Attending university can be a challenging time for many when it comes to finding the right accommodation however being a mature student does present a whole different host of challenges. Whilst you may be comfortable staying with people of all ages, the party-focused lifestyle of those in the first year may not be the ideal way to complete your studies. If you are undertaking a Master’s in Creative Writing or doing a postgrad degree, then you probably need a lot more quiet and focus to get on with your studies.
Many assume that student accommodation is focused around halls and flats, however, the expanding temporary market of serviced and self-catered apartments are offering many students more choice on where they can stay.
The type of accommodation you pick when attending university can have a big impact on your performance and overall wellbeing. The benefits of making the right choice, then are clear. But what exactly are the different accommodation options for mature students attending university?
- Student Halls
Halls are the first type of student accommodation that come to mind for many, and whilst many universities will offer hall-based accommodation to mature students, the party lifestyle has the potential to distract from studies. We recommend this option if you are planning to be staying at the university for extended periods within a high-contact course. Additionally, student halls tend to offer wifi options that aren’t always accessible if you were to live at home during your studies. Often Universities use a dark fiber network service to offer the quickest and most manageable wifi service to their students. This could be beneficial to you as a student constantly working on assignments.
- Serviced Apartments
For those mature students looking to spend a bit of extra money to focus on their studies, serviced apartments could be a good bridge between staying at home and full-blown university accommodation. These apartments often offer both short- and long-term contracts and are found in many different university towns. This could be a good option if you plan on spending time at the university sporadically and will spend the rest of the time studying elsewhere.
- A student flatshare
The student flatshare Is the accommodation route that many go down after they have finished first year. This is definitely an option for mature students, and many will choose it as it offers good value for money for those looking for a high amount of involvement with their degree. This option is good if you are slightly more extroverted and would not mind living with others during your studies.
- Staying at home
The final option on our list is to study at home. This offers some big benefits in terms of cost savings on rent and travel time; however, it can lead to mature students feeling isolated and separated from their course mates. Despite the drawbacks, this is a good student accommodation option if you live close to the campus enough to commute.
The best choice will depend on the individual and the length of the stay
The nature of university courses means a lot of time is devoted to self-study as a means of education, and this will vary depending on the course and institution. For a mature student, this also impacts on the amount of time that the individual will need to spend at the campus. This is a key factor as someone looking to attend a 3-year high-contact course will have more long-term accommodation needs and may opt for a flatshare.
Alternatively, for a mature student looking to attend the university lectures for only a few weeks at a time, perhaps short term serviced accommodation may be the best route to go down. Ultimately, the choice will depend on the lifestyle factors that the student wants to consider.
