You’ve got your acceptance letter, and now you can’t wait to get on campus to start studying and socialising. Before you even think about classes and social clubs though, you need to be practical, which means finding somewhere to live. If student accommodation is the path you’d like to go down, consider the following 5 points so you’re completely prepared for when it comes time to move into your new home.
1. What’s Included
When you live in student accommodation—or any accommodation—there is more involved than a simple rent payment once a month, so you have to know what is included in the price you’re signing up for. A bonus with student accommodation over private rentals is that they often include extras such as food, or at least dinner. Other companies, such as Iglu (who offer student accommodation in Sydney), even provide internet and utilities as part of its rental agreement.
2. How Long You Can Stay
Because it’s living organised for university students, the changeover for rooms is fairly frequent—just because you have a room now does not mean it’s yours for the duration of your degree. Some places may only let you stay a year or a semester, and others may require you to sign up for a spot again the following year—and there’s no guarantee you’ll get. Make sure you understand what your arrangement is and speak to the university, owner, or agency if you’re not sure.
3. Shared or Single
For most people, you’re either someone who loves roommates or hates them, so make sure you find out what sort of living arrangements are on offer when you go looking at student accommodation, as they all vary. The most common is usually a dorm room style set-up, meaning you will have your own bedroom, but will share facilities, such as the lounge and dining rooms, as well as the kitchen and bathroom.
4. What to Bring
Another point to note about student accommodation is what you actually need to bring when you move in. If it’s a dorm room, you will usually have a single bed, desk, wardrobe and small bar fridge, but you will have to bring items such as linen and towels. However, not all student accommodation is like this, so you may only be supplied with the space, but will have to furnish it yourself.
5. House Rules
This type of living arrangement can be very different to a private rental, as you are sharing key areas, such as the kitchen and bathroom, with a building full of people. Some companies or locations will have noise restrictions after a certain time, rules regarding maintenance and upkeep, and others will have rules in place about things like alcohol consumption. Just be aware of them as best as possible so you don’t end up without a bed to sleep in.
University is about so much more than just earning a degree; it’s also about becoming an adult, gaining life experiences, and making friends you’ll have for years to come. Although it might be an afterthought for many people, living arrangements such as student accommodation can be ideal choice for those looking to have the full experience of university life.
What interests you the most about student accommodation? Leave your answers below.
