Checklist for finding a university residence or college

Are you looking for a university residence or college and you don’t know where to start?

At Buscoresi we have already gone through this situation and we know that there are a series of things that you should not overlook.

That’s why we created this checklist, which will surely help you define what you really need to make the best decision and secure your place in that university residence or college once and for all.

Ready?

Take note of these points so that you don’t miss any important detail:

Let’s start at the beginning

Think about the characteristics that your ideal residence hall would have. When researching different universities, take the opportunity to look for the residences that are around.

At Buscoresi we work with the best residences and we gather the current offer in our search engine so that you can easily compare and book quickly.

We show you the accommodation through images and real descriptions so you can save time, money and visits.

You can start here

University residence or college?

It’s time to decide whether you want to live in a university hall of residence or a college.

What is the difference?

No two halls of residence, let alone two halls of residence, are the same. We tell you this from our own experience.

The first thing you need to know is that in both options you will find a good atmosphere, university ambience and proximity to the faculties.

In short, the hall of residence offers accommodation to students of a specific university because it is attached to it, while the university residence provides accommodation for higher education students, normally university degrees, but also postgraduate courses or even specialised professional training. They are autonomous, as they are not attached to any university.

Mixed accommodation, female or male?

Both university residences and halls of residence can be: mixed, male or female. They are neither worse nor better, just different. And if you think that the single-sex ones are necessarily more boring than the mixed ones, you are wrong, we have already lived the experience and we recommend it.

Have a clear budget

First of all, before starting the search, it is important that you set yourself a monthly budget to pay for the residence. No one knows better than you do how far your economic possibilities or those of your family reach, but it is important that you know that in a residence hall you will not only be able to sleep, but you will also have to think about whether or not it includes food service, laundry, cleaning of rooms and general services.

If you have access to a kitchen (private or shared), you will have to set a maximum amount to spend on the purchase. If, on the other hand, you are hiring the full board and half board service, then you probably don’t have to worry about anything.

Services and facilities to suit your lifestyle

Think about the small details and look for accommodation where you have access to things you feel you need, e.g. laundry facilities, internet, parking space for vehicles (car, motorbike or bike), etc.

Keep in mind that many residences literally look like luxury hotels, so be prepared because getting out of your room will be easy if you choose a residence with amazing spaces: gym, swimming pool, rooftop and even a cinema room.

Living alone or sharing a room?

One of the biggest advantages of living in a residence hall or college is that you can choose between living alone or sharing a room with someone else. In both options, the size, price and equipment may vary, but what is certain is that you will have a place to spend your days and nights.

What kind of rooms can you find? In general, you will choose between single rooms, double rooms, studios or flats.

You may also take into account…

The opening hours of the residence hall and the common areas

Many residences are open 24 hours a day, but others are not, so don’t forget this small detail. Ask about the entrance and exit limits, so you won’t be surprised.

The entry of guests

You will find residences where no one who does not live there can enter, to places where anyone can enter day or night. Consult the rules on the entry of guests to the residence hall and to the rooms (don’t forget the timetables).

Smoking or non-smoking?

If you do not smoke, you may prefer a residence where nobody smokes, so you should take this into account.