Where you live will have a big impact on your university experience. After all, it’s where you’ll be spending a lot of your time: from late night study sessions to socialising with friends, your flat will see it all.
This blog summarises the main benefits and drawbacks of university halls of residence, shared flats and studio flats to help you choose the right accommodation for your studies and find somewhere you’re happy to call home.
University Halls of Residence – A great base to explore and make friends:
When going into first year, a lot of students opt to stay in university-owned halls of residence. Indeed, these can provide a great base if you don’t know your new city very well or anyone going to your university. There are usually quite a lot of options to choose from, meaning you can still search within your budget, and also select which area of the city you would like to live in.
Many halls of residence are located closer to (or on) campus than other accommodation, meaning your commute to classes should be relatively short. Since most residents are first years, they also provide a great chance to make friends. However, due to their central location and party reputation, they can be quite noisy, so you might want to bring some ear plugs or noise-cancelling headphones to help you sleep and study.
Perhaps due to this fact, most students tend to move out of halls of residence after their first year, although some universities will still provide places for non-first year students or those returning from studying abroad.
Although each university has a different application process, it is likely that they will ask you to choose your top four or five halls of residence and then allocate you one randomly. Whilst this does mean you’ll have less control over your accommodation, you won’t really have to do anything else once you’ve submitted your choices, making the process much quicker and giving you time to sort out other important matters.
In addition, you may still be able to select some preferences, such as whether you want to stay in a single or mixed gender flat, or a quieter flat, giving you a bit more control.
Shared Flats – A perfect choice to make memories and enjoy uni life:
If you’re going into your second or third year at university, you might be considering getting a shared flat with your friends. This is often what many people nostalgically refer to when they reflect on their ‘uni days’, and living with friends can help you make memories that last a lifetime. However, finding accommodation with other people can be more challenging, since you will all need to agree on a rough price and location, as well as the type of accommodation you want to live in.
A lot of groups opt for residential flats in the city centre or student-y areas. These can help you feel more independent and like a true resident of your city. In addition, they are often cheaper and bigger than their private counterparts, meaning you’ll have more space to decorate and call home.
On the other hand, choosing to share a flat in a private hall means you will be able to use the on-site facilities, such as gyms, study rooms and cinemas, at no extra cost. In addition, such sites often have faster repair services and enhanced security. They are typically a lot quieter than university halls of residence and, as you get to choose who is in your flat and what area of the building you stay in, you will have a lot more control.
However, although it may be a lot of fun, living with your friends can also be stressful. Disagreements can arise over the smallest things, such as people not doing their dishes, or skipping their turn to put the bins out or buy toilet roll. This can also occur if some members of the flat are quieter and want to study, but others are party-animals and love having people over. In this sense, it might be a good idea to agree on what sort of flat you want to have before you start looking to ensure everyone will be happy.
Tip: You should also avoid rushing into finding accommodation too quickly (especially if you’re in first year), since you want to make sure you are living with the right people.
Studio Flats – An ideal pick for a calmer university experience:
Another option to consider when looking for accommodation is studio flats. These are ideal if your course is quite intense and you need peace and quiet to study, or if you simply prefer studying in your room over going to the library or cafés. They are also great if you want to be more independent, since you can quite literally do what you want, when you want, without having to worry about upsetting flatmates. Although you can find single-occupant residential flats, they are more commonly situated within private halls of residence.
As a result, you will also benefit from their facilities, repair services and security at no extra cost. You will usually be able to find studio flats all over your city, meaning you can stay pretty much anywhere you want. This is particularly useful if your classes are a bit further out, since you can live nearby without worrying about inconveniencing flatmates whose classes may be more central. However, studios do tend to be more expensive than other types of accommodation, so you might need to factor this into your budget and reduce your spending elsewhere.
On the other hand, the nature of studios means that you will need to make more of an effort to see your friends, and it is easier to become lonely and isolated. They are also quite difficult places to meet new people in, meaning they might be a better choice to stay in during your second or third year, once you have made lots of friends and become more settled at university. It also means you will have to do all your cooking, cleaning and other household chores by yourself, which can become quite overwhelming when you are already busy. However, learning to live by yourself and enjoy your own company will improve your confidence and prepare you for adult life.
Any choice is a good one!
Overall, each type of accommodation has something different to offer.
University halls of residence are a great place to make friends, settle into university life and acclimatise to your new city.
Similarly, shared flats are ideal for socialising, making memories and helping you to feel part of a student community.
Finally, studios are a perfect choice if you’re looking for a quiet place to study, as well as a chance to grow and become more independent.
If you are still searching for accommodation, we have plenty of great options available and we’re sure you’ll have an enjoyable experience wherever you end up!
