Accomodation and Living Costs at UCL

OP

Thanks.
his is what I have as a mental image of a residence hall. A long corridor with rooms on either side, either singles (where you live by yourself) or doubles/twins (where you have a roomate). Somewhere in the corridor theres a lounge or some kind of room where everyone on that floor can chill out. I'm thinking that theres a seperate lounge for each floor. Is this right?

The 'Flat' concept seems like there are a few rooms (usually about 8 and usually singles) groupe together that share a kitchen, lounge and toilet. Is this right?

Anyone have a link where I'd be able to see a video of some UK university type housing?

Reply 4

sierraleone

I live in a cluster flat halls place so I'm not entirely sure but places like Ramsay seem to have a big common room/bar/tv room type area or areas for people to hang out but not one per floor. Cluster flats are pretty much what you said but we don't have a lounge, also have a shower and it's normally shared between about 5.

You can see some housing stuff for intercollegiate halls on their website, otherwise you can only get an idea from the accommodation pdf above.

Reply 5

OP

Thanks. I've recieved that accommodation thing by mail but their descriptions aren't really in detail if you've never seen something similair to it before lol.

Reply 6

tetedupet

You should get 2 booklets through the post soon that will answer all of these questions, you can view the pdfs here:

http://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/accommodation/accommodation.pdf

http://www.ucl.ac.uk/admission/transitions/pdfs/living-in-london-2006.pdf

They're both really useful.

The highest monthly expenditure by far is going to be accommodation.

Thanks for posting that. I just spent the better part of an hour making a decision on what I would want and what to put on the forms.

Reply 7

CountOlaf

nickb123

Thanks for posting that. I just spent the better part of an hour making a decision on what I would want and what to put on the forms.

Didn't you pick them up last week? There were hundreds! :p:

Reply 8

tetedupet

11

I still haven't decided how much I'm prepared to pay yet... I did want en suite accommodation, but considering that the prices in the accommodation booklet are going to increase for the next academic year, I think that I would rather spend that money or something else than on my own bathroom! I think I'm going to put 130 a week, would be handy to know next years prices, grgr!

Reply 9

OP

Quick question. Whats an 'en suite' room?

Reply 10

CountOlaf

It's a room with a private adjoining bathroom. Which would usually comprise just a sink, toilet and shower, but it's good if you like some privacy. :p:

Reply 11

OP

Cheers.

I'm really liking the look of Schafer House. This is what it says in their description. '..... The accomodation is arranged as self-contained flats, all with their own kitchen/dining area. Students have their own single rooms, each.....'
So it's basically arranged as a flat with a few single rooms sharing a kitchen/dining area right? But when I look at the prices, you can get twins (2 people sharing a room?), singles (1 person room?) and 1 bed flats (what the hell is that????). Whats the difference between single and 1 bed flat. I thought all the rooms in Schafer are arranged as flats???

Reply 12

inshallah

Cheers.

I'm really liking the look of Schafer House. This is what it says in their description. '..... The accomodation is arranged as self-contained flats, all with their own kitchen/dining area. Students have their own single rooms, each.....'
So it's basically arranged as a flat with a few single rooms sharing a kitchen/dining area right? But when I look at the prices, you can get twins (2 people sharing a room?), singles (1 person room?) and 1 bed flats (what the hell is that????). Whats the difference between single and 1 bed flat. I thought all the rooms in Schafer are arranged as flats???

There's quite a few like Schafer with the cluster flat approach. Its basically say a corridoor with 5 single rooms, and a kitchen and bathroom which you'd all share.

Twin is two sharing a room yes. Single is one person in a room, but that of course doesn't mean its ensuite or anything. I assume one bed flat means you have your own loo and small kitchen area to yourself, so like a bedsit. Expensive and really not all that practical.

Personally, I like Schafer and a couple of others priced at £116 - I don't know whether this is considered "expensive" as far as student accomodation but it is about the average from looking at that booklet. Sacrificing an ensuite means you save about 20 quid a week which can be used for food and stuff. For me, I just want my own single room with a computer point and a wash basin. I'd like an ensuite but for the price I don't really mind sharing that much (as long as its with no more than like 5 people, and everyone has a decent level of hygiene lol) and I always expected a shared kitchen

Reply 13

CountOlaf

Didn't you pick them up last week? There were hundreds! :p:

Erm I did pick up loads of booklets on my way out yeah, but just flung em in my bag and haven't even gone through them yet lol.

Reply 14

tetedupet

11

inshallah

Cheers.

I'm really liking the look of Schafer House. This is what it says in their description. '..... The accomodation is arranged as self-contained flats, all with their own kitchen/dining area. Students have their own single rooms, each.....'
So it's basically arranged as a flat with a few single rooms sharing a kitchen/dining area right? But when I look at the prices, you can get twins (2 people sharing a room?), singles (1 person room?) and 1 bed flats (what the hell is that????). Whats the difference between single and 1 bed flat. I thought all the rooms in Schafer are arranged as flats???

A friend of mine lived there last year, he loved it.

Reply 15

OP

Thanks a lot. Hopefully i'll get a Single at Schaefer. Is it possible to choose which hall your placed in as the accomodation form doesnt ask for this.

Reply 16

inshallah

Thanks a lot. Hopefully i'll get a Single at Schaefer. Is it possible to choose which hall your placed in as the accomodation form doesnt ask for this.

As far as I know you get what you're given. However, you can kind of sway it by e.g. saying your max budget is £115 or something, preventing them dumping you in the expensive ensuites. Equally you can put something like your biggest preference is proximity or single room.

Other than that its just luck of the draw I think. I personally would quite like a single in Schafer, Langton Close or anywhere on Gower Street (for location purposes). I doubt I'll get what I want though, and I still haven't been accepted yet so talk about counting chicken before they're even hatched!

Reply 17

sierraleone

I'm in Schafer at the moment, I think it's good but quite a few don't like the cluster flat setup. Most of the flats here are shared by 5 - we get a kitchen, toilet and bathroom (shower and toilet). Any questions, feel free to ask.

Don't set your heart on any particular accommodation though, they don't always follow the stuff you've written on your form.

Reply 18

OP

Yeah i realised. I read through every hall etc. and then realised you couldn't choose your preference for the hall lol.

Reply 19