Los Angeles (L.A.) is all about location, location, location! The second-largest city in America covers a large, sprawling area of about 500 square miles. In a dynamic city where location is everything, choosing the right area is critical for students to make the best of their stay. 

Knowing that convenience is at a premium most of the student accommodation we offer in Los Angeles is in or close to the heart of the thriving metropolis. We list more than 60 student housing properties in some of the premier neighbourhoods in L.A. such as Downtown, Westwood and Santa Monica.

Make the world’s entertainment capital your home in fully furnished modern student apartments located within close proximity to universities and many of the city’s iconic attractions. 

To learn more about our offerings in L.A. don’t hesitate to give us a call. 

Los Angeles at a glance

Often known by its initials L.A., Los Angeles (Spanish for 'The Angels') is a sprawling metropolis in Southern California, United States of America (USA).     

At about 1,300km2 in size and with a population of 3.8 million, it’s the largest city in California and the third most populous city in North America, after only Mexico City and New York City. 

L.A. is also a global city, ranking 1st in the 2019 Schroders Global Cities Index and 7th in the Kearney Global Cities Report.

Hollywood 

The setting of so many movies and television programmes, L.A. is home to the Hollywood film industry and is often touted as the ‘Creative Capital of the World.’

Immortalized on the big screen, the iconic letters of the Hollywood sign symbolize the global centre of the film industry. This small neighbourhood started its journey of becoming the world’s show business capital in the early 1900s. Now, three of the largest film companies in the world are based there. 

Hollywood is the home of movie stars and continues to be where budding actors come for the chance to get their big break. One in every six residents in L.A. works in a creative industry, most in Hollywood. 

Hollywood Boulevard is also home to the famous Walk of Fame.

Generally, there are more artists, writers, filmmakers, actors, dancers, and musicians living and working in L.A. than in any other city. But there’s way more to ‘La La Land’ than just entertainment. L.A. is also a higher education super-power and a sports mecca with rich ethnic diversity, a thriving cultural scene, diverse cuisine, hip nightlife, and great weather. 

Perfect weather

Los Angeles traffic is notoriously unreliable. But if there’s one thing you can definitely count on in L.A., it’s the weather.  

The city’s Mediterranean climate guarantees sunshine pretty much year-round. This makes it easier to enjoy the city’s world-renowned beauty spots such as the San Gabriel Mountains to the north, Topanga State Park in the west or any of its famous beaches like Santa Monica, Malibu or Venice Beach, and the massive Angeles National Forest that covers over 650,000 acres.

Surfing, hiking and climbing are all popular pastimes for ‘Angelenos’ (L.A. residents).

Museums 

L.A. has more museums per capita than any other city in the world including the world-renowned Natural History Museum and Getty Museum, as well as the lesser-known Museum of Neon Art and the Museum of Jurassic Technology.

A sports City

Los Angeles is one of the biggest sports cities in the Unites States. It has 11 top level professional teams, including two each in NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL as well as two teams in the MLS and one in the WNBA. If you’re a sports fan you’ll have lots of opportunities to join thousands of fans to cheer on some of the world’s most famous sports teams.

Student life in Los Angeles

L.A is for the curious mind. The city is replete with amusement, offering curious students a whole lot to get enthralled. Regardless of your personal preferences and budget, you’ll always have plenty of leisure activities and hotspots to choose from. There are stretches of beaches, swathes of museums, entertainment hotspots and shopping malls all across the city. 

Saving money as a student in Los Angeles

Like New York, Los Angeles has many things to attract international students, but a wonderful experience won’t always come cheap. L.A. is ranked the 8th most expensive city to live in according to CNN Travel’s 2020 rankings. 

As it is for the locals, it’s almost impossible for international students to escape the high living costs of L.A. But thankfully you don't need to always dine in the best restaurants and attend the hottest events in town to enjoy the allure of the city.

From public beaches to free museums and concerts, there are loads of cheaper options to keep students enthralled. You can get to see some of the best upcoming local bands and touring artists at The Echo, get cheap tickets for shows at the non-profit The Bootleg theatre, take part in the Downtown Los Angeles Art Walk or visit an old Western movie set. 

Where to study in Los Angeles?

L.A. may be best known for entertainment, consistent sunshine, alluring beaches, and great nightclubs, but with three universities ranked within the world’s top 150, it’s also one of the top cities in the world to receive a stellar education.

The city has a wealth of public and private four-year universities and community colleges, as well as online colleges. Here are some of L.A.’s best places for higher learning:

The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) 

QS Global World Ranking #35

One of L.A.s leading and America’s most prestigious universities, the university offers more than 125 majors and 80 minors to its 45,000 students. The most popular fields include Business economics, Biology, Psychology, Political science, Economics, and Psychobiology. 

UCLA ranks among the top 10 universities in the world for several areas of study including:

·      English language and literature

·      Electrical and electronic engineering

·      Biological sciences

·      Medicine

·      Psychology

·      Chemistry

·      Mathematics

·      Communication and media studies

·      Anthropology

·      Archaeology

The University of Southern California (USC)

QS Global World Ranking #129

USC, L.A.’s first private university, opened its doors to students in 1880. The oldest private research university in the West is renowned for being a world-class research university.

USC has 21 schools and has received national acclaim in the fields of communication and multimedia technologies. The university also has one of the most successful and prestigious collegiate athletic programs in the world. Trojan athletes have won almost 300 medals in the history of the Olympic Games, which is more than several countries.

It also has more Oscar-winning alumni than any other institution, including Clint Eastwood, John Wayne, and Robert Zemeckis.

California Institute of Technology (Caltech) 

QS Global World Ranking #5

Caltech is undoubtedly one of the best universities in the world. It’s internationally regarded as one of the world’s best places to study science and engineering. 

Located 20 minutes outside of downtown L.A., Caltech was founded in 1891. It offers 24 majors and six minors, as well as postgraduate courses in the faculties of:

·      Biology and biological engineering

·      Chemistry and chemical engineering

·      Engineering and applied science

·      Geological and planetary sciences

·      Humanities and social sciences 

·      Physics

·      Mathematics and astronomy 

The university also offers excellent opportunities for the study and performance of music, theatre, and visual arts. 

With just over 2,000 students enrolled, Caltech might be on the small side for an elite university, but its faculty and alumni have won 34 Nobel Prizes.

Frequently asked questions about student apartments in Los Angeles

How do I apply for LA student housing on Student.com?

Applying for our student housing in Los Angeles is very simple. After selecting the property you’d like to live in, you can book the room or flat for your desired dates after clicking “Book Now.”

We’ll ask you to leave your contact details so that one of our booking consultants can call you to take you through the next steps, all the way to signing your contract.

Student.com won’t charge you anything for this. You’ll only need to pay the rent to your chosen landlord.

Can you arrange a viewing for me?

Yes. If you’d like to see a property before moving in, get in touch with us. One of our booking consultants will get it sorted for you.

What are the different types of student accommodation you offer?

We currently offer three different types of rooms for our student housing in Los Angeles.

A Shared Room has two or more people sleeping in the same bedroom and sharing other living spaces with occupants of other rooms.

In a Private Room, you’ll have a bedroom all to yourself. Depending on the property, your bathroom might be private or shared, while all other living spaces are shared with tenants from other rooms.

In an Entire Place, you won’t have to share any living spaces or amenities with anyone as your bedroom and all the other facilities in your flat will be just for you. This includes a private bathroom and usually a small kitchenette for cooking meals.

What bills are included in the rent?

This will depend on the property you rent. However, most of our student properties in L.A. include bills in the rent, but make sure to check if this is the case with the property you’ve chosen.

Do I need a visa to study in the USA?

Yes. If you’re not a citizen of the USA, you’ll need to obtain a student visa issued by a US embassy or consulate in your home country. Find out more here.