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University of Birmingham: Accommodation
From The Student RoomTSR Wiki > University > Choosing a University > University Guides > University of Birmingham > University of Birmingham: Accomodation
ResidencesCatered HallsThe Vale
Self-Catered FlatsThe Vale
Elgar CourtElgar Court was built in 2003 and comprises of 40 self catering flats arranged into four blocks at the top of the Vale. Each flat has six ensuite bedrooms and a large kitchen with a living room area. Single sex and mixed flats are available and the rooms at Elgar are some of the largest of any accommodation at UoB. All students on the Vale can use the facilities at the Hub in Shackleton Hall, including Costcutter mini supermarket, Rio's coffee bar, Fusion restaurant, VideoBank and Bar 1. Elgar is a 20 minute walk away from the centre of campus; most people walk this, but there is a bus which runs every half an hour from the Vale to campus, and costs 50p per trip. There is a bus stop at the top of the Vale which runs to the city centre every ten minutes, and Elgar is only around 15 minutes away from Five Ways, where you'll find a train station, Tesco, Boots, Subway, banks, cinemas, a bowling alley and the top of Broad Street. Although only a small hall with 240 people, Elgar residents have a strong sense of pride in their hall and a very active Residents Association, who look after residents and represent Elgar at the Guild. They also sell tickets to student club nights and organise events through Freshers Fest and beyond. In 2008, these included the best first year end of year ball (awarded by the VP Housing and Community), a trip to Alton Towers, a Cowboys and Indians night, charity fundraising casino night, and a gourmet meal at Bar Room Bar. To sum up: we are fabulous! Maple Bank
Tennis Courts:There are 21 blocks in Tennis Courts (referred to as TC). Blocks 1-17 each contain 6 flats on three floors, with each flat accommodating approximately 5 students. Blocks 18-21 are arranged so that they form a square courtyard, referred to as "Centre Court". There are two bikesheds on site, as well as a laundrette and squash courts. Each of these have code locks on the door. Tennis Courts has a capacity of 697 students and has its own website: http://www.tennis-courts.org/ Layout Blocks 1-17 have code locks on the doors into the block, with the front doors to each flat and individual room having key locks. Several of the blocks have now been refurbished (blocks 1-11 / flats 1-66). For 2007, the university has made many more flats mixed-sex; previously, only a very small number were available as part of a trial. Each refurbished flat has an open plan kitchen/lounge, a toilet, and a bathroom containing a sink, toilet and shower, and some with baths. Non-refurbished flats do not have the extra, separate toilet. Centre Court does not have code locks restricting entrance to the blocks, but lockable front doors and rooms. Flats vary in size from 3-6 students. The Tennis Courts Residents association, known as TECRA, has their office in Centre Court Block 21. They sell social event tickets and hoodies as well as organising several Tennis Courts events and representing the views of Tennis Courts residents to HAS (Hospitality and Accommodation Services), and the Guild. In the Summer they also provide volleyball nets and paddling pools! Tennis Courts is a brilliant community, with parking available, a newly refurbished launderette and a great atmosphere! And, to top it all off, it's the closest accommodation to the main campus. Pritchatts Park
Ashcroft
Shops: the closest shops are at Harbourn which is about 10 minutes away and theres a Sainsbury's and Iceland there, also a home bargains to get all your other stuff from and an abundance of charity shops good for fancy dress costumes. The other option is Aldi in Selly Oak about 15-20 minutes in the other direction! its cheaper but a pain when carrying all your bags back. Worth it every now and again though. Nightlife: Pritchatts Park has its own Social Center which has a bar, pool tables and mini football. The committee organise lots of events there such as fancy dress parties, quiz nights and is a good place for the preparty! but the best place is of course broad street. You can get a taxi to broadstreet from Pritchatts for £6 if you order it. In freshers week the committee organise busses to take you there and back. Theres now also a free nightbus which stops off at Pritchatts Park from Oceana and other popular clubs and nights. Flats: In Ashcroft all flats are 6 people, shared bathrooms and kitchen, I've never had a problem sharing, its nice being able to cook together and apart from some strange items of clothing left in the bathroom I've never had to wait for a shower. In Oakley Court there are flats of up to 13. Mixed and single sex are both available in all Pritchatts halls. You have a key to your flat and your room but there is no lock to the blocks. The rooms are a pretty decent size with bed, noticeboard, wardrobe, desk, chair all that jazz. They all come with a phone which has free inter flat calls and internet connection but you will need a lead. Other: Laundry is £2 for washing and £1 for the dryer, the only pain in the ass is you need the exact change! Its great havingg 3 halls together becuase it means there are lots of people about to make friends with but you also have your close friends in your hall. There is lots of friendly inter hall rivalry (especially when it snows!) and soon to be some inter hall sports competitions. If you need something repairing you just fill out a repair request form and they are usually really incredibly quick at getting back to you and sorting it out. I haven't regretted living here for one second and think its given me a really good introduction to uni life which i LOVE!!
Other Self Catered accomodation
The Beeches(refurbished over the summer of 2007 and now rather lovely!) Everything is brand new. The kitchens are gorgeous with enormous breakfast bars, comfy sofas, the bedrooms are fairly good-sized and the staff are lovely. Location: Edgbaston, Elvetham Road. Postcode: B15 2NL. Not too far from campus, you can walk it (about a 40-minute walk, which is a bit much for most) or get the train to Five Ways, a 3-4 minute journey with trains every 10 minuites (£1.50 return), or catch the free shuttle bus (which is very close to Broad street!). Shops: There's a Tescos a 10 minute walk away, plus the Beeches is close to The Five Ways Shopping Centre and the amenities of broad street less than 10 minutes walk away. The city centre is perhaps 20 minutes away, with the delights of the Bullring to be experienced! Nightlife: Very good! The primary access is to Broad Street, the hub of Birminhgam's nightlife, which is such a short walk away that taxis back at night are unnecessary. China Town and the Arcadian is also only a short walk away. Security: All residents have a fob to the automatic gates that shut out members of the general public ;) There's nearly always somebody in reception, but if not there will be someone at Queen's Hospital Close nearby. They also change the locks quite regularly - we've had our flat door and bedroom door locks changed this year. Other: the flats are all shared bathroom, but don't worry, it really isn't bad at all. There is never a queue for the bathroom (well, not in my flat anyway!) and there is a really good student atmosphere. The halls have a car park with loads of spaces, and there always 'car park' parties that move into somebody's flat! You can also have privacy if you want to, so don't let the prospect of sharing facilities put you off. The laundry facilities are enviable (£2 a wash), with a big sofa to sit and read a magazine on while you wait for your clothes - or better yet there is a countdown clock on the machines so you can go back to your flat and collect you clothes when they are finished! If your friends are in IQ5 or Queen's Hospital Close, the Beeches are very close by so you'll be able to visit them easily.
Jarratt Hall:Location: Selly Oak, Dale Road. Postcode: B29 6FQ. Very Close to campus, access through Grange Gate. Near Victoria Halls & Douper Hall. Shops: Pubs: All Pubs Except Joe's are on the Bristol Road. Scream pubs (Gunnies & Pear) have a loyalty card, "Yellow card" for discounted drinks. The Soak operates a "green key" for discounted Drinks. Other: Hall A proportion of the flats in Jarratt Hall are being refurbished every summer, with Carpets in lounge/kitchen area replaced with Laminate flooring (Advantage: You don't have to explain the spills & holes you've made in the kitchen carpet). Most Freshers are given 42-week Contracts. The Freshers flats are then refurbished in ten weeks, ready for the following year's residents. From 2006-2007, Most flats were single-sex, however there were some mixed-sex flats, (Mixed is better! Bobbit 02:42, 25 July 2007 (BST)). On Jarratt's Grounds there are 2 launderette's with washers (£2) & Dryers (£1), Bike Sheds, and a Small (but perfectly formed) Social room with a 42" HDTV with Freeview. Seating for approximately 6. Parking is not available in Jarratt hall (Disabled permits only). Security Summary
Private HallsIQFIVE IQFive was brand new for 2007. For 2007-8 around half of rooms were block-booked by the University of Birmingham and some students who applied to Housing Services for university accommodation were allocated here. Everything is in one building, with about 12 floors. It costs £94 a week if you book privately with IQ5 or £99 a week through the university (includes insurance/mentor). If you're allocated through the university you are placed with other UoB freshers, but there are students from all years and from the other universities too. Location: Five Ways, about a 4 minute walk from the train station. Trains to university station come every ten minutes at peak times (morning and evening) and every 20 minutes in the middle of the day. The train journey to the university is about 4 minutes. It costs £1.40 a day (you can't use your railcard before 10am on cheap journeys like this), or £29 per month. This is easier as you don't have to queue for a ticket every morning! Rooms: Very good - plenty of room, ensuite is small but at least it isn't a pod, and it's fine for students! The rooms are well-decorated and furnished. Basic but modern - you can put your own style to it. Every room has basic internet but many people choose the optional upgrade (£80 for the whole year) which means you get faster internet and you can watch TV on your pc. This works surprisingly well, and you get lots of channels (freeview). There is one small radiator which, in my opinion, isn't really enough to keep the room warm in the Winter (but I get cold easily anyway). There are no phones but get Skype - it's free! Kitchen: Modern but quite small. Fridge-freezer is a bit small but I've heard some kitchens have larger ones! Leather sofas are overated. Flat-screen TV is cool, and you get Freeview. You get an iron, ironing board, vacuum cleaner, mop etc too which all come in useful! Shops: Petrol garage directly opposite. 10 minute walk from a fairly large Tesco, and there are various shops like the post office, newsagents etc en-route. There's also a Sainsbury's Local about 10 minutes away, on Broad Street. The Bullring is about a 20 minute walk but it is an easy walk just down Broad Street and through Brindley Place; or you can walk to the train station and get the train into New Street (journey takes about 5 minutes and trains come about every 10 minutes). The Bullring has a huge number of shops (comparable to Oxford Street, I think). Nightlife: Literally five minutes from the top of Broad Street where the Cineworld cinema and the Works is (I think the pedometer counted 400 steps, to be precise.) Then there's Walkabout, Revolution etc. Ocean is pretty close too. Security: There are security staff/maintenance in the building 24 hours a day and there are lots of cameras around. You need a key fob to get into the building although it would be quite easy for strangers to get in if they just wait for someone to come out! The door to each flat has a lock but many people leave this unlocked, then you have a room lock. The reception area is always well lit and the corridor lights are permanently on, so it feels very safe. As for walking from the station after lectures when it's dark, there are usually lots of students walking with you so it's fine. Other: There is a central atrium style area with chairs, vending machines and a flat-screen TV. People gather there for fresher's events, to watch the football, halloween etc. Launderette is very convenient being inside the building whereas in other university accommodation you have to go to another building, so you might not want to do your washing late at night or something. The machines are simple to work, costs £2 per wash, £1 per dry. Overall, the accommodation is very nice and although it's annoying having to get the train into uni, it's good to be nearer the City/Broad St. However, there isn't as much of a community spirit as in some of the other halls, although it's what you make it really. You can make friends easily but in my experience it feels a bit like a (budget) hotel rather than being homely. NotesPictures taken by ruthiepoothie and Elisashaped |
