Sheffield Hallam University - Halls

[PassTheGinSheila]

Does anyone have any recent or current experience of SHU accommodation, please? I'm supporting a young man who will be joining SHU as an undergraduate at the Collegiate site later this year and living in Halls as his first experience of living away from home. He doesn't drive or cycle and finances will be tight. I have already twice been advised to avoid The Forge: that 24 hour reception/security isn't available in reality and there have been very concerning recent incidents of break-ins and students being assaulted, with some students seeking to move out? I've looked at the information on the Uni's website but would welcome hearing any personal experience to help him choose. Many thanks in advance.

No experience, I'm afraid, but looking at the reviews of The Forge on studentcrowd, I wouldn't touch it with a bargepole, either - the comment about the reception / security staff refusing to take in any mail , for a start (wonder what Royal Mail had to say about that one?). Hopefully that issue at least has been sorted out by now.

Thanks, MarchingFrogs - I'll have a look at that website too.

My son was at Hallam, they don’t have their own halls so it’s all private. He was in the Marples which was not great don’t think it’s even there anymore. A few of his mates were at the Pinnacles they seemed to think ok .
Was much better in year 2 when he had a lovely 6 person flat in Eccleshall. Year 3 was a rather ropey terraced near the football ground.

Trigon is infested by mice! Another one to miss!

Thanks, Tempnamelady. Yes, the Marples isn't listed for SHU undergrads on their website now - unless they have changed the name. I think the Pinnacles is too far away for the Collegiate campus.

Yikes, soundsgreektome! Perhaps the mice are hoping to get a good education too?

The ones I'm not looking at - purely on the basis that they are too far to the Collegiate campus - are:
Central Quay
Beton House
The Pinnacles
Norfolk Gardens.

Bump

Anyone?

Particularly interested in accommodation nearest to Collegiate: The Elements, Westhill Hall, LIV Student, Summerfield Street, The Anvil, The Forge.

As a pp says, none of it is SHU-owned/run, it's all private self-catering accommodation, not really 'halls' at all. But all of it is expensive, needs a guarantor and mostly where I wouldn't be wanting to walk home in the dark!

Who'd be a poorer student these days, coming out with nearly £60k in debt at the end for the fee and maintenance loans?! Surely it must put off so many students not from middle and higher income families.

@PassTheGinSheila I know 🥴

Try asking on this thread, there is current chat about accommodation.
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/further_education/4489756-Thread-29-Covid-Cohort-Whirlwinds-and-Waiting

We live in Sheffield. Dd has friends in LIV and they've been really happy there. Another is in onyx. Both have chosen to stay in the same halls for their second year, with friends. So assume they like them.

Most of the accommodation is is pretty safe areas. Though, like all cities, Sheffield has some issues it's not a really unsafe city. Both of the two I mention are central m, off the ring road and in areas that feel safe.

Ask on WIWIKAU, they have photos of some halls too

Central quay is a long way from collegiate. I'd recommend ones like Devonshire courtyard, westhill hall etc. It's 9 years since I was in Shu halls but I do still live in Sheffield.

I can't see Onyx on the SHU list for first years, @Abraxan

The nearest and cheapest 'hall' is Summerfield Street, just five minutes away and £90-100pw, self-catered. The downside seems to be it's really just a shared house for nine people and no reception staff. All the other 'halls' have a larger number of shared flats within the building, which would seem better for a first year to make friends and staff on site at least some of the time for help/for security. The next nearest but most expensive is LIV, just ten minutes away but £142-162pw!

Is Liv on the Eccles hall road next to Waitrose ? That is opposite where DS was on Y2- was under construction at the time

Yes, I think it's quite new and close to Waitrose @Tempnamelady

PS Address is on Ecclesall Road.

I think £140 a week plus is standard for private halls. Has he firmed SHU? Has he offers from anywhere else? Does it have to be SHU?

I’m not sure private halls are any cheaper anywhere else and worse in London. As another thread discussed, there’s the guarantor issue too. University owned accommodation doesn’t usually ask for this. I looked at a “cheap” hall at Liverpool uni, owned by the university, recently. That was £148 a week. Some universities simply do not have cheap accommodation.

@Tempnamelady

Is Liv on the Eccles hall road next to Waitrose ? That is opposite where DS was on Y2- was under construction at the time

Yes it's next to Waitrose and is very new / only opened for students in September 2020. It has a coffee shop and a rooftop terrace.

@Abraxan it was under construction when my son was living opposite.

Liv is incredible but actually a bit further out than my son wanted.. He chose The Elements and is there now. My son is at City Campus and he walks there in about 10-12 minutes. No problems at all. Post arrives safely and he gets an email when a parcel arrives. Unlike some stories I've heard where students at other universities wait a few days to be advised that parcels are waiting for them, he is always notified the same day. They put on regular social events and also have a nice outside courtyard area. Before he moved in I had a few queries so emailed them and they responded very quickly and were friendly. On move in day, an issue with his lock was sorted within 20 minutes and a couple of minor maintenance issues that he's reported since living there have been dealt with immediately. His room and en-suite were immaculately clean when he moved in. He's going to house share on Eccleshall Road for his second year but I'd have no hesitation in recommending The Elements. It has absolutely ticked all the boxes for my son and we've been confident that he's lived in a safe and secure environment. There's a garage opposite for late night emergencies like milk etc but Aldi is 2-3 minutes walk away so perfect for bigger shopping trip.

Sheffield Hallam is an awful university in my experience - very poor student support. Avoid Breton house as it is awful.