The Student Room Group

Exeter accom recommendations

Hey, I have been offered a place in Exeter for 2025 but I am wondering about accomadation? I have heard lafrowda is good because of how social it is but old lafs prices are much cheaper. Is it genuinly as bad as they say it is as it would definately help me financially but I don't want to be stuck somewhere I hate for a year. How many people would you have to share a bathroom with? I have also been looking at Rowe house but wondering if it is still very social as that's what I'm mainly looking at. I haven't really seen much about St Germans either so very conflicted about applying there. Also East Park is very tempting but would have to get standard so sharing a bathroom which I don't know if it would be worth it when I can get my own bathroom in a hall for the same price? I would be getting full student loan but no help from my parents so is £200 for a room still achievable as they are my favourite but I also want to be able to go out and not have to worry financially. Overall I love the location on campus for these but just need guidance. Thank you
Hi @charlotte4567989,

Firstly, congratulations on your offer! That's great to hear.

You're right that Lafrowda is known to be a very social accommodation, and its location on campus is ideal. Old Lafrowda is considerably less modern, but as far as uni accommodation goes I'd say it's pretty standard - they're all much of a muchness really. I'm not too sure how many people you would share a bathroom with, but I don't know anyone who was sharing with more than probably four people.
East Park is probably the next sociable, it's the newest and most modern accommodation on campus, and is a very popular choice. My friends who shared bathrooms there only had to share with one or two other people so I really wouldn't say it's that bad at all.
Rowe House is near to Lafrowda, and though it isn't as loud as Lafrowda it's still really sociable - it has also got a really good location, and comes with a double bed too.
St German's is in a similar area to Lafrowda and Rowe House, but is slightly out of the way in comparison - from what I've heard, it's one of the quieter ones, and comes with a double bed.

It is really up to you, the thing to think about is what exactly you want from your accommodation. I recommend watching YouTube videos of each of the accommodations to get a real feel for each one, and many of the videos also run through the pros and cons of living there. There are also some university made videos and virtual tours too, I will put the link here:
https://www.exeter.ac.uk/study/life/accommodation/

I hope you manage to make your decision, and please let me know if you have any other questions!

Sophie
University of Exeter Student Ambassador
Rowe house, you may be lucky in receiving the one giant room on the floor.
Reply 3
The idea that old laf is somehow a terrible, run down "prison" is laughable. It's not super swish but it's absolutely fine.
It could do with improving in terms of limited social area (basically you have the kitchen and they don't provide enough chairs). The corridors are weirdly narrow and you have to share bathrooms and toilets. But other than that, it's just standard uni accommodation.
Reply 4
Hi. Can you stay in the accommodation for the full length of the degree , or just 1st year?
Original post by Charlus
Hi. Can you stay in the accommodation for the full length of the degree , or just 1st year?

Hi Charlus,

Typically students would stay in university managed halls of residences just for the first year, and then usually move out in second and third year to find their own accommodation, for example sharing a student house or flat with others. However, there can be exceptions made, for example for medical reasons, where it may be necessary to stay in halls of residences for the duration of your degree. Whether or not a non-1st year can stay can also be dependent on demand and the number of spare rooms available, which can fluctuate year on year with student entry numbers. Let me know if I can help anymore or if there was a particular reason you're interested in staying in halls of residences for longer.

Kingsley
University of Exeter Student Ambassador
Reply 6
Original post by ExeterStudentRep
Hi Charlus,
Typically students would stay in university managed halls of residences just for the first year, and then usually move out in second and third year to find their own accommodation, for example sharing a student house or flat with others. However, there can be exceptions made, for example for medical reasons, where it may be necessary to stay in halls of residences for the duration of your degree. Whether or not a non-1st year can stay can also be dependent on demand and the number of spare rooms available, which can fluctuate year on year with student entry numbers. Let me know if I can help anymore or if there was a particular reason you're interested in staying in halls of residences for longer.
Kingsley
University of Exeter Student Ambassador


Thankyou
Reply 7
Can you give some info on catered accommodation. There is a sense it is more elitist. Particularly Holland.
Original post by Charlus
Can you give some info on catered accommodation. There is a sense it is more elitist. Particularly Holland.

Hi Charlus,

There are a range of catered accommodation options available, not just Holland Hall. I would recommend looking into options like Lopes, Mardon, and Birks too, which are all lovely places to live. It entirely depends on what sort of experience you're looking for.

Birks Grange Village is, as the name suggests, a bit of a student village, with a shop and games rooms close by. If you are looking for a more classic hall, then Lopes and Mardon are definitely ones to look into - it does depend if you want an ensuite bathroom, though.

The food menus are also very vast, and there are lots of options to choose from. However, do note that there are set times to eat. On weekdays, it only includes breakfast and dinner, and there is added brunch on weekends.

In terms of elitism, it is entirely pot luck. One of my closest friends spent his first year in Holland Hall, and is probably one of the most down-to-earth people I know. I can't speak for everyone, but there are definitely a mix of people no matter what accom you choose.

I hope this helps

Grace
University of Exeter Student Ambassador.
Reply 9
Hi Grace. That's really helpful. There is mention of some halls being more "sociable" and lively than others. Can you give us a sense of what that means in reality!!
Reply 10
Could you tell me about Pennsylvannia Court as well
Original post by Charlus
Could you tell me about Pennsylvannia Court as well

Hi Charlus,

Of course!

To say that some halls are more "sociable" simply means that there's a bit more life, so to speak. In other words, halls that have more going on, with more 'chatty' people, or maybe even parties. Lafrowda has a reputation for being more "sociable" for instance.

However, whilst I do remember there being a fair few get-togethers in Lafrowda during my stay there, I was also in a quiet block, which, as you can imagine, was quieter. That doesn't mean that we didn't talk to each other, or not have friends over though. In fact, I was a lot closer to my flatmates from first year, and spent a good few nights having some chill nights in, with music and cute lights. I suppose in this sense, we were sociable, too.

Ultimately, I'd say it's like the lottery with your flatmates. Some people are super close and chatty, others aren't. But, like I say, "sociable" can be in other forms, too. There's no such guarantee.

If you're looking for "sociable" in terms of a community-feel, then Birks Grange is a good pick, or any of the catered halls. There is a games / common room in each of these, and I've had some really pleasant times in them with my friends. The dinner hall would also be somewhere that you can be more sociable as well.

To speak a bit about Pennsylvania Court, this accommodation is one of the Exeter Halls - an annexe of Lopes Hall, where you would be eating. They're ensuite rooms, and each flat has a utility room with a small kitchenette (with the basics, like a microwave and a kettle). Each room also has a double bed and mini fridge. There is a requirement, though, to move your stuff out over Christmas and Easter.

You also have use over the library in Lopes Hall, the Lopes Common Room, and the nearby tennis courts if you choose this acommodation.

I hope this answers some of your questions,

Grace
University of Exeter Student Ambassador.
Reply 12
Hi Grace. That's really helpful.thankyou

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