In the UK The majority of first-year students choose to live in university halls or in private student housing, with many students choosing to move to private Leicester student accommodation in the third and fourth year.
Student accommodation for private students and halls for university students have a lot in common. The primary difference is that private accommodation is run by a private firm, instead of the university.
Private student accommodation typically has the latest facilities and luxurious amenities which is why it is usually a bit more expensive than the traditional halls of universities with less basic amenities.
Both kinds of accommodations can be a fantastic way of meeting new individuals but are different in their area, cost, social life, and duration of the tenancy.
To make your choice easier, we’ll provide a detailed explanation of the advantages and disadvantages of these two popular choices for students at universities.
Location
Non-private student halls are provided directly by universities to students who attend the university. This is why they are usually closer to the university’s facilities. This is extremely convenient in the morning when you’re awake just five minutes prior to the 9am class.
Private student accommodations tend to be situated in cities that have several universities, like London, Leeds and Manchester. They are usually situated in the city center and attract students from universities across the city, which makes it an excellent opportunity to get to know people from other universities. The drawback is that you may need to travel further for your lecture.
In the end, it’s about your personal preferences. If you prefer living in the central city with all the excitement and energy Private accommodation could be the best option for you. If you’d like to live close to the campus and university buildings campus, you may prefer living in university halls.
Costs
Private halls are managed to make money and usually have the price higher than student halls for university students. For this additional price, you will get high-end facilities, like en-suite bathrooms private kitchens and a wonderful central location within the city.
The halls at universities are generally more expensive but may vary in price based on the kind of hall you’re looking for and the facilities you require.
All types of university housing can help you to avoid unexpected costs such because charges for utilities, insurance on contents and cleaning for communal areas are all included in the cost.
It’s important to remember that the price of private lodging and halls at universities varies depending on the location.
Social life
Student accommodation is an excellent opportunity of meeting new individuals since you’ll typically live with four to 12 people. In both options of accommodation you can’t select the people you’ll be sharing your space with.
However, in halls of residence at universities, you are often able to request to be in more social halls, quiet rooms or in a group of mature students and universities will work hard to fulfill your request. For private residences, students may also be able to be near your the same people or in quieter rooms. It is important to note that in either of these types of accommodations, there’s no guarantee that you’ll receive the first option.
In student residences at universities typically, you’ll share an area for cooking and a lounge and bathroom – except if you’ve chosen an ensuite.
Private accommodation is also often equipped with common areas that could include lounges and dining areas to gather in. If you’re looking for privateness, studio apartments might be available as student housing, but they’ll be more expensive.
Accommodation providers can also hold regularly scheduled events to residents that aid students in getting to know one another and meet up.
Facilities
From the grand piano of Nottingham to a rental of a surfboard service in Bournemouth accommodations for private students is often a great option with unexpected benefits. Since private student accommodations are typically located in newly constructed or renovated structures, they may have better facilities that are not found in standard student accommodation.
Many university halls provide premium accommodations that include twin beds, ultra-fast WiFi and bathrooms with en-suites. Additionally, you’ll be able to choose between catering and uncatered with catered, which provides you with an amount to spend on food and drinks on campus.
In the majority of cases, student accommodations come with Wi-Fi and a communal space. However, typically, the amenities in student housing that are private are of higher standard that include two beds, gyms on site and fast internet access.
You pay for what you spend on and the higher priced halls private as well as non-private, will typically offer more amenities.
How long do you have to remain?
Although standard university accommodation may allow you to choose between staying for 40 weeks (September to June) or 52 weeks (September until September) Private accommodation could be more expensive, meaning you must cover the full 52 weeks.
Check out the tenancy agreement of the property before making a choice.