Picking a home away from home 

First on the list, we have Residential Colleges. Residential colleges are university-affiliated residences commonly found near universities. Since they are located within the university community grounds, they are marketed as convenient and secure, as residents are given access cards to enter their respective colleges. The biggest attraction of these residential colleges is the camaraderie among the students who live there.

Living in these quarters means that as a student, you will spend a significant amount of time with other residents, as some colleges have their students sit down together for meals. But beyond that, student community engagement and active participation in university events make them highly popular with students. These accommodations offer most of the necessities a student would require, such as internet access and catered meals. Additionally, residential colleges have support systems for students, including extra classes, peer consultations, and study rooms—study space is usually scarce leading up to exam periods. Bonus points for residential colleges would be the highly anticipated events thrown for their students.

Recommendation: Students who are looking to be part of an engaging and active community and university life beyond academics.

Secondly, On-campus accommodation. Similar to residential colleges, these accommodations are found within the campus grounds, making them highly convenient for students. Just like residential colleges, these accommodations are typically well-secured, with students given access cards to enter the premises.

The accommodations are often equipped with a "games room" where you can find entertainment equipment like a pool table. Unlike residential colleges, you’re not bound to a ‘family’ or an organization; instead, you are simply renting a room situated within the campus. Some on-campus accommodation providers like Unilodge and Urbanest (Note: They also provide Off-campus accommodations) try to engage students and encourage community living. It's uncommon for them to have karaoke or movie nights, and participation is never compulsory. Rental fees typically include internet access and other utilities, except for food. In summary, this accommodation is popular because it's on-campus, and you have the flexibility of choosing your meals, which has its advantages and disadvantages.

Recommendation: Students who enjoy having their own space, prefer not to be constantly involved in events and activities, and want the university just a stone's throw away.

Lastly, Off-campus accommodation. Similar to the accommodations mentioned above, the difference is that these accommodations are located off-campus. These accommodations are usually categorized into two types: student accommodation providers and renting. For student accommodation providers, please refer to the above description as they are the same, with the only difference being that they are off-campus.

On the other hand, renting allows you to be in control of the size, type, and location of your accommodation. You could rent a simple room, a studio apartment, or an entire house, with the understanding that there is a price difference. Having the ability to choose a location for your accommodation provides you with the utmost flexibility, although there are some factors to consider: convenience, safety, and transportation. Additionally, renting your own accommodation requires you to be more independent, as it takes longer to set everything up, and you need to stay on top of your bills. Moreover, the cost of rent is usually cheaper, as it may not include facilities, utilities, or even internet access.

Recommendation: Students who enjoy being or seek to be independent, do not want to be actively and constantly involved in activities, and prefer their personal space.

You can speak with one of our counsellors to assist you in arranging your accommodation in your chosen study destination.