In the UK, most first-year students opt to reside in halls at the university or private student accommodation, with many students opting to live in private housing in third and fourth year.
Accommodation for students in private and halls for students at universities share many similarities. The main difference is that private student accommodation is run by a private corporation, not a school. Companies like Unite, Scape and Student Living offer student-only living areas in cities across the UK.
Private student accommodations often have luxurious facilities and modern amenities which is why it tends to be slightly more costly than traditional university halls with less basic amenities.
Both types of accommodation can be great ways to meet new people, however they have differences in the location, cost, social life and duration of the lease.
To make your choice simpler, we will be outlining the advantages and disadvantages of these two options for students studying at university.
Location
Student halls that are not private are provided directly by universities to students who attend the university. Because of this, they’re typically closer to campus buildings. This is extremely convenient when you’re waking up five minutes early for your 9am class.
Private student housing tends to be based in cities with multiple universities, such as London, Leeds and Manchester. They are usually located in the centre of the city which attracts students from all universities in the city, which makes it a fantastic opportunity to get to know people from other universities. The disadvantage is that it could be necessary drive a little further for your lecture.
It’s all about your personal preferences. If you prefer living in the center of the city with all the excitement and energy private apartments might be the right choice for you. If you’d prefer to be close to university buildings and campus, you might prefer staying in university residences.
Costs
Private halls are run to make profits, and typically have more expensive than university student residences. But, for the extra price, you’ll get modern amenities, luxurious amenities like bathrooms with en-suites, private kitchens as well as a wonderful position in the middle of the city.
The halls at universities are generally cheaper but can vary greatly in cost depending on the kind of hall you want and the facilities you require.
All types of university housing will allow you to stay clear of hidden costs as utility bills, contents insurance and cleaning of communal spaces are included in the price.
It’s important to remember that the price of private Leicester uni accommodation and university halls varies based on the place of residence.
Social life
Student accommodation is a great way to meet new people as you’ll usually be living with between 4 and 12 people. In both options of accommodation, you don’t get to pick who you will be living with.
In university halls, you can often request to live in more social halls, quiet spaces or with fellow students of a similar age and universities will try hard to accommodate your requests. Private halls may be able to ask to live with your family members or in more tranquil halls. In any of the two types of accommodations, it’s not guaranteed that you’ll be offered your first choice.
In student residences at universities typically, you’ll share a kitchen and lounge area with a bathroom unless you’ve opted for an en-suite.
Private accommodation also usually has areas for communal use, which could include cinema spaces, dining areas and lounges to meet in. If you’re in search of privacy, studio apartments may be offered as private student accommodation, though they will cost more.
Accommodation providers might also host regular events for residents that help students get to know them and to socialise.
Facilities
From a grand piano in Nottingham or a renting a surfboard service in Bournemouth, private student accommodation may offer unexpected advantages. As private student accommodation is usually found in newly constructed or renovated buildings, they can provide better facilities than standard student halls.
Many university halls have premium rooms, which includes double beds ultra-fast WiFi and bathrooms with en-suites. There’s also the option to select between uncatered and catered, where catered gives you the option of a certain amount to spend on food at campus.
In the majority of cases, student accommodations come with Wi-Fi and a social space. But, the facilities in student housing that are private are of better quality and include double beds, on-site gyms and superfast internet access.
You get what you pay for and the higher priced halls that are both private and non-private are usually equipped with better facilities.
How long will you be there?
Although standard university accommodation may provide you with the option of staying 40 weeks (September to June) or 52 weeks (September to September) Private accommodations may have longer terms, meaning you must pay for the full 52 weeks.
Review the terms of the lease before making a decision.
