Private student accommodation Vs uni halls

University halls are owned and managed by your chosen university – this means that you will only live with other students that attend your university. This is often a popular option for first year students as it’s a great way to make friends. As well as this, all accommodations will have direct links to university buildings.

Private student accommodations such as Hello Student, are run by private landlords that provide students with rooms purposely built for student life. Unlike university halls, privately owned accommodations will have students from lots of different universities living in them. This allows for students to broaden their network beyond their university.

Private student accommodations offer a variety of room types such as shared apartments (similar to traditional uni halls), studio apartments and shared houses. Different from university halls, private student accommodations give you the power to choose the specific building and room you would like to live in. This could be a group booking with friends, an accommodation close to the city centre or practically on campus living.

University halls will often have a limited range of standard rooms that will either have an ensuite or shared bathroom. Most will have a single bed as well as a shared communal kitchen. Each room will be part of a shared flat that will usually have around 10-15 other rooms offering students a social & communal living experience.

Private student accommodation offers a wide range of different rooms. For example:

• Studio apartments (these can be bigger, smaller or a standard size)
• Shared apartments – Lots of providers offer a range of shared apartments. This means you could share a 2 bedroom flat or live in a flat that’s up to 10 people.
• Shared houses – some private student accommodations such as Hello Student, even offer house shares. This means you can share a modern spacious house but also make use of the onsite amenities as well as all inclusive bills.

When booking your room with a private student accommodation provider, you’ll be able to pick the specific room number in the building and your booking will be confirmed then and there meaning you won’t have to worry about where you’re going to live for your next year at university – unlike standard uni halls.

Each room is likely to be modern and high-spec, as providers strive to stay aligned with the latest market trends to offer students excellent value for money.

Typically university halls are in prime locations, close to or on university campus’. They are designed this way to allow for easy access to university facilities. Most accommodations will be close to one another, meaning your friends from university will only be a stone’s throw away regardless of which accommodation they’ve been assigned.

Private student accommodations vary in location. They tend to prioritise being close to universities as well as city centre locations and key transport hubs. Because of this, private accommodation can provide a more independent living experience.

University halls are generally a cheaper option with fewer amenities, though cost may vary based on a building by building basis. Modern rooms or rooms with an ensuite will be more expensive than your traditional, basic room with a shared bathroom.

Private student accommodations are priced at a premium but can offer a lot of bang for your buck. Many rooms have a double bed, bigger living space, better security, modern finishes and added amenities that are included in your rent such as access to onsite gyms, cinema rooms, large communal areas and study rooms.

Different room types will be priced accordingly. For example, studio apartments are usually more expensive than a shared apartment.

Most university halls have basic amenities such as a shared kitchen, laundry and a basic common room that will usually include a lounge area as well as a ping pong table. Depending on the halls you live in, the common room space can be very popular and a great place to socialise/meet friends.

Private student accommodations will vary on the types of facilities they have depending on provider and the type of building. Most small accommodations will have lounge areas and dedicated study spaces whereas bigger private accommodations have amenities such as fully equipped gyms, cinema rooms, private dining spaces, large common rooms, study spaces, music rooms, karaoke rooms, swimming pools, concierge and more.

Double check the added extras you get as part of your tenancy – we don’t want you to miss out!

University halls have contracts that are often tied to academic terms. Usually, students will need to move out when semester 3 ends which is usually around June or July.

Private student accommodation offers varied contract lengths, often suitable for full-year stays or postgraduate requirements such as starting university in January instead of September.

The community you live in when you are at university is arguably one of, if not the most important factor when choosing where to live at university. University halls and private student accommodations provide very different environments from one another.

University halls are the most popular living option for first year students looking to make friends and enjoy social events on a regular basis. As mentioned previously, these accommodations are communal, meaning you will be sharing kitchen and lounge spaces as well as bathrooms if not renting an ensuite room.

A private student accommodation will have a broader mix of students including 1st, 2nd & 3rd year students from a mix of universities, postgrads, and international students. Onsite teams will also be more prominent as they will organise events, look after your post and make sure that any maintenance enquiries are answered promptly.

As mentioned above, university halls offer a more communal living with shared bathrooms and kitchens (unless en-suite). Whereas, private accommodations offer more private spaces, including self-contained studios but have larger, better equipped communal spaces designed for socialising as well as supporting your study journey at uni.

The support provided whilst you are at university is important. From maintenance requests, post collection to wellbeing support, sometimes you’ll need help throughout the year.

When living at traditional university halls you’ll have direct access to campus support networks and resident advisors.

Similarly at a private student accommodation you’ll have access to a professional management team to provide support, though services may vary.

At Hello Student, our onsite teams are there when you need them and happy to leave you be when you don’t. We offer 24/7 wellbeing support to make sure the students that live with us have the best living experience.

The booking for each type of accommodation is very different. When looking to live at university halls, you’ll need to apply and will be allocated a room by the university at random. However, at a private student accommodation you can choose your preferred room and features, often using a detailed booking platform.

Applying for university halls

You’ll be able to apply for a room at a university halls from the time you receive a conditional or unconditional offer from your university. This will typically be between March – May.

To guarantee that you’ll get allocated a room at university halls you should aim to have your application submitted by late May or June. If you apply later than this your options may be limited or you may not have a room allocated to you.

Applying for private student accommodation

Some private providers allow students to book up to a year in advance however many will release prices and rooms for the next academic year between October and December.

Private accommodations work on a first come, first served basis so to be sure you book the room you would like in the best accommodation it’s recommended that you secure your booking around March time. However, if you miss the springtime booming period, lots of private accommodation providers have some rooms available even into the summer months.