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University of Plymouth

Plymouth

Mature Students 2016 - Housing or Halls?

Tony2016

Hey guys, I'm a mature student at 24 starting a medical course at Plymouth in September. I'm currently a bit torn between sharing a house or renting university halls for the first year, does anyone have any advice on this front?

In my experience halls are great fun for community and meeting new people (loved it the first time around), but I definitely can't drink as much as I used to and might increasingly value a quiet night! Just interested if any other slightly older students have some experience to share or are wondering the same thing?

On another note, are any other mature students looking into houses/flats for Sept?

Cheers!

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Reply 1

ElleNight

Hi Tony,

Im a mature student moving to Plymouth to study in September. I would love to get a house/flat share, but I have only started looking now and I dont know Plymouth at all. Have you had any luck in finding places or people?

Cheers

University of Plymouth

Plymouth

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Reply 2

Jonsmith98

Plymouth University have a site with all of the university approved private accommodation @ https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/student-life/services/accommodation/current-students
and http://www.plymouthstudentpad.co.uk/Accommodation.

This may help you find some private accommodation in Plymouth.

Reply 3

fen739

Hi Tony (and Elle),

I've just been accepted to study Physiotherapy as a mature student and am thinking along the same lines - not sure whether to go for halls / private accommodation. Let me know if either of you would be interested in searching for a shared house / similiar.

Cheers, Rich

Reply 4

ElleNight

Hi Rich,

I havent had much luck yet, its tough having never been to the city and not sure where to start looking....
I would definitely be interested in a house share....
Add me on facebook and we could discuss more?
https://www.facebook.com/ella.mcknighty

Cheers, Elle

Reply 5

ArjayGee

Hey me too! Can I get in on this? Will be doing a Masters at Plymouth come September :smile:

Becky

Reply 6

ElleNight

Hi Becky!!

Great!! Yes definitely! Do you know Plymouth at all?? Would be great to get a house share, maybe 4 or 5 people...
I have found a house that has 7 rooms... add me on facebook and we can talk about trying to find somewhere..
Theres a link in my previous message.

Reply 7

fen739

Hey sorry for the slow reply. Been in Stockholm for the week! Just added you Elle. Anyone had any luck yet?

Reply 8

ButterflyEl

Hi! I'm a mature student (also 24!) who's pretty keen to avoid halls if at all possible as I've been there done that now! I'm starting Healthcare science this year and I'm looking for housing atm.

Reply 9

Tony2016

Hey Becky, Elle, El and Rich!

Sorry for not checking this sooner! I'm overseas currently with terrible local internet and so stopped looking after the third week.

Great to hear there are a good number of like-minded people around (also funny chance to have so many health-care related studies!), and I agree with El's sentiment; halls are fun but given the choice I'd rather not repeat it six years on!

On that note, I've recently signed up to Plymouth accommodation as a back-up but would love to rent a house-share if we can manage it, how's house hunting going for everyone?

Tony

Reply 10

paul_gt4

I'm in the same boat as you guys, looking accommodation for this coming academic year. I've put Plymouth as my insurance choice and been accepted to study marine biology and oceanography. I'm 33 and from Northern Ireland and have only been to plymouth once for my interview, so I'm not really familiar with the region. ATM I'm still awaiting a reply on my firm choice. Any advice regarding halls, house/flat shares would be greatly appreciated.

(edited 7 years ago)

Reply 11

nerpus

hey guys,
same situation here. :biggrin:

am mature too, moving to Plymouth in early Sep studying Geography. i think i go for house sharing as it seems much more affordable than halls tbh. :/ happily buddy up with anyone :smile:

Reply 12

fen739

Hey all, I have to admit I haven't done much searching as I'm currently waiting on my offer to be confirmed on 18th August (had to take A level Biology as I never took it when younger - should be fine though).

As soon as it's confirmed I will be searching like mad, but given that there are quite a few of us I'm not overly worried about finding people to live with and a place. Lets all keep in touch and if anyone finds anything let us know?

Reply 13

Tony2016

Hey guys,

Sounds great to me, I'm a bit tied up over here and won't be in the UK till late August, is anyone local to Plymouth to have a look at properties if we find a suitable place online?

I confess I haven't done a great deal of looking either.. but as Rich says there's quite a few of us so not overtly worried.

Great to have so many other people in a similar position!

As to advice Paul, I've heard from the Uni there's actually quite a few older folk in both halls and housing, the prices for halls however are quite extortionate compared to house-shares (~£100-150/w vs £80-90/w). Reviews for halls are also very mixed - I've found studentcrowd.com a useful site for comparing halls (tried to post a direct link just now but it was blocked).

(edited 7 years ago)

Reply 14

JemJem85

Really wish I could house share but I'm a single mum of 2 as well as mature student so bit difficult lol
Would need two bedrooms but hey if anyone actually fancies the idea let me know, could be a crazy but fun idea? Least you'd know im reliable, sensible and can cook :wink:

Reply 15

Tony2016

Had a quick look and found quite a few reasonable properties on rightmove.co.uk, generally from £90-£100pw bills included.
Also just seen a near-uni 6-person one with a pool table and covered patio-garden for £92/w... not bad!

(rightmove.co.uk/student-accommodation/property-40094409.html#)

Reply 16

nerfgun

If you're a mature student and not looking for housemates that go out 3-4 times a week, then you should not look towards halls. Most of them are full of 18-19 year old that party non stop. The more expensive halls £140+ p/w might have more mature crowd but there's still partying going on all around.

I have a nice en-suite bedroom available in a shared student house if anyone's interested. Just £110 per week including everything. Not a party or smoking house though.

Reply 17

MyunrequitedLove

I was at plymouth last year in halls, at 24 years old.
Had a really fun time.
Did get a few jokes from flat mates about it in jest. Had an amazing time myself though.
Good luck!

Reply 18

Tony2016

Just received the halls offer from Plymouth and the 7-day deadline, I reckon it's about time those of us that are certain about house sharing started looking seriously at rent options?
There's a fair few properties still available for September, guess we probably want a couple of 3/4 person houses or one larger one?
Who's sure they want to rent come September?

Reply 19

secooke

Hi there,

Just came across this thread... I am a mature student and will be studying Dietetics at Plymouth in September (Providing I meet the conditions).
I am definitely looking to house share come September.