My UK Student Accommodation Journey

Intro

Starting your journey as an international student is both exciting and challenging. As an integral part of the university experience, living in student accommodation provides a unique environment for personal growth, friendship, and challenges.

In this article, I’ll share my insights and experiences of living in both single and shared university accommodations, as well as my personal tips to help you decide which option to choose to ensure this experience is unforgettable.

Choosing Accommodation: Key Considerations

1. Book as early as possible → Once you get accepted to the university, you can start looking for a place to stay in the UK. Personally, I would opt for university accommodation, at least in the first year, for its convenience and easy access to campus resources.
2. Budget & Location → At my university, the University of Hertfordshire, both campuses (College Lane and De Havilland) are conveniently located near all university amenities. Accommodation prices for the 2023/24 academic year range from £4,873.05 to £11,539.50 per academic year.
3. Where to find them? → For university accommodation options, visit their website, explore their Facebook group, and watch YouTube videos for student room tours and campus-life experiences. Be sure to research early and note application deadlines for popular accommodations.
4. Contract → Before signing a contract, understand key details such as deposit amount, cancellation policy, and other terms. Be prepared for unexpected situations by knowing the necessary steps to take.

In the following image, you can see the accommodation price guide at the University of Hertfordshire for the 2023/24 academic year:

Accommodation Price Guide at the University of Hertfordshire for 2023/24 Academic Year

Benefits of University Accommodation

If someone asked me about my university life experience, I would first recall my campus life adventures, including:

• going to different campus events for students (for freebies, free food, …)
• joining quiz nights
• preparing for exams until late nights in the library with my friends
• walking around campuses to learn more about the university
• playing bubble football, futsal, basketball, tennis in the evenings
• joining football, Taekwondo and table tennis clubs
• travelling between both campuses using free shuttle buses
• cooking whatever I want, whenever I want in the kitchen
• sometimes falling asleep until late, but managing to attend the early morning classes
• using campus facilities such as Wi-fi, computers, printers, etc.

From my personal experiences, the main benefits of university accommodation can be summarized as follows:

1. Convenience of campus facilities: Living on campus provided me with access to all essential amenities, saving me time, energy, and money, and making my daily life more convenient and enjoyable.
2. Community and social interaction: Being part of university accommodation enabled me to participate in a variety of sports, social events, and extracurricular activities, helping me connect with people from different backgrounds and make long-lasting friendships.
3. Safety and security: Our student accommodation is equipped with security features such as access control and CCTV, providing a safe living environment for international students who are unfamiliar with the area.

Taekwondo Club Pictures

Benefits of Shared Accommodation

I also had the opportunity to live in shared accommodation during my time as a student and it’s clear that sharing living space with others can greatly impact the university experience (it can either double the joy of university life or potentially destroy the experience altogether). The benefits of shared university accommodation extend beyond those mentioned above, including:

1. Cost sharing: Sharing a room reduces accommodation expenses, allowing you to save money or allocate resources to other aspects of student life.
2. Instant social circle: Having a roommate provides an instant social circle, helping you combat loneliness and homesickness, especially in your early days at the university.
3. Learning conflict resolution: The experience of living with roommates can teach you valuable life skills in communication, compromise, and teamwork.

Drawbacks of University Accommodation

While both shared and university accommodation offer numerous benefits, it’s important to acknowledge that each option also comes with its own set of challenges. Let’s explore some of the issues I encountered while living in university accommodation:

• cleanliness-related fines due to kitchen dirtiness caused by flatmates
• unpleasant odors from diverse cooking styles
• noisy flatmates during the day or at night
• occasional hot water shortages, laundry and electricity issues

In summary, the drawbacks of living in university accommodation include:

1. Limited privacy: This can be challenging when you need quiet moments for studying or personal time.
2. Cultural adjustments: Living with roommates from diverse backgrounds can be a learning experience, but it might also lead to cultural clashes and misunderstandings.
3. Maintenance and service issues: Dealing with occasional laundry problems, water shortages, and electricity issues can be frustrating and disruptive to daily life.

Drawbacks of Shared Accommodation

Similarly, living with a roommate introduces additional complexities to the living experience. Let’s now explore some of the specific problems I encountered while sharing living space with a roommate:

1. Differing lifestyles: Your roommate’s habits and preferences might not align with yours, leading to potential conflicts related to cleanliness, noise, and daily routines, affecting your concentration and sleep patterns.
2. Privacy concerns: Sharing a room means limited personal space and privacy, which can be challenging for introverted individuals or during times when you need solitude.
3. Risk of incompatibility: Not all roommates become friends, and the risk of being placed with someone you don’t get along with can negatively impact your living experience.

Memorable Moments

After reflecting on the benefits and drawbacks of university accommodation, I often think back to some funny moments that still bring a smile to my face:

• Because of fire alarm testing, we had to wake up and wait outside until it was finished, even if it was raining, snowing, or cold outside.
• One day, I received an email about a missing TV from the kitchen. When I spoke with my flatmates, I discovered that one of them had taken it into their room.
• After our Taekwondo club activities, which typically ended at 10 pm, my friends and I often found ourselves missing the last shuttle bus. This meant we had to take a late-night walk to get home.
• Occasionally, I’d accidentally lock myself out by forgetting my keys, even for simple trips like going to the kitchen. It meant having to ask for help from university staff to get back inside.

Personal Tips

1. Be independent! Learn basic skills like cooking, laundry, and cleaning to make living in university accommodation easier and more enjoyable.
2. Spend your time & money wisely! Budget for essentials, like groceries and bills, and set aside funds for leisure activities. Balance academics and social life by creating a study schedule and using campus resources effectively.
3. Explore your surroundings! Take time to discover your host city, nearby towns, and natural landmarks.
4. Stay connected! Use technology for regular video calls and messaging to overcome homesickness and stay close to family and friends back home.
5. Get involved! Join clubs or sports teams to meet new people and pursue your interests outside of academics. Building a diverse social network enhances your university experience.
6. Seek support! Universities provide helpful services that can make a difference in your life. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you’re struggling.
7. Always keep your keys with you! I think you now know why :)

Conclusion

In conclusion, if you’re seeking a vibrant living experience, consider shared accommodation; for privacy and focus, single accommodation is the ideal choice. By sharing my own insights and experiences, I hope this article has provided valuable guidance in navigating this decision-making process.

Thank you for reading! Please, don’t forget to give 50 applauds :)

I look forward to sharing my journey in the next posts, where I will let you guys know where I am going next, so stay tuned! Feel free to explore my Linktree to easily find everything I create across my social media profiles.