Living in halls has helped me a lot in terms of making friends and fitting in. I moved to England from a different country and did not know anyone here. I quickly found out that living in halls basically comes with built-in friends. You will meet your flat mates and get to know each other and do things together, before you have a chance to meet other people. But everyone is in the same boat, as people rarely come to university with their friends.

There are people to help

Living with others can be tough sometimes, as people have different habits and standards of cleanliness. Luckily, there are Senior Residents that can help you deal with any issues and they are easily contactable. Senior Residents are a great asset to student halls as they are first air trained and know how to handle various situations. This made me feel at ease knowing I would not have to deal with stressful situations alone if something happened. Security is also available 24/7: in halls you are living with stranger and it is good to know that there are people there making sure everyone is safe and supported.

Looking after yourself

Living in halls you have to learn how to look after yourself. I know that instant noodles and takeaways sound easy and quick but trust me, your body and general health will thank you if you look after yourself and eat proper meals. University is a great stepping stone from living with your parents to independent living. You have to cook, clean, manage your time and possibly juggle work with university. There are cleaners who support with cleaning your communal area and bathrooms once a week so that's a big plus!

Spaces at halls

The rooms in the student halls are great, they are not too big but not small either, with enough storage for your things. There are also small washbasins in the rooms too which is very practical. Sharing a bathroom is not as bad as it sounds, as I mentioned earlier there are cleaners who help keep on top of the shared spaces. And you can always have a kitchen meeting and discuss any issues. I have not had any problems during my 3 years of living in halls.

Getting into halls

For full-time first year students, you are guaranteed a place in halls when you apply.  You can also apply to stay in halls during second and third year, unless you want to rent a house. If you apply right after applications open, you have a solid chance of getting a room too.

I suggest you come to halls with an  open mind. You will be surprised at the amount of friends you are going to make in the weirdest places!

Made new friends

It was so easy making new friends in uni halls. There are people from many different backgrounds who share different cultural beliefs and are all on different courses. With so many new and different people you'll be able to make lots of new friendships, especially during fresher’s week or fortnight.

I was never alone

At first, it was hard living away from my friends and family back home, but once I settled in I was always surrounded by people and felt so welcome. It is important to have that community feel especially if it’s your first time away from home, just to reduce that overwheling feeling of starting university. In addition to that the accommodation services and senior residents were always around to help with any questions or concerns which made me feel more at ease.

Halls are Guaranteed to Meet Health and Safety Standards 

As opposed to living in shared houses or private accommodation, there are secure health and safety standards to help keep students in the best living space. I feel comfortable and relaxed living in halls, knowing there are cleaners once a week and maintenance workers on hand to assist with any faulty issues.

Living in walking distance

Each of the university halls is situated near the university. This means we do not have to spend money on buses as they are all within walking distance. I found this so important and convenient, especially if you have a local job like I do. Living so close to everything means that once my shift is over I don’t have too far to get home.