Keep in mind that your roommates may be of different nationalities, having different habits and ways of doing things. Go with an open mind and take advantage of the experience to learn from them and to share yours!
Advantages and disadvantages of sharing a flat in Birmingham
These are some of the pros and cons of living in a shared flat in the English city:
Advantages of sharing a flat in Birmingham
-
By living with flatmates of different nationalities you will be able to practice and improve my English a lot.
-
Many of the shared flats are in neighbourhoods packed with students and young professionals, like Selly Oak or Moseley, for example.
-
You will be able to save on the cost of rent since this type of accommodation is usually cheaper than full flats. Remember that both the rent and utility bills are divided among everyone who lives there.
Disadvantages of sharing a flat in Birmingham
-
You will have to share the common areas of the house with other students, such as the kitchen, living room and bathroom. In some cases, the rooms have private bathrooms, but the rent is higher.
-
There are many scams when it comes to renting flatshares in Birmingham, so we advise you to be careful. In Erasmus Play you will find all the available and verified accommodation from different platforms, and you will be able to make the reservation safe and 100% online.
Apps for your international exchange in Birmingham
To easily find information about what is necessary for the exchange, you can use different apps for international students. In them, you will find a wide variety of information related to steps to follow to have everything in order when you arrive, as well as procedures and paperwork that must be done during and after the exchange in Birmingham.
How to meet people in Birmingham
The best thing you can do is share a flat and make plans with your classmates, that way you won't feel lonely when you arrive in Birmingham for the first time. Also, you can use some of the following options:
Student associations in Birmingham
In the universities there are many associations for students, More than 300!, called Student societies, which correspond to different interests, activities, religions, nationalities, etc. . Some of them are the association of Mathematics, Acapella, Running, Kickboxing, Parachuting, Pastry, Fashion, Criminology and even Game of Thrones and Harry Potter.
Facebook groups for international students in Birmingham
Facebook groups for international students in Birmingham corresponds to the academic year in which the students will be in the city. In this way you can take advantage of connecting with other young people before arriving in Birmingham, creating a network of contacts before arrival.
Whatsapp groups for international students in Birmingham
Generally, both associations and Facebook groups create WhatsApp groups to be in more direct and instant contact with each other. Surely you will find the links to these groups on the pages or websites.
Tips for living in a shared apartment in Birmingham
Here are some tips about living in Birmingham:
-
Locals are usually football fans and get euphoric during local club matches, both in the bars where they are broadcast and in the stadiums. Keep this in mind if you are going to live near Birmingham City Stadium, Aston Villa or the city centre where the sports bars are located.
-
Some neighbourhoods in Birmingham can be somewhat dangerous. We recommend that you look for accommodation in safe student neighbourhoods, such as Selly Oak, Edgbaston or Moseley.