The Best Student Hostel in Iran 2023

International Students in Iran

Finding a student hostel in Iran is becoming more and more relevant, as people from other countries are getting more curious about our country and our culture. With more recent excavations discovering ancient civilizations in this landmass, at the same period as -and possibly even earlier than- the Sumerians of Mesopotamia, Iran has become a hotbed for archaeological, social, religious, and artistic studies.

As more international students come to Iran, the matter of housing also becomes more important. There are university dormitories, private apartments provided by certain universities, hotels, inns, hostels, or even the option of renting an apartment. In this article, we’d like to talk about what makes student hostels the perfect choice for your accommodation.

Usual Reasons for Studying in Iran

From an academic perspective, Iran has proven itself to be a globally accomplished country. Students can find some of the best colleges in medical sciences, technology, humanities, etc. in cities like Tehran, Mashhad, Shiraz, and Isfahan. Iranians themselves also care a lot about higher learning -sometimes, even a bit too much- and so, there is a lot of competition that comes to play when wanting to enter a good academic institute.

Aside from that, some other important fields of study in Iran are studying Islam and history. We’ve personally had the experience of housing many guests who were studying Islam, the main reason being that Iran is where Islamic art (architecture and calligraphy to be specific) flourished. As for history, our land has been home to some of the earliest, some of the most powerful, and some of the most accomplished civilizations and empires in the world.

University-provided Housing Options

Perhaps the cheapest option you have is staying at university-provided dormitories. While this can certainly be an interesting experience, university dorms in Iran aren’t the best; Usually overcrowded and not well facilitated, even Iranian students who have the means prefer to rent an apartment rather than pay very little money and stay in a room with three, four, five, even up to seven other people. You also have to consider that there may just not be any space left for you, as people usually sign up for the dormitories far in advance.

Another issue is the different cultural upbringings and lifestyles you and your roommates may have, chances are, you will be the only person of your nationality in a room full of Iranians. Your habits and way of life may be strange or annoying to them, just as theirs might be to you. It’s never a bad thing to learn about other cultures, and that’s probably part of the reason you’re here in Iran. The point is, university dorms may not be the best place to do so. In any case, our advice is to contact your university of choice’s administration in advance and ask about the terms and conditions of their dormitories.

Private Housing

The other housing option that universities provide for foreign exchange students is private rooms in especially purposed apartments. This option for student accommodation, while certainly being more expensive than the dorms, is still rather inexpensive for foreign students. There aren’t too many universities that do this, but places like Tehran University or the Sharif University of Technology have this exclusive housing option. It is worth mentioning that the price tables these universities provide on their websites are pretty outdated, so again, we advise you to get in touch with their administration offices far in advance to get a better grasp of the pricing and conditions.

Student Hostels in Iran

The other option you have for your housing -aside from renting an apartment that is, which includes way too much paperwork and trouble- is striking up deals with different places of accommodations to get a discounted rate for a long-term stay. Since hostels are cheaper than hotels and other places by default, not to mention the friendlier atmospheres that they have, they can be the perfect choice for student accommodation.

You still have the option of choosing either dormitories or private rooms, but you can have the certainty of knowing that no matter which one you choose, you’re entitled to a clean living space, a level of privacy and comfort, and perhaps most important of all, you get to interact with people of different backgrounds and cultures on a daily basis in a more effective environment. A good student hostel is kind of the middle ground between a hotel and a university dorm when it comes to the general vibe; The atmosphere is not so cold as to be off-putting, neither is it cramped and a far cry from anything you could call private.

Price Range

There is obviously isn’t a pre-determined price to go by, as these types of deals aren’t set in stone. Sometimes, this process can be an open negotiation; You may even settle a deal where you’re working for room and board. There are however some more established student hostels that often house long-term guests, and these hostels usually set a monthly, weekly, or daily price. The point is, that price is hardly ever publicly advertised, so you just have to talk to the management or reception of your hostel to see if they offer any special discount for however long your accommodation is going to be.

In any case, dormitory beds and private rooms in Iran’s student hostels are always quite cheap for someone who is dealing with Euros or Dollars, so you can be sure that you will find a suitable price for your bed or room. What is somewhat more important is that you make sure you don’t sacrifice your own comfort for a little less money. It has also become somewhat of an expectation of tourists and foreigners from Iran that everything ends up being very cheap, which should not necessarily be true.

Services Provided

The services that a student hostel provides are an extremely important part when you want to compare different ones. As we said, choosing the cheapest isn’t always a great idea, as you may be receiving exactly what you pay for. Iran is a very expensive country for Iranians, so rest assured that no one can upkeep a nice place of accommodation if they’re charging the lowest prices.

Accommodation in most student hostels in Iran is with breakfast included, which is always a great service, but even more so for any student who’s already bound to be living on a limited budget. You can expect the usual services such as laundry, luggage storage, communal kitchen, tours (not the most appealing for students, we know, but it may provide for an enjoyable day off), and more.

What Makes Staying in a Student Hostel the Better Option

As previously mentioned, the primary differentiating factor between a student hostel and other places of accommodation is the atmosphere. That, as well as the price, should make for a pretty compelling reason why you should choose a hostel. If that isn’t enough for you, you should also consider their locations (a central location is a must for a lot of hostels in big cities), lounges and shared spaces, and workspaces that certain student hostels provide. In a way, you have the comfort of having access to whatever you need (even though they may be communal), being in a nice and inviting environment, and paying a low price.

Things that make student hostels a better option than university dormitories -again, as previously mentioned- are the much higher level of privacy that you will have, the better facilities you have access to, the general cleanliness and hygiene levels you are entitled, and being able to interact with different folks and learn about the Iranian culture without having to constantly be in the same cramped space as them. And when it comes to private university-provided housing, the uncertain conditions and prices are probably not worth the extra effort; You know what you’re getting in a student hostel.

So, at this point, you can probably agree with the statement made at the beginning of this section. What you may ask is, how can you find the right place? Student hostels may not be as specialized in Iran as they are in some other countries, but here’s the thing, a great hostel makes for a great student hostel, so you may find a place that is advertised specifically to your needs, but rest assured that you will find that right hostel if you look for it.

What Makes Sarv Hostel in Isfahan the Perfect Choice for Student Accommodation

First, let’s talk about why Isfahan can be a great city for students. For those studying Islam or the Iranian culture and in general, humanities, this should be obvious. Isfahan is a city filled with the most magnificent works of Islamic-Iranian architecture and has deep cultural roots (which you can read all about in our many other blogs, whether it’s the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the city or the general attractions), being the capital city of the first dynasty in Iran who declared Shiite the official religion of the country. The many mosques, religious schools, and monuments in this city are sure to be insightful for students.

And for those who aren’t studying in the aforementioned fields, the University of Isfahan is one of the top higher learning institutes in Iran, with colleges in technology, mathematics and statistics, medical sciences, computer engineering, and more. So, when you come to the city, you are offered a variety of Isfahan hostels to choose from. What’s the best student hostel in Isfahan?

Our Very Own Student Hostel

Without any bias, Sarv Hostel is the place that meets everything on your criteria. If you stay with us, you are going to be either living in a comfortable private room or a large dormitory room equipped with everything you need. After having your free breakfast in our café every morning, you may choose to order yourself a cup of coffee and go upstairs to our exclusive workspace, where you can be sure you can study/work on a project without any disturbance. Since we’ve had the experience of housing students in both of our branches, we know a thing or two about what makes for a good student hostel.

You can read all about Sarv in our other blog, but rest assured that when you come to us, you will only want to come back again! Book direct right now!