Hi! For anyone who hasnt applied for accommodation yet, thought I'd just post this ...
A lot of people seem to be going for on-campus accommodation. This is fine and is generally nicer than off-campus (Greenbank or Carnatic) but everyone I know who lives there would definately prefer to be off-campus. Normally, foreign students live in on-campus accommodation, so I know people who are the only English person in a flat of eight, the others generally all being Chinese (this is not racist or anything at all btw, I'm just stating that for a few of my friends, this is hard as they never get to meet anyone else and the chinese people just speak amongst themselves and do not speak very good English, therefore cannot include English students much). Therefore I would DEFINATELY go off-campus.
Greenback has better rooms, but Carnatic is definately better for the social side of things, because of the way it is laid out people in Carnatic seem to make friends more easily, so it just depends what you want. Don't let horror stories about the food put you off - I heard so many before I arrived and I'm a fairly fussy eater, but there is definately something for everyone everyday, and they do vegetarian options everyday too. I would definately choose catered for first-year, simply because the food is fine and while you're settling in etc it is SO much easier not to have the hassle of shopping, cooking, then clearing up afterwards. And you won't have your parents on the phone all the time checking if you're still eating
seriously though, plenty of time to cook for yourself in 2nd and 3rd year, you might as well keep yourself stress-free for a while - moving away from home and starting uni is such a big deal, to not have to worry about food really helps you settle in, and it helps you make friends as you meet so many people over dinner too.
Rooms-wise, Greenbank are probably better, but its not like Carnatic are really bad. It's unlikely you'll be spending much time in your room anyway (or at least I didnt), you'll be at uni during the day, then out at night! Some of the halls have common rooms as well which have tvs etc, so many people just hang there instead of being on their own in their room.
Ensuites are also really not that big a deal - I think its much better to save yourself some money and share a bathroom. I've never once had to wait for a shower (and that's on a floor with 21 other girls) so it's not like they're busy. The bathrooms and toilets are also cleaned every day, whereas with an ensuite that responsibility is down to you!
The uni is easy to access from off-campus halls (obv not as easy as on-campus haha, but somethings gotta give) and you can buy a bus pass for the year when you get here. Your bus pass covers any Arriva bus in the North-West at any time, so its really really good value. Buses are every 10 mins and every 5 mins at peak times (9-10am, 3-5pm) and are really reliable. Personally I don't have any problems about getting up 10ish minutes earlier for my 9am lectures in order to catch the bus.
Can't remember about Greenbank, but Carnatic has lots of facilities, including tennis courts, squash courts, table tennis tables, libraries, launderettes, and Carnibar. These are all things I'm pretty sure don't get included at the on-campus accommodation areas.
Hope this has helped a little bit - please don't get put off on-campus accommodation from this, cause I'm sure you'll still have just as much fun etc! I'm just putting my opinion on where I think is best to live, and hope it helped