Home vs student accom
Is it weird to want to move out and live in student accommodation even if I’m at a local uni?
I want to experience that ‘student life’ and try and be more social as well as have some independence and it would also be difficult commuting everyday
I want to experience that ‘student life’ and try and be more social as well as have some independence and it would also be difficult commuting everyday
Reply 1
Original post
by Jazz_stellIs it weird to want to move out and live in student accommodation even if I’m at a local uni?
I want to experience that ‘student life’ and try and be more social as well as have some independence and it would also be difficult commuting everyday
I want to experience that ‘student life’ and try and be more social as well as have some independence and it would also be difficult commuting everyday
I don't think its weird, the uni I'm going to is in the same city that I live in and I'll be living in halls for 1st year. Many would say it's a good idea to move out for uni, unless money is an issue.
Reply 2
Original post
by Jazz_stellIs it weird to want to move out and live in student accommodation even if I’m at a local uni?
I want to experience that ‘student life’ and try and be more social as well as have some independence and it would also be difficult commuting everyday
I want to experience that ‘student life’ and try and be more social as well as have some independence and it would also be difficult commuting everyday
Hey @Jazz_stell,
It's not weird at all! Lots of first-year students move into halls of residence/student accommodation even if they do attend a local university. As pointed out above, the main disadvantage is the increased cost in comparison to living at home - however, if this isn't a huge issue, moving out can be a great way to establish your independence and build important life skills at the same time. 🙂
Hope this helps and best of luck!
Eve (Kingston Rep).
Reply 3
Original post
by Jazz_stellIs it weird to want to move out and live in student accommodation even if I’m at a local uni?
I want to experience that ‘student life’ and try and be more social as well as have some independence and it would also be difficult commuting everyday
I want to experience that ‘student life’ and try and be more social as well as have some independence and it would also be difficult commuting everyday
Hi
I think this is a really great question.
I would say go for it, living in Student Halls can be some of the best times. I think that it can also help to develop independence which is a great skills to devlop for the future. As well as this, living in halls provides lots of opportunity for social opportunites which can be some really great fun!
I would try to make a list of the pros and cons of this decision considering your personal circumstances, this will help you to make an informed decision.
I hope this helps,
Matt
2nd year Physiotherapy Student
Wrexham Uni Reps
Reply 4
Original post
by Jazz_stellIs it weird to want to move out and live in student accommodation even if I’m at a local uni?
I want to experience that ‘student life’ and try and be more social as well as have some independence and it would also be difficult commuting everyday
I want to experience that ‘student life’ and try and be more social as well as have some independence and it would also be difficult commuting everyday
Hey,
It's not weird at all!
Wanting that full 'student life' experience, more independence, and an easier social life are all fantastic and completely valid reasons to move out.
It's about choosing the experience that's right for you.
Hope this helps! 😊
Rachel - Undergraduate Multimedia Journalism
Reply 5
Hi, its not weird at all. A lot of people choose to live in student accommodation even when their uni is close to home, and for exactly the reasons you said: to experience more independence, meet new people, and fully immerse themselves in student life. Also, daily commuting (even if it’s “doable”) can be draining, especially when you’ve got early lectures, late events, or group work on campus. Having your own space near uni can make things a lot easier and more enjoyable, and being in that environment is something I particularly enjoyed during my time in uni accomodations.
Tianchen
Tianchen
Reply 6
Original post
by Jazz_stellIs it weird to want to move out and live in student accommodation even if I’m at a local uni?
I want to experience that ‘student life’ and try and be more social as well as have some independence and it would also be difficult commuting everyday
I want to experience that ‘student life’ and try and be more social as well as have some independence and it would also be difficult commuting everyday
Hi there,
This is not weird at all!
If finances aren't an issue, living in student accommodation can come with so many benefits. Moving out is a fantastic way to become more independent, put yourself out there, make plenty of friends, and develop key skills.
Plus, you know the area already! This can be a great way to make friends, which is a common worry for new students. Inviting others to your favourite local places could be a great way to break the ice and get to know them better.
I hope this helps,
Isabella
Geography (With a Year Abroad)
Reply 7
Original post
by Jazz_stellIs it weird to want to move out and live in student accommodation even if I’m at a local uni?
I want to experience that ‘student life’ and try and be more social as well as have some independence and it would also be difficult commuting everyday
I want to experience that ‘student life’ and try and be more social as well as have some independence and it would also be difficult commuting everyday
Hi,
I don't think this is weird at all, and I know a few people who have done this!
I think that a lot of people want to get the 'student experience' and a part of this (for some people) is living in halls. It's fun living away from home, being independent and living with other students. There isn't many other times that you will get to live with a group of people who are mostly your age so I think it is a good idea to make the most of it.
The things that I liked the most about living in halls were making new friends, meeting new people and just living independently.
I think that the best place to start would be to have a look at accommodation near you and see if there are any that you would want to live in. You can have a look around and see if there are any that you like and this might help you to make up your mind. If you see somewhere that you love, it will make your mind up to live there, and if you don't see any you like it will also make your mind up!
However, if you are unsure, remember that you still have options to live away from home in other years. If you meet people that you want to live with, you could always try and find a house to share in second or third year so you could get the best of both worlds. So don't worry as there are always options either way.
I hope some of this helps,
Lucy -SHU student ambassador 🙂
Reply 8
Original post
by Jazz_stellIs it weird to want to move out and live in student accommodation even if I’m at a local uni?
I want to experience that ‘student life’ and try and be more social as well as have some independence and it would also be difficult commuting everyday
I want to experience that ‘student life’ and try and be more social as well as have some independence and it would also be difficult commuting everyday
Definitely do first year in halls. I am a parent and I also used to work at a University. You will be there from September to June. It will fly by. If you don't do this, you cannot turn the clock back. I think doing Freshers week and then going home would be a real anti-climax. Go and experience uni full on and then you can do the rest of the years at home because you need to really put your head down and study then. Living around others the same age as you will be a fantastic learning curve. Loads of first year students get homesick - you are in a great position to not get that. And ... the cost of doing laundry is massive so you can always sneak back and put the washer on at home. Don't tell your parents another parent said that. Lol.
Reply 9
Hi @Jazz_stell
It’s definitely not weird to want to move into student accommodation, even if you're going to a local uni. For my own bachelor’s degree, I lived about 30 minutes away by train, and I still chose to move out. It’s actually really common for first-year students to live in halls, even those who are local, because it gives you the full student experience: making new friends, learning to live independently, budgeting, experimenting with cooking, and so on.
If it’s within your budget, I’d absolutely recommend it. Living in student accommodation can make it much easier to attend events, hang out with friends, and get to your lectures without the stress of a daily commute. Then in second year, you’ll have a better idea of whether you want to stay in student housing or move back home and commute.
If you do choose to commute, it’s worth checking whether your uni offers any short-term or overnight accommodation for commuting students—especially around exam season or busy weeks. Some unis have options for staying a few nights on campus when needed.
Hope that helps!
Megan (LJMU Rep)
It’s definitely not weird to want to move into student accommodation, even if you're going to a local uni. For my own bachelor’s degree, I lived about 30 minutes away by train, and I still chose to move out. It’s actually really common for first-year students to live in halls, even those who are local, because it gives you the full student experience: making new friends, learning to live independently, budgeting, experimenting with cooking, and so on.
If it’s within your budget, I’d absolutely recommend it. Living in student accommodation can make it much easier to attend events, hang out with friends, and get to your lectures without the stress of a daily commute. Then in second year, you’ll have a better idea of whether you want to stay in student housing or move back home and commute.
If you do choose to commute, it’s worth checking whether your uni offers any short-term or overnight accommodation for commuting students—especially around exam season or busy weeks. Some unis have options for staying a few nights on campus when needed.
Hope that helps!
Megan (LJMU Rep)
Reply 10
Original post
by Jazz_stellIs it weird to want to move out and live in student accommodation even if I’m at a local uni?
I want to experience that ‘student life’ and try and be more social as well as have some independence and it would also be difficult commuting everyday
I want to experience that ‘student life’ and try and be more social as well as have some independence and it would also be difficult commuting everyday
Hi Jazz,
I think that this is something totally normal for a uni student to want to experience, although I would say that you can still experience university life whilst living at home through social events that are put on throughout the academic year.
I have found that a lot of people now in a similar position to you will stay in uni halls for their first year and then move out and back home for their second and third years once they have made their friends and settled into uni life.
I hope this helps,
Matt
Wrexham Uni Reps
Reply 11
Original post
by Jazz_stellIs it weird to want to move out and live in student accommodation even if I’m at a local uni?
I want to experience that ‘student life’ and try and be more social as well as have some independence and it would also be difficult commuting everyday
I want to experience that ‘student life’ and try and be more social as well as have some independence and it would also be difficult commuting everyday
Hey @Jazz_stell
It's not weird at all, and I know a lot of students who moved out to live in student accommodation even if they attended a local uni. I lived in halls for both my first and second year, and it was definitely the highlight of my student life. It is a great way to meet new people, develop essential skills and also have independence. Having said that, you can also always meet new people and make friends even if you aren't living in halls, through your course, socities, events for example. There are also many advantages of living at home, such as, reduced costs and chores, being close to family, and more conveinience. I would recommend to take all your circumstances into consideration when making your decision and try to find the balance that works the best for you.
I hope this helps!
All the best,
Akshita
(University of Southampton Student Rep)
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