Private hall or uni halls?

I'm going to study in Glasgow next year. Is it best to get uni flats or look at private halls. As far as I can see private halls are nicer and not significantly more expensive. My friend stays in private halls and has had no problems meeting people there, however they are a bit older. But I don't know if it's better and easier to meet people in flats specifically for the uni.

Reply 1

University of Surrey Student Rep

Official Rep

15

Original post by Hdjxkebxkeoxb

I'm going to study in Glasgow next year. Is it best to get uni flats or look at private halls. As far as I can see private halls are nicer and not significantly more expensive. My friend stays in private halls and has had no problems meeting people there, however they are a bit older. But I don't know if it's better and easier to meet people in flats specifically for the uni.

Hi there!

I would say if the private halls look nicer and aren’t too much of a price jump then possibly go for them, as living in a lower quality place that’s not as nice can potentially really affect your university experience (speaking from my own accommodation situations over the past 3 years). But it also may be worth trying to find a Facebook group of people joining your university at the same time as you, and people who will be on your course as well to find out what they’re living - if they’re all going private, then maybe organise to apply together so you can try and be in the same block or building, or if they’re wanting to get a flat, then you can figure that out together, so then either way you could be living with people that you already sort of know before you even get there.

Whatever way you decide to go though I’m sure it will be the right one for you - it all just depends on what you want to get out of your first year university experience. Best of luck with it all! :smile:

Best wishes,
Rose Warburton (she/her)
Actor-Musician, 3rd year

Original post by Hdjxkebxkeoxb

I'm going to study in Glasgow next year. Is it best to get uni flats or look at private halls. As far as I can see private halls are nicer and not significantly more expensive. My friend stays in private halls and has had no problems meeting people there, however they are a bit older. But I don't know if it's better and easier to meet people in flats specifically for the uni.

Hi there,
There's many perks to living in private student accommodation. It's good to check what value-added extras they offer. For example, at Student Roost in Glasgow you get all-bills included, some great facilities and a packed social calendar so you can get to know other people at your accommodation. My advice would be, take a look at all of your options and view any accommodations that interest you.

Hope this helps!

-Nicky

Reply 3

Wombat11

7

University owned accommodation might have a shorter lease length and save you money. Def look at what the cost across the whole year will be.

With uni owned accommodation you don’t usually need a financial guarantor or to pay deposits when you book, just pay rent once student loans have arrived.

Uni owned accomm won’t cost you any5u g if you don’t get the grades to go or pull out before starting. With private accommodation you might well forfeit at least the deposit if you don’t go, you’ll be signing the contract as you sign up, not post results as is the case with uni owned accommodation.

It depends on the uni. In some, most people are in uni owned accom in first year and if you’re not, you might miss out. In other places, far more go into private accommodation so it’s worth knowing what proportion do each at the place you want to go to.

The other thing is private owned halls often have lots of 2nd/3rd/post grads in them. For meeting other freshers, uni owned is possibly best,

Reply 4

Alf_bm

1

Original post by Hdjxkebxkeoxb

I'm going to study in Glasgow next year. Is it best to get uni flats or look at private halls. As far as I can see private halls are nicer and not significantly more expensive. My friend stays in private halls and has had no problems meeting people there, however they are a bit older. But I don't know if it's better and easier to meet people in flats specifically for the uni.

I'd get a flat. Student halls here are very overpriced and not that good. Got some friends staying at different accomodation and I heard all sorts of **** (broken cooker, smelly bathrooms even if no one had lived in the en suite for months, the ******* room inspection...) and all of them are paying between 800 and 920 quid. Just get a flat I did so and it's just the best decision I could've had made

Original post by Hdjxkebxkeoxb

I'm going to study in Glasgow next year. Is it best to get uni flats or look at private halls. As far as I can see private halls are nicer and not significantly more expensive. My friend stays in private halls and has had no problems meeting people there, however they are a bit older. But I don't know if it's better and easier to meet people in flats specifically for the uni.

Hi,

There really is no right or wrong answer when it comes to this question.

I would advise you go and view both options and decide which one is best suited to your needs. As you've mentioned, it sometimes harder to meet people in private halls compared to uni halls which you are guaranteed to meet people in. I personally have lived In student halls for 3 years now and have found it to be great at getting to know people and to socialise. Obviously most university halls won't be as 'fancy' as private halls but you have to weigh up which is more important to social aspect or the living conditions.

I hope this is of some assistance,

Mary
London South Bank University Student Rep - 3rd year children's Nursing

Reply 6

Compyjo

9

I am surprised that you rate private halls as not much dearer than Uni halls as Uni halls on campus tend to be the cheapest purpose built student housing.

I know the odd private hall is only £10-15 dearer per week but many are a good £30 a week dearer.

I hope that it is the case that private halls are only marginally dearer these days.

Both types of accommodation will be super sociable. As you have noted, private halls tend to be newer and can have better decor.

Hopefully the student housing crisis that kicked in after Covid restrictions eased has abated.

If it has not, you will find that private student halls will all be sold out by early spring so do consider applying in the near future or there will only be £250-350 a week studios left.

Original post by Hdjxkebxkeoxb

I'm going to study in Glasgow next year. Is it best to get uni flats or look at private halls. As far as I can see private halls are nicer and not significantly more expensive. My friend stays in private halls and has had no problems meeting people there, however they are a bit older. But I don't know if it's better and easier to meet people in flats specifically for the uni.

Hi there,

Both options are good options and both come with their own pros and cons. It is defiantly worth thinking about what you would like from university accommodation. Private accommodation tends to be more pricey but also tends to have more communal areas such as an on-site gym or study spaces where as university accommodation tends to be cheaper but not have the benefits of communal study spaces or an on-site gym. I would defiantly say have a look around all the accommodation sites that you are planning to apply for and also think about the amount you are willing to spend on accommodation.
Quite a lot of universities guarantee accommodation to first years as long as they apply before their accommodation deadline which is also something to look into at Glasgow and think about.

I hope this helps 😊
Katie - Student Ambassador

Private hall or uni halls?

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