Accommodation beyond first year, exeter

Anonymous #1

I've seen accommodation is only guaranteed for 1st years, what happens after, and how easy/expensive is it?

Reply 1

Muttley79

Original post

by Anonymous

I've seen accommodation is only guaranteed for 1st years, what happens after, and how easy/expensive is it?

Most unis are the same - some don't even guarantee accommodation for first years.

Like most unis people look for house shares with friends - maybe ask the students on the website?

https://www.exeter.ac.uk/study/ask-a-student/

Reply 2

artful_lounger

Universities Forum Helper

Original post

by Anonymous

I've seen accommodation is only guaranteed for 1st years, what happens after, and how easy/expensive is it?

At most unis you don't live in uni owned halls after first year.

Most people find a flatshare with friends on the private rental market for second/third/etc years. There are also private halls you can rent from. It is also possible to live in uni owned halls after first year but it's not guaranteed (I know someone who lived in uni halls for three years at Exeter).

In Exeter specifically the rental market isn't great although I gather there's been a whole bunch of private halls opens up since I left. We lived near the Heavitree area which was OK price wise, kind of a trek up to the uni so mostly we got the bus up which was reasonably consistent. Knew some people who lived over in the St Davids area across the bridge also.

Reply 3

Anonymous #1

Thank you.
House shares on private renting market. I'm worried that's not going to be affordable or if I don't make friends to share with.

Reply 4

lemonadetea

I graduated from Exeter in July and I found private renting within the city to be roughly the same price wise as living on campus (obviously varies a bit depending on area etc), but I rlly wouldn’t worry too much!

Reply 5

artful_lounger

Universities Forum Helper

Original post

by Anonymous

Thank you.
House shares on private renting market. I'm worried that's not going to be affordable or if I don't make friends to share with.

Probably cheaper than private halls. Honestly I don't think it was really much more expensive than halls for me at the time, although the housing market might well be more expensive now in the city.

As for making friends, you usually will get to know people on your course or in your first year halls and find a place to live that way. If not there's also often people who for one reason or another end up with a room free in an existing student house (e.g. mix of students from different years/courses/people going on years abroad etc). There's options usually no matter what.

If nothing else then there's usually private halls, although it's the most expensive option typically it can be convenient. I know someone who lived in private halls one year as he ended up having the group he was going to house share with fall through.

Reply 6

Anonymous #1

Original post

by lemonadetea

Thank you, that's helped.

Reply 7

1984S

Original post

by artful_lounger

Probably cheaper than private halls. Honestly I don't think it was really much more expensive than halls for me at the time, although the housing market might well be more expensive now in the city.
As for making friends, you usually will get to know people on your course or in your first year halls and find a place to live that way. If not there's also often people who for one reason or another end up with a room free in an existing student house (e.g. mix of students from different years/courses/people going on years abroad etc). There's options usually no matter what.
If nothing else then there's usually private halls, although it's the most expensive option typically it can be convenient. I know someone who lived in private halls one year as he ended up having the group he was going to house share with fall through.

Thank you for taking the time.
I guess I will have to wait and see what happens. It's daunting, but exciting too.

Reply 8

artful_lounger

Universities Forum Helper

Original post

by 1984S

Thank you for taking the time.
I guess I will have to wait and see what happens. It's daunting, but exciting too.

All part of going to uni - learning about such things :smile:

Reply 9

ExeterStudentRep

Official Rep

Original post

by Anonymous

I've seen accommodation is only guaranteed for 1st years, what happens after, and how easy/expensive is it?

Hi Anonymous,

I'm a current student at Exeter and have been through the accommodation process 4 times so hopefully can help.
Typically, there are 2 choices after 1st year which is to live in a student house with friends/other students or live in private halls (just like 1st year halls but privately run so you can live in them after 1st year and can have a lease for a room that is just for you).

Typically, people look for accommodation for the next year of study from as early as October until Jan/Feb time but you can find accommodation later (I didn't find my 4th year accom till may of 3rd year).
My top tips would be to look around at local estate agents as well as big companies and to choose friends you trust when deciding to live together. There is lots of advice on the Uni accommodation website for accommodation after 1st year as well that can help. You will find lots of different options though and there is no need to rush into a house/accommodation straight away if you're not sure.

Hope that helps,

Amelie (University of Exeter Student Ambassador)