If you’re heading to the UK as an Erasmus student you have plenty to think about and organise, not least where you’ll be staying while here. In the UK students have lots of options for accommodation, including university halls, private halls and house shares, making it easy to find the right set up for you.
University halls of residence
Universities have their own accommodation known as halls that will generally be reserved for first year students. Usually you’ll have your own room, sometimes with a private bathroom, and share things like living space and kitchen with several over students. Some university halls of residence are even catered so you won’t have to worry about making dinner every night.
Halls are a great option for when you’re moving to a new area and have yet to meet anyone. You’ll be placed with people in the same position as you giving you an opportunity to make some friends right from the beginning.
Private halls of residence
Private halls are similar to traditional halls of residence but aren’t owned by the university. They typically have a mixture of shared flats and studio apartments, for those that want more privacy, with shared communal facilities. The majority of private halls are high quality and will include all your bills making it a simple option for sorting out your finances.
It’s also a flexible option for deciding who to live with. Most halls will enable you to move in with friends or to be put with other students that are new to the area too. Halls are a good choice for those that want to be surrounded by other students and fully embrace the student experience.
House share
Sharing a house or a flat with friends is the most popular option for students due to the limited spaces in halls of residence. However, it’s typically students in their second year onwards that choose this options once they have already met friends that they have decided to live with. For this reason, many Erasmus students heading to the UK for only a year will choose halls instead.
Privately renting a house does have some benefits though, it’s flexible and there’s sure to be lots of options to choose from. Depending on the house you pick, you could be responsible for some or all of the bills though so you need to take this into consideration before signing a contract.
