After studying and living at the University of Kent for the past year, and hearing first-hand about life both on and off campus, I’ve come to an understanding of how this student microsystem works. In this blog, I will walk you through the campus amenities and the key pros and cons of living here.
Life on campus: everything on your doorstep
Student life usually brings on thoughts of stress, tiredness, and alcohol. The idea of having to commute in the wind and rain are some of the days that wear students down the most. These troubles are what make student accommodation recommended for freshers. Commuting an hour in stormy and troubling weather or on unreliable public transport just isn’t very appealing, compared to the walkable life on campus.
Lectures, shops, clubs, bars, society meeting halls, and even gyms are all within a comfortable arm’s reach. Groceries are quickly bought in the nearby Co-Ops, which offer everything students need, from personal hygiene products to meal deals. The Templeman Library, with its more than one million books and journals, lectures, seminars, and study spaces, is a short walk away, which definitely brings a sense of comfort and safety.
Once you’re living in this little ecosystem where everything is walkable – from the big green fields to the hidden spots tucked into the woods along the campus paths – the environment really makes you want to stay. With so much nearby, it is easy to stay on campus and make the most out of student life.
Safety and security on campus
The security and safety on campus are incomparable to anywhere else. The Safezone App contacts you to the security team, including a function that allows students to call someone to accompany them home if they feel insecure about walking home alone – the walking-taxi system – but given the cameras and the feeling of security on campus, I don’t see this feature being used frequently. However, I have used the contact tool for a maintenance situation, as it happened outside of business hours. The security guards were kind and polite, and resolved the problem quickly. Additionally, when one of the alert buttons is pressed, your location is sent to the security team, meaning the app doesn’t need to be enabled to always track you, but will only access your location when necessary.
Off-campus, on the other hand, there is no free ‘walking taxi’, or CCTV with staff monitoring 24/7. Walking to friends’ homes, I have had to go down paths with little or no light, let alone CCTV cameras or security guards.
The cost of living on campus vs off campus
However, prices on campus tend to be higher and sometimes the quality is equal to, or even worse than, what you’d find in town. A meal deal at the on-campus Co-op costs £4.00 compared to Tesco’s £3.85 for members. It is a small difference, but it shows that on-campus supermarket food is often slightly more expensive. In places like Campus Coffee, located in the library, a medium latte costs around £4.50, while at Costa it would be £4.40 for a large. Moreover, Tesco carries a wider variety of options and combinations in its meal deal, with ‘more than 20million possible combinations’; that, to me, also just tastes better. Therefore, in-town stores might give more price-beneficial products.
Social life, ResLife and Kent Sport
Lastly, living on campus offers students access to ResLife and a free Kent Sport membership, facilitating social atmospheres whilst offering opportunities to try new things. ResLife runs daily events to help students socialise and break from the academic pressures that university can bring. These range from crafts to cooking, classes, nature walks, trips, and even animal experiences. Many include snacks and drinks, making it easy to meet people and try something fun.
Kent Sports membership offers students access to the gym, fitness and dance classes, recreational and competitive sport, discounted fitness services, and access to more than 60 different university gyms. Even though some off-campus accommodations offer gym access, this variety of fitness options is something I haven’t seen in any other accommodation.
Why living on campus still feels worth it
Living on campus helps new students – and especially international students – feel comfortable in this new, exciting, terrifying space. Even with homesickness, it is easy to feel at home here. The walkable ecosystem, sense of security, access to ResLife, and access to fitness classes make it difficult to let go of this comfortable on-campus lifestyle.