Uni halls with private kitchen (studio flats)

[toomuchapplepied]

Hi my daughter is autistic and is keen to go to Uni to study science, but can’t bear the idea of sharing a kitchen in halls.

Can anyone recommend a good uni for science (likely to be biology/natural science route) that offers studio flats with private kitchen on campus please? I’m concerned about her becoming isolated living on her own, but she adamant this is the only way she will cope.

Preferably within a 2 hour radius of Milton Keynes so she is not too far from us if she needs support! I’ve googled but not many coming up. TIA

I would imagine those are few and far between operated by uni themselves. Why doesn’t she sit with you and do the research together? Is she able to articulate why she wouldn’t cope with sharing a kitchen? Is she actually ready to go to uni, what about crowds of people walking to and fro to lectures, what about sitting in lecture theatres with others?
How has she been managing the stress and workload for A levels?

Choose a location which is a less expensive city to have more affordable options. Dsd had a bedsit in years 2&3 as she struggled with sharing, Leicester, and her cost was less than my dd in shared in a more expensive city. Cardiff is another cheaper location off the top of my head

Student Studio accommodation is not uncommon nowadays, but it is pricey.

Start by picking looking at the universities that meet your daughter’s grade predictions and distance requirements. Then check for the accommodation they offer. Google is unlikely to be helpful here.

That said Leicester looks like a good bet as mentioned above.

Some unis may have a limited number of studios but usually prioritised for postgrads and those with disability needs. Private halls have them but are more expensive (such as Prestige, IQ student, Unite). Maybe start with the larger unis nearby like Nottingham, Birmingham and Warwick if her grades are likely to meet entry requirements. Ask her to review possibilities and then look at the accommodation options and cost. It may be possible to get DSA funding via SFE to offset part of the cost but that would only be known much later on and it would need to be assessed as an adjustment.

My impression is that most universities offer some studio accomodation now but it's pricey!

Google the university name plus studio accomodation and generally some private and uni owned options come up. Which unis is she potentially interested in?

I attended uni at the age of 54 and couldn't face shared accommodation for lots of reasons. Studios are more expensive but also quite isolating. I lived in two different accommodation blocks and both had 98% Chinese students in them, which I wasn't aware of the first time I booked. Not a problem for me as I would have lo ed to meet overseas students. But I found that they didn't tend to socialise in the common rooms, so once I was home I never saw anyone until the next day. This wasn't just due to my age, the lounge was always empty. My Uni had a really good disability and learning centre (so.ethinh I wasn't aware of until I started) so I would advise finding the right course then contacting them ASAP and discuss your con erns with them. Between them and the Student Union you may find they can give you a lot of help.

My daughter had similar needs and as part of her plan she got the highest rate studio flat with own kitchen on top floor corner ( to minimise noise from above and side) . She got this at reduced rate due to statement (Chester)

Birmingham and Nottingham defo have them available even if private halls.

I was gping to.suggest Birmingham; there is aome university owned studio accommodation, and apart from that, there seems to be quite a bit of private accommodation just outside the actual campus (e.g. along Bristol Road) which probably has some studio rooms.
Find your student room - University of Birmingham https://share.google/Kv7fs8C3JSktyjtg1

Is an en-suite room with full catering an option? My DD has found Reading good for this.

We are having to do this because of DDs food allergy. It’s really going to cost me!

Sheffield have them

Hi my nephew goes to the university of Surrey in Guildford and has a studio as you describe.

Leicester too - I’m sure you’d find some studio apartments

I think you'll need to look at privately owned accommodation specifically built for students. There are several major companies who do this - ask the Accommodation office of whichever university she chooses to go to, or do a google.

Coventry have them, some are for post grad only others are not, I seem to remember

Private rentals also do them. Some will be in a block like normal uni halls, so self contained studio but will also have communal areas, laundry, gym etc. Others can be completely separate studios or one bedroom flats in converted houses for example.

I’d use an AI to narrow down the numbers of universities who offer the relevant subject within your two hour window ( driving or public transport ) - then you can obviously eliminate by predicted grade and then do a more detailed search on the studio situation.

Daughters halls in Leeds had studio options and so did her boyfriends in Sheffield.

I think most do or you can rent one privately. I’d go to a few open days and do the accommodation tours and ask about it at her favourite unis instead of picking a uni for this alone.

Most uni websites will have details on their accommodation pages so pick where she wants to go them have a proper look at accommodation pages on website. Here’s CCCU page with studio option price at bottom so you can see how much more it is. https://www.canterbury.ac.uk/study-here/student-life/accommodation/canterbury-accommodation/canterbury-accommodation-prices

Yes they do, but it is privately owned. OP but is actually closer to the uni than a lot of the uni accommodation.

I stayed in a studio for while in Opal Court a few years ago. A few things to note.

The accommodation, it has a different name now, is close to the main campus but a lot of things happen in 'The Village' where most accommodation is.

Ask specific questions about the 'kitchen', I had 2 electric rings and a combi microwave. I had a fridge but no freezer. I was only there for a short time but it would drive me mad to not have proper cooking facilities long term.

The bed was located behind the door so not great when a load of people come home from a party and there was no way to relocate it.

Obviously lots of unis have studios now, some have 1 bed flats.

I was in my 30s when I went to uni and I rented a 1 bed flat that had nothing to do with the uni. Would that be an option? She could keep the same place then for 3 years (or how ever long her course is) yes it would probably mean paying rent over the summer but might be cheaper than halls.

York did this for my son who is autistic with a short form completed by a GP to confirm need. In the 2nd and 3rd years he chose to go into a shared kitchen flat and enjoyed life much better as he was not so isolated.

Bath have some but don't advertise them as they are allocated on need via their disabled student services. Reading have some - definitely private at Crown Place, not sure about uni accommodation.

Nottingham does - it’s privately owned (Broadgate Park) but not remotely isolating and only over the road from campus. I lived there in my first year and it was great (also autistic).

Nottingham have studio flats at Broadgate Park, which is not on campus but literally across the road. Might be a good option as it’s a big site with lots of accommodation blocks, so plenty of opportunities to be around others if she wants, but with her own space.