Accommodation at Loughborough

Original post by ARTStudent_V

Strongly recommend you go into private halls as someone who has experienced the poor quality of the halls at Loughborough Uni.
To be blunt, your university experience will be tainted by just how bad the accommodation and food (if you go for catered) are at lboro regardless of how much you enjoy your course. The halls that I am in are old, dirty and constantly noisy due to the thin walls. I have to share 1 shower with 7 people that has mould on one side and a kitchen that is constantly dirty due to my poor luck in drawing unclean flatmates.
I should also point out that this is not the halls i applied for and also the 2nd hall I have gone into after moving from my first because of wasting money on being in a catered hall when i couldnt eat the food. I applied for self catered, 4ft bed and ensuite and was given a single, catered room sharing 3 toilets/3 showers with SIXTEEN people and a minuscule kitchen with 1 induction hob (no oven) for the weekends.
Unless you are one of the lucky few that is actually given the hall you applied for/want (and from the research i have done this is rare) then you'll be stuck with an expensive tenancy you cant get out of!

I'd like to point out that having this experience is actually very rare. Yes, some people don't get the accommodation that they want, but they tend to be very vocal about it and that's why it seems so prevalent. Self-catered, 4ft-bed, en-suite accommodation is the type that is most highly in demand, so people who put this as their first choice are significantly more likely to get something else. What people also need to realise is that about 40% of all university accommodation is catered, whereas demand for it may be as little as 10%. Loughborough has traditionally always had catered halls and tends to be a part of the 'Loughborough experience' that's just so unique. Plus, going catered can save a large amount of money. The hall that has only '1 induction hob for the weekends' is Towers Hall, which is fully catered on weekends with a large brunch and dinner each day. The 3 toilets/showers thing may sound bad at first, but they are cleaned weekly. Having your own bog is £1500 for very little benefit.

My own personal experience of Loughborough accommodation was very positive. I was given exactly what I asked for (shared bathroom, self-catered, single bed) for 2 years running. Halls are great for your first year as you get to know lots of people within your block and the year doesn't count towards your final degree, so you can afford to have a few noisy flatmates without any real repercussions. You can always move into a house for second, third or fourth years. I loved halls in first year, second year not so much and am glad I'm in a house now and for next year.

Reply 5

AlexJN

Original post by thenickoftime

I'd like to point out that having this experience is actually very rare. Yes, some people don't get the accommodation that they want, but they tend to be very vocal about it and that's why it seems so prevalent. Self-catered, 4ft-bed, en-suite accommodation is the type that is most highly in demand, so people who put this as their first choice are significantly more likely to get something else. What people also need to realise is that about 40% of all university accommodation is catered, whereas demand for it may be as little as 10%. Loughborough has traditionally always had catered halls and tends to be a part of the 'Loughborough experience' that's just so unique. Plus, going catered can save a large amount of money. The hall that has only '1 induction hob for the weekends' is Towers Hall, which is fully catered on weekends with a large brunch and dinner each day. The 3 toilets/showers thing may sound bad at first, but they are cleaned weekly. Having your own bog is £1500 for very little benefit.

My own personal experience of Loughborough accommodation was very positive. I was given exactly what I asked for (shared bathroom, self-catered, single bed) for 2 years running. Halls are great for your first year as you get to know lots of people within your block and the year doesn't count towards your final degree, so you can afford to have a few noisy flatmates without any real repercussions. You can always move into a house for second, third or fourth years. I loved halls in first year, second year not so much and am glad I'm in a house now and for next year.

How exactly does the application process work? Can you apply to multiple halls or is it more just want [x] features?

Reply 6

Original post by AlexJN

How exactly does the application process work? Can you apply to multiple halls or is it more just want [x] features?

There are 2 routes to applying for accommodation: you can either be super eager and log on at an exact time to select a type of room from a specific hall (depending on whether they've all been taken or not), which is a bit like getting festival tickets, or you can go through the preference system, where you choose the type of room in certain areas of campus (for example, 1. Standard 4ft bed, East Park, Self-catered, 2. Standard, Central Park, Self-catered, 3. En-suite, Village Park, Catered).

Any more questions, don't hesitate to ask.

Reply 7

ARTStudent_V

You may think this is very rare but from the majority of people I have spoken to many are unhappy with what they have and especially on my course.
Regardless of whether that criteria of room is most highly in demand, so many other universities can offer both the majority of halls ensuite and also not any of their halls catered. I personally believe that catered halls are an extension of treating the students at the university like children which is how I believe this uni like to see there students and the students seem to enjoy being seen in the way that many of them behave. It is a fair point that being catered saves costs but it also provides a huge amount of waste for all of the people who are catered and do not go to any or at least 1 of their 3 meals a day.
And finally, you're wrong to assume I was speaking about Towers hall as I was actually in Cayley, and I am aware that also Faraday and Royce offer only 1 induction hob per kitchen too, so as you're in your third year maybe you're knowledge of what is currently available is dated.

Reply 8

AlexJN

Original post by thenickoftime

There are 2 routes to applying for accommodation: you can either be super eager and log on at an exact time to select a type of room from a specific hall (depending on whether they've all been taken or not), which is a bit like getting festival tickets, or you can go through the preference system, where you choose the type of room in certain areas of campus (for example, 1. Standard 4ft bed, East Park, Self-catered, 2. Standard, Central Park, Self-catered, 3. En-suite, Village Park, Catered).

Any more questions, don't hesitate to ask.

So if you do it the first way once you've selected does that mean you get it or is that just your preference, like a first come first serve kinda thing? I read somewhere about the accommodation is released in 1/3's or something?

Reply 9

Original post by AlexJN

So if you do it the first way once you've selected does that mean you get it or is that just your preference, like a first come first serve kinda thing? I read somewhere about the accommodation is released in 1/3's or something?

It means if you get the grades, it's definitely yours. It's first come, first serve. I believe half of the accommodation is allocated through the reservation system and half is done through preferences, with a third of the reserved rooms released over three days.

Reply 10

AlexJN

Original post by thenickoftime

It means if you get the grades, it's definitely yours. It's first come, first serve. I believe half of the accommodation is allocated through the reservation system and half is done through preferences, with a third of the reserved rooms released over three days.

Ah okay, thank you so much for all your help! :smile:

Reply 11

stephen006

Original post by amyy92

Hi everyone :smile:

I have been accepted at Loughborough for next September. I am a mature student though, being 21. I was wondering if anyone had any advice for accommodation. Should I go for uni accommodation or private accommodation? I have been looking at some private ones like the foundry but the few reviews I've found aren't great. Any help would be appreciated :smile:

Thanks

Hi Amy,

my friends and I are going to be living at the foundry next year. like you we are 'mature' students and we didn't want to be living with all 18 year old students so we thought this would be the perfect fit for us as it gives you the opportunity to socialise with flat mates but also your own personal space.

Reply 12

parinkaria

Original post by thenickoftime

It means if you get the grades, it's definitely yours. It's first come, first serve. I believe half of the accommodation is allocated through the reservation system and half is done through preferences, with a third of the reserved rooms released over three days.

so a delay in fulfilling the conditions would also result in loosing the hall ?
coz for Postgrads only 1 en-suite hall is available (i.e John Phillips) and I was thinking of goin for it as its my first year in the university

Reply 13

Original post by parinkaria

so a delay in fulfilling the conditions would also result in loosing the hall ?
coz for Postgrads only 1 en-suite hall is available (i.e John Phillips) and I was thinking of goin for it as its my first year in the university

Postgrad accommodation is done on a completely different system. You'll have to email the Student Accommodation Centre to ask.

Reply 14

Fresh Student Living

Original post by amyy92

Hi everyone :smile:

I have been accepted at Loughborough for next September. I am a mature student though, being 21. I was wondering if anyone had any advice for accommodation. Should I go for uni accommodation or private accommodation? I have been looking at some private ones like the foundry but the few reviews I've found aren't great. Any help would be appreciated :smile:

Thanks

Hi,

Hope you don't mind me jumping in here!

You might want to take a look at Optima if your looking for your own space, we've got stylish en suite mezzanine studios (with their own kitchen, breakfast bar, study area and plenty of storage) located just a short walk from the uni and currently offering a free £50 shopping voucher if you book in July. Plus, our weekly rent includes all bills, broadband and contents insurance.

If you give our Accommodation Manager James a call on 01509 277 206 he can give you much more info and book you in for a viewing! Or take a look at our website for more details - www.freshstudentliving.co.uk

Many thanks
Katie @ Fresh

Reply 15

dannysheard

Original post by amyy92

Hi everyone :smile:

I have been accepted at Loughborough for next September. I am a mature student though, being 21. I was wondering if anyone had any advice for accommodation. Should I go for uni accommodation or private accommodation? I have been looking at some private ones like the foundry but the few reviews I've found aren't great. Any help would be appreciated :smile:

Thanks

Hi if you are still looking for a place on halls, I'm moving to my second year at loughborough and i have a place in Telford Hall (On campus, self catered) its a great hall, I'm turning 22 in a few days and from last year experience you'll be fine living in halls! Ive got the offer to move in to a house with some course friends so I'm wanting to do that, but have to find a loughborough student who wants my place in halls first, if you need a place then please let me know :smile:

Thanks

Reply 16

Misc1

Im looking for a catered accommodation, could any people who have experience at loughborough give me an honest insight to the pros and cons of each, as it would be very appreciated.

Reply 17

khizer 182

Hi All, I received my offer from Loughborough regarding my accommodation but i was not offered any of my preferred choices and have been left with a room i do not want. What shall i do?

Reply 18

khizer 182