Student halls of residence are a popular accommodation option for university students. Especially in your first year.

They could be owned by a:

• university or other educational institution

• private student accommodation provider

Halls of residence owned by private companies are sometimes called 'purpose built student accommodation' (PBSA).

What are halls of residence like?

You usually get:

• your own furnished bedroom

• shared areas with other students

It's common to share a kitchen and bathroom. You pay more for en-suite rooms with your own bathroom or 'catered' halls where food is provided.

Most halls have laundry facilities where you pay to use the washers and dryers. This might be in a different block or part of the building.

Some halls have other facilities like cinemas or games rooms.

The cost of halls can vary a lot. The cheapest halls start from around £100 a week but more expensive halls could cost as much as £250 a week.

Choose which halls to apply to

You can visit halls of residence if you go to a university open day.

Some things to think about when applying for halls are:

• the cost and your budget

• how many other students you want to share with

• if you need your own bathroom or are ok to share

• how close the halls are to uni or popular student areas

• preferences about who you share with

For example, some halls of residence have single-sex or LGBTQ+ flats.

Many universities ask you to express a preference for at least 3 different halls. You do not always get your first choice.

Find information about halls of residence

You will get information about how to apply for halls of residence when you apply for your course.

If you get a university place through clearing, ask about halls of residence.

You could also check for information:

• on your university or student union website

• with student support services at your university

• by searching online or on local student forums

Students often post their experiences of the halls they live in on student forums or social media.

Try to find information about residents' groups in the accommodation. For example, there might be social groups or other groups offering support for:

• students on certain courses

• international students

• LGBTQ+ students

Standards and quality of halls of residence

Most universities and many private halls of residence sign up to the National Code.

National Code members agree to meet certain standards for the accommodation.

For example, things like:

• repairs and safety

• wellbeing of residents

• rent and deposits

• facilities like kitchen and laundry areas

• complaints

Read the codes on the National Code website.