At some point in your first year at university, you need to consider where you want to live the following year, when halls of residence cease to be an option. Whichever university you’re studying at, there will be a variety of options for you to choose from. Here are a few examples of what to expect and some of the pros and cons.
One of your options can be not to move off campus at all. Some students love their first year experience so much they feel it is best to stay on campus. Others may prefer it purely for practical reasons. You should remember though, that living on campus is designed for first year students on the whole, meant as a way to help bridge the gap of leaving the support network of home and being more independent. It’s seriously worth considering moving off campus to extend this independence gained from living on campus in first year.
If you enjoy the experience of living in student accommodation rather than smaller living arrangements, like shared private student housing, then options like private student accommodation Huddersfield offer a similar social space and experience while being based in city centres rather than university campus. This can be a great way to gradually build on that independence, while not having to lose the social benefits that come with living on campus.
If you can work out a group that wants to live together next year, then it can be worth looking at individual flats and houses. If this is a path you want to explore, then it’s important to communicate well with one another throughout the process. Working out what everyone’s individual budget is, making sure you know how you’ll divide rooms (an issue that can snowball if not dealt with early on) and how you’ll handle cleaning are topics you should discuss early to make sure you have similar expectations to each other and avoid arguments down the line. It’s also worth understanding the town or city you’re based in and see how easy it is to travel to campus from potential houses A group of you may wish to apply to the above mentioned private student housing and live in accommodation shared with your friends and new flatmates.
Most importantly, just try and get the ball rolling early, as the process can take a lot longer than you might think, with some landlords taking far longer than you’d expect to process references and credit checks. You cannot be expected to always get your first choice, so you may have to repeat the procedure a few times before securing accommodation and your future home.
