Partner spotlight: Simplifying student accommodation payments with StarRez

Where they live, and with whom, is perhaps one of the most formative elements of a student’s university experience. Neighbors and flatmates often become lifelong friends, but the process to secure a place to live, whether on or off campus, can be a stressful scramble, with the potential to shatter the joy and relief at having achieved a place at university at all. For international students, the stress of finding accommodation is compounded by having to do so, often from their home country, in a language and country that they are not very familiar with.

Counting some of the most prestigious organizations in the world as clients, including Harvard University, Stanford University, National University of Singapore, University of London, Australian National University, iQ Student Accommodation (PBSA) and Vail Ski Resorts (Staff Housing), StarRez is the leading provider of student experience and accommodation management software. Their solution simplifies the accommodation process for students with an easy-to-use and stress-free, self-selection portal.

Using the white-labeled StarRez portal, students can pick and apply for their room from available stock, sign contracts and pay their deposit - all in one place. When it comes to moving in, they can sign inventories and, once they’re settled, they can also self-report accidents or book mandatory inspections at times that suit them. What’s more, this can all be done through the StarRez app.

For student-property landlords - universities or PBSA providers - StarRez simplifies internal processes and eases many of the pain accommodation teams experience, particularly around enrolment time. With established integrations into most university systems, the StarRez software solution streamlines property management processes including allocation, billing and maintenance. Crucially, with a StarRez integration the central source of student information is updated in real time.

Cross-border payments increasing in line with global mobility for education

With the numbers of international students increasing rapidly across the globe, there was a need for a better cross border payment experience when it came to making payments for student accommodation. In response, Flywire and StarRez developed a seamless integration, and the two companies embarked on a strategic partnership to provide student accommodation payments directly within the StarRez portal.

Using Flywire’s Global Payment Network, international students can now pay for their accommodation in over 140 currencies before they arrive at their destination. What’s more, universities and PBSA providers appreciate the streamlined internal processes and positive student experience the integration delivers.