Moving Out

Many students decide to move away from home when they start college or university, which means you could have some decisions to consider and prepare for with your new place.

There are two main options for student accommodation.

Student halls/halls of residence- this is usually the cheapest and most popular options for students, particularly in first year. Student halls are typically located on or very near to the campus with single rooms, and a shared kitchen and social space. The prices of these can vary depending on the choice of room you decide so it is important to read through your options, but the cost of electricity and heating will always be included. To get a room in student halls you will complete an online application before you start your course.

Private accommodation- this is usually when students choose to move into accommodation with a couple of friends and rent a flat or house from a local landlord. This is usually more expensive that student halls because you will also need to cover the cost of electricity and heating, but it will be split between you and however many other people you choose to live with. This is a great option for becoming more independent and having a little bit more space but remember to do your research because you will need to pay a deposit to the landlord before moving in and agree with your friends the payment plans for each month.
Many students choose to stay at home, particularly in first year, because if you live near the institution for your course this will be a significantly cheaper option than moving out. Lots of students will choose to live at home too, so you don’t need to worry about this having a negative impact on your social life, because there are so many opportunities to immerse yourself into as a student outside of your studies.

This can be a nerve-wracking decision to make so consider your options and the pros and cons for each choice but remember if you choose to live at home in first year, you can always choose to move out later in your course. Lots of students will be in the same situation but your college or university will have lots of support and activities at the start of your course to help you meet new people and make new friends.

Top Tips to make the correct decision:

Go to Open Days to find out what the accommodation will be like- you can get a tour around student halls to see if it is something you would like.

Make an effort to talk to people once you have moved in- everyone is in the same situation so will want to make friends just like you.

Try and be a considerate flatmate- remember you are sharing with other people so try to help where you can and be nice and friendly to everyone because this will help you make friends.

If you want to know more about the costs and how you can get support with this, you can read more on Student Finance.

Moving Out

What types of student accommodation can I choose from?

What is it like to stay at home during my studies?

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