| Focus: Living | |
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Accommodation While studying at a UK institution do you want to live in a hall of residence, a selfcatering house or with a family? Andrew Jarvis helps you decide |
| Once you have been accepted at a UK institution, your next
step is to find suitable accommodation. You should think
carefully about where you will be studying and living
before you arrive in the UK. The good news is that first-rate
student accommodation is readily available throughout the
UK and there are a range of options for international
students to choose from, including halls of residence,
flatshares and ‘homestay’ accommodation (living with a
local family). International students at higher education institutes are usually guaranteed accommodation for their first year. In most cases the university, college or school will send you information about the various types of accommodation they own and provide as soon as you have been accepted onto a course. It is always worth completing and returning this application form quickly, especially if you intend to stay in halls of residence. This will give you the best chance of getting your first choice of accommodation, which may be significant if the institution has several campuses and/or the accommodation is scattered across a number of locations. Even if accommodation is not available from your institution, there will be an accommodation advisory office which can help you find private accommodation should you require it. What are halls of residence? Halls of residence (halls) are the most popular type of accommodation provided by universities and colleges for international students. There are two main types of halls: catered and self-catered. If you choose catered halls you will typically be provided with breakfast and an evening meal. If you choose selfcatered halls, you will need to buy and prepare your own food, which can often work out cheaper than catered halls. In both cases you will have access to communal kitchen and bathroom facilities. Living in halls is perhaps the best way to meet new people, especially as many halls have excellent social facilities including a common room, bar, café, television room, and sports and music equipment. You will find that halls are also safe, and in many cases they are supervised day and night. Many students enjoy the lively communal atmosphere of halls, but if you like a bit more privacy and quiet it might be worth checking with the accommodation office at your institution for the availability of any single rooms or ‘apartments’ in halls which have en-suite bathroom facilities. Most halls – at city/town and campus institutions – are closed outside term time, so you may need to make alternative arrangements during holiday periods. What about student houses and flats? Students often move from halls in the first year to a house or flat for their second year. There are obvious benefits to living in accommodation provided by your institution when you first arrive in the UK. çHowever, after your first year you might decide to share a flat or house with friends instead. Living in a flat or house with other students can be a really good experience, especially if you enjoy independent living and home comforts. Most houses and flats will be furnished, but you will need your own bed linen and towels. The real benefit for many students is that you can choose who you live with, and in a less hectic environment than halls. Unlike halls of residence, student houses and flats are privately owned and you will usually be expected to pay rent throughout the year. This type of accommodation often works out cheaper than halls since you and your friends will probably share the rent, gas, electricity, phone and even food bills. You may also share cooking and cleaning duties. In order to find a flat or house you should start by consulting the accommodation office or Studentsf Union at your institution. They will have extensive lists of decent and affordable houses and flats in the area and will be able to offer useful guidance on landlords, tenancy agreements and related issues. What is homestay? This type of accommodation is well worth considering as an alternative to the above options. It is especially popular with students at English language schools, partly because it gives them the perfect opportunity to improve their language skills. The only disadvantage is that students living in homestay accommodation will often live further away from campus than those in other types of accommodation. ‘Homestay’ literally means staying in the home of a host family, who will provide you with home-cooked meals, a friendly atmosphere and your own bedroom. Arrangements are flexible and while this option is generally a little more expensive, it offers an excellent introduction to UK culture and home life. Homestays can be arranged privately, in which case you should consult your accommodation office for advice, or directly through your institution. Since homestays are the most flexible type of accommodation, you can arrange to stay for a short period when you first arrive in the UK or for a year or more. What other accommodation is available? There are many other types of accommodation but some of these, such as hotels, are not practical for students. Some international students stay in lodgings. This means that, like homestay arrangements, you will be renting a room in a private house and will be sharing bathroom and kitchen facilities. The main difference is that you will have very little contact with the landlord or landlady. You will find lodgings advertised in local newspapers, shops, supermarkets, accommodation offices and religious and charitable organisations. Another option is a ‘bedsit’ – a single room in which you live and sleep. Short for ‘bedroom/sitting room’, this is one of the cheapest options available and will give you a lot of personal freedom. The downside is that you may find this type of accommodation cramped and difficult to study in. Cooking and bathroom facilities may or may not be communal, depending on the rent and the size of your room. Bedsits vary in size a great deal, so make sure you see the accommodation before signing a contract or tenancy agreement. How expensive is student accommodation? A room in self-catering halls of residence or a student apartment will cost between £180 to £360 per month, depending on where you choose to study in the UK. When choosing your course, institution and accommodation, it is important to be aware of regional differences in costs. For example, London and the south of England tend to be more expensive than the rest of the country. It is also worth remembering that campus-based institutions tend to be cheaper than those based in city centres. The cost of college and university accommodation in the UK is excellent value for money, but inevitably varies depending on the standard of your accommodation and its proximity to your institution, the region in which you study, the circumstances in which you live and a number of other factors. Ultimately, once you have found the type of accommodation and location that suits you best, you will be able to fully enjoy your study and experience all that the UK has to offer. |
