Ever wondered what the difference is between private and university accommodation? We spoke to Sorcha, a law student at the University of Glasgow, who gave her experience of studying and living in Scotland at the University.
Learn more below and if you wish to begin your application, arrange a free consultation with SI-UK Nigeria today.
“One of the things I worried about the most before coming to the University of Glasgow was accommodation. However, it ultimately turned out to not be as stressful as I thought it would be, and I've made some amazing friends with people I've lived with in the last three years.
In my first year I lived in University owned halls which I enjoyed a lot. There are different halls you can choose from to suit your needs. Some are ensuite whereas others have shared bathrooms. You can find out more about how to apply and the types of accommodation on offer from the University here. For any of the University owned halls I would recommend applying for your room as early as possible, this way you'll be more likely to get your first choice of accommodation.
I lived at Kelvinhaugh Gate during first year which was great - it's in the Finnieston area and has ensuite bathrooms. Although I didn't know the people I was living with when I first moved in, I made some great friends there. The advantages of University owned halls are that it's fairly easy to apply to; they tend to be cheaper than private accommodation; and there are often student helpers on-site to help if you have any issues.
The only potential issue with University halls, in my opinion, is that you might not get your first choice accommodation, and you are more likely to be sharing a bathroom and other utilities with other people.
In my second year I moved into private halls with a group of friends. We decided to go to Kelvin Court, which is run by Unite. It's about a 10-minute walk to the University and isn't far from other amenities. It is slightly more expensive than the University halls, however the price of a room at private halls tends to fluctuate more, and the earlier you book a place, the cheaper it is likely to be. The advantage of the increased price however is that the halls themselves are very nice and it is almost certain that you will have an ensuite bathroom.
The advantage of both University owned halls and private halls is that any utility bills (e.g gas and electric, broadband) are included in your rent, so you don't have to keep track of it yourself and worry about any issues with them, as they'll be dealt with by the accommodation staff.
I hope this short rundown of university and private accommodation helps with any queries you may have about which one to pick, but if you have any more questions please feel free to get in touch with me and I'll do my best to help!"
Study in Glasgow
Do you want to study in Scotland like Sorcha at the University of Glasgow? Don't delay and arrange a free consultation with SI-UK Nigeria today.
My counsellor contacted me every day throughout the application process and helped me receive an unconditional offer. I am so grateful to SI-UK and will never forget them. I will study very hard as I feel this is the best reward I can give the whole team. 
