University Halls worries - Looking at accommodation, some of the most expensive which dd prefers is 51 weeks, but is that a waste of money?

[NoahVale]

I am so concerned how she is going to afford the extra as well.
I tried to steer her for the 42 week accommodation but of course the 51 weeks halls are closer .
was I right to steer her for the 42 weeks.
why should she pay extra when she will move out and not use the room? Should i leave her to it?

I think so, especially if she is a first year. I understand that, other than London, most Universities empty out over holidays. London has a high proportion of overseas and postgrad students who tend to stick around. Plus there is more chance of summer work/internships.

She might ask the Hall what proportion of residents are first years, and indeed how many are likely to be from overseas. The latter often having a different idea of first year University work/life balance.

thanks Needmoresleep
that is a good idea

i just read on the halls web that they give priority to over seas students

Do the 42 weeks cover Easter and Christmas break? I was at Southampton and there were a couple of HoR which insisted students took absolutely everything home during Easter and Christmas.

I agree with Eminem84. When DC1 was at uni, their chosenh hor was September to June, so they could just bring essentials home at Christmas and Easter. Some of their friends were in hor where they had to completely clear out at every holiday .Not so bad if you live nearby and don't take much with you, but for someone who is a few hours away and with loads of stuff, plus all the new books etc acquired during the term, it must have been an nightmare.

so not the 51 weeks?
great if you are a long way away I spose,

i think generally the 51 weeks means you can leave your stuff over Christmas and Easter.

I was technically an overseas student (despite living in jersey, having a British passport etc) and i was able to leave bedding, some clothes books etc in my room when I flew home for the holidays.

But I'd advise checking the hor and seeing what the 42 weeks cover. Also, will you be the one picking Dd up at Easter/Christmas if she does have to empty her room? No way could I have managed to empty my room for holidays and get my stuff home on my own. Is she allowed to take a car?

Surely 42 weeks covers Christmas and Easter, but not the long summer hol? 51 weeks must cover the summer as well.

I agree with George

She should also look on The Student Room to see if there is any discussion about the different halls, or perhaps post something herself.

Overseas students often prioritise being near lectures and the library, and be willing to pay more for this. They may then try to then save money by cutting back on their social life and cooking in groups. DS was allocated to a London Hall in his first year which reserved 50% of its places for overseas students. It was quiet, close, but dead. He finished the year not having made a single friend there. However he did meet a group of overseas students who lived in a flat nearby and spent a lot of time socialising, cooking and eating with them. This has been great in that he has adopted their work ethic and expectations/aspirations, but it will be a slightly different University experience.

It does not surprise me that a Hall would flag up that they give priority to overseas students. It is not just the ability to keeping possessions in Hall over vacations. I have heard stories of students leaving the UK altogether because they have found the clash between their expectations, and those of home students, too great.

Yes there'll be hardly any first years in the nearer halls if they're 51 weeks. They're designed for students who will not return home in vacations, so overseas students, and older students. She'd be compromising her social life quite majorly!

good point titchy

She'd be compromising her social life quite majorly!

Some UK students (such as my DC) might well view this as an advantage. My DC's worst nightmare would be to be stuck in halls with "typical" UK students who like to party and club all the time. Mind you, my DC are themselves multinational, so perhaps not so surprising they feel they would fit better with overseas students.

I agree with other posters that 51 week halls are mostly not used by home students.

42 weeks was just not summer for me. 51 would be a waste unless there's a job/internship that they'd stay for over summer. And most people move to a house for the next year anyway so leaving stuff all summer isn't amazingly helpful

We didn't have to pay for summer, then Easter and christmas could choose if we wanted to leave our stuff, or be paid to move it all out so they could rent rooms to language / overseas visitors doing short courses

However the one particular halls that she looked at, which was extremely popular and very central is 51 weeks, and dd's reasoning is that it wont be full of foreign students.
but i have suggested the student forum to her, see what she comes up with. thanks