Best Types Of Student Accommodation For Affordable Stay In 2024

Are you tired of pushing yourself through random Facebook and WhatsApp groups in the hunt of finding a student accommodation that is suitable for you? Most students are usually faced with the dilemma of whether to stay on campus or off campus during their time at university. To throw some light on this, here is a comprehensive list of different types of student accommodation with its pros and cons to help you make the best choice for you.  

Types Of Accommodation For Students

While weighing out your options, you will notice that most students usually go for one of the two types of student accommodations, i.e. on-campus and off-campus.  

What is On-Campus Accommodation?

On campus, accommodation is usually student housing that is located either at the university or at a closer convenience from the university. While booking one, you might come across terms like “Halls of residence” or “Student apartments”, which are terms synonymous with on-campus accommodation. Here is a general idea of different types of on-campus accommodation with their living pros and cons:

Halls of Residence

Halls of Residence are a type of accommodation universities and colleges offer students during their study tenure. Usually, Halls of residence are based on the campus or at a convenient, walkable distance from the university. In an accommodation scenario, you will be co-existing and sharing the space with one or a few roommates; you will also have to share a kitchen, bathroom, and common living space area. Mostly, early-year and freshmen students prefer to leverage the option of staying in halls of residence as it helps them build a close association with the university, has no commute stress, and helps them get an enriching college experience as a whole. 

Pros of living in Halls of Residence

• You will be more closely associated with the student community on campus 
• You will be free from commuting stress 
• You can easily bond and start building your social circle 

Cons of living in Halls of Residence

• Lack of privacy might be one of the matters of concern while living in a hall of residence
• These types of accommodations for students are not endowed with extra amenities like game rooms, cinemas, etc. 

What is Off Campus Accommodation?

Off campus accommodation is just as self explanatory; it is accommodation that lies beyond the boundaries of the university. This can be in any location and any part of the city, usually they are privately owned and come in a number of different types like PBSA’s, Homestays, etc.

PBSA’s 

Purpose built student accommodations or popularly known by its acronym PBSA is an exclusively designed and well built type of accommodation for students by private developers. To know more about PBSA you should definitely skim through our article Why PBSA Student Housing is the right choice for you? 

   Pros of living in a PBSA

• All the amenities and services offered in a PBSA are “student centric” 
• They are always located in prime locations 
• PBSA keeps students entertained with some nowhere else found amenities like game rooms, cinema, sauna, etc. 

 Cons of living in a PBSA

• Some PBSAs accept monthly payments, much on-campus housing only accepts semester payments.
•  PBSAs typically have guidelines established by the corporation overseeing.

Homestay

When students move away to colleges and universities, they crave the greater feeling of being at home. Homestays is one of the types of student accommodation that is designed to give into that craving and provide you with all the comforts of being at home while being away from it. Most students applying for homestay options connect with local host families through the university's contacts or popular online websites. Some basic things you can expect from living at a homestay are a private furnished bedroom, shared kitchen/ washroom space, access to the living area and house, and internet access with meals provided. Lastly, homestays might not have the luxury amenities like a PBSA or a privately owned studio apartment. Still, it surely has the luxury of the warmth of a home, home-cooked meals, and family bonding time. 

  Pros of living in a Homestay 

• Homestays are a good remedy and fix for students who struggle with loneliness and homesickness 
• Homestays are one of the types of student accommodation that is very affordable 
• You can quickly adapt to the country’s culture and understand how things work faster.

Cons of living in a Homestay 

• Living under one roof might also mean following family rules and regulations. 
• There is a lack of privacy and space when living with a family. Hence independent living can seem like a far-fetched idea. 

To be more clear check out our blog On campus vs off Campus Which one is better

Comparison between on campus and off campus accommodation

Things to check before choosing the right types of student accommodation

Now that we have steered away your clouds of doubts on the different types of student accommodation, here are some checkers you must consider before hitting the "Book now" button:

Budget 

Keep your wallet in check while booking your accommodation. The budget might be one of the first filters for booking your student accommodation. Make sure you have a considerable amount of range kept in your mind before you start looking at different student accommodation websites. Many types of student accommodation cater to different budgets. If you choose to budget less, there are affordable student accommodation options like PBSAs, Homestays; if you are leaning towards a big budget, then studio apartments can be a sought-after option.

Amenities 

Amenities cover an important chunk of your decision-making process while booking student accommodation. Every accommodation should at least pass the check of basic amenities like proper bedding, desk, chair, energy & water supply, gas, WiFi, etc. Apart from this, many different types of student accommodation have add-on features like a gym, fitness centre, swimming pool, theater, game room, etc. Check your basic needs first; then, look for your secondary wants.  

Location 

Like budget and amenities, location is also important while mapping out the right student accommodation for you. An ideal location for student accommodation shouldn't be away from the university and the hustle and bustle of the city. The location of the accommodation must also be easily accessible to grocery stores, hospitals, the city centre, transit lines, etc. Compromising on distances to the places mentioned above is a huge red flag when choosing student accommodation. 

Personal Preferences 

Every student is different, let it be their potential, career goals, nationality or study programme. Similarly, everyone has different lifestyle needs. Some students hope for a simple living while others would like to live more comfortably with the help of add-on amenities. Based on which lifestyle you want to choose to live, you can pick your accommodation.   

To choose amongst the best types of student accommodation, you should know which options are readily available in your area. Most importantly, ask yourself what budget and lifestyle you want to live while being away from home. So, which type of student accommodation suits you well? Also, Check out this blog to know all the important clever organization hacks before you start living in an accommodation in 2023.