Following email inquiries generated by my previous post: Greenow House Flat and Room Tour, I thought I’d put together a list of all the reasons you should live on campus as a student. My time here in Greenow Hall is sadly almost over and new students will be resuming in September. This post is for international students facing the practicalities of moving to the UK to study and trying to decide on where to stay during the period. Now let’s get to it, shall we?

1. 1. It’s Easier to Get and Move into
      A room in a Campus Hall is easier to get. Usually, you only have to put in an application through the school website and pay a small deposit. Renting a place off-campus is a bit more complicated, especially if you use a house agent. In my experience, house agents here are just as bad as house agents in Nigeria. You’ll have to pay a month deposit, a background check, legal fees and you will need a guarantor or something. If you are new in this country, this is a headache you don’t need because while you are trying to get all this sorted, you’ll very likely be spending money staying in a Bed and Breakfast (BnB). With Campus halls, before you arrive, the room is ready. Your room is ready on arrival.
   2. There is a Variety of Accommodation types
      Depending on your budget and personal preference. There are often a number of accommodation types to choose from. Depending on the University, there are rooms with shared bathrooms, single, self-contained rooms with shared living space and kitchen, there are also full flats that are not shared. Honestly, there is something for every budget; from cheapest halls to the happy medium, or the luxurious en-suite and catered. My advice is to research what is available in your school, how much you can afford and your personal space requirement. By personal space requirements I mean, your ability to live with people. Can you share a room for 9 months, are you prepared to share bathroom and toilet? These things will affect your well-being in school.

1. 3. It’s Easier to Make New Friends
      Because you are still within the school environment, you will meet other students studying the same course, and probably going through the same challenges as you are. You’ll run into them in the hallway or the kitchen if it’s a shared flat and inevitably build some sort of relationship and even good friendships. You won’t all be best friends but you will never really be lonely. Oh, and your soulmate might be living in the room next door, I’ve seen that happen.
   4. No Bills
      Well, not exactly. There are bills but these are all inclusive in your rent. You can surf the web and download all you want, shower as long as you desire, blow dry or curl your hair as often as you need to, or use your room heater all night long. (P:S: Room heaters aren’t allowed in most halls though but as an African student, I have come to realise that central heating in the winter does not cut it, but that’s a story for another day.)
   5. You stay Informed
      Whether it is a maintenance update, an upcoming fire drill or a party on campus, you know about it, just by interacting with your flatmates. You’ll never miss out on anything important if you don’t want to even if there are no emails or reminders.

Related: Reading Living: What I’m Packing

1. 6. You are nearer Everything
      Well, the things that matter. Be it lectures, ATMs, food or fun, Living in halls, you are in close proximity to it. Most convenience stores and restaurants have branches on campus and student activities that might interest you are usually a walking distance from halls. Even clinics and hospitals are nearby. Living in Halls you can be sure you never miss a lecture, even when you oversleep.
   7. It’s Arguably Cheaper
      Considering that you are closer to everything, you save a tonne on transportation. In addition, you spend less furnishing since halls come with the most necessary furniture and electronics like a microwave, kettle and other small needs. The rent itself may be higher compared to off-campus accommodation but cumulatively I think you spend more otherwise
   8. There’s Regular Maintenance
      Halls have a maintenance crew responsible for weekly cleaning and fixing any issues within the flat. Plumbing, heating or pest concerns or a cracked window is one phone call away from being fixed within 24 hours, for free…well not exactly free we have discussed that. In addition, halls are required to meet health and safety standards so you can be sure the building is in excellent condition.
   9. A Feeling of Safety
      Most halls have secure entrances making sure that only authorised students can get into the residence at any time. In addition, most Universities have on Campus police who respond to concerns and patrol at night.
   10. A sense of Independence
       If it’s your first time away from home and living alone, you’ll get to feel like an adult and the freedom is exhilarating. On the other hand, if it’s not your first taste of freedom and already know that adulthood is overrated, you’ll have a better appreciation for your own home.

In my experience, most of these reasons are applicable to university and campus settings around the world. I will discuss the reasons why you should not live on campus in a subsequent post. Ultimately, I hope that this post makes it easier for you to make a decision on where to live.

---

Are you a student? What accommodation did you opt for? Let me know what you think in the comments!
As always, thank you for reading!
***
Liked this post? Do share it on your social media wall, timeline or feed.
Want blog updates and promotions in your inbox?
Sign Up Now