There are several possibilities of finding accommodation for international students.

 

Dormitories

Most higher education institutions offer housing in dormitories though standards may vary by university and city. Their standards may differ. There are usually 2 – 4 students accommodated in one room, but rooms for a single student are also available depending on availability. Rooms are furnished with beds, tables and wardrobes. Bathrooms are usually shared between two rooms, or there is a common bathroom for the whole floor.

Most dormitories have their dining hall or buffet, where meals are available for lower prices and usually are open during the academic year. Lunch or dinner costs from € 2 to €5 with ISIC card. Some dormitories have their own gyms, swimming pools, fitness centres, etc.

The price per bed varies from dormitory to dormitory, depending on city, location and type of room. You can pay from € 60 per month up to € 140.

The majority of rooms offer internet access (Wi-Fi or LAN).

There are also self‑service laundries in dormitories in Slovakia (Cent, Pramako, Laundromat; Blesk; in Slovak only; Flipper Wash).

NOTE: Students who wish to study in the Slovak Republic outside the framework of bilateral agreements or exchange programmes cannot be guaranteed a place in a dormitory due to the limited capacity of each dormitory. If a student is interested in living in a dormitory, he/she should contact the university at least 3 months before commencing his/her studies or before the start of the respective academic year. Many universities provide information about their dormitories on their websites.

 

Renting a flat

The easiest way (except for staying in a hotel) is to rent a private apartment. In such cases, it is recommended to sign a lease with your future landlord defining precisely the terms and conditions of your stay in the apartment.

The apartments should be equipped with pots, dishes, linens, etc. Most apartments have washing machines, but automatic dryers are usually not used.

Useful links

Long‑term accommodation

• Reality.sk – nationwide search database, provides regularly updated rental offers from more than 400 real estate agencies, a list of real estate agencies with contact phone numbers, websites and emails;
• Flatmates.sk – search engines for finding roommates and listing available rooms to rent (in Slovak only);
• Spolubyvanie.sk – private advertising website for accommodation rentals (craigslist style, in Slovak only).
• Nehnutelnosti.sk - property search site, also includes maps and filtering options.

Short‑term accommodation

• Reality.sk – a nationwide search database (also in English), regularly updated rental offers by more than 400 real estate agencies, a list of real estate agencies with contact phone numbers, websites and emails;
• Ubytovanievmeste.sk/ - search database for long-term and short-term accommodation around the Slovakia (in Slovak only). 
• Booking.com or Airbnb – for temporary accommodation upon arrival while searching for a permanent place.

You can also find a shared room or flat via social networks or via www.flatmates.sk, www.spolubyvanie.sk – both websites in Slovak only. There are also Facebook groups dedicated to finding flatmates and flats to rent, or Facebook groups for international students and researchers in each city where it is easy to find yourself a flatmate.

Facebook Marketplace and international groups for expats and students are among the most active channels for short- and long-term rental offers. When using these platforms, always verify the legitimacy of listings and never send payments before signing a contract or visiting the property in person.

FACEBOOK groups, where you can find a flat and rent a room:

Bratislava	https://www.facebook.com/groups/100684056944091/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/493169417389137/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/BratislavaTOPAPARTMENTSFLATS/
Košice	https://www.facebook.com/groups/rentflatkosice/
Banská Bystrica	https://www.facebook.com/groups/481452962417226
Žilina	https://www.facebook.com/groups/146853752736138
Nitra	https://www.facebook.com/groups/byvanieaprenajomnitra
Trnava:	https://www.facebook.com/groups/427315640796430
Prešov	https://www.facebook.com/groups/presovpodnajomprenajom
Trenčín	https://www.facebook.com/groups/373000009796005

General group for for advice, help and socialising as a foreigner in Slovakia:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/expatsinsk/

Electrical Appliances and Computers

In Slovakia, a 230 V/50 Hz electrical system is used and appliances are designed for a round pin plug and receptacle (socket) with a male grounding pin.

For safety and to avoid damage to electrical appliances, it is important to bring equipment designed for the mentioned frequency and voltage, use dual voltage equipment or voltage converters/transformers. Moreover, a plug adapter will also be needed, if your device is constructed for other standards. For those bringing US standard equipment, an earthed (grounded) step-down transformer is necessary for computers, monitors and printers. Even with the most expensive transformers, one should always monitor the electrical supply.