A guide to university halls

Choosing accommodation

Living in shared accommodation is a huge part of the first-year university experience. Personally, I wasn’t too worried about it, as I’d always been used to sharing spaces. However, the real preparation for halls began in the summer before I even left my parents’ house. After accepting my offer, I was invited to choose my accommodation through the fantastic accommodation portal provided by Beckett. Due to me accepting my offer I was guaranteed a place in university accommodation and also had the chance to have an input on who I was going to be living with. I filled out a questionnaire, and based on my answers, I was given a few options for flats. I decided to go with the first one that came up, which already had two flat mates confirmed. Soon after, a WhatsApp group was created for our flat, and we’ve been friends ever since. Over the summer, I spent time learning some new recipes to cook and getting everything I needed for my room. Before I knew it, September arrived, and moving day was here!

First impressions and making connections

After saying an emotional goodbye to my family, I found myself alone in a new city. But here’s where I share the first of my top tips: I had stocked up on crisps, salsa, and my beverage of choice, and spent that first night chatting with the two other people in my flat. This is one of my biggest pieces of advice for anyone moving into university halls — try to reach out to the people you’re living with. Living alone can feel isolating, but by trying to build relationships with your flat mates, even if you don’t become best friends, you’ll feel much more at ease in your new home for the year.

Packing (what you REALLY need)

Another important tip I’d recommend is not to overpack. It’s easy to spend hours scrolling through packing lists online, but I’d suggest thinking carefully before bringing things you don’t immediately need — especially when it comes to kitchenware and utensils. The one exception would be room decorations. I’d recommend bringing a few to make your room feel more like home. And if you forget something or realise you need it, there’s always a homeware shop nearby. You could even make a flat trip out of it with your new friends to pick up whatever you need collectively.

Celebrating holidays with your flat mates

One of my favourite memories from my first year was spending Christmas with my two flat mates. We went to Morrisons, picked up a roast-in-the-bag chicken and other bits, and enjoyed a full three-course meal while opening presents. The Halloween before, we had a great time carving pumpkins together. If you get along with your flat mates, I highly recommend celebrating holidays together and decorating your flat as a group, whether it’s putting up a Christmas tree or decking out your door with crime scene tape, these little traditions can make your time together feel more special. For me, it was these moments that made my experience much less isolating and a lot more fun.

Making halls feel like home

Halls are often quite basic, but they offer a blank canvas to make the space feel like your own. Adding personal touches can transform your room into a much more inviting and homely place, which really helps with any potential feelings of homesickness. I remember bringing along some of the decorations from my room at my parents’ house, and it made all the difference.

The reality of living in a shared space

University halls can sometimes get a reputation for being messy, especially if your flat mates aren’t as tidy or quiet as you’d like. However, if you set expectations and share responsibilities with the flat mates who are on board with keeping common areas clean, things can run smoothly. While mess and rubbish can build up, my biggest tip is to focus on building strong relationships with your flat mates. When things need to be done around the flat, having open and friendly conversations can help keep everything in balance. If I were to share one thing I wish I had done differently, it would be setting clearer boundaries around cleaning. I spent a lot of time tidying up after others and wiping down surfaces, which, while helpful, did leave me feeling a bit drained, especially with university work on top of that. In hindsight, I’d recommend balancing responsibilities more evenly from the start, so everyone contributes, and you don’t burn out trying to do it all yourself.

How living in halls shaped me and the impact it's had on my overall experience

At the end of the day, while living with new people can come with its challenges, there are plenty of ways to make the experience a positive one. I truly believe that Leeds Beckett does its best to ensure students have a great time, especially by pairing people with similar interests. Looking back on my time in accommodation, I can honestly say it was a really positive experience. I met my two best friends through university halls, and it was a time of personal growth — not just for me as an individual, but also as someone learning to live with others.

My best piece of advice is to use the accommodation portal to connect with people you click with and meet them beforehand. Once you move in, keep extending the olive branch — whether it’s by leaving your door open when you’re in your room or hanging out in the kitchen while others are cooking. Ultimately, you want your hall to feel like a comfortable, fun space to return to after a long day at university.