Moving out of the family home is a rite of passage shared by thousands of new higher-level students every year. It is not a step to be taken lightly as the wrong choice can impact badly on comfort and finance levels, and ultimately on your exam results. On the other hand, it is an exciting adventure; you alone shall be the final arbiter on what’s for tea every single night! Except in digs, of course. The following is a guide to the three principal forms of accommodation.

University Accommodation

Both Queen’s and UU provide on- and off-campus accommodation.

Queen’s University – Queen’s has recently completed a £45 million investment in Elms Village, a state-of-the-art student village within walking distance of the university that consists of 1086 single en-suite bedrooms (£83.40 a week) and 572 standard single rooms (£70.15 a week) set in low-rise apartment buildings with shared kitchens and common rooms on each floor. Elms Village also features a cafeteria, bar, convenience store, car parking, guest rooms, unlimited Internet access and a launderette.

The university also provide student accommodation off campus, 411 single-study bedrooms in ‘Queen’s Houses’, all nine of which are located a few minutes’ walk from the campus. Rents range from £50.00 to £85.00 a week.

Applicants should contact accommodation@qub.ac.uk for information about application (that are to include a £300 deposit fee) deadlines, which are usually in early August.

Queen’s guarantees accommodation for first year students from outside Belfast who apply before the deadline.

Further information is available on online from the university’s Student Accommodation Services.

University of Ulster – UU provides on-campus accommodation at its Coleraine, Jordanstown and Magee campuses. A booking fee of £100 is required is required on application.

Ranging in prices of £50.00 to £95.00 per week, there is accommodation space for approximately 500 students in five and six bedroom apartments on the Coleraine campus. Off-campus accommodation is available in leased properties in the towns of Coleraine, Portrush and Portstewart.

Over 700 students are accommodated on the Jordanstown campus, with rooms available from £45.00 to £90.00 per week. All have shared self-catering facilities. Students seeking a slightly greater degree of independence can stay off-campus in one of the 220 university-owned apartments in nearby Whiteabbey.

The Magee campus is located in Derry; on-campus accommodation consists of 630 bedspaces, including standard study bedrooms, en-suite rooms and double rooms. All on-campus accommodation includes unlimited broadband access and rents range from £50.00 to £85.00 per week.

For more information on accommodation in the University of Ulster, please click on this link.

On-campus living has many advantages. Being around so many other students means that making friends is much easier, and you are giving yourself the best chance to arrive on time to morning lectures. There is the added convenience of the nearby shops, sports and bar facilities, as well as the peace of mind given by campus security.

However, there are disadvantages to on-campus accommodation too. These include the many distractions to tempt you away from your books, sharing facilities with total strangers (some of whom you may not like), and the curfews and restrictions on having visitors.

Despite the limitations and occasional inconveniences, on-campus accommodation remains the first choice for many people, especially first-year students living away from home for the first time.

Digs

Living in ‘digs’ – as a paying guest in someone’s house – is a traditional option for students moving away from home. People living in digs usually have their own bedroom and bathroom and share eating and TV facilities. The landlord often provides breakfast and dinner.

The secure, comfortable environment of digs, especially the regular meals and clean rooms, are tempting to many students and their parents. However, you won’t have the same freedom as you would if you rented your own place, and tenants’ legislation does not apply to students living in digs.

Students (and their parents) should visit the house in advance, and confirm the price and method of payment, your access to facilities such as the TV, washing machine and microwave, whether you can stay there at weekends, and the landlord’s policy about inviting guests.

Living in digs can be the simplest option for students, and can ease the transition from living at home to being on your own.

Renting

Renting private accommodation can be the most risky of the accommodation options, as well as the most attractive to students craving independence and responsibility. Students looking at possible flats and houses should keep their wits about them, and make their decision carefully.

It is always easier to find somewhere suitable if you are moving in with friends. Three or four people getting a house or flat together is more convenient than moving in with strangers. That said, you won’t be strangers for long, and many people become lifelong friends after living together at college. It is generally best to find a house in an area heavily populated with students, where you will have better relations with neighbours and shouldn’t be too far from your college.

Some student housing can be towards the lower quality end of the rental market, so it is important to find a trustworthy landlord. The landlord should never enter the house without your permission. It is also his or her responsibility to ensure that all appliances are working, that there are solid locks on all doors and that the heating and hot water systems are up to scratch. Inspect the house thoroughly before handing over any money, and bring someone along (such as a parent or friend) who recognises the warning signs of damp and structural problems.

You should insist on a rent book and a properly written lease, and it is generally best, though not always possible, to pay rent by direct debit. Renters usually pay a month’s deposit when they move in and pay each month’s rent in advance. You should also make sure your housemates know who will pay bills such as gas, insurance, waste collection and connection fees for the phone and TV.

Most students end up living in rented accommodation at some stage of their college lives, even if they choose on-campus or digs at first. Renting offers the most freedom, but with freedom comes responsibility, and it is up to you to decide the most suitable accommodation option for your financial and personal situation.

Finding the Place

Wherever you want to live, you can get help finding it from the college/university Students Services office and from the Student Unions. They will provide you with a base to start your search, lists of digs and rental properties that other students have used in the past, and advice on what to expect, including sample rent books and leases.

Asking around at college and checking notice boards on the campus are useful ways of finding out what might be available – fellow students might be aware of places that are newly vacant or in need of another housemate.

Newspapers and web sites such as http://www.nistudentpad.co.uk/ and http://www.shac.org.uk/  are also very useful sources of information. You have to act quickly as many places are filled a few hours after the advert appears. Local estate agents can also help students find somewhere to live, but they tend to charge for their services.

Many students start looking for accommodation the day after they accept their UCAS offer. Finding somewhere to live is an important part of the preparations for third-level education, so it’s a good idea to get the ball rolling as soon as possible. It takes work and forethought to find a place that is right for you, but if you perform your research and think sensibly, you should find a comfortable spot to lay your head during your time at college.