How I chose my student accommodation

Choosing my room in UON Halls

Selecting your accommodation for University is a very important decision, as the people you live with in the first year are likely to become your friends for the rest of your time studying. Finding the ideal environment will encourage these relationships to grow, making time away from home a lot easier. Here’s how I chose the Standard Single student accommodation, which has a shared bathroom.

The Location

At an Open Day, I discovered that the majority of my lectures would take place either on-campus at Waterside or at the Development Hub (approx a 15-minute walk away), so I decided it would be easier for me to live in one of the Waterside flats. This is because I am able to get to my lectures quickly, saving time that can be spent on studying, cooking, or socialising. It also made it easier to participate in activities during Freshers’ Week. However, if you have a car, Scholars Green may be more suitable due to its cheaper price as it is further away from the Campus. Also, if your lectures take place at the Innovation Centre, St John’s Hall is closer.

The Price

Of all the room types available at Waterside, the cheapest is the Standard Single room. This is due to the fact that it has a shared bathroom. As I had requested to be in a house with two of my friends, I considered it was likely I would be sharing a bathroom with one of them, and thus was unbothered about sharing. However, if sharing bothers you but you still want to save money, then I’d recommend the second cheapest room, the small en-suite. The town house is shared between 12 students and the bathroom is shared with 1 other person.

Room Layout

Another perk of the Standard Single room is that it is larger than the more expensive small en-suite, and a similar size to the large en-suite due to the lack of a bathroom taking up space. This was perfect for me as a musician who needs more space to rehearse in. Furthermore, the Standard Single is located in a townhouse consisting of multiple storeys with the large living area on the ground floor, which gave the place a more homely feel and made the transition from home to University easier.

To conclude, I recommend bearing all of these factors in mind when selecting your accommodation and applying as early as you can to increase your chances of being successful.

Explore UON student accommodation at one of our open days

Joe Glover

Joe is a second-year Popular Music student here at the University of Northampton, with a particular interest in creating scores for film and television, as well as writing and performing alternative rock music. Joe also works as a Student Representative for his undergraduate course, and is passionate about being involved within the University in any way possible.