First year students should stay in university halls rather than share a flat._F

The majority of the first year students always have a dilemma: whether to share a flat or go to a univeristy hall? In my opinion, to share a flat can be a temptation, but it's better to go to a  university hall.

Firstly, even thought  to share a flat with other students, means having many duties, for example, cook or clean the clothes. However, in a hall there are people who do all these things. Moreover, a hall is more private than a flat. What's more, in a hall, normally, you have a timetable that you have to respect, even so, in a flat, people tend to be more disorganized. As a result, they study less and have worse marks.

To conclude, during your first year at university ,it is better to go to a university hall than to share a flat, but this is only my opinion.

Alfredo Lamoso 2B

First year students should stay in university halls rather than share a flat_F

Every year most students choose to stay in university halls rather than share a flat when they go away to study. The university hall is a residential block in or attached to a university, college, etc. As far as I’m concerned, this sort of accommodation has more advantages than private accommodation for a student's first year.

First of all, you only have to look at the location. University halls are on campus, they are closer to the university where you will study. Consequently, you spend less money on transport and waste less time getting to class. Secondly, if you stay in the university hall, you will meet a lot of people, you will have the opportunity to meet different types of people and make a lot of new friends too. Last but not least, safety and security are better in university halls. University buildings have porters or security staff who can be an advantage if you need help. Nevertheless, private accommodation could be cheaper than staying in university halls. Sharing a flat also could be less noisy than a residence. Finally, if you share a flat you normally can choose with whom.

However and to sum up, I think that for a student’s first year the best option is to stay in university halls. After the first year, I’m sure that you are ready to share a flat with friends you have made in the residence.

Julia Gómez de Tejada 2A

First year students should stay in university halls rather than share a flat_F

When you finish the second year of baccalaureate in high school you may go to university. If you go to another city, you have to choose if you want to stay in a university hall or share a flat, and this can be a difficult decision.

I think that it is better to go to university halls for several reasons. Firstly, because in a university hall you don't have to prepare food and you don't have to worry about buying food. So, you can spend this time getting to know the new city. Secondly, in a university hall you make more friends than in a flat, and at our age , one of the best things that we like to do is make friends.And least but not least, staying in a university hall is better because you have enough people who can help you in anything.

However, we have to know that in a flat you have more privacy and you can choose who you want to share the flat with.

To sum up, I think that it is better to stay in a university hall the firsts years because we have enough with the new city and with the new degree to worry about accommodation. Maybe after some years it is better to share a flat, but the first years I think that it is better to stay in a University hall.

Marta Andreu 2A

FIRST YEAR STUDENTS SHOULD STAY IN UNIVERSITY HALLS RATHER THAN SHARE A FLAT_F

Most  people have always dreamed about sharing a flat with their friends the first year wherever they are studying and they don't think about staying at a university hall. But that's because some people associate things like "curfew" and "rules" to university halls, which doesn't represent reality; there are many types of university halls that differ depending on how much freedom you are given.

Once you know freedom would be given in both places, you must think about another reason why one place is better than the other.

It's not only my opinion, people who have lived the experience say a university hall allows you to be in touch with a group of people of your age who are complete strangers at the beginning but a bit later become acquaintances and finally become your soulmates.

This is the most positive thing that a university hall brings you; meeting people. 

However , somebody could say that at university, you will also be able to meet people, and I would say that's not the same, because after all, where you spend your free time is in the university hall or flat. 

So start thinking about it because that decision will probably change your life. 

Júlia Martí

FIRST YEAR STUDENTS SHOULD STAY IN UNIVERSITY HALLS RATHER THAN SHARE A FLAT _ F

Most of the students move abroad when they start university. In my view, the best option for the first year is to stay in university halls.

First of all, it has to be taken into account that this new period  is a big change in their lives. They move to a new city, furthermore, it’s the first time they live alone. Therefore, they need some time to adapt to the new change. 

If you live in a flat you have to take charge of all housework: cooking, washing… However, university halls include all the things mentioned above so you can concentrate on your studies.
Moreover, university accommodation makes it easier to get to know other students like you with whom you can share you experience and help each other.

To sum up, a university hall  is recommendable for the first year because it makes easier to adapt to the new way of life.

Júlia Quevedo 2A

Most first-year students choose residence halls but sharing a flat has more advantages_F

Nowadays most first-year students choose going to residence halls rather than  share a flat. To decide if you prefer to stay in a residence hall  live the adventure of sharing a flat is one of the issues that you have to make before taking the plunge. Neither option is openly better than the other, but it is better to study the advantages and disadvantages of each before making a decision.

On the one hand, many students decide to go to the residence halls to save a significant part of the housework. The vast majority of university residences have, for example, a canteen, which prevents the student having to cook, wash dishes or make the purchase. Furthermore, many parents also prefer their children to go to a residence  the first year because they think there will be more controlled than in a student flat and you will be able to meet new people easily.
On the other hand, students choose to live in a shared flat rather than a residence because it is cheaper and you can share costs for water, gas and electricity, which is reflected in a significant  cost savings. Also you have the greatest chance of privacy, freedom and independence and in addition, flat share helps you to be more mature, patient and tolerant of having to adapt to living with other people, sometimes unknown.

On balance, going to residence halls or sharing a flat has its own advantages and disadvantages , but I think that if you are responsible and choose sharing a flat with your friends, you will be able to have more advantages.  

Enric Pons 2B

276 words!!! 

HOUSING VS LIVING IN HALLS

Where you choose to live is a very important aspect of university life. For many, it’s the first time living away from home, and it’s a great time to gain some independence with the added bonus that you can live with your friends. With all the accommodation options, there are of course, pros and cons to each which are vital to consider before signing any contract. Here’s a short guide to the major advantages and disadvantages of private housing in comparison to living in university accommodation.

PRIVATE SECTOR

Choosing Who You Live With

Firstly, if you’re living in the private sector, it’s highly likely that you’ve completed your first year of uni and you’ve now chosen to live with the friends you’ve made. This is one of the biggest pros of living in the private sector: you can choose exactly who to live with and then find a flat or house with the right number of bedrooms. Private housing allows you to choose how many people you live with, which can hopefully help avoid personal issues down the line.

Comfort

As well as this, having lived in both halls and private accommodation, I can say that having a living room is a major plus point of living off campus. It means that the kitchen is not the main communal area, and sofas are far more comfy than the plastic kitchen chairs provided in halls. Plus, private accommodation can feel far more homely than a university flat!

Prices and Budgeting

When living in university halls, there can be set prices for all accommodation, which may not suit everyone’s budgets. Therefore choosing somewhere to live off campus can be a great advantage, as you can look specifically within your price range. The costs of private accommodation can differ greatly, with the average, according to the Guardian, costing around £65 per week plus bills. It is always worth checking how much uni halls would cost per week in comparison to the prices estate agents or landlords offer in order to determine which type of housing is best suited to your budget.

Bills

Sorting out bills and converging usage of appliances can be excellent practice for the future when you permanently live in your own house or flat – experiencing the responsibility of bills can be highly beneficial. It’s likely that you’ll have the freedom to decide on your broadband provider and set up payments with them, as well as paying monthly water, gas and electricity bills. Consequently giving you a well-rounded experience of bills and budgeting.

UNI HALLS

Location

One point to consider is where in your uni city you want to live. It’s likely that private accommodation will be further away from university buildings than halls are, so you may have to leave earlier for lectures, or you could run up daily public transport or petrol costs. Check that using transportation to get into uni fits in with your budget, and if it doesn’t then perhaps living in halls would be a better option.

Bills (again)

Bills are a very important area to consider when you’re choosing whether to live in halls or otherwise. It’s likely that bills are included in the price of your halls accommodation, which can be a weight off your mind and you don’t to worry about your usage from a financial perspective. When living in the private sector, you pay for what you use, and when sharing with others this can cause arguments if you end up living with someone who constantly forgets to turn off lights or appliances.

Easy contact with the uni

When living in halls the points of contact for help are generally easily accessible, for example porters or security staff are often on hand to help with a situation when needed. This can be a major advantage if something goes wrong and you need it sorted quickly: often they can react faster than a landlord or estate agents would do.

Getting the full uni experience

Living in halls can be seen as a student rite of passage. You’ll meet a lot of people and it’s likely to be where you begin your uni life, meeting your flatmates and getting settled into living away from home. For first year, living in halls is almost ideal, but after that, when you’ve had the experience, many students find it’s time to find somewhere more homely to live with the friends you’ve made in first year.


There are pros and cons of living on and off campus, in the private sector and in university owned buildings, and one may fit in with your lifestyle and budget more than the other. Ultimately, take some time to research what is best for you, as each option offers something different and each can be a great experience!
http://hub.endsleigh.co.uk/2013/december/shared-accommodation-or-halls-of-residence/

What Are The Pros And Cons Of Living In University Halls?

Living in university halls could be the greatest experience of your life or a living nightmare. There’s a fair bit of luck involved when it comes to location and flatmates, but what are the main pros and cons of choosing halls over private accommodation?Which? University asked current uni students to share their living experiences…

Pros

1. The social aspect and community feel

"Overall, staying in halls is a very wise choice to start your journey at the University as it is place where you'll certainly make most of your friends." - Aberdeen University, 3rd year, Management studies

"I shared with seven other students and I couldn't have asked for better housemates, they really made me feel welcome. I even had someone who studies my course living opposite to walk to lectures with! All my friends lived close by so it was such an amazing community feel. Seriously gutted that I can only stay there for a year, going to miss it!" - Edge Hill University, 1st year, Social studies

2. The chance to meet different types of people

"I met loads of new people from different countries and made loads of friends and studying buddies. It was great that there was so much help available if you felt lonely or had any other problems - student support assistants come for a visit every month." - University of Dundee, 3rd year, Geography

"First year halls are fantastic. You will get to meet and live with a diverse bunch of people, most of whom you often find yourself sharing a house or flat with in the next few years of your study." - University of Southampton, 1st year, Geology


3. Being able to roll out of bed into lectures

"The halls of residence are amazing for a first year student because they are so close to all the uni facilities including lecture halls and gym." - University of Dundee, 3rd year, Social studies

"The Hawthorns (a student house) is in the best location - it is right next to the uni buildings and therefore perfect if you like to roll out of bed and be in your lecture 5 minutes later!" - University of Bristol, 3rd year, Law

"The main halls in the centre of town tend to be the more preferable ones as they are close to shops and very close to university making those early starts feel much better." - Sheffield Hallam University, 3rd year, Computing


4. It can help ease you into independent living

"Halls are the best idea for first year if you haven't had any experience of living on your own because they take the money for the accommodation after your first instalment of student finance comes in but before you have had chance to spend it. All of your bills are included and it gives a very good opportunity to mix." - Cardiff University, 3rd year, Dentistry

Cons

1. Halls could be more expensive than private accommodation

"Staying in halls is more expensive than in private accommodation, but you have facilities included such as heating and water and accommodation staff are on hand if any repairs are necessary." - University of South Wales, 1st year, Health sciences

"You may find it expensive for what is on offer. Also, there is a huge discrepancy in terms of the high-end and low-end accommodation in terms of comfort." - Aberdeen University, 3rd year, Management studies

2. You might get noisy neighbours

"The walls in my halls were especially thin, so you can hear everything that is going on in the kitchen even if you are at the end of the corridor. This may be great during fresher’s week, but afterwards the perpetually drunk group of people on your floor will start to annoy you so much, the way they have no concern for other people." - Liverpool John Moores University, 1st year, Creative writing

"Officially you aren't meant to have parties in your flat but who are we trying to kid, these are student halls! Don't expect complete silence is all I would advise for staying in any halls. If you have noisy neighbours it's much better to give them a knock on the door and ask them politely to keep the noise down if you are trying to sleep or study." - University of Central Lancashire, 2nd year, Midwifery

3. You might not get the cleanest flatmates

"The shared spaces in my halls were often messy and dirty - sharing such a small amount of bathrooms between up to 14 people is very difficult and there is no lounge area to spend time in. All the time in my halls has to spent in your room or in the kitchen, which depending on who you live with could be spotless or really grim." - Anglia Ruskin University, 2nd year, Plant sciences

"As much as people become your friends, someone always steals your food, uses your things or doesn't do their fair share of the washing up." - University of Northampton, 1st year, Psychology

4. A lack of privacy and personal space

"There is a nice sense of community sometimes and there are often hall events. However the halls do get very cliquey which is much more noticeable when you all eat meals in the same room. Halls are very sociable but if you, like me, are the sort of person who needs their own space, by the end of the year I did find living in catered halls very draining as you were constantly surrounded by people." - University of St Andrews, 3rd year, History

"You could end up sharing a flat with five wild animals who couldn't care less about your privacy or need for rest/studies."