If your child has applied for a place at BCU, they have a few options for accommodation: staying at home and commuting, staying in private housing, or living in student accommodation.
If your child is moving away for university it's important to understand their options and how much they can afford. This article will answer some common questions we get from parents and carers about student accommodation at BCU.
Who is the accommodation for?
We guarantee student accommodation for all first-year, full-time home, and International students. As long as they firmly accept an offer in the main application cycle and apply by the deadline date.
What student accommodation is offered at BCU?
We offer a range of options for different budgets and study locations. The only accommodation we manage is University Locks, but we work with partner providers across the city to ensure quality. Compare all our accommodation options here. Student accommodation at BCU consists of purpose-built student flats, which all include utility bills and other facilities. Only students live in these flats, and if you book through us, your child will be placed with other BCU students on a similar course.
Where is BCU's student accommodation located?
Working with our partners, we provide accommodation across the city. We've created a list of the best options for studying at our City South Campus and City Centre Campus. If your child will be studying at Alexander Stadium, they are best to pick an option in the city centre as there are good public transport connections. If they're studying at the School of Art or School of Jewellery, both City South and City Centre options will be suitable.
How much does student accommodation cost at BCU?
Accommodation options for an academic year range from £5,280 - £10,710. It's absolutely essential that you find out how much Maintenance Loan your child will be entitled to, or know how much you're able to contribute, before picking an accommodation. Once you know this, you can work out how much they'll have to live on once the accommodation costs are subtracted. Use this Save the Student Budget Calculator to help you work out their budget.
The cheapest option is Hamstead Campus. While it's located a bit further away from our campuses, it's set in quiet, private grounds and comes with a free bus pass for commuting. It also offers the cheapest cost for doing laundry, and has a free gym and limited parking.
How do we pick an accommodation?
As mentioned, start with your child's budget and work from there. There's no point picking a luxury studio flat with a gym on-site if they will have no money to live on during the semester. Once you know how much they can afford, you can start to consider more factors.
- Do they want a gym so they don't need to pay for one?
- Are they happy to share a bathroom?
- Will they be bringing a car?
- Do they mind a short commute, or do they want to walk to uni?
- Do they prefer the buzz of the city or somewhere greener?
- How far is the accommodation from their campus or transport routes?
When do we need to apply for accommodation?
Your child can apply for student accommodation once they've set BCU as their firm or insurance choice. They can apply 24 hours after they've received their offer. See more details and a timeline for how to apply. This process runs from February to July. We start allocations in February, as soon as the university starts sending out offers. So, applying earlier means they're more likely to get a preferred option.
