Living in student accommodation: catered vs self-catered
By Vivien, from Malaysia, studying Civil Engineering (MEng)
Having experienced both catered and self-catered university accommodations, I can provide some insights into the benefits and drawbacks of each option. If you’re deciding between the two, you’re in the right place!
Self-catered
During my time in an ensuite self-catered accommodation (Salisbury Court), I enjoyed the luxury of having my own bathroom while sharing a kitchen with nine other flatmates. The kitchen was enormous, featuring two hobs, two sinks, a large island kitchen top, a ten-person sofa, and a television for socializing.
Living with nine flatmates, especially during your freshman year, is fantastic for socializing and making lifelong friends. However, the shared kitchen can become messy depending on your flatmates’ habits, even with bi-weekly cleaning. Sticking to the duty rota for chores like taking out the trash, washing dishes, and cleaning the hob and oven can be challenging. Things can get particularly chaotic if your flatmates throw a party in the kitchen.
One significant advantage of self-catered accommodation is the flexibility in planning your diet. You don’t have to worry about missing meals due to late-running society meetings or other commitments.
Catered
Living in a catered accommodation, such as Pollocks Hall, means you don’t have access to a full kitchen but only a pantry equipped with basic appliances like a microwave, kettle, fridge, and toaster. Meals are provided at the John McIntyre Conference Centre with fixed mealtimes:
(Note these times and options may change in future)
– Breakfast: 7:15 am – 10:30 am (weekdays)
– Brunch: 10:30 am – 1:30 pm (weekends)
– Dinner: 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Catered meals save you the time and effort of preparing food amidst a busy university schedule. The menu is also vegan-friendly and offers a variety of options, with occasional treats like salmon and pan-grilled chicken. However, breakfast options are fixed from Monday to Friday, typically an English Breakfast combo. Dinner choices vary daily and include a main course, soup of the day, various fruits, salads, and cordial drinks.
A downside is the fixed meal times, which means you might miss meals if you have society meetings or other commitments. You’ll need to plan around these times to avoid going hungry. Another perk of ensuite-catered accommodation is assisted bathroom cleaning once every fortnight, which adds to the convenience.
Final thoughts
Both catered and self-catered accommodations have their pros and cons. If you value flexibility and enjoy cooking, a self-catered option might be best for you. On the other hand, if you prefer convenience and don’t mind fixed mealtimes, catered accommodation could be the way to go. Consider your lifestyle and priorities when deciding, and you’re sure to have a memorable university experience either way! Don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions, I’m more than happy to answer 🙂
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