What to Look for in a University Town: A Student’s Guide to Choosing the Right Place

8 Things to Look for in a University Town

University reputation and course quality

We’ve mentioned that university rankings aren’t everything, however, they are something. Rankings are not the be all and end all but they do give an indication into student satisfaction particularly around teaching quality, specialist department areas and graduate outcomes. 

It’s always worth doing some research and taking a look at where your university stands in the Complete University Guide as a consideration but, if possible, don’t make it the sole reason for your choice. 

Cost of Living and Student Budgets

This is likely to be your first time living away from home and the costs of living might just surprise you as it’s never as straightforward as we’d like to think. For students, rent and tuition fees are often the biggest expenses to plan for, but it tends to be the smaller day-to-day costs that impact your budget. 

This can include things like laundry, travel home and utility bills as well society memberships, course materials and equipment – these hidden costs can really add up over the course of a term. However, simply having an understanding of them before arriving at university can help you budget more realistically and avoid unexpected financial pressure.

It’s worthwhile sitting down and considering your weekly budget before you get to university to factor in any fees and rent as well as loans, grants and whether you’ll be working while you’re studying. One thing you might want to look for in a university town is if where you’re looking to study is well-equipped for student-led, part time jobs.

Choice of Student Accommodation and Location

When considering your student accommodation you need to consider practicalities like distance to your university, campus and libraries as well as distance to local amenities such as supermarkets, restaurants, and community spaces. 

When you think of university you may automatically think of student halls, however, it’s good to have a look around depending on what kind of student life you’re anticipating. 

• University-owned Halls

Halls are great if you’re after a typically lively and sociable experience and will often be chosen by first-year students. You’ll get to meet a lot of people from your university and the location is often on or near campus, even if there’s a distance there will usually be transport provided or at reduced rates. While some stay throughout, living in halls for the first year often leads to deciding to find house shares in second and third years.

• Private Student Accommodation

If you think you’d need a bit more of your own space, explore privately owned student accommodation like Collegiate. While features will vary, as an example Collegiate offers a range of shared rooms and private studios all with a weekly rent with WiFi and utilities included and most of our sites have exceptional amenities like social spaces, concierge service and premium study spaces. There’s still plenty of opportunity to meet new people from different areas and universities, not just your own.

Career Opportunities and Industry Connections

Whatever sector or industry you’re looking to work in, it’s helpful to understand how your university can help you achieve your career aspirations. 

Within your subject area, be sure to explore the potential for internships or studying alongside work experience. Take a look at the university website for networking events or local ones that welcome students. Universities don’t exist in a vacuum and most institutions work with industry sectors to create opportunities for students but don’t assume that’s always the case, and a key thing to look for in a university town is the local ecosystem of industry. 

It’s worth understanding where you might need to place yourself now to get where you want to be in the future. For example if you’re looking to study Fashion, look at cities with active textile industries such as Leicester. For Finance or Law it’s beneficial to be in major economic capitals such as London. While studying Agriculture or Forestry is better suited to universities embedded in rural, industrial farming areas like Gloucestershire.

Transport and getting around

It’s no surprise that larger cities are more likely to have more transport options compared to smaller university towns but it’s always worth doing some research to understand some key factors. 

Open Google Maps and consider the following;

• Your distance between university and accommodation and how you would travel to and from.
• Are there amenities like shops, cafes and bars that are walkable or would it always be a case of relying on public transport?
• How frequent are buses or trains around the town, city and to campus?
• Will you be travelling home often and benefit from being near a major train station?

You may be eligible for subsidised student travel with bus, train or tram passes depending on your chosen location. Be sure to check your university website and local transport authority when doing your research.  

Student Community and Socialising

Whether it’s through your course, societies, sports clubs or housemates, there’s plenty of scope for meeting new people when you go to university. It’s also worth looking at local cafes and venues where you might find student-friendly activities and events, or consider whether you’d have scope for volunteering or part-time work alongside your studies. 

Studying is a high priority but seeking connection while you’re away at university is important for your overall wellbeing. When considering what to look for in a university town look at the opportunities available to you to explore social activities and spaces nearby.  

Lifestyle, Culture and Things to do

We’ve mentioned how vital connection is while you’re studying and the same can be said for finding fun things to do. While university is a demanding time, it’s important to make space for things you enjoy and depending on what your idea of wellbeing looks like you should consider:

• Your proximity to green spaces, parks and walks.
• Shopping for food, homewares, university materials and clothes.
• Nearby gyms, yoga studios or wellness spaces.
• Music events, local festivals and venues to explore. 
• What are your hobbies and will they be easily facilitated in your chosen location?

Your location is unlikely to tick every single thing you think is important but understanding your local infrastructure – and looking at student accommodation with premium amenities – can help you to prioritise when you look for a university town. 

Distance From Your Personal Support Network

Choosing to stay at home or nearby, or moving further away can be a difficult decision as there’s so many things to consider. Neither will be inherently good or bad for you but it’s helpful to understand yourself, your relationships and how you want to live while you’re studying. 

For example, do your parents assume you’ll come home every weekend if you’re nearby and that’s not what you’d like to do? Or do your friends who aren’t going to university assume they’ll be going to you all the time for nights out? It’s important to have these conversations to understand and manage expectations (including your own) when you’re making your choice about university. 

Staying close to family can mean: 

• A guaranteed support network
• More frequent trips home or having visitors
• Less chance of feeling homesick
• Living at home or nearby can help you save money
• Continuing to rely on parents which may impact your student experience

Moving further away can mean:

• Learning to look after yourself in a way that works for you
• Making more effort to keep in contact with friends and family
• Risk of homesickness
• A greater choice of subject areas or courses
• An opportunity to push yourself with less of a safety net e.g. meeting new people instead of regularly going home to old friends