What to expect when living in student accommodation

If you’re on the hunt for a place to stay during your study, be aware that you have so many different options ahead of you. You can rent your own shared apartment, live in a home stay, or stay in student accommodation.

The choice is entirely up to you and everything is based on your own set of priorities and expectations for your new place.

In my case, I decided to stay in student accommodation during the first year of my university life abroad. There are several pros and cons that you need to look out for while staying there. So, if you’re still on the hunt for the best place to stay during your study, I hope my own experience would help in weighing up your options.

Applying ahead of time

What stands out the most about staying in student accommodation is how easy the overall rental application process was for me. Several student accommodations allow you to book online and pay the weekly rent beforehand, without needing to schedule an inspection. This way you have secured a place to stay in your new city, all without much hassle.

All-inclusive

The pricing for student accommodations is usually all-inclusive. This means your weekly fee includes utility bills, wireless internet, and student events. So, it’ll be a lot easier for you to budget during your stay. To avoid any unwanted surprises, always read and look through your tenancy agreement very thoroughly just to make sure everything is included.

It’s a lot easier to make friends

Staying in student accommodation just makes it so much easier to make friends. Especially if you’re sharing an apartment, you’re sort of forced to hang out with everyone. If I wasn’t an expert at small talk before that, I am now. Since these accommodations are usually located close to universities, it will be a lot easier to find friends who are studying in the same campus as yours. There are a lot of student events/gatherings happening, so you’ll find yourself always having something to do with your new friends.

Set your budget, lookout for the best location, and start searching. Choosing the right student accommodation that fits all of your priorities can be a bit of work, so hang in there!

Once this step is over and done with, you can focus on the next best thing, surviving university.