Student Housing in the United
Kingdom
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Lesson
Summary: |
If you're thinking of becoming an international student in the UK, here's something to think about- accommodations. There are many options for students in terms of housing, and it can all become confusing if you're not sure of what fits you best. Luckily, we're here to help!
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On-Campus Housing
Residence Halls
When you get accepted into your college or university of choice, there will definitely be someone getting in contact with you regarding on-campus housing. Most schools in the UK have at least one residence hall which are arranged specifically for students to live in. This is a great option since they are usually right on campus, making it easy to walk to class and get everywhere you need to go, very quickly.
Places are often limited however,
so you're most likely to have a better chance of getting into
residence if you're an undergraduate. Some schools provide
residence for all of your years of study, while others provide an
international student housing guarantee which means they'll
actively help you seek housing. However, most provide the
on-campus option within your first year only, and then once
you're settled, you can go out and find a place
off-campus.
You will need to submit a residence application
to your school in order to be included in the residence housing
choice system. Be sure to look into the deadlines to make sure
you don't miss your spot!
Residence life provides a great atmosphere to meet students just like you. Mostly the people you will be living with will be around your age and may even have the same interests as well as academic programs. Most people who live in residence find that they get very close with their roommates and floormates and create lifelong friendships.
What is living there like?
Life in residence really depends on the school. But usually there are single and double room occupancies as well as suite style which is more like an apartment.- The single room accommodations give you the opportunity to have a little more privacy, and if you like it quieter, this option might be a better choice for you. However, they tend to be smaller or pricier.
- The double person occupancy rooms are usually more spacious and you will find that you have sufficient room for your belongings and personal things. Double room floors, because so much is shared, tend to get very close. You'll find that you meet more people having a double room than a single since there's double the people and you share a little bit more. They can be a little louder, but if you like the social scene but still need to study, there's always numerous study spaces and libraries available to you around campus. They also tend to be less expensive.
- suite-style apartments are not very typical, but offer a great compromise. You will have a single/double room in a small apartment setting with a shared area for a small number of students. It provides a great social atmosphere, but some privacy as well. They will also be great in preparing for life off-campus in later years. However, they do tend to be a bit expensive.
Costs: Living on campus is not as expensive as it sounds. One school offers shared rooms for about £350 a month, but prices tend to vary considerably. Schools that have more than one residence on-campus may have different price ranges for each building or room type, so it's important to do your research.
Food:
Food arrangements at on-campus housing vary by
school. Often you'll be able to purchase a meal-plan and eat
together with other students in a cafeteria. If you live in
suite-style apartments you may have access to a shared kitchen
and be able to cook for yourself, but if you live in a regular
room you'll likely have to rely on outside venues for
food.
Off-Campus Housing
Shared Student Homes
There are other options besides on-campus housing. One of these options is living in a shared student house, or what's called in the UK a "flat". For most campuses, the proximity around the school grounds contains many student houses. You'll find a number of these houses have just students living in them, sharing the houses.
How this works is that you'll live
in the surrounding area to the school, but not in the school
itself, and will be living with other students your age. What's
important is to see the place and make sure that it's a good spot
for you.
Are the roommates decent? Do they clean up the
house? It is a good idea to do some serious house hunting, which
can actually be done quite easily nowadays online. Before you
even coming to the UK, search the web and request photos of the
accommodations. You can chat with the roommates you may be having
before you arrive just to sort things out.
Living in an off-campus house gives you a
little more independence and will help prepare you for the life
ahead. It may be required in some schools that don't have a lot
of on-campus housing to offer. You'll be able to make your own
rules, but also be considerate of your roommates, do chores, etc.
It's just like real life!
Costs: Shared student houses can cost around £370 - £510 a month per room. Costs depend on location, cleanliness, and the facilities involved.
Food: Living in shared student housing provides more options for food. You are likely to be able to cook for yourself if you want, or you can eat out. You can also have arrangements with your roommates regarding food, for example have a different cook dinner for everyone each day of the week. It's all up to you.
Being a Lodger, or a Subletter
You may not want to live in a house with just students. If you are a bit more mature, you could look into being a lodger within someone's home. This could be a young professional, a graduate, a couple, a family or someone who's retired.
As you can see, this isn't your typical landlord, however the accommodations can be pretty advantageous.
1. Being a lodger can be slightly cheaper than
living in a student home
2. You're living with others who care about the
upkeep of the home so it's kept clean mostly
3. You will get a cultural immersion into the UK
experience, living with people who grew up here, you can learn
quite a lot
However, it also comes with some
disadvantages of not being able to bring lots of people over
because of the excessive noise, you may feel obligated to do
chores or contribute to the well-being of the home. If you find
you don't get along with your landlord at some point, it may be a
bit awkward to leave or stay.
Costs:
Living in lodging tends to be less expensive
than shared housing. Rooms start at around £350 a month, and
depend on room size, location, and what's included in
rent.
Food: In terms of food, if you live in somebody's house you may be able to eat with them. "Family meals" may or may not be included in your rent. You will also be able to eat out or may be able to cook at times, with permission, and possibly on condition that you make enough for everyone.
Host Families
This is sort of like a lodger- you would be staying with a family in your area of the UK. This can be a total cultural experience for you, to be included within a family setting. If you find you get homesick, this may be a good option for you because it's like you're part of a family, just in another place.
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The whole idea behind host families is that they often have children and they offer accommodation including meals and the opportunity to be part of their family. In London especially, host families are very welcoming and this option can do wonders for your English language abilities.
You would need to get involved with a special agent who could help you with the process of setting you up with a suitable family. Plus, the stays aren't usually very long, so if you'd like you can try it out and see how it does type thing.
Costs: Living with a family provides a great experience, but it does tend to be slightly pricey. You can expect to pay between £400 - £700 a month for a nice family in a big city.
Food: Rent includes food generally, together with cleaning and possibly other services. You'll eat together with the family, but you will be able to eat out if you choose to do so.
Studio Flats and Apartments
These are more pricey options than living in student housing. You'll find you're living with more young professionals and the cost of living is a little bit more expensive. However, if you are mature and would like to get a place of your own, this is a great option for you.
Studio flats are usually very open and airy and provide a great deal of sunlight through large windows. Sometimes these places are so big that you can share them with a significant other. Apartments are usually situated in the city core or outside, however if you are afraid of heights, this may not be your best option.
There are many opportunities and different styles of accommodations that you'll find when you move to the UK. Which option you pick will be all up to your personal preferences, budget and the amount of time you wish to live here.
Costs: Rent can easily range at £410 - £650 or more for an apartment or flat per month, depending on many variables like location and size.
Food:
You will have to arrange your own food, either
by cooking for yourself or eating out. Your eating habits will be
totally up to you.
More Things to Think About
Location
When it comes to student housing,
the three most important things are: location, location,
location. Choosing a good location is important both to costs and
to your own lifestyle in many ways. In terms of a good location,
you'll have to think about proximity to school, to a shopping
centre, a library, and other facilities you may want to be nearby
(entertainment districts? A shopping mall? A religious
centre?).
The closer you are to the school and other
central places, the more expensive housing will be. However, if
you're living very far away, transportation costs may add up to
about the same overall, so you'll have to do your research. Do
you want to live at walking distance? Do you enjoy napping on the
bus rides on the way to your morning class? Think about location
carefully!
Looking for Housing
If you're not sure about where to start searching for houses, the first place to look is your university's website. Many universities provide useful information about on-campus housing on their website, and may contain links to off-campus housing options as well.
You should also look at other websites. Type in "student accommodations UK" in Google and find great resources like Accommodations for Students or Homes for Students that allow you to conduct a quick online search for homes and other alternatives.
If you know of any friends or relatives in the
UK, ask for their help. As well, if you're in the UK and looking
for housing for your upper year studies, don't be afraid to
browse around the area looking for "For Rent" signs that contain
contact information, these are quite useful and easy to
spot.
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Happy House Hunting!
| Resource: Student Housing |
Photo 1: "Dalton Ellis Hall" taken by pit-yaker
Photo 2: "Arkwright House. 1728. Preston, Lancashire. UK." taken by JohnnyEnglish
Photo 3: "My Host Parents" Photo by my cousin Robyn Kosugi,
living with a host family in Belgium.
