Earlier most students who entered the University Halls of Birmingham found safety in numbers and preferred to take up accommodations offered by the University. However a new trend has been emerging since the last few years where many of the Freshers’ too opt to stay in a private rented accommodation of their choice rather than the Halls of residence since the private spaces offer more independence and better standards of living.

However due to its proximity, facilities and cheaper rentals the Halls are still popular among students who emerge out of their safety cocoons for the first time. Traditionally too the students prefer to stay close to the university in their initial years as it cuts down their travelling time and is easier on the pocket as well. Bars and pubs too have mushroomed in proximity with the Universities and that’s another reason why students like to live around the Uni. Sally Oak, Erdington and Edgbaston are some of the popular student residential areas.

Student accommodations offered by the University of Birmingham are top class with 24 hours round the clock security, centrally heated rooms with telephones and internet available in every room. Rooms are available from standard sized ones to extremely large ones. Choose according to your pocket because they the prices vary from £2800 onwards for the whole academic year. Most of the Halls offer single occupancy furnished rooms and The Coppice provides 8 rooms for students with special needs including wheel chairs. Most of these Halls are within the 2 km radius of the University.

Private accommodations in Birmingham are plenty and Studios FiftyOne located next to the Aston University is highly popular despite the slightly steep rates. They offer Loft style well furnished studio apartments which are ideal for mature students and couples. The prices start from £118 per week and you need to pay an upfront deposit of £350 which is refundable and prices are inclusive of all utility bills.

Though room shares seem highly popular in this city, the Bed-sit accommodations are hard to find in Birmingham. Most of the students forums and boards will have some or the other student looking for a flatmate or a room mate and if you have left your lodging search for the last minute then these are the ones to look out for. City center accommodations near the Mailbox are considered prime and can cost above £70 per week. A large house in the Headingley area shared between 6-7 students would cost £ 250-£300 per month which can be split up between the house mates as individual rents.

Before renting the property do also add the extra costs of living into the amount and then calculate your living expenses per month to see whether you can afford the property or not. Utility bills if not included in the rent can pile up and so will the TV licence and the internet fee. Always inspect the property before you agree upon it as that can create a dispute later on if you are not careful enough. Do also look for like minded house mates otherwise there can be problems with cleaning the house and even the choice of music can be highly irritating.