Student accommodation

Finding somewhere to live while studying is one of the biggest decisions you'll face as a student. You need to choose accommodation that is in keeping with your lifestyle and budget

Once you have been accepted onto your degree course, it's important to start making housing arrangements as soon as possible. Your chosen university will be able to advise you on suitable places to live, especially if you have special requirements, such as a disability.

You should make early contact with your university's accommodation office - it will help you with research, costs and other administrative tasks. Make sure you pay close attention to any contracts before signing and make sure you are certain of costs and what is required of you when moving in. Get help to meet all of the costs with some budgeting advice.

Types of student accommodation

These are some of the options available:

• Halls of residence: large, exclusively student-occupied accommodation, normally maintained by the university. Residents live in study bedrooms, either alone or sharing with other students. Usually, first-year students, including international students, have first refusal on rooms.
• Flats and houses: after your first year of study or once you're settled in the UK you can move into a furnished flat or house with your friends. You share the rent, electricity, gas and food bills as well as the cleaning. It can be cheaper than other types of student accommodation and you live with people of your choice. Good places to look include SpareRoom , Flatmaterooms  and Easy Roommate .
• Lodgings: a rented bedroom in a private house. The landlord will also live in the house and you will have to adapt your lifestyle to fit in with theirs.
• Hostels: if you are coming to the UK for the first time or are waiting to move into halls, hostels are a cheap alternative to hotels, especially in a city. However, although very sociable places, hostels can prove costly over time and so a more fixed address is preferable in the long run.
• Bedsits: a single room in which you will live and sleep. You will have independence and plenty of your own space but you may have to share a bathroom and a kitchen with other residents. Try Gumtree  for listings.
  

How do I apply for halls of residence?

Lots of first-year students choose to live in halls of residence. It's a good way to meet other students and it's convenient until you get to know the area. Some universities run impartial advice talks for first-year students, giving advice on what to look for, where to look and how to apply.

In the second and third year, many students move into private accommodation, often with groups of friends. You can find housing through your own searches or accommodation office staff can put you in touch with reputable and accredited landlords.

Once you have been accepted on a course, the university will send you accommodation information including application details. You will then need to submit an application form usually listing three choices of halls in order of preference. It is important that you meet the deadline for applying to give you the best chance of getting the halls you want. Deadlines and application procedures will differ between each institution and often between years of study, you should contact your university accommodation to find out more.

Is there accommodation for international students?

For international students, it is common for the majority of universities to offer you accommodation before you arrive in the UK. As you will be unfamiliar with the area, the best option is university halls of residence. You should use your first year to become familiar with the city you are living in as this will help you with future accommodation choices. Find out more in our city guides.

Can I get postgraduate student accommodation?

If you are returning to university to do further study, you may choose to live in a shared house close to the campus. Make use of any contacts you gained during your undergraduate studies and the university accommodation office will also be able to help you out.

Some universities have dedicated halls for postgraduate students; this is good if you are new to the area and want to live on campus and make friends. There is also purpose-built accommodation such as that offered by UNITE. These are either self-contained studios or a room in a shared flat for postgraduate students.