Sorting Out Your Accommodation As a UK Student

One of the first things you need to consider about your education in the UK is your student accommodation.

So you’ve finally got that Confirmation of Acceptance, and you’ve processed your UK Student Visa (Tier 4 General). The next thing you’ll need to consider is your accommodation options in the UK.

Many UK universities guarantee a place in halls of residence for full-time first-year students and international postgraduates, so this might be the option you consider. However, some students choose to live in privately rented houses off campus.

It’s important to explore all the accommodation options available, so that you can be sure you know exactly what is going to be the best accommodation for you. There are generally four types of accommodation on offer for students:

Halls of Residence

Halls of residence are on campus and they are owned and managed by the university. As a result, they are the go-to choice for many international postgraduates and first years. Halls of residence have a great sense of student community which helps you adjust to living away from home and it is so easy to make friends there.

There are a variety of options between halls, including catered or self-catered halls and flats with ensuite or shared bathrooms. On average you can expect to pay £143 per week for this type of accommodation (£190 in London).

House/Flat Share

Renting a property with friends is the most common type of accommodation for students in their second year and beyond. Students rent with friends because it is often too expensive to live alone.

You will typically pay around £90 per week for a shared house, rising to £135 for properties in London. It’s important to remember that you will also have to factor in utility bills for this type of accommodation, which will up your weekly cost by a little.

Private Halls of Residence

Private halls are like university-owned halls of residence, except they are open to everyone, and are generally pricier as they will have a great range of attractive amenities. In private halls, you may share your space with a diverse mix of people from a range of different universities – but this is perfect if you enjoy meeting new people. You can expect to pay around £168 per week and well over £280 per week in London.

Once you’ve decided what type of accommodation you are looking for, the next step is to decide when to begin your search. Note that your university can prove a great help so do contact them where possible.