Accommodation
Your guide to choosing the right accommodation for you
When you go to University it’s important that you choose the right living situation for you. There are several options which you can choose from including; halls of residence, shared houses and commuting from home. This toolkit includes information on each of these options as well as student perspectives and top tips when thinking about university accommodation.
Before you sign up to anything, it’s important that you do your research and think about what’s important to you. University websites are a good place to start, where you will find pictures of what their different accommodation looks like, information about the facilities available, as well as the costs associated with them.
If you have any questions at all whilst reading this guide, you can ask our student ambassadors at any time, using the link below.
Deciding where to live
Watch our current student ambassador AJ explain about different living situations to choose from.
A few tips about accommodation:
Watch virtual tours or attend virtual open days
See what the campus and facilities are like so that you can make a decision about somewhere being the right fit for you.
Make sure you read the small print
Most accommodation providers (including halls of residence) have strict guidelines and rules on what you can and cannot do.
Check what bills you’ll need to pay
The cost of living in halls of residence usually includes electricity and water bills, but you’ll still need to pay for things like insurance and a TV licence.
Consider the essentials
You'll need things for your bedroom and kitchen. If you move into halls of residence, check what's included and is there already so you don't buy things unnecessarily.
Watch our current student ambassador Becca talk about living at university.
To find out more about the different accommodation options at the University of Sussex click below
Halls of Residence
Most Universities will have hall of residence either on their campus or in the surrounding town or city where you study. In terms of making friends, living with other students is a great way to get to know people.
If you are on campus you won’t have to worry about commuting to lectures, group work or to use the library. It’ll also be easy for you to get involved in clubs and societies, and other activities put on by the student union. Find out more about facilities you can find on a university campus in our toolkit here.
If you’re going to be living away from home for the first time, halls can also be good preparation for living in the private-rented sector, as you have many of the benefits of independence without the complications of utility bills or landlords. You’ll also be well supported by the housing office, if anything goes wrong.
At the University of Sussex everyone in halls is also be supported by a Residential Life Connector. Below is a video about what moving in day looked like at Sussex.
Shared Houses
Some people may prefer to rent a flat or house with a group of students from a landlord or letting agent. This is a good option for anyone who wants their own living space outside the realms of University, which is sometimes something that mature students may prefer. This option will give you greater flexibility of where you live and with whom. It often means you will be a bit further away from the University. You will also have to budget for, and manage the payment of utility bills with your flatmates.
It is worth noting that not all universities are able to guarantee a place in halls of residence for all first-year students, so you could be among those who miss out, especially if you've come through Clearing or are late with your application. Most Universities will have an accommodation office and/or a students' union where you will be able to meet other first years who are looking at private rented accommodation too.
If you're going for a student house, you've got two main options:
Gathering a group of friends and finding a house together – This is what most 2nd and 3rd year students do.
Finding a spare room in a house (or opting for a one-bed/studio flat)
If you go with the second option you can head to a site like SpareRoom and find a room in an already-occupied house, giving you a chance to meet your potential new flatmates and suss out whether you'll be compatible. Alternatively, some letting agents and landlords put a group of individual students in a house at the same time, like in halls, so you won't find out who you're living with until you move in.
It is also important that you make sure that you protect your deposit. The below UCAS blog provides information about how to protect your deposit.
The Uni Guide provides some great information about how to navigate finding somewhere to rent privately, if you decide not to stay in halls in your first year at University.
To learn a bit more about what it’s like living an a shared house watch this video.
Commuting from home
If you’re within commuting distance of your university, living at home with family while studying is definitely worth considering. In fact, according to a Which University Study 23% of students reported to do just that.
Rent accounts for a substantial part of students’ budgets. Even if you're paying a small amount in rent to your family, plus your travel to university a couple of days a week, it is likely to be significantly cheaper than living at university. Because of this, there has been a rise in 'commuter students', with some universities reporting that around half of their undergraduate students live at home. You may lose out on some of the social benefits of living close to campus though, so it is worth thinking about how you can get involved in social activities to make sure that you make the most of your time at university.
Check out Aimee’s blog below as to why she chooses to live at home by clicking below.
University of Sussex Access Programme
If you are not already part of the University of Sussex Access Programme, please sign up to learn more about what it is like to study at university. Being part of the programme gives you access to a range of subject-specific academic events delivered by University of Sussex academics, Multi-Subject Taster Days, and a chance to attend our summer residential programme. All events free to take part-in, and include our student ambassadors. All you need to do is join our programme here.
Connect with us
