We've gathered some answers to a few questions that you may be wondering as your young person moves into their new home in September.
For the answers to anything not on this page, make sure to check our accommodation section.
How can I help my young person decide whether to live at home or not?
Talking to your dependent about different accommodation options can help them decide what’s the best choice for them: here is a handy list of the pros and cons to choosing to live at home or on-campus.
Living at home
If your young person will be attending a university close to their family's home, this option might be the most convenient for them.
Many students nowadays choose to live at home and commute to campus every day to save money, however, they should carefully consider all the pros and cons of their decision:
Pros
- Being supported by family members and childhood friends regularly
- Familiarity with the area where the student grew up
- It could be cheaper to live at home, cook and eat family meals
- Living in shared accommodation means having to deal with other students’ habits that might be different from what the student is used to
- Less distractions, especially during peak study times
- Look for activities aimed at commuters: chance to engage with other off-campus students
Cons
- University is a time to learn how to be independent: it might be harder when living with family
- Students need to take into account the costs of commuting to university
- Students might have to make more effort into joining clubs and societies and making friends
Residence Halls
Many first-year students choose to live in residence halls because they are a great way to start creating connections and settling into university life. If your applicant didn’t get their first-choice accommodation, don’t panic: the accommodation team works hard to find the hall that may suit them the most.
If they’re still undecided whether they want to live at home or on-campus, the following pros and cons might help them make the best decision:
Pros
- 24-hour security and facilities will to check any faults that may occour in their room
- Students are in the same boat as each other, making it easy to make friends
- All the university buildings are nearby, meaning it's only a short walk to lectures, the library and the gym
- Rent for on-campus accommodation includes a meal plan
- There’s no better way to learn how to be independent!
Cons
- Halls could be more expensive than living at home
- Students may have to share common spaces and bathrooms, unless they have an en-suite room
- Students may end up with a noisy neighbour
How does the allocation process work?
The application and allocation process is managed by the Accommodation Team and is based on student data received from the Admission Office, information received via the accommodation application, advice from the University Wellbeing Service and the St Mary’s International Office.
The Accommodation Team will contact all eligible applicants with instructions on how and where to apply. Normally, eligible students can access the online application portal as of late-March.