Student halls and houses

CONTENTS

1. University halls and university houses
2. Pros and cons of student halls
3. Halls vs student house
4. How to choose student accommodation
5. Choosing your housemates

University halls and university houses

Where should you live at university?

First year university accommodation is usually offered by universities. While most first years live in student halls, some prefer shared student houses owned or managed by the university. Generally, older universities tend to have more housing stock available.

Many unis promise first-year university accommodation if you accept their offer of a place and apply for accommodation by the deadline. Our university profiles often include details of accommodation guarantees, as well as rent costs. If you get your university place through Clearing, read our guide on applying for accommodation after Clearing.

What is a student hall?

University halls of residence are blocks of flats with a shared kitchen and possibly a lounge area. Bedrooms are usually en suite, but some flats might have a shared bathroom and toilet. Uni halls may be self-catered or catered.

University-owned houses may also be available. These self-catered properties offer a more independent lifestyle, but you may find you have to pay bills separately to the rent. University houses may be prioritised for second or third years, or for postgraduates.

You can also find private student halls. These are not run by the uni but by private providers. If university accommodation isn’t available, they offer an alternative to having to find a privately rented student house. The residences are like uni halls, although they’re often more expensive.

Some unis partner with private providers, having ‘recommended providers’. But unless this is the case, we don’t recommend first-years choose private halls if uni halls are available – unless other first years are likely to be there too and there's specific support on hand.

What’s it like living in student halls?

In halls, the rooms are compact and functional, but you can make them feel homely by adding small touches. You may have a single or three-quarter size bed, a desk, and an en suite shower room. Add photos or postcards, rugs or cushions, plants, and a lamp or fairy lights so that you feel more at home.

University halls of residence are an ideal place to meet other students and be part of campus life and the uni social scene. You’ll be living with flatmates at uni who are all new students, all sharing the experience of being in a new place away from home.

Pros and cons of student halls

Pros

• University accommodation can be an exciting place to live – meeting new people and finding your independence.
• University accommodation often has extra support services, which is great if you feel a bit homesick in those first few weeks and months away from home. Private student halls may have social events but might not offer the same in-person support.
• Uni halls are safe and comfortable, providing peace of mind for students (and their parents!). Privately run halls may also offer good security but are often off-campus, so you won’t benefit from campus security services.
• University-run halls can be good value; rent is likely to include all bills and may include contents insurance. They are often near the campus, keeping your travel costs down. Private halls are likely to cost more overall, but your rent may include other perks such as access to a gym.

Cons

• Student residences are often loud and distracting well into the beginning of the academic year. If you’re worried it might be a bit much, some unis also have quiet, single-sex or alcohol-free accommodation to suit your preferences.
• Some university accommodation can be pricey. You might consider an en suite room essential, but it can be more expensive. Flats with shared bathrooms can work well, particularly if single-sex flats are available.
• You might not get on well with your university flatmates if you have different outlooks or social lives. But most students move out after their first year, which gives you the chance to choose other students as flatmates to live with.

Halls vs student house

After their first year, many students choose to live in a shared house or flat. This may be because it gives them greater independence or because halls of residence are only for new students. At collegiate unis, such as Oxford or Cambridge, it's quite common to live in your college for a further year or two.

Most university towns and cities have a wide range of student housing in the private sector. This includes private halls and student houses available through agents or individual landlords.

If you are just starting university but missed out on uni halls accommodation, your options will be private halls vs a shared student house. Sometimes current uni students can remain in halls after their first year if there is availability; if so, these pointers also apply to you too!

How to choose student accommodation

Make sure to take full advantage of open days to see the housing situation for yourself. If there’s a chance to view the accommodation, take someone with you and don't rush to sign the dotted line for the first place you see. Remember to consider transport to and from the uni at a busy time, and also the costs.

Useful things to know:

• Opting for university accommodation or private sector halls has the advantage that it can be done at a distance, online. But privately rented housing will often need someone to be on the spot to secure it.
• The university can't sign a tenancy agreement on your behalf.
• The university accommodation or housing office will have information describing the facilities in detail. Many have websites with valuable information on student housing from both the university and the private sector.

All university-owned accommodation and many private halls are part of accreditation schemes. These schemes address key issues like how the accommodation is managed, health and safety, and security. You can find information about these schemes and check if your accommodation provider is a member on the UUK or ANUK/Unipol websites.

Choosing your housemates

You can't choose your family, but you can choose your housemates – and you never know someone until you've lived with them.

When applying for halls, it's common to be asked about your lifestyle. Accommodation providers may try to group similar people together, although this isn’t a guarantee.

You should approach living in student halls with an open mind. Be prepared for a lively environment where you may have to compromise some personal preferences. Most students chose to move into accommodation with a group of friends after their first year, often with friends they've made in halls.

Here are some things to bear in mind when choosing your university housemates. Could you live with:

• Mess? Student tenants falling out with each other over the state of the kitchen or bathroom isn't uncommon.
• A smoker? A quarter of students smoke.
• A nocturnal TV addict? Remember you’ll need a TV licence.
• Someone who leaves the heating on all day? Fuel bills aren't usually included in the rent so this could be a source of arguments.