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- by Charlotte King
- In Budgeting, Student Life
Posted Nov. 8, 2013
Postgrad Living - Onsite or Private?
When you decide to study for your postgraduate degree in the UK, one of the most important things you need to consider is where you are going to live. Generally speaking, there are two options available: you can stay onsite or you can find a private tenancy. The search for postgrad accommodation can throw up a number of questions regarding the suitability of the living arrangements for you, the student, and therefore it is important to weigh up the pros and cons before coming to a decision.
Many people opt to live onsite, in halls of residence, where pretty much everything is taken care of for them. The university will ensure that your rent is fair and that your accommodation is well-kept. You will also have access to a variety of facilities on your doorstep such as a laundrette, student union and cafeteria, not to mention the ease with which you will be able to attend lectures and access the university library.
Unfortunately, you have very little say with regards to who you share your living space with, which can be an issue if you find that you don't get on with the other people staying there. You will, of course, have your own private bedroom, sometimes with an en-suite bathroom, sometimes not, but you will usually share communal spaces with others. So if you're not the most sociable of people, then halls might not be for you.
If you decided to rent privately, then you will have far more control over who you do or don't share with. You have the option of choosing anything from a house-share to a studio apartment when searching the private sector for your ideal postgrad accommodation. However, the university will have far less involvement with your tenancy, short of ensuring the rent is fair and that the place is of a particular standard, and only then if the landlord has such an agreement with them, which many will not.
There are lots of privately owned student accommodation providers that provide a more 'Halls of Residence' style accommodation. Postgrad Solutions has recently partnered with Fresh – a company that provides privately managed purpose-built student accommodation – a great alternative to university halls and private housing. Fresh has accommodation in Bangor, Birmingham, Bournemouth, Chester, Derby, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Ipswich, Kingston, Liverpool, London, Loughborough, Reading, Sheffield, Wolverhampton and York. There’s a huge choice of accommodation options available, including self contained studio, shared apartments and en suite rooms, with all bills included, CCTV and on site accommodation teams for your added peace of mind
However if you opt for private accommodation you won't necessarily have direct access to the campus either, although you may well benefit from being nearer to the town centre, which is useful if you need to find work whilst studying. There are some jobs that it is recommended you avoid, take a look at our blog on Jobs to Avoid as a Postgrad Student to find out more. The other benefit to opting for a private tenancy is that in some cases, where the university is located in an affluent town centre, it may work out cheaper to rent somewhere further away from the campus, than actually living onsite.
Another point to consider is that if you are travelling from abroad to study here, or from another part of the UK, you can arrange your accommodation in the halls of residence, with the university, before you have arrived. You can apply for your postgrad accommodation and have it secured and waiting for you, ready for when you show up on campus to start your course. This is far more difficult to achieve if you decide to rent privately. Not necessarily impossible, but difficult, namely because you usually need to meet with the landlord, view the property and sign your tenancy in front of witnesses.
If you do decide to opt for accommodation in the private sector, then our blog on How to Find the Perfect Postgraduate Student House has some handy tips to help you find the right home.
Whatever you choose, make sure you weigh up your options and think carefully before making your decision.
Related articles
How easy is it to accommodation as a postgraduate student in the UK
Fees and funding
Postgrad accommodation
Tips for settling in
Student wellbeing
Many people opt to live onsite, in halls of residence, where pretty much everything is taken care of for them. The university will ensure that your rent is fair and that your accommodation is well-kept. You will also have access to a variety of facilities on your doorstep such as a laundrette, student union and cafeteria, not to mention the ease with which you will be able to attend lectures and access the university library.
Unfortunately, you have very little say with regards to who you share your living space with, which can be an issue if you find that you don't get on with the other people staying there. You will, of course, have your own private bedroom, sometimes with an en-suite bathroom, sometimes not, but you will usually share communal spaces with others. So if you're not the most sociable of people, then halls might not be for you.
If you decided to rent privately, then you will have far more control over who you do or don't share with. You have the option of choosing anything from a house-share to a studio apartment when searching the private sector for your ideal postgrad accommodation. However, the university will have far less involvement with your tenancy, short of ensuring the rent is fair and that the place is of a particular standard, and only then if the landlord has such an agreement with them, which many will not.
There are lots of privately owned student accommodation providers that provide a more 'Halls of Residence' style accommodation. Postgrad Solutions has recently partnered with Fresh – a company that provides privately managed purpose-built student accommodation – a great alternative to university halls and private housing. Fresh has accommodation in Bangor, Birmingham, Bournemouth, Chester, Derby, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Ipswich, Kingston, Liverpool, London, Loughborough, Reading, Sheffield, Wolverhampton and York. There’s a huge choice of accommodation options available, including self contained studio, shared apartments and en suite rooms, with all bills included, CCTV and on site accommodation teams for your added peace of mindHowever if you opt for private accommodation you won't necessarily have direct access to the campus either, although you may well benefit from being nearer to the town centre, which is useful if you need to find work whilst studying. There are some jobs that it is recommended you avoid, take a look at our blog on Jobs to Avoid as a Postgrad Student to find out more. The other benefit to opting for a private tenancy is that in some cases, where the university is located in an affluent town centre, it may work out cheaper to rent somewhere further away from the campus, than actually living onsite.
Another point to consider is that if you are travelling from abroad to study here, or from another part of the UK, you can arrange your accommodation in the halls of residence, with the university, before you have arrived. You can apply for your postgrad accommodation and have it secured and waiting for you, ready for when you show up on campus to start your course. This is far more difficult to achieve if you decide to rent privately. Not necessarily impossible, but difficult, namely because you usually need to meet with the landlord, view the property and sign your tenancy in front of witnesses.
If you do decide to opt for accommodation in the private sector, then our blog on How to Find the Perfect Postgraduate Student House has some handy tips to help you find the right home.
Whatever you choose, make sure you weigh up your options and think carefully before making your decision.
Related articles
How easy is it to accommodation as a postgraduate student in the UK
Fees and funding
Postgrad accommodation
Tips for settling in
Student wellbeing
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