Heading in to your first year of University is something that is extraordinarily exciting and it's a very good experience. Deciding where to live and who to live with can be quite troublesome if you don't know anyone who's going to the University at the exact same time or who is there already. So doing your research and finding the best Halls of Residence is something which is very important.
First off you want to set out a budget for how much you are willing to spend a week. The University Halls of Residence can vary a lot in price depending on location, size and how new they are. If you're heading to University in London you will pay a lot more than if you're heading towards somewhere like Newcastle. So set your budget and try and get the finest student accommodation for the amount you wish to spend.
To do this you need to have a look at the value for money that you are going to get. Make sure that you find a place that has all of the household bills included in the rental costs. Even though the majority of the Halls offer this, there are exceptions so read through the small print of every single place you look at. Signing a contract where you have to pay extra for net access, water, electricity and gas every month can blow a budget quite quickly.
The next thing you need to think about is the location. This is usually an individual preference but most undergraduates wish to live in prime student accommodation locations as near to their University as practical. If you're pleased to sacrifice a little more a week then should be one of your first options. Ensure you look the place up online, look for photographs and get a map of the area with the building pointed out by an easy net search. This may also be good for finding out how safe the area is to walk through at night. Although most Halls of Residence have good security, the neighbouring areas might not be as friendly.
Then there is the issue of room size and bathrooms. Many students pay as much as 30 Pounds additional a week just so that they can have a personal toilet. Look at it it this way, for the last 18-20 years you will most likely have been sharing your bathroom with other people. If you're adamant that you will need your own bathroom, you need to be aware about the large price difference.
Last although not least, be open minded when you go to University for the first time and make sure to be respectful and polite to your new flatmates to build a solid friendship that could last for the rest of your lives.
First off you want to set out a budget for how much you are willing to spend a week. The University Halls of Residence can vary a lot in price depending on location, size and how new they are. If you're heading to University in London you will pay a lot more than if you're heading towards somewhere like Newcastle. So set your budget and try and get the finest student accommodation for the amount you wish to spend.
To do this you need to have a look at the value for money that you are going to get. Make sure that you find a place that has all of the household bills included in the rental costs. Even though the majority of the Halls offer this, there are exceptions so read through the small print of every single place you look at. Signing a contract where you have to pay extra for net access, water, electricity and gas every month can blow a budget quite quickly.
The next thing you need to think about is the location. This is usually an individual preference but most undergraduates wish to live in prime student accommodation locations as near to their University as practical. If you're pleased to sacrifice a little more a week then should be one of your first options. Ensure you look the place up online, look for photographs and get a map of the area with the building pointed out by an easy net search. This may also be good for finding out how safe the area is to walk through at night. Although most Halls of Residence have good security, the neighbouring areas might not be as friendly.
Then there is the issue of room size and bathrooms. Many students pay as much as 30 Pounds additional a week just so that they can have a personal toilet. Look at it it this way, for the last 18-20 years you will most likely have been sharing your bathroom with other people. If you're adamant that you will need your own bathroom, you need to be aware about the large price difference.
Last although not least, be open minded when you go to University for the first time and make sure to be respectful and polite to your new flatmates to build a solid friendship that could last for the rest of your lives.
About the Author:
Tommy John is a travel author with an interest in University towns and cities and student accommodation having spent much of his life living in a variety of student halls. Prime Student Living is a UK provider of high quality student accommodation in a number of Varsity locations including Manchester, Glasgow and Dundee.