Living in Student Halls as a Mature Student

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A common misconception about university is that you need to be young to go - normally as soon as you leave college or sixth form. However, 46% of students enrolled on a higher education course in the year 2018/19 were aged 21 and above.

Another misconception about university is that you need to be young to live in student halls. A lot of mature students opt for renting privately, but while there many reasons halls are seen as places for young adults, not all are factual and some of the negative ideas you may have in your head may actually turn out to be positives. 

No privacy

In university halls, living space can be small and can feel quite overcrowded with very little privacy. The idea of sharing a bathroom might sound like a nightmare, however, many universities offer halls with smaller flats (so less housemates to share common areas with) and many now offer en-suite rooms as standard.

Too much noise

With walls being pretty thin, a lot of people worry about there being too much noise. Whether it’s a loud flatmate or the music from your flatmates who are going out again, consequently it can get annoying, especially when you’re trying to sleep or work.

But did you know that some universities have dedicated ‘quiet halls’, for those who don’t want to party hard and some halls specifically for Postgraduate and/or International students – who generally are older or less inclined to go crazy every night. If you want somewhere that is a little quieter you can ask to be placed in to this accommodation when you apply.

You may be looked up to

You might be worried that you might not fit in when living with people who are younger than you. However, in most cases, simply joining in with activities (including the odd party) will show you that the age barrier isn't as big of a deal. 

Another concern might be that you'll be seen as the one who is looked up to for advice, whether it is on cooking or relationships. In every group, there tends to be someone who takes a little bit of control in situations when it is needed, therefore don’t be surprised if this is you. It’s a positive reaction though, it means they trust you and you're likely to have had more life experience to share too.

It’ll be fun

Sure, students in halls are known to like a party or two (a week!). But just because you are a mature student, doesn’t mean you are past it when it comes to having fun. The reason you might be going to university is to push your boundaries and experience something completely new and different to your life now. Living in halls will definitely do this and is a big part of the university experience.

If you can live with the mess and chaos that sometimes comes with living with newly-released-to-the-world 18-year olds – then we say go for it. It’s an experience you’ll never get anywhere else and it could well be a great one for you!

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