When applying to university it is also essential to think… ‘What kind of accommodation do I want to live in?’ There are a few things to factor in and consider, so here is a little helper guide!

Living on campus vs commuting?

I found moving into halls of residence was the best way for me to make friends as moving to a different city was a daunting experience. You get to meet loads of different people and make new friends, also at Hope there are Resident Tutors that live on the campus to help out through doing halls rounds to checking up on everyone and organising events in the student bar on campus. There is also a benefit of living on a campus based university as all your facilities are on your door step such as lectures, classrooms, libraries, a gym, shop and student bar! If you prefer to live off campus every city should have student areas where most students from 2nd year and onward will live. In Liverpool the main student area is Smithdown Road, which also has many bars, restaurants and shops.

Budgeting

Creating a budget and planning ahead for the costs of student accommodation throughout the year can really help you make a decision on which halls to choose. Generally, universities have a range of accommodation that vary in price, so it makes living within your means a bit more manageable. Another great tip is to make sure you know what’s included in the price of your accommodation, does your price include bills as well? If you’re in contact with your new flatmates, try to organise who’s bringing what to your new flat. This way you don’t end up with 5 of everything!

En suite vs shared facilities

Do you like your own space or are you happy to share bathrooms? Normally, shared halls tend to be less expensive than en suite as you have to share a bathroom. For myself, when applying for accommodation at Liverpool Hope I decided to go for the shared bathroom because I didn’t mind sharing. When I arrived in my flat there was two bathrooms for six people so it was a lot more manageable than I thought! Plus with our shared bathrooms as they were communal we had a cleaner that came in once a week to help clean. So this choice is really down to personal preference.

See for yourself

The best way to decide on which accommodation you want to live in is by going to view them, don’t be fooled by the beautifully filtered photos! Most universities will have Applicant and Open Days, where you’ll have the chance to visit the different halls and see the variety of layouts.

Ruth, Graduate Advocate