How Your Student Accommodation Choice Shapes Your Entire University Experience

Originally Posted On: https://www.cameronjournal.com/how-your-student-accommodation-choice-shapes-your-entire-university-experience/

Student accommodation plays a crucial role in shaping the university experience. It influences social interactions, academic performance, and mental well-being. Choosing the right accommodation can affect study habits, friendships, and even finances. A supportive living environment aids in personal growth and helps students navigate their transition to independence more effectively.

While many students spend an inordinate amount of time figuring out which classes to take or which societies to join, what isn’t spoken about enough is the fact that where you live whilst you study is just as important as what you study. For many, student accommodation is more than just a place to sleep in between lectures; it’s the basis for everything else to occur whilst at university.

But what many don’t realise is that your accommodation choice has a domino effect across your entire student experience. It determines who you meet first, how often you study or have a commute, whether you can afford that weekend getaway with your mates, and ultimately, your exam performance.

The Social Aspect Begins Where You Live

The first few weeks of university are like an extended freshmen orientation course for making friends from scratch. Therefore, the first place where people meet either helps or hinders this process.

Staying in halls or purpose-built student accommodation is designed to bring students around those in similar situations. Everyone is just as lost as they try to figure out where the nearest Tesco is, and everyone is likely burning toast at 2 AM. However, shared hallways and kitchens make it quick for students to bond over a common experience instead of excess barriers.

When searching for options, many prospective students find that staying in student-specific hostels offers the right blend of independence and value—your room—but not isolation—a lack of others to be in the same situation with. This is crucial upon moving away from home as many find this solace helpful during their transition period.

The friends you make during this impactful timeframe create your support network that assists you for the rest of university. These are the people who will share notes when you oversleep, split a takeaway when you’re both broke, and listen to your relationship drama over a cup of tea (or pint). Ultimately, your accommodation either allows you access to these awesome future friends or it does not.

Where You Live Impacts Your Grades

Another factor that should be considered is the concept that your degree is linked to where you live—in a good way. What we mean by this is that while there aren’t any magical aspects about where you study that help your grades, there are many practical means that save time and energy, which become beneficial if someone doesn’t already live far away.

For example, if you’re expected to write an essay but your walls are thin and a flatmate/a neighbour thinks Tuesday night is party night, you’re not going to get much done. Or if you’ve got the coldest room imaginable and no one believes you should be allowed any heat, you’re not going to want to stay in there 24/7 to complete this task. Or if your comfort spot is a 60-minute tube ride away from the university campus, you’re likely not going to bother attending an optional revision course because it’s just too much of a hassle to invest more time in what could be a solid three-hour effort instead.

The best student accommodations give students options. Sometimes you need peace and quiet. Sometimes you benefit from studying collaboratively. However, accessibility without leaving your building makes a world of difference more than anyone realizes.

Natural light is also crucial, albeit not really spoken about enough. There’s nothing worse than being cooped up in a dark accommodation all winter long trying to survive dense textbooks. Students fortunate enough to have decent windows and light naturally find it easier to remain motivated in winter months compared to others who let boredom set them into depression. It’s one of those things you don’t consider until you’re actually living there.

The Financial Aspects Are More Than Just Monthly Payments

One of the unfortunate factors that students often find themselves victimized by is the housing costs associated with accommodations that go beyond monthly payments.

For example, living 30 minutes away by tube from campus might save you £30 a week; however, from transportation costs of £25 round trip due to losing £8 return every time late may no longer make it worth it. Factor in all that time lost each week could otherwise have been spent at a part-time job that pays 10£ an hour which could’ve offset weekly expenses or at least given someone a life to enjoy.

It’s also important to consider bills. Many places include the cost of everything; others tally monthly utilities based on usage where someone has to awkwardly confront others about why the thermostat was left on too high during the day. Ultimately, living as all-inclusive looks more expensive at first glance; however, it might actually save money down the line. This also brings down stressful occurrences since all accommodations look cheaper on paper than they end up being.

Your average weekly shop matters more than students realize. If there’s no grocery store next door but only an overpriced corner shop, then you’d otherwise be spending an extra £20-30 each week without even realising it. Over an academic year, that’s another holiday.

Your Mental Wellbeing Depends on Your Situation

University is an intense time for many people, from academic stressors and social adjustments to day-to-day living complications. When someone is struggling, their accommodation supports or compounds this experience.

Feeling isolated in your living situation can compound problems quickly. If your location is detrimental either through distance or lack of more students willing to engage, it’s harmful to spirits and motivation levels. However, when students feel like their accommodations feel like home, they generally come out better on the other end when stressed about exam semesters or holiday payments.

Moreover, when more people are around, there’s no price that can be assigned to someone who cares enough to check on you. Maybe it’s a flatmate who notes you’ve been holed up in your room for three days straight without coming out; maybe it’s the friend down the hall who wants you at dinner because they can tell you’re struggling or aren’t living well at all. These casual check-ins exist when accommodations make them feasible.

The environment also matters for mental wellbeing—natural light, clean accommodations with a hospitable place in which one can make their proper meal (not campus food), somewhere safe—these aren’t luxuries, these are bare minimums that impact how someone feels every single day.

Learning How to Become an Adult

University years aren’t just about getting a degree; they’re about becoming a better independent adult. Therefore, accommodation gives prospective students their first run-through for this process.

For example, living with other students helps teach prosocial qualities with budgeting (can we afford the heat this month?) and compromises (we can’t all have the largest bedroom). For many people who grow up their whole lives without roommates, these qualities may never even be needed; thus, learning how to become an adult begins at home—even if temporarily—brought on through good student accommodation.

Thus, reasonable accommodations allow enough freedom to explore these newfound responsibilities while also respecting boundaries so no major setbacks occur so relatively minor mistakes can help orient learning.

Choose What Works for You

Ultimately, no accommodation will have universal appeal for everyone. Some people thrive in massive halls where hundreds roam daily; others work best with a few selected flatmates that create a peaceful atmosphere; some want to be smack dab in the middle of everything; others would prefer a bit of distance for tranquility.

By being honest with yourself and determining what’s suitable for YOUR success helps more than anyone knows. If you’re easily distracted, don’t choose an accommodation above the student union and expect yourself not to hear late-night activity. If you’re shy, maybe avoid the major accommodation complex with thousands as it’s harder to get intimate unless someone makes efforts you might not feel comfortable mustering up.

Also consider what’s most important based on classes as well—if you’ve got 9 AM lectures four days a week, accommodation proximity becomes critical and lesser expenses charged for accessible places with essentials nearby (grocery stores) becomes equally as important as those without necessary classroom materials like textbooks but with large libraries on hand.

So, where you live lays the groundwork for everything else at university. It should be an intentional decision made as you’ll be compromising with such efforts every day for countless months on end. Therefore, dedicate time in making sure this choice supports the experience you want while at uni (and not just what’s cheapest or what your mates are also doing) so your future self thanks you every day for taking that effort before moving in!