?
• House hunting 101: A checklist for group shares
• Solving the bill headache
• Student bills packages
• Newcastle student life? Let wuh gaan! (Let’s go!)

Newcastle student life has an amazing reputation, and is ranked the UK’s best student city by the Times Higher Education.

Newcastle is a city with easy access to coastal, and even rural life via the Metro system. Students come from around the UK and the world to study at Newcastle Uni, Northumbria Uni, and Newcastle College.

The North East may be the cheapest place to live in the UK (based on rental values), but you’ll still need to budget if you want to keep on top of your finances. Every penny counts, especially when you’re a student.

If you’re considering student life in Newcastle, or you’re already here, looking for your first student house ASAP is a good shout. This guide covers the best neighbourhoods, rental costs, and how to handle the bills.

Heading to another uni or simply need some general advice? Read our student moving guide or our guides to other cities. Here’s everything you’ll need to know about student accommodation in Newcastle…

Where to live? Breaking down Newcastle’s best student neighbourhoods 📍

Newcastle is in the North East of England. It’s about half an hour from the coast, and nestled on the edge of the beautiful Northumberland countryside.

The student population is spread out across the Newcastle area. Here are the most popular spots:

Jesmond: Best for nightlife

• A twenty-minute walk or a two-stop, five-minute Metro journey from Newcastle and Northumbria Unis. Newcastle College is another metro stop away.,
• Home to popular student areas Osborne Road and Brentwood Avenue and Brentwood Avenue.
• Mostly student housing in terraced streets, ranging from two bedrooms to eight bedrooms
• Lively nightlife, local independent coffee shops, and delicious restaurants on Osbourne Road and Acorn Avenue.
• Beautiful woodland walks in Jesmond Dene, and regular food markets on Armstrong Bridge
• Typically, it is more expensive to rent than other options because it’s so convenient.

Heaton: Best for budgets and scran

• 10-15 minute Metro journey from Chillingham Road station into town, convenient for students near Chillingham Road and Heaton Road
• Mostly traditional terraced student homes
• Plenty of cafés, takeaways, and restaurants
• Cheaper than Jesmond, but you’ll still need to budget

City Centre: Most convenient

• Right in the heart of Newcastle, with Newcastle and Northumbria Universities, and Newcastle College, all within easy walking distance.
• A mix of modern purpose-built student accommodation and city-centre flats, usually in smaller clusters rather than large houses.
• Unbeatable access to shops, bars, clubs, gyms, and cultural spots like theatres and music venues.
• Usually, the priciest option, reflecting the central location and modern facilities.
• Perfect if you want everything on your doorstep

Sandyford: Handy for Northumbria students

• 10-minute walk to Northumbria Uni, sitting just outside of the city centre, but very convenient for Newcastle Uni too.
• Traditional student houses, as well as large student accommodation blocks
• Home to independent cafés and restaurants
• Close to parks for running and picnics
• Less expensive than Jesmond and the City Centre, but more expensive than Heaton (depending on the house/flat type)

Ouseburn: Best for pubs and riverwalks

• A recently regenerated area, Ouseburn, sits near the Quayside
• Mostly modern student blocks of flats, with some terraced homes on the edge near Byker
• Lively nightlife, especially for pub-goers and lovers of live music

It really depends on your priorities. If you’re all about drinks and dancing, and you’ve got the budget, then the city centre or Jesmond are the places for you. Sandyford, Heaton, and Ouseburn offer much more affordable, laidback student accommodation.

Whichever spot you choose, you’re never too far from the city thanks to the easy walking and cycling paths, alongside the Metro and local bus services.

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 Newcastle

(Average rent costs as of December 2025)

Bills Included vs. Rent-Only?

Typically, bills are included in student halls and blocks of flats. With student housing, there’s usually an option to organise your own bills, which is the most affordable way that gives you the most control. This is your best route if you’re looking for cheap student accommodation in Newcastle.

Worried about the hassle of sorting bills yourself? Set up a bills package with Fused and roll all your bills into one payment and split the cost with your housemates.

Average student accommodation rent by area in Newcastle 🏘️

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? 🤔

There’s no “best” student accommodation, just what suits you and your lifestyle. For first-year students, the structure of halls is great. It’s also nice to have one single payment covering all your rent and bills.

But for the second year and beyond, most students move in with mates.

Here’s a quick look at the two kinds of student accommodation in Newcastle, and how they stack up:

Purpose-built student halls (PBSA)

Student halls are great for first-year students or anyone who wants to keep things simple.

Most PBSAs include bills, on-site security, and en-suite rooms, so there’s very little to organise when you move in. There’s plenty of choice of student halls across Newcastle city centre, Sandyford, and even further out in Gateshead.

Many blocks also have gyms, study spaces, and communal areas, which is great for meeting people early on.

The trade-off? Rules. Guest policies can be strict, so if you’re wondering, “Can my boyfriend/girlfriend/friends stay over?” Sometimes they can, but usually with limits. Halls are convenient, but they don’t always feel like home.

Prepping for your first year at uni? Take a look at our uni packing guide so you don’t forget anything!

Student housing

Usually, in your second year and beyond, you’ll be keen to have that student house experience in a space that’s more private. Grabbing a takeaway with housemates or getting ready together for a night out isn’t the same in a big block of smaller student rooms.

You’ve already read the popular student housing areas across Newcastle: Jesmond, Heaton and Sandyford, and which one you pick will depend on where you study, what your budget is, and what your housemates want.

Depending on the letting agent and landlord, you might get a bills included deal, but the common setup is rent only. Then you sort your own bills, either manually or with a bills package.

House hunting 101: A checklist for group shares ✅

1. Start looking early
Most students begin house hunting between November and January for the next academic year. The best houses go first, especially in popular student areas, so don’t leave it too late.

2. Check your guarantor
A guarantor is someone who agrees to pay the rent if you can’t. For most students, this is a parent or guardian.

Almost all student landlords will ask for one, so make sure yours is happy to sign before you commit to a house.

3. Budget for the deposit
Expect to pay a deposit of around five weeks’ rent. This is held in a government-approved deposit protection scheme and should be returned at the end of your tenancy (as long as there’s no damage or unpaid rent).

Check out our guide to getting your deposit back so you don’t lose out at the end of your tenancy.

4. Furnished or unfurnished?
Good news: the vast majority of student houses in Newcastle come furnished.
You’ll usually get the basics in each room (bed, desk and wardrobe) so you won’t need to kit the place out from scratch. Check out our list of what to pack for uni for some useful reminders.

5. Do an inventory check on move-in day
When you get the keys, take photos of everything, especially any existing damage. Keep this as evidence in case there are any disputes at the end of your tenancy.

Solving the bill headache 💆‍♀️

So, you’ve found your student house. Before you move in and start living your student dreams, you’ll need to sort your bills.

Students in Newcastle need to budget for:

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

You don’t have to pay council tax, but you’ll need to let Newcastle City Council know you’re exempt.

Average student bills in Newcastle 💳

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

Total bills per person per month (split between four housemates): £72

Read our guide to learn more about student bills in Newcastle.

Student bills packages 📦

Instead of creating a separate account with each supplier, and then chasing housemates for bills every month, you can bundle all your bills into one monthly payment with Fused.

You’ll also get a choice of superfast broadband deals from suppliers including Virgin Media, BT and Sky.

Student accommodation isn’t known for being the warmest, but an unlimited energy package can help you avoid unexpectedly high bills, or being cold in winter.

Newcastle student life? Let wuh gaan! (Let’s go!)

Newcastle is an incredible city to be a student. It’s affordable, lively and notoriously friendly.

Whether you’re moving into halls for first year, house hunting with mates in Jesmond or Heaton, or looking for something closer to campus in the city, you need to plan ahead.

Start your search early, set a realistic budget, and make sure everyone in your group understands the costs involved, especially when it comes to bills.

Once you’ve found the right place, sorting your bills doesn’t have to be another headache. With Fused, you can bundle energy, water, broadband and 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 the Toon.

🏡 A-Z of student accommodation in other cities

• Birmingham student accommodation guide
• Bristol student accommodation guide
• Glasgow student accommodation guide
• London student accommodation guide
• Manchester student accommodation guide
• Nottingham student accommodation guide

💡A-Z of student bills in UK cities

• Birmingham student bills
• Glasgow student bills
• London student bills
• Manchester student bills
• Newcastle student bills
• Nottingham student bills