Studio, Flat or Halls?
Hi,
I’m going to be moving to Sheffield in September for my first year. I’ll be 23 so I’ll be a mature student.
I cannot decide between a 1 bedroom flat/studio or going into halls (en-suite)
I went to university last year in a different city and stayed in halls, I thought I didn’t mind sharing a kitchen too much but in hindsight I found it stressful socially & I hated how grubby my flatmates were & having not a lot of space.
I feel conflicted in what to choose, as the flat would be £2688 every SF installment, leaving me with (after max maintenance) £826 for 3 months, but I will hopefully have savings & bursaries to top this up so it won’t be too bad.
The university offers accommodation for 21+ students which works out to about £500 cheaper every instalment, but I’m not sure this would rectify my worries both financially and living with people wise.
My main fear is not making friends/adjusting to a new city properly. I can be quite shy and introverted at the best of times unless I make friends online/grow to know people in person after a couple of weeks.
Any advice and opinions would be appreciated.
I’m going to be moving to Sheffield in September for my first year. I’ll be 23 so I’ll be a mature student.
I cannot decide between a 1 bedroom flat/studio or going into halls (en-suite)
I went to university last year in a different city and stayed in halls, I thought I didn’t mind sharing a kitchen too much but in hindsight I found it stressful socially & I hated how grubby my flatmates were & having not a lot of space.
I feel conflicted in what to choose, as the flat would be £2688 every SF installment, leaving me with (after max maintenance) £826 for 3 months, but I will hopefully have savings & bursaries to top this up so it won’t be too bad.
The university offers accommodation for 21+ students which works out to about £500 cheaper every instalment, but I’m not sure this would rectify my worries both financially and living with people wise.
My main fear is not making friends/adjusting to a new city properly. I can be quite shy and introverted at the best of times unless I make friends online/grow to know people in person after a couple of weeks.
Any advice and opinions would be appreciated.
Reply 1
Original post by Broopboop
Hi,
I’m going to be moving to Sheffield in September for my first year. I’ll be 23 so I’ll be a mature student.
I cannot decide between a 1 bedroom flat/studio or going into halls (en-suite)
I went to university last year in a different city and stayed in halls, I thought I didn’t mind sharing a kitchen too much but in hindsight I found it stressful socially & I hated how grubby my flatmates were & having not a lot of space.
I feel conflicted in what to choose, as the flat would be £2688 every SF installment, leaving me with (after max maintenance) £826 for 3 months, but I will hopefully have savings & bursaries to top this up so it won’t be too bad.
The university offers accommodation for 21+ students which works out to about £500 cheaper every instalment, but I’m not sure this would rectify my worries both financially and living with people wise.
My main fear is not making friends/adjusting to a new city properly. I can be quite shy and introverted at the best of times unless I make friends online/grow to know people in person after a couple of weeks.
Any advice and opinions would be appreciated.
I’m going to be moving to Sheffield in September for my first year. I’ll be 23 so I’ll be a mature student.
I cannot decide between a 1 bedroom flat/studio or going into halls (en-suite)
I went to university last year in a different city and stayed in halls, I thought I didn’t mind sharing a kitchen too much but in hindsight I found it stressful socially & I hated how grubby my flatmates were & having not a lot of space.
I feel conflicted in what to choose, as the flat would be £2688 every SF installment, leaving me with (after max maintenance) £826 for 3 months, but I will hopefully have savings & bursaries to top this up so it won’t be too bad.
The university offers accommodation for 21+ students which works out to about £500 cheaper every instalment, but I’m not sure this would rectify my worries both financially and living with people wise.
My main fear is not making friends/adjusting to a new city properly. I can be quite shy and introverted at the best of times unless I make friends online/grow to know people in person after a couple of weeks.
Any advice and opinions would be appreciated.
Hi @Broopboop,
First off, I'm incredibly sorry to hear you had a bad experience living in halls last year. Although halls can be a great option financially, living with new people who have different habits than your own can understandably prove challenging.
In terms of the one bedroom flat, I think it would be worthwhile trying to draw up a rough monthly estimate of living costs to see if living on £826 (with any extra savings/bursaries as well) over three months would fit into your lifestyle requirements. Do you have any particularly expensive outgoings or necessities - gym memberships, subscriptions, specific dietary needs, etc.? Ultimately, it comes down to you as an individual; I know students who would be perfectly content on a monthly budget of £275 (excluding rent), but I also know some students who wouldn't.
If you're worried about living with people, staying in a one bedroom flat might be ideal as it will allow you to focus less on your living situation and more on your social life and studies. However, to make friends you may have to put yourself out there a bit more than if you were staying in halls - are there any societies/extra-curriculars at Sheffield you'd be interested in pursuing to help you make friends and adjust to the city?
Best of luck,
Eve (Kingston Rep).
(edited 3 months ago)
Reply 2
Original post by Broopboop
Hi,
I’m going to be moving to Sheffield in September for my first year. I’ll be 23 so I’ll be a mature student.
I cannot decide between a 1 bedroom flat/studio or going into halls (en-suite)
I went to university last year in a different city and stayed in halls, I thought I didn’t mind sharing a kitchen too much but in hindsight I found it stressful socially & I hated how grubby my flatmates were & having not a lot of space.
I feel conflicted in what to choose, as the flat would be £2688 every SF installment, leaving me with (after max maintenance) £826 for 3 months, but I will hopefully have savings & bursaries to top this up so it won’t be too bad.
The university offers accommodation for 21+ students which works out to about £500 cheaper every instalment, but I’m not sure this would rectify my worries both financially and living with people wise.
My main fear is not making friends/adjusting to a new city properly. I can be quite shy and introverted at the best of times unless I make friends online/grow to know people in person after a couple of weeks.
Any advice and opinions would be appreciated.
I’m going to be moving to Sheffield in September for my first year. I’ll be 23 so I’ll be a mature student.
I cannot decide between a 1 bedroom flat/studio or going into halls (en-suite)
I went to university last year in a different city and stayed in halls, I thought I didn’t mind sharing a kitchen too much but in hindsight I found it stressful socially & I hated how grubby my flatmates were & having not a lot of space.
I feel conflicted in what to choose, as the flat would be £2688 every SF installment, leaving me with (after max maintenance) £826 for 3 months, but I will hopefully have savings & bursaries to top this up so it won’t be too bad.
The university offers accommodation for 21+ students which works out to about £500 cheaper every instalment, but I’m not sure this would rectify my worries both financially and living with people wise.
My main fear is not making friends/adjusting to a new city properly. I can be quite shy and introverted at the best of times unless I make friends online/grow to know people in person after a couple of weeks.
Any advice and opinions would be appreciated.
Hi!
I know this is basic advice but consider what the most important factor is for you, is it having your own space to be tidy and clean, meeting people and making friends, or financing the accommodation. Once you know which is your number one priority you can figure out which will be the best fit for you.
Additionally, while this does feel like a big deal and can be intimidating (I felt this moving in my first year!) you will only be there for one academic year, which, in the grand scheme of things, is not very long. And if you absolutely hate it, there are options to move - not always straightforward, but available to you should you feel the need.
Hope this helps! Faye 🙂
Reply 3
Original post by Broopboop
Hi,
I’m going to be moving to Sheffield in September for my first year. I’ll be 23 so I’ll be a mature student.
I cannot decide between a 1 bedroom flat/studio or going into halls (en-suite)
I went to university last year in a different city and stayed in halls, I thought I didn’t mind sharing a kitchen too much but in hindsight I found it stressful socially & I hated how grubby my flatmates were & having not a lot of space.
I feel conflicted in what to choose, as the flat would be £2688 every SF installment, leaving me with (after max maintenance) £826 for 3 months, but I will hopefully have savings & bursaries to top this up so it won’t be too bad.
The university offers accommodation for 21+ students which works out to about £500 cheaper every instalment, but I’m not sure this would rectify my worries both financially and living with people wise.
My main fear is not making friends/adjusting to a new city properly. I can be quite shy and introverted at the best of times unless I make friends online/grow to know people in person after a couple of weeks.
Any advice and opinions would be appreciated.
I’m going to be moving to Sheffield in September for my first year. I’ll be 23 so I’ll be a mature student.
I cannot decide between a 1 bedroom flat/studio or going into halls (en-suite)
I went to university last year in a different city and stayed in halls, I thought I didn’t mind sharing a kitchen too much but in hindsight I found it stressful socially & I hated how grubby my flatmates were & having not a lot of space.
I feel conflicted in what to choose, as the flat would be £2688 every SF installment, leaving me with (after max maintenance) £826 for 3 months, but I will hopefully have savings & bursaries to top this up so it won’t be too bad.
The university offers accommodation for 21+ students which works out to about £500 cheaper every instalment, but I’m not sure this would rectify my worries both financially and living with people wise.
My main fear is not making friends/adjusting to a new city properly. I can be quite shy and introverted at the best of times unless I make friends online/grow to know people in person after a couple of weeks.
Any advice and opinions would be appreciated.
Hi there,
Congratulations! This is exciting, yet can feel overwhelming when making such important decisions. Firstly, I would recommend doing a pros and cons list for each option. You already seem to know what you dislike and didn't mind about halls and have a good idea about your finances, so well done for that. Accommodation is good for making friends and is cheaper but as you said they can be small and overwhelming socially for you. If having your own space that is also tidy and organised important for you then living a flat or studio may be the better option for you. I wouldn't be put off by not making friends if you are not in halls, as there are events at universities all year round. Starting with freshers and welcome weeks as well as many student union events. There are often studios in private uni halls, maybe look at those if you haven't already? You seem to have a good idea about how much the different accommodations would cost but maybe also compare the locations, what shops are nearby and how far from the campus it is. My last advice would be, research into societies and consider joining as they're a great way to meet likeminded people with similar interests. You've got this!
Hope this helps and best of luck. 🙂
^Zac
Reply 4
Original post by Broopboop
Hi,
I’m going to be moving to Sheffield in September for my first year. I’ll be 23 so I’ll be a mature student.
I cannot decide between a 1 bedroom flat/studio or going into halls (en-suite)
I went to university last year in a different city and stayed in halls, I thought I didn’t mind sharing a kitchen too much but in hindsight I found it stressful socially & I hated how grubby my flatmates were & having not a lot of space.
I feel conflicted in what to choose, as the flat would be £2688 every SF installment, leaving me with (after max maintenance) £826 for 3 months, but I will hopefully have savings & bursaries to top this up so it won’t be too bad.
The university offers accommodation for 21+ students which works out to about £500 cheaper every instalment, but I’m not sure this would rectify my worries both financially and living with people wise.
My main fear is not making friends/adjusting to a new city properly. I can be quite shy and introverted at the best of times unless I make friends online/grow to know people in person after a couple of weeks.
Any advice and opinions would be appreciated.
I’m going to be moving to Sheffield in September for my first year. I’ll be 23 so I’ll be a mature student.
I cannot decide between a 1 bedroom flat/studio or going into halls (en-suite)
I went to university last year in a different city and stayed in halls, I thought I didn’t mind sharing a kitchen too much but in hindsight I found it stressful socially & I hated how grubby my flatmates were & having not a lot of space.
I feel conflicted in what to choose, as the flat would be £2688 every SF installment, leaving me with (after max maintenance) £826 for 3 months, but I will hopefully have savings & bursaries to top this up so it won’t be too bad.
The university offers accommodation for 21+ students which works out to about £500 cheaper every instalment, but I’m not sure this would rectify my worries both financially and living with people wise.
My main fear is not making friends/adjusting to a new city properly. I can be quite shy and introverted at the best of times unless I make friends online/grow to know people in person after a couple of weeks.
Any advice and opinions would be appreciated.
Hiya,
Sorry to hear you had such a stressful experience living in halls and honestly - I totally get it, living with people you don't know definitely can be quite overwhelming!
As someone who's lived in both studio and halls, I'd say honestly, it depends on each person! I would say that yes a studio would help alleviate stress of flatmates, but I think its worth considering also your wellbeing, considering whether you get lonely easily, if you feel like you'd thrive more living alone or with others. I say this as in uni classes, at least from my experience, you're not seeing people as consistently as in secondary education. I found myself really having to make effort and maintain going to the same places to make friends. Its something that I of course enjoy doing, but worth considering!
I think that i's great that your uni is offering a 21+ flat! Now in my final year, I can say that in terms of living spaces, it does get better over the years as people learn how to live with others. Though, of course, you might get the risk as you've said, with challenging flatmates. If its at all reassuring, there's always a 3rd choice. Double check the student accomodation policy but in most cases, if you're really unsatisfied with where you're living, there's the option of finding a tenant to replace you, if you wished to move out.
I hope that helps!
~ Fatiha, Cardiff University Student Rep
(edited 3 months ago)
Original post by Broopboop
Hi,
I’m going to be moving to Sheffield in September for my first year. I’ll be 23 so I’ll be a mature student.
I cannot decide between a 1 bedroom flat/studio or going into halls (en-suite)
I went to university last year in a different city and stayed in halls, I thought I didn’t mind sharing a kitchen too much but in hindsight I found it stressful socially & I hated how grubby my flatmates were & having not a lot of space.
I feel conflicted in what to choose, as the flat would be £2688 every SF installment, leaving me with (after max maintenance) £826 for 3 months, but I will hopefully have savings & bursaries to top this up so it won’t be too bad.
The university offers accommodation for 21+ students which works out to about £500 cheaper every instalment, but I’m not sure this would rectify my worries both financially and living with people wise.
My main fear is not making friends/adjusting to a new city properly. I can be quite shy and introverted at the best of times unless I make friends online/grow to know people in person after a couple of weeks.
Any advice and opinions would be appreciated.
I’m going to be moving to Sheffield in September for my first year. I’ll be 23 so I’ll be a mature student.
I cannot decide between a 1 bedroom flat/studio or going into halls (en-suite)
I went to university last year in a different city and stayed in halls, I thought I didn’t mind sharing a kitchen too much but in hindsight I found it stressful socially & I hated how grubby my flatmates were & having not a lot of space.
I feel conflicted in what to choose, as the flat would be £2688 every SF installment, leaving me with (after max maintenance) £826 for 3 months, but I will hopefully have savings & bursaries to top this up so it won’t be too bad.
The university offers accommodation for 21+ students which works out to about £500 cheaper every instalment, but I’m not sure this would rectify my worries both financially and living with people wise.
My main fear is not making friends/adjusting to a new city properly. I can be quite shy and introverted at the best of times unless I make friends online/grow to know people in person after a couple of weeks.
Any advice and opinions would be appreciated.
Hiya,
The University does have a range of options about accommodation, however if you find it overwhelming and want to move out of your accommodation , there are staff that can relocate you to suit your preferences. While it is not guaranteed, the staff will try their best to accommodate your needs.
Lots of people at University can find it daunting to make friends but there are plenty of society events him during the first few weeks to other people with the same interests. In University-owned accommodation, there are residence life team who do events in student villages as well like tote bag painting that can help students settle in and meet people as well.
Hope that helps and if you have anymore questions, just let me know
Jivanthika
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