How do I decide what accommodation is right for me?

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Hello, and thanks for stopping by!

Choosing where to live is one of the most important parts of your university journey – and we’re here to help you make the best choice. With so many options and questions to consider, this blog is your go-to guide for everything you need to know about student accommodation.

Whether you’re curious about the types of housing available, looking for tips on settling in, or wondering what daily life is really like on campus, we’ve got you covered. Along the way, you’ll hear directly from current students and our friendly staff, who’ll share their experiences and insights to help you feel right at home.

How Do I Choose the Right Student Accommodation?

With over 5,000 rooms on our Canterbury campus, more than 1,000 at Pier Quays in Medway, and plenty of private housing options off-campus, it’s completely normal to feel a bit overwhelmed at first. But don’t worry, we’re here to help make the process easier.

Before diving into the details, start by asking yourself these four key questions. They’ll help you focus on what really matters to you and make it easier to find the accommodation that fits your needs and lifestyle.

1. Do I Want to Live On or Off Campus?

Most first-year students choose to live in our on-campus accommodation at Canterbury or in Pier Quays, our partner accommodation, just a 15-minute walk from the Medway campus. That said, there are also plenty of private housing options nearby if you feel off-campus living suits your needs better.

We do recommend living on campus, especially in your first year. It’s a great way to meet new people who are going through the same transition to university life. You’ll get a taste of independent living with the added benefit of dedicated support services right on your doorstep – not to mention the unbeatable commute from your bed to your lectures!

If you’re looking for a quieter environment, our Lifestyle Moderate rooms are designed to group like-minded students together. Plus, for peace of mind, we offer a guaranteed room promise for most new students who apply before the deadline.

Wherever you decide to live, it’s important to get a feel for your future home. We highly recommend attending one of our upcoming Open Days, where you can tour our on-campus accommodation and chat with current students. Can’t make it in person? No problem – check out our virtual tours online to explore all our accommodation options and campus facilities at your convenience.

2. What’s my budget?

It might not be the most exciting question, but it’s definitely one of the most important. Your accommodation needs to fit within your maintenance loan, savings, and any bursaries or grants you may receive, while still leaving room for everything else you’ll need as a student.

Start by writing down your likely expenses. Beyond rent, think about:

  • Essentials like food, toiletries, and course materials

  • Extras such as clothes, nights out, cinema trips, or societies

  • Unexpected costs, because life happens!

One big perk of living on campus is that lots of your bills are already covered. Rent includes utilities (water, heating, electricity), Wi-Fi, personal possessions insurance, and even a gym membership—so you can cross those off your budget list straight away.

Once you’ve got a rough monthly budget, compare it to your loan or income. This will help you decide which price range is realistic for you and where you might be happy to compromise (e.g., sharing facilities instead of having an en-suite room).

💡 Top tip: If your budget’s feeling tight, consider options like shared facilities or self-catered rooms, which are often cheaper and free up cash for other parts of student life.

There are lots of free tools to help with this. Try:

And remember: your accommodation is just one part of your university experience. Make sure you’re leaving enough in your budget to enjoy everything else uni has to offer, from meeting new people to trying new things.

Looking for more tips? Check out our blog posts on Is university accommodation really worth the cost? and Smart ways for students to save money for even more advice.

3. Do I want to cook for myself or have meals included?

For some of you, this might be an easy decision. If you’re confident in the kitchen (or keen to learn), our self-catered accommodation for both undergraduates and postgraduates includes spacious, well-equipped communal kitchens. These kitchens often become the social hub of your flat or house, perfect for cooking together or sharing a meal with new friends.

Prefer convenience? If you’d rather not worry about cooking every day, our meal plan accommodation options in Canterbury might be a better fit. These rooms include a daily £14 meal credit (2025/26) to spend at a range of catering outlets across campus. This plan is included with accommodation in:

Even in these catered halls, you’ll still have access to a small kitchenette – perfect for making tea or a quick snack.

And if you’re leaning toward self-catered or off-campus living but still want the flexibility of having meals on campus, you’re in luck. Our Flex Catering Plan is available to purchase separately and gives you the same £14 daily credit (2025/26) to spend on food at participating outlets on campus. It’s a great way to save money too. Students can save up to 40% compared to buying food on a pay-as-you-go basis.

So, whether you’re ready to cook up a storm or prefer someone else to do the chopping, there’s a meal option to suit your lifestyle.

Turing Flats – extra large en-suite bedroom

4. Can I see myself sharing a shower room with other students?

Ah yes, the big question everyone wonders about!

If you’re heading to Medway, you can relax – all rooms at Pier Quays are en-suite. But if you’re coming to Canterbury, it’s something to consider carefully.

Over half of our 5,000+ rooms at Canterbury have en-suite rooms. They’re popular and can fill up quickly, so if having your own bathroom is a must, we highly recommend applying as early as possible. Accommodation offers are made based on the date you apply, so the sooner you apply, the better your chances of getting your first choice. (FYI: applications open mid-January every year.) For more information, see our blog: ‘How We Allocate Accommodation at Our Canterbury Campus’.

When applying, you’ll be asked to list four accommodation preferences, but only two of these can be en-suite options. That means it’s important to explore our shared-facility accommodation too, which includes any accommodation listed as a ‘house’ and Darwin College. Our virtual tours are a great way to get a real feel for each option before making your choices. Alternatively, if you’re enjoying our blogs, check out ‘Your guide to university accommodation’.

So what’s shared accommodation really like?

In shared-facility housing, you’ll share toilets/showers with others in your house. The number of people you share with depends on the accommodation type:

As a rule of thumb, the more people you share with, the lower the cost of your rent, so shared facilities can be a budget-friendly option.

Worried about sharing? You’re not alone – but most students say sharing a kitchen or shower room isn’t nearly as bad as they expected. With different timetables and routines, it’s rare that everyone needs the kitchen/shower at once, so there’s usually no morning “rush hour” like you might get at home.

Once you’ve considered these four key questions, you’ll be in a strong position to choose the accommodation that suits your needs, and don’t forget to check if you qualify for our guaranteed room offer.

We hope this blog has helped you get a better grasp of the different types of accommodations out there and how to pick one that’s perfect for your budget. Now, hop online and start your adventure! Happy searching!

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