So you’ve got your place at Leeds Beckett in the bag (if it’s unconditional, lucky you!) and your next step is to sort out your student digs. Luckily Leeds Beckett has a range of different student halls, giving you a lot of choice when picking the accommodation that’s best for you. I’m not going to bore you with long lists of what each has to offer as the breakdown of all the halls can be found HERE. This is going to be more of a guide before you pick your favourite.

Anyway, picking the correct halls...

  1. Come and see for yourself
    I highly recommend attending one of the university Applicant Days as these are a great way to not only find out more about the university and your course but it also allows you to have a look around the different student halls to get a ‘feel’ for them before you decide on which you’d like to pick. This is a great time to ask any questions you may have to students who have lived there. If you’re unable to attend any then I would suggest using the accommodation virtual tours online to have a look around.
  2. Price
    Don’t let it be the only deciding factor in your choice of halls, but at the same time, you can’t totally ignore the cost of the accommodation. Leeds Beckett accommodation is spread from £144 up to £250 per week so there really is a bed for every budget. Don’t be picking the best of the best if you can’t afford it, as I’m sure you’d much rather the extra cash be spent on yourself! In my opinion, en-suites aren’t always worth the extra money that you pay for them, which leads me on to my next point...
  3. Bathrooms
    When picking your halls, you’ll more than likely have the choice of an en-suite or shared bathroom. Many don’t like the idea of a shared bathroom but let me tell you, it’s not as bad as you think! As weird as it may sound, sharing a bathroom makes halls life much more social; normal tasks like brushing your teeth turn into a chance to have a laugh and talk nonsense with your housemates. However, if you do prefer a bit more of your own space, then yes, en-suite is probably the better option for you. Yes, with a shared bathroom there’s a chance someone you’re sharing with may be a bit messy (or might have a questionable shower singing voice) but I’ll talk about this in my next point, the accommodation preference form.
  4. Accommodation Preference Form
    When applying for your accommodation, you will be asked to fill out a form with your first and second choice accommodation as well as other questions such as your cleanliness, how sociable you are etc. Answer these questions honestly as this ensures you get put with people who have similar preferences to yourself.
  5. Where you’ll be studying
    The campus your course is based on should be a big influence to your choice of halls. You’ll either be based on City or Headingley Campus. Living closer to the campus you’ll be spending most of your time at will make your life a lot easier, as well as increasing the chances of you being placed with/close to a course mate. I lived in Carnegie Village on Headingley Campus, and let me tell you, being able to wake up at 8:50 and not being late for a 9AM lecture is a massive bonus. However, don’t think that living in one place and studying in another is a problem as the regular buses make it a breeze to travel between Headingley and Leeds. Have a look what’s in the surrounding area as well. Luckily all of Beckett’s halls have bars, shops and restaurants nearby.
  6. Flat size
    This one isn’t such a major factor but one you should still consider. Are you the sort of person that would only like to live in a small group? Or do you reckon you’re someone who’d prosper being surrounded by people all the time? This is something you need to decide before choosing your halls. Luckily each halls offer flats of different capacities allowing you to choose your favourite.

In conclusion, halls is by far the best way to start university life! You meet so many new people and every day brings something new. Wherever you pick, make sure to make the most of it as if you blink, you’ll miss it. They do say that time flies when you’re having fun.

Should you have any more questions, some useful contacts can be found here.

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