Choosing my university accommodation

Poppy_

Choosing my university accommodation 

I have been accepted into 3 universities and as the end of the academic year is approaching, I have begun to look at different university accommodation for my first year. 

Universities offer accommodation within the university for all first year students, however I could not find anything that would suit my needs entirely. The accommodation that was accessible to me, which was a choice between two, was too small for my mobility needs, therefore I have started to look privately at accommodation. My firm choice (aka first choice) university area has a few options, such as studio flats and a one bedroom flat.

The accommodation for my firm choice university has been difficult to find because there are not many options for accessible accommodation. However, I have found studio flat accommodation with a ten minute walk to the university.

The flat does meet most of my needs, such as having room to charge and store my wheelchair, and the needs that can not be met at first glance can be added, such as a shower chair in the wet room.

The comparison between the university offered accommodation and the private student accommodation is big, for me, because the accommodation is relatively similar in price, but the difference in the accessibility is massive. 

The studio flat accommodation is also within a dedicated student accommodation block, similar to university halls, so I will still gain some student experiences like meeting people as the accommodation holds events to cater for this.

The accommodation also offers some extras, such as a gym and a cinema room, which are included into the price, which will allow me to socialise easily.

I hope this helps people to look around their prospective and current universities for the accommodation, both university offered and private, that best suits them.

Ross_Alumni

Thank you @Poppy_ for sharing your experience with us  

Libby_Alumni

This is a great article @Poppy_ - I'm sure a lot of individuals who might be making the transition to university, will find this post very insightful

Danielle_2022

Morning @Poppy_,
As @Teddybear12 has already said, I'm so glad that you were eventually able to find somewhere suitable for your needs. In my experience, universities tend to have a very one-dimensional view of what "accessibility" means, so it's not always easy to find. Another issue about accommodation on campus is that there aren't enough rooms for *every* disabled student, either. It shouldn't have to be a fight before you've even started, but it's so important to raise awareness of these issues. I know that you'll do wonderfully on your course, when you start. They are lucky to have you