Student halls of residence in Birmingham

Are you going to spend some time in this English city and you’re looking for student residences in Birmingham? At Erasmus Play we tell you the most important details you need to know about this type of accommodation: their advantages and disadvantages, differences between private and university residences, how to find cheap residences and answers to some of the most frequently asked questions by students. Let’s go!

Pros and cons of living in a residence in Birmingham

The following are some of the most relevant details of this type of accommodation in the city:

Pros of living in student dorms in Birmingham

In many cases you can choose between catered (food included) or self-catered (no food included). This way you can decide if you prefer to have access to prepared food, or if your thing is to cook what you want, when you want.
All residences have service costs included! We are referring to the costs of electricity, Internet, gas, and water.
It allows you to live in a multicultural environment, since they usually welcome students from different parts of the world. This makes your experience much more enriching!
They usually have amenities and facilities that make the stay much more enjoyable. These usually include: living room with sofas and television, gym, study room, games (ping pong, foosball, etc.), and outdoor area (garden or terrace). They may also offer free bikes and organised events for residents.
Both the cleaning of common areas and maintenance of facilities are run by the same residence, so this won't cause problems among students.

Cons of living in student dorms in Birmingham

The coexistence rules can be stricter than in private shared flats. Especially regarding schedules, the possibility of holding meetings, and/or receiving visitors.
If the residence is on-campus, that is, on the same campus of the institution, it can be very difficult to disconnect from university life and enjoy the city.
They can accommodate a large number of people, which may mean that common areas are always busy. This can affect, for example, when you’re making food if the kitchens are being used.
Some don’t offer bedding and kitchenware, so you’ll have to bring it from home, buy it in the city or purchase one of the packs that the same residence can offer.
Living with so many people can make it difficult to focus on studies when necessary.

Private student residences in Birmingham

Many of the private student residences in Birmingham are in the centre of the city (known as “Town” by locals), and others may be in surrounding neighbourhoods. However, they are usually close or have good connections with the different universities of the city.

Among the types of accommodation that these residences usually have are en-suite rooms (with private bathroom) and studio apartments (with bathroom and small private kitchen). They can vary in size, which influences the price. Also, every room is furnished at least with the basics to move in, although in some cases you have to bring with you or buy bed linen and kitchenware.

There are two aspects that usually differentiate residences from private apartments: some facilities that provide comfort and some services. Among the facilities they can have are: living room with sofas and TV, gym, study room, games (like ping pong or foosball, for example), and outdoor area (which can be a garden or terrace). They can also offer free bikes and organised events for residents. Regarding services, those that are normally included in the price are 24-hour security, high-speed WiFi, maintenance, and cleaning of common areas. There may be some services that you can hire for a separate cost, such as laundry, room cleaning or, in some cases, some prepared meals.

University student halls of residence in Birmingham

The university residences in Birmingham, i.e. those that belong to the Universities, can be located either on the same campus of the institution (called on campus) or in surrounding neighbourhoods or the centre (off campus). Keep in mind that living on campus allows you to be close to your classes and be completely integrated into university life, but it can make it difficult to disconnect from that to be able to enjoy everything the city has to offer.

The type of accommodation that they usually have varies between individual rooms with a private bathroom ("en-suite"), single rooms with shared bathroom, and studio apartments, with their own kitchen and bathroom.

Another fact about university residences in Birmingham that you have to keep in mind is that they can be catered or self-catered. If they’re catered, it means that you have meals included in the price, and if they’re “self-catered” you don’t have meals included, but there’s a kitchen so you can cook yourself.

The services included in the price of accommodation usually include Internet, basic room insurance, all bills for water, electricity, gas, etc., and 24-hour security. Furthermore, they usually have heating in all rooms, which is important to overcome the English cold.

As for the facilities that they have for all students to enjoy, the most common are study rooms, social rooms with sofas, gym, and laundry.

University Residences of the University of Birmingham

The residences of this institution are divided into three different complexes (“student villages”). These are called Selly Oak, Pritchatts Park and The Vale, and each of them has a different location in relation to the campus.

If you want to know about the accommodation near the University of Birmingham, read this article.

University Residence Halls of the Birmingham City University

This University has some of its own and also has agreements with private residences in which they offer places to their students. First year students who’ll be studying during the whole year have priority, so you have to check if there are places available when you apply (which has to be within a certain period).

Rent cheap student residences in Birmingham

In Erasmus Play you can see all the private and verified student residences in Birmingham, filtering through their prices! This way you’ll be able to find one that has an affordable price and includes all your favourite features. Additionally, through our platform you can make a totally secure and online reservation. Don't let other students rent your ideal accommodation before you! If not, you’ll end up with a sad looking face that locals refer to as “a face as long as Livery Street”.

Frequently Asked Questions about student dorms in Birmingham

What are the requirements to live in a student residence in Birmingham?
One of the essential requirements is to be a student, that is, to be enrolled in a university in Birmingham. Others are having a valid identity document, a visa for those who need it, and paying a deposit as a guarantee. In some cases a guarantor is required when you’re not going to pay the entire rent in advance.
How much does a student residence in Birmingham cost?
The cost of a university residence is usually between £100 and £190 per week. That is, they usually cost between £380 and £760 per month, per person. For their part, private residences usually range from £100 per week (£400 per month) onwards.
What’s cheaper, an apartment or a student residence in Birmingham?
Normally, the minimum cost of a room in a shared apartment is a little cheaper than that of a student residence, being £80 per week for the former and £100 per week for the latter. However, remember that most residences have services and amenities that private flats don’t, which impacts their final cost.
When to apply for a student residence in Birmingham?
As soon as you can! Many students choose this city to study, so the demand for accommodation is very high. For this reason, we always recommend that you search and reserve your residence or shared apartment as soon as you can.
Are there male and female halls of residence in Birmingham?
It’s not the most common, but you’ll find some residences intended only for women and others only for men. Keep in mind that there’s not a wide range of them, so you may not have many alternatives to choose from.