Choosing accommodation
Ita is an Archaeology PhD student, who also studied for her undergraduate and Master’s degrees at the University of Edinburgh. As she’s spent 6 years living here, she’s pretty well-placed to talk about the pros and cons of accommodation for students in the city.
“Where am I going to live?”
If you’re moving away from home for University you will have to ask yourself, “Where am I going to live?” Whether you are just starting your university journey or going into another year, it’s something you should considered carefully. After all, where (and with whom) you live will have an impact on your studies and general university experience.
First-year undergraduate – University-managed accommodation: Catered or self-catered?
As a first-year undergraduate student, you have an option of a catered or self-catered University-managed accommodation. The difference is not limited to whether you have your meals cooked for you or whether you have to do that yourself, the difference is also in the living arrangement.
Pollock Halls
In catered accommodation – which is called Pollock Halls – you are assigned to a ‘house’ or ‘hall’ where you will most likely have your own room to yourself, or share it with another student if you go for a twin room. The only ‘shared spaces’ where you will meet other people are the common room in your hall, pantry area on your floor, and the general dining hall in John McIntyre Conference Centre. In self-catered accommodation you will also most likely have your own room, but you will live in a flat with other people (usually 6-8 people, though smaller and bigger flats are also possible). There you will share spaces like a lounge and a kitchen with the people in your flat.
At this stage you need to consider two main points – are you comfortable enough with cooking for yourself from the very beginning and are you willing to live in a flat with complete strangers?
The first question is important and relates to more than your cooking abilities. The first year of your undergraduate degree is the only time you can have your meals cooked for you (usually breakfast and dinner are provided), after your first year you will have to cook for yourself. Secondly, cooking requires food shopping and depending on how familiar you are with the UK ‘groceries landscape’, you might have a bit of a culture shock. It is definitely worth asking yourself whether you feel up to exploring Edinburgh and food shopping from the very start – literally your first day. Personally, I wasn’t and this was also one of the reasons why I chose catered accommodation. Plus, you will have to figure out how to structure your daily activities so that you have enough time to cook for yourself – it is possible, but might be tricky during the first few months, especially if at the same time you are trying to settle into your new life, adjust yourself to studying at university level, and meet new friends. Some people thrive in such circumstances, but I found it quite challenging, especially as I was for the very first time far away from home and didn’t know anyone when I first came to Edinburgh. It is important to ask yourself what will work for you and consider it very carefully.
John McIntyre Conference Centre Restaurant
The second question is a bit trickier. When you choose the catered accommodation, you don’t really need to worry to much about it. After all, you will only occasionally meet the people you share the floor with and when you meet them is more up to you. Plus, if you don’t get along too well, you can meet other students at the dinning hall and at University more generally while at the same time you can limit your interactions with those within your hall to a bare minimum.
However, if you choose a self-catered option, you will have to live with those who share your flat. This means more than occasional interactions. It means sharing the kitchen, including the fridge, hobs, oven, etc. It also means being ‘exposed’ to what other people are cooking/eating and to their habits – and this might cause problems. And if you don’t get along with your flatmates, you have to stick it out to the end of your first year. You might be lucky – as from what I have heard most people are – and get along brilliantly with your flatmates. But what if you are less fortunate? Here you should ask yourself how big an impact that might have on you and your studies. Some people can deal with such situations easily, but others will find it more challenging. You need to consider this point carefully when choosing your first-year accommodation.
Master’s accommodation
If you are coming to Edinburgh for an Master’s degree, you will have an option of going into University-managed accommodation. However, at postgraduate level there is only self-catered accommodation. It operates just as in the case of undergraduate students, although you will live with other postgraduate. Alternatively, you can go into privately-managed student halls or rent something around town (see below).
Beyond first-year undergraduate, and for PhD students at all stages
The Advice Place in Potterrow, Central Area campus, is home to EUSA’s professional advice team offering students free, impartial and confidential information.
After first year you will have to find an accommodation for your next years (you don’t have to stay in the same accommodation for the duration of your degree, though). There are many options: renting a flat from the University-affiliated agency; renting from a letting agency, going into a privately-managed student accommodation, or renting privately from adverts on websites. All this depends on your preferences and means. Some options are more expensive than others, sometimes it might be easier to rent a flat if you are renting as a group (e.g., with friends). However, if you are on your own, you can always go into private student accommodation or rent a room in a flat share. Whatever you choose, make sure it works for you. Take your time to consider all options, decide which one you like best, start early (this will maximise your chances), and be ready to compromise (e.g., you might be able to secure an accommodation a bit further away from University instead of just off the Central Area – but I wouldn’t worry too much about that as the transport links are very good throughout Edinburgh. And remember, if you are unsure or feel lost, don’t hesitate to ask for help. There’s plenty of support available (e.g. Accommodation Team, EUSA, Advice Place), so you will not be on your own when figuring out where to live
Overall, the most important things are to start early and be careful. Familiarise yourself with your chosen accommodation (whether online or in-person), check what is included and what you might need to bring with you or buy. Get to know the area – shopping options, who generally lives in the neighbourhood, any green spaces, distance from campus, etc. You can do most of these remotely – there are plenty of blog posts and social media content from current students sharing tips and introducing various parts of Edinburgh – plus you can always chat to students on UniBuddy.
Just remember to think carefully about accommodation generally. If something doesn’t feel right, stop to think and ask for help – you’re not on your own.
Share
