Student Life in Birmingham

You will have realised by now that Birmingham is a place where you will be able to do more than just study. In Birmingham you will have a great all-round experience of life. Read on to explore just a few ways to make your time in this city really special.

Brindley Place

Brindley Place is a beautiful location for friends to enjoy a delicious dish in their free-time. It is an  immaculately designed collection of tantalising restaurants and bars, including both familiar and not-so-familiar eaterys. It is situated in a picturesque canal side spot, just across the bridge from the Birmingham ICC. On those occasions when you just want to go out for something to eat and make sure you indulge yourself, Brindley Place may be the right place for you to go to. As an added bonus, it is neighboured by the lively Birmingham Broad Street, where a number of clubs and other bars are to be found, which could be just what you're looking for in order to complete your night out.

Birmingham Baltis

Birmingham is the home of the balti, and no matter where you are in the city, the unrivalled taste of a Birmingham balti is never too far away. Get some mates together and get the rich and exquisite taste of a very popular cuisine for a very affordable price.

Day Trips

If you want to venture a little further out, you're in luck. Being a student in Birmingham means you can travel quite easily to other locations that have plenty to offer. One of these places is Stratford. The home of Shakespeare, Stratford is an invigorating experience for lovers of history, drama and for anyone who appreciates a day-out filled with relaxing scenery, interesting shops and a selection of cafes providing a fine array of drinks and snacks.

Maybe not your first thought when it comes to planning what to do an Saturday afternoon, Stratford is undoubtedly worth your time. Take in the rich past of this historic town or simply unwind in its lovely surroundings, Stratford is just a short train ride away from Birmingham City Centre.

Big Nights Out

Going out isn't always about drinking; a big part of it is the clubs and the music. This is where Birmingham can be a rewarding place to call 'home' as your student years unfold. A club that has a long-standing reputation for getting people moving is Snobs. Situated on 51 Smallbrook Queensway, Snobs comprises various floors that are geared-up to pump out a diversity of sounds from R&B and Hip-Hop to Alt Pop and Indie Rock'n'Roll. Choose from one of their themed nights - such as "Bad Habits" with hits from six different decades, or "Live Forever" bringing a blast of Britpop and Old School Indie - and bounce away the hours not spent at uni'.

Another option for University of Birmingham students looking for good times is Fab N Fresh. This is the Saturday club night at the Student Union, offering a great night out. This is a very affordable option, which is obviously good news for anyone struggling with their finances. Fab N Fresh is fun and trendy, definitely one to make a regular part of what you get up to on a weekly basis.

Accommodation and Unihousing

If it's the less exciting aspects of student life that require your immediate attention, such as accommodation, then Unihousing may be worth your time. Based in Selly Oak, Unihousing are registered lettings agents that offer houses and studios to Birmingham students, and do so at very reasonable prices. Their range of student accommodation is equipped for a good standard of living. Plus, the location of these student homes is just superb. Located in Selly Oak, these student properties offer easy access to: the University of Birmingham; all the highly useful amenities in Selly Oak village; and transport to the city centre of Birmingham and surrounding towns.

What's Next?

Of course, this is not an exhaustive list of everything that Birmingham offers for students. There are a whole heap of other fun things to be found in this city, and, with new events being planned in Birmingham on a regular basis, there will surely be more to come as well.

Choosing the Right Accommodation

The majority of students today will spend their first year in a community based student accommodation known as ‘student halls’. This type of shared living does not suit every student however and come the second-year, students will have the opportunity to branch out as a group or independently. The vital decisions that are made in this moment can shape the rest of your university experience, therefore, we are here to shed some light on the variety of student accommodation that is available in Birmingham and its surrounding area.

Independent Living

If you’ve spent your first year in student halls and have decided that they are not for you, maybe it’s time to consider an independent living environment. This is ideal for students who enjoy time to themselves. Student studios and apartments offer a perfect get away from the busy life as a student. Both studios and apartment have their pros and cons so it’s important to know what you’re looking for.

Price

Studios – the cost of a studio can vary greatly depending on the supplier, but the average for a studio in the Selly Oak area next to the University of Birmingham can be between £100 - £150 a week. This price is affordable to students, but by doing your research, there’s always a chance you can find a good quality studio for a lower price.

Apartments – the cost of a student apartment is very similar to the cost of a studio, so in this instance, there is not a great difference. Both are affordable for students in Birmingham.

Layout

Studios – a studio often consists of one large room that contains your bed, a kitchen and a lounge/study area. It is said that a studio is suited to a person who lives a busy life, as everything you need is in one space allowing you to easily move between tasks. While you may have enough space to have your friends around, some of your friends may have to perch on the end of your bed, which could be invasive to your privacy.

Apartments – the layout of an apartment can provide a great environment to relax and relieve stress after a long day at university. However, apartments differ from studios here due to their layout, an apartment has 2 or 3 rooms, one large main living room for relaxing and study, a second kitchen room and finally a bedroom. This can offer a more relaxed style of living, and means that you can have friends visit without impacting your privacy.

Size

The size of both a studio and an apartment are solely dependent on the size of the property and can vary. As should be expected, the price of a studio or apartment will increase with it’s size.

Storage

Studios – storage in all property types will not vary much, however you could argue due to a studio being one large room that it will not contain as much storage as you may need.

Apartments – an apartment can offer a more ideal storage solution. Having a number of rooms offers the opportunity to add multiple storage options of your own, without your accommodation looking like a storage facility.

Shared Accommodation

For those who have enjoyed their time in student halls, shared accommodation would be a great way to live during your time at university. Shared accommodation such as housing has its own advantages and disadvantages for student life, but with communication between everyone, most of the disadvantages can be worked through.  

Price

The price for a shared house in Birmingham averages around £60 – £90 a week per person. This price gets you your own room, with shared bathrooms, a lounge and kitchen. This is often a lot more affordable for students than an independent living solution, however you are sharing the space with other people.

Floor Plan

In shared accommodation, the layout tends to vary a lot more. A student house can hold anywhere from 2 bedrooms to 12 and above. Alongside this, there will be a number of bathrooms, usually 1 to every two/three rooms. On the bottom floor you will have a large kitchen complete with appliances such as a washing machine, cooker and fridge/freezer. You will often find that the layout of the student house will differ street to street. The best way to find a property that suits you is to book several viewings.

Size

Houses tend to have a lot of variety in the size of its rooms. You are likely to get a larger kitchen and lounging area than those found in independent accommodation, but this is to be shared between everyone at the property. Most properties have bedrooms with a double bed and storage, alongside a small desk or study area. The bedroom in shared accommodation is your private space away from your housemates, so make sure you find a house with a bedroom that suits you.

Storage

The amount of storage you have available in a property will often depend on the size of the property that you are looking at. However, almost all properties will give you a wardrobe for your clothes and a desk with drawers in your room, with some properties giving you additional drawers or shelving space. There will likely be room to add a further small storage unit if you require it. The true test of storage in shared accommodation comes in the kitchen, as everyone will be trying to find room for their pots and pans. It may be worthwhile for everyone to agree on sharing utensils, or to buy a shared pack of cooking utensils for the entire house to use. 

What’s Right for You?

This isn’t something that we can tell you. Where you decide to live in your second and third year at university is up to you and your preferences. Each form of student accommodation has advantages and disadvantages that need to be considered. It is important that you pick your accommodation based on what suits you and your requirements. Living in a space that doesn’t agree with you can lead to you not enjoying your university experience, or causing issues with your studying.

Unihousing offers all types of student accommodation in Selly Oak and other surrounding areas of Birmingham. Both student studios and shared housing are on the market for the new academic year in 2018. We could have your ideal student accommodation, head to our site and book a viewing so you can find your ideal student accommodation.