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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Original poster

Anyone with DC at Birmingham uni?

41 replies

Skiingnut · 28/03/2023 12:55

what is the process for getting first year accommodation and do you have any recommendations please? Also, do your DC enjoy it there?

OP posts:
Irisheyesareshining · 28/03/2023 13:00

Yes, my daughter is in the first year and is in the Vale student accommodation, it’s close to a really nice park and within walking distance of the uni . You should get an email regarding accommodation but be fast as it goes really quick .

Irisheyesareshining · 28/03/2023 13:03

Google Birmingham University accommodation. My daughter was a little homesick at first but is now making international friends and finding her feet . The university campus is lovely, coffee shops etc , she’s not had a summer there yet but there’s lots of green spaces around the uni buildings.

Original poster
Skiingnut · 28/03/2023 17:35

@Irisheyesareshining glad your DD is enjoying it and thanks for reply. Is she on the Meal Plan - just wondering whether that’s popular?

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DrEllie · 28/03/2023 17:43

Mine is just about to finish. She was in the Vale for 1st year but she wanted self catering. I think she got her second choice of accommodation and she was happy with it

Snorlaxing · 28/03/2023 17:47

The Vale is where most 1st Years stay. My dd is a first year and loving it.

Delphigirl · 28/03/2023 18:52

Yes my son is third year (but on a year abroad). Key thing is to be on the Vale he says. He was in tennis courts and it was a great location and fine but peak covid so an odd experience all round. He says with hindsight he would apply to tennis courts green eco section (he can’t remember the official name). He thought it would be full of worthy vegan eco warriors but it had really nice people and was just nicer than the usual tennis courts and not many people put it so you have a good chance of getting it and not being randomly allocated somewhere you don’t want to be.
he says if you go to chamberlain everyone will think you are a public school tosser who is scared of poor people (he of course being privately educated … but happy to mix in anywhere)
anyway I just pass this on

Irisheyesareshining · 28/03/2023 19:04

No she’s self catering 😊

easycomeasygo · 28/03/2023 19:09

Was there many moons ago. Just looked up Chamberlain House- looks v nice! In my day University House was the posh one- is it still??

easycomeasygo · 28/03/2023 19:10

Tennis Courts was where the posh rugby boys were- good parties!

Original poster
Skiingnut · 28/03/2023 19:20

Thank you @Delphigirl - just looked it up and it’s called Green Community

So seems clear we want The Vale - that’s really helpful as it narrows it down a lot! Thanks all

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Piggywaspushed · 28/03/2023 20:11

Chamberlain is where all DS's wealthy mates are... they have rather influenced year 2 house choice.

Chamberlain is called Tory Towers!

Anyway...no issues with accommodation allocation or availability, although some end up in a less preferred choice.

DS is in Aitken which is at the cheaper end (slumming it next to Chamberlain) No ensuite, but sinks in rooms. Perfectly nice really.

Piggywaspushed · 28/03/2023 20:13

Mine does meal plan. Not great value for money and poor communication. But it's fine. It's how DS met and made (rich) friends.

OneInEight · 28/03/2023 22:19

ds1 was in Aiken last year. He chose it mainly on the grounds of cost but actually it was ideal for him - quite quiet as on the edge of the Vale but close enough to stuff going on when he wanted it. Shared bathroom was not a problem he found & the room was comparitively on the larger side. He did find it a bit of a trek onto campus but a bike sorted that one out. He reckons the rooms on Tennis Court are the worst.

Original poster
Skiingnut · 28/03/2023 22:46

@oneineight oh that’s interesting! Lots of ppl recommending tennis court. We looking for catered (meal plan) though so not offered at tennis court - only at Shackleton, Maple Bank, Elgar Court, Mason and Chamberlain. Of those, only Shackleton and Maple Bank have shared bathrooms on meal plan - all rest are £££ en-suites!

Any recs as to the above halls?

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Original poster
Skiingnut · 28/03/2023 22:59

Oh I just seen from your post that Aitken also does meal plan too and is shared bathroom @Piggywaspushed! Missed that off my list above. So we now can choose between Shackleton, Aitken and Maple Bank (for meal plan, non en-suite)? Can you advise at all if you know them please?

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Delphigirl · 29/03/2023 00:44

I think maple bank is considered to be a bit grim.

Delphigirl · 29/03/2023 00:45

Oh my DS says go for Shackleton of that choice!

SandyY2K · 29/03/2023 00:49

My DD had her first yest at Battery Park. It's partner accommodation only for UOB students.

Very nice modern and fresh.

Original poster
Skiingnut · 29/03/2023 00:54

How kind of you to ask him @Delphigirl and for him to give such a definitive answer! Night and thanks x

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Original poster
Skiingnut · 29/03/2023 00:59

@SandyY2K will look into that as we need to choose several options. Thank you. Minded towards the Vale as we want catered for first year (no en-suite though as we can’t afford that too!). Hope your DD is loving Brum - such a great uni!

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CrackedHeels2 · 29/03/2023 01:26

Both of mine were at Brum, both in Chamerlain. One was on meal plan - perfect for him - he is shy and autistic and it really helped him meet people and make friends.

Meal plan was not an option for my other one (currently in his third year), so presumably not offered due to covid situation. However, this was fine for him too. He wouldn't have used it enough to get value for money and he is a social butterfly so didn't need it to help him socially either.

SandyY2K · 29/03/2023 01:38

will look into that as we need to choose several options. Thank you. Minded towards the Vale as we want catered for first year (no en-suite though as we can’t afford that too!). Hope your DD is loving Brum - such a great uni!

She loves it.

We went on a number of open days..Nottingham, Warwick, Southampton, Cambridge and Liverpool... but she liked Birmingham the .

Battery Park was her first choice accommodation and they have a random selection procedure.

It's self catering and en suite. She wouldn't have shared bathroom and she's good at cooking. I think it gives them a greater awareness of living alone.

I know we were told that with the cost of meal plan accommodation...it was mainly foreign students who used it... as it's expensive.

My DD is in her final year now... unless she moves on to do the integrated masters.

It's a nice city as well.

DD wanted somewhere diverse in both the university and the city demograohic.

The university building itself and the green spaces are great.

Piggywaspushed · 29/03/2023 06:42

skiing you don't need to stay in the halls that offer included Meal Plan. You can stay in nay of them and add meal plan! Aitken works out far cheaper with added meal plan that the Shackleton inclusive deal.

OneInEight · 29/03/2023 15:33

Just asked ds1. He says meal plan is not worth it in his opinion. (in fairness this might be because he is fussy so prefers to cook for himself). Maple Bank he says rooms are OK but kitchens are small so not good if they want to cook for a group of friends. Recommends Aitken as the best of the cheaper option ie not en suite.

Tree543 · 29/03/2023 15:37

Following as my ds is probably going to firm Birmingham. He hasn't really looked at accommodation in great detail yet so this is useful to know. I interesting that the Meal plan is a good way to meet people.

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