What’s it really like to live in BCU’s student accommodation?

My first step to finding your accommodation would be to look at which options are closest to your campus. I like to be close by to campus, so I have an easy walk into uni. Whether you’re studying at the City South or City Centre campus, there’s a selection of options to choose from. You can browse our range of accommodation here: https://bit.ly/3PtAHpJ

In my first year, I chose to live at Bentley House, which is a great accommodation for students studying at the City Centre campus. It’s about a 15/20-minute walk to the City Centre campus, and around 20/25 minutes from the city centre. There’s a few shops and food options close by on the Aston university campus, and the nearest supermarkets are around a 30-minute walk away, or you can take the bus right outside which is frequent.

There are other halls surrounding Bentley too, so the whole area is student populated – which I loved as I felt comfortable commuting in a student area.

Some things I considered when choosing between accommodations included size of the room, shared or en-suite bathroom, kitchen space, desk space, furniture and storage options, amenities nearby and practical facilities like a laundry room.

You may find that the halls you look at start to have similar things to offer and it can be hard to decide which is better. You can always check out what other students think about them through online reviews, or even on platforms like TSR, for more insight.

Another tip from my personal experience is to choose a flat with the right number of flat mates that suits your style. I like a quieter scene for my accommodation, so I chose a flat with five people total as it meant fewer people in the flat. Most accommodations are around 5-8 people, but some have more or less rooms too, so be sure to choose somewhere with your preferred number of flat mates.

When I was looking at where to live for my second year, I decided that student halls worked really well for me in first year, so I wanted to stay in halls again. Although I changed halls from Bentley this time around, I still had the same experience with a similar style accommodation, and this style of living worked well for me. I was also able to book my flat with friends I had made in first year, so I knew who I would be living with before I arrived.

Some students prefer to move to local student areas, such as Selly Oak. Students usually club together with friends to form a house share, where they can share the cost of rent and bills, which helps to reduce their spending. Living in a house can also be a more familiar atmosphere than living in halls, so lots of students like this option for a more homely style of living with friends. You can also look at moving into shared housing with new people too, as there are always people looking for more housemates, so this can be a great option if you’re looking at meeting new people throughout your degree.

I have loved student accommodation so much that I’m living in halls again this year as a final year student. This year I am in a studio, which is a great option for students who want to live alone, but still amongst other students nearby. I have everything I need in the same room, including a kitchen and bathroom, and I’ve found this has been a great addition to my final year as a stepping stone before I leave to find my own place once I graduate. So, this could always be an option for you as you go through your time at uni.

Finding the right place to live can feel like a mammoth task, but with some research you can narrow down your options to find somewhere that’s right for you.

You can also check out our virtual tour to see more of each campus and see the range of accommodations available: [url=" https://bit.ly/3NGd63P

Feel free to ask any questions about student accommodation and life in halls to prepare you for your new home!