When it comes to your university accommodation, you have a few different options at hand. The biggest decision you’ll make regarding this is whether you’ll move away from home for study or stay. We’ve summarised the usual options for you for below.
Many people believe that university means moving far away from home. This isn’t the case, especially if the thought of moving away is daunting or if you simply wouldn’t want to live far from family. For those local to the Bristol area, considering the universities here could allow you to study whilst at home, and since Bristol is a great city with something seemingly happening all the time, with balloon fiestas, live music and food festivals, club nights, galleries and more, it’s one of the perfect places to study.
There’s also a fair few pros if you’re able to stay with your parent(s) or carers, and if possible, should always be considered. When it comes to money, you’ll be saving a lot of it in rent and bills, usually even if you’re still contributing at home. Plus, you’ll still get a maintenance loan if you choose this route, but it will be a slightly lower amount. If you change your mind about living at home, then you still have the option to move out into a shared house in your second year.
Student halls are often always situated on campus, but you can sometimes find off campus accommodation at a slightly higher price. Student halls are often operated by either the private sector or by the university, with the rent generally including all of your bills. For them most part, student halls are only available to first year students, however contracts can be extended for international students or students with disabilities.
You’ll be sharing spaces such as the kitchen and living in halls, and sometimes the bathroom, with some halls offering ensuites in your lockable rooms. Everything in the flat will be furnished, so all you’ll need to bring with you are pots, pans, plates and the like. Additionally, student halls often have a 24-hour warden available for support if the need arises.
More information about student halls and other accommodation are available to you at university open days, so it’s well worth going to find out if it’s the right option for you!
Shared houses, either with current friends or through meeting new people, are the most independent option in terms of accommodation, and is not usually recommended for your first year. With shared housing you’ll often be managing all of your bills separately on top of your rent, in houses operated by private landlords. You won’t be living on campus, so it’s worth making sure you can get there with little trouble. This option is the most popular amongst students after their first year.
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