University accommodation

Jay_Hughes

How to choose the best university accommodation for you as an individual, what should you look for?

Reply 1

normaw

Original post

by Jay_Hughes

How to choose the best university accommodation for you as an individual, what should you look for?

Catered or self-catered, price per week, contract term (so you can work out an annual cost), people per flat, and distance to lectures, city centre, etc.

Reply 2

ExeterStudentRep

Official Rep

Original post

by Jay_Hughes

How to choose the best university accommodation for you as an individual, what should you look for?

Hi there!

I’m a second year student at the University of Exeter and would love to share some advice to help you find the right accommodation for your needs. I was honestly terrified to move away from home in first year but ended up really enjoying the independence and was so sad to move out for the summer!

Depending on the university, the aspects you’ll have to consider will include en-suite or shared bathroom, catered or self-catered, price point, location, and amount of flat/housemates. Some unis and accommodations also have the options for quiet flats or flats of a specific gender. This may seem like an overwhelming amount of choices but taking it step by step, considering each at a time, can help. Most universities will have a list or website with all available accommodations, and you can often filter by each aspect listed above to find one that matches your preferences most closely - I found it most helpful to discuss my budget first and go from there. I would really recommend making a list or spreadsheet containing all the accommodation options with the relevant details for each to quickly and easily reference. This means when you start considering questions (such as would you prefer the ease of catered food or the freedom of cooking for yourself, would you prefer to be close to campus or closer to town), you can easily find and cross off any options that don’t fit. Of course there may not be an option that fits all of your preferences perfectly in which case a bit more thought is needed to consider your priorities. Consulting friends and family can also really help as a fresh perspective may be useful to notice or suggest things you hadn’t considered.

Another great option after narrowing your choices down is to make sure you’re looking at any provided images or virtual tours for each accommodation to see which is more your vibe and where you can see yourself living. For example, at Exeter, we have virtual tours of all accommodation options so you can view the bedrooms, bathrooms and shared areas as if you were standing in them which I found very helpful. Open days to see them in person is even better if you’re able to attend, and the student ambassadors helping you at the open days will be more than happy to share their personal experiences with whichever accommodations they or their friends lived in. Researching the accommodation support for your uni may also be reassuring - while most people I know at Exeter had pretty good experiences with first year accommodation, those who did struggle with flatmate disagreements and similar issues were able to get it sorted easily by contacting the support team. I know a couple of people who were offered the option to move accommodations at various points during the year and got more lucky the second time around so there are always options if it’s just not working for you.

Decorating your room to make it cosy and welcoming can make even the smallest room become one you’re excited to come back to and relax in at the end of a busy day. My favourite part of moving in was covering my cork board in photos from home, and ending up with twice as many photos by the end of the year from all my uni friends and experiences! Houseplants or decorative fake plants, posters (check the regulations on blu-tack or tape on the walls first!), comfy pillows and blankets, string lights and fake candles were my other choices to really personalise the vibe. Making an effort to befriend your flatmates will also make it much easier to settle in - setting up things like bin rotas, and ensuring fridge and cupboard spaces are shared fairly are important to make sure your shared areas stay clean, organised, and easy to live in.

The main thing to remember is that while accommodation is a big part of university life, everyone is in the same boat of moving to a new place to live independently. Try not to get too attached to your first choice of accommodation - even if you don’t get exactly what you wanted, you may be surprised by how quickly you settle in and start considering it home - I certainly was! I visited friends in lots of different accommodations that I hadn’t applied for and honestly they were all places I think I could’ve adjusted to and thrived in.

Apologies for the very long answer but I do hope this was helpful, let me know if you have any more questions!

Bella
University of Exeter Student Ambassador

(edited 1 month ago)

Reply 3

Royal Holloway, University of London

Official Rep

Original post

by Jay_Hughes

How to choose the best university accommodation for you as an individual, what should you look for?

Hi @Jay_Hughes,

Thanks for your post! That’s a great question, choosing the right university accommodation can really shape your student experience. It’s all about finding what suits your lifestyle, budget and preferences.

We’d recommend thinking about what matters most to you:

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Location: Do you want to be close to campus, the library, or social spots?

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Budget: Set a realistic budget and check what’s included in this (bills, Wi-Fi, etc.)

•

Room type: Decide if you’d prefer an ensuite, shared bathroom or studio

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Social life: Worth considering what environment helps you feel comfortable

•

Facilities: Look for things like laundry facilities, study spaces, or common areas

Ultimately, the best accommodation is one that feels like home!

We hope this helps. Let us know if you have any other questions.

Best wishes,
Royal Holloway, University of London Official Rep