The preferred alternative for students to live in is a spare room in a shared flat, as it will allow you to live in a multicultural environment enjoying the time you spend with your flatmates from different parts of the world.
Advantages and disadvantages of sharing a flat in Oxford
These are some of the pros and cons of living in shared flats in this English city:
Advantages of sharing a flat in Oxford
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You will be able to choose between the preferred neighbourhoods by students to live in since many of the shared flats are located there. Some are, for example, Oxford City Centre, East Oxford, Jericho and Headington.
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This city is one of the most expensive in England, so living in a shared flat will make your budget more affordable as a student.
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Thanks to the lower cost of renting, you will be able to allocate more of your available money to activities in the city and to explore the surroundings. London is about an hour away by bus!
Disadvantages of sharing a flat in Oxford
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Winter in Oxford is cold. You will have to reach an agreement with your flatmates about the use of heating so that it is pleasant for everyone who lives in the flat.
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Due to the large number of students that the city receives each year, finding cheap accommodation with good features and location can be somewhat complicated if you do not search in advance.
Apps for your international exchange programme in Oxford
To make the planning and experience of your international stay easier, it is recommendable to use the Apps at your disposal. In these, you will find a large amount of information and advice relevant to life at the university and in the city as a student. For example, one of them is that the main means of transport chosen by young people is bicycles. Keep this in mind if you are going to choose the accommodation that is a bit far from the university or the most frequented leisure sites.
How to meet people in Oxford
Consider some of the following alternatives to meet people in the English city:
Student associations in Oxford
At the University of Oxford, you will be able to join a large number of clubs and associations of the most diverse interests. Only at the University of Oxford, there are more than 400 clubs and associations. Brookes University also has the international student association ESN Oxford Brookes, where you will be able to meet people while doing different activities.
Facebook groups for international students in Oxford
There are a large number of groups geared towards international students in this city. Many of them are divided according to the academic year, so you have to join the one that corresponds to the season in which you are going to go. You will also find the ESN Oxford Brookes group, where you can see the calendar with all the planned activities.
Whatsapp groups for international students in Oxford
Generally, student associations create groups in messaging services so that young people connect easily. Here you will meet other students with the same interests as you and plan activities with them!
Tips for living in a shared apartment in Oxford
Keep these tips in mind when living in shared flats in this UK city:
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Rooms can be part of private shared flats or student residences. The latter usually give access to facilities such as a gym, study rooms and leisure rooms, so you should look at the characteristics of each one to choose the ideal accommodation for you.
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Living in Oxford means you'll be able to witness a lot of unique university traditions, such as the Merton College Make-Up Ceremony, the Great Tom Tower's Late Chimes, and the Turtle Races at Corpus Christi College.