OxfordHousing - A quick housing guide to new comers to Oxford University

A quick housing guide to new comers to Oxford University

Normally three types of accommodation are available: college accommodation, university accommodation and private houses/flats. Here are some comparisons to consider.

College accommodation

Advantages: Good location, safety, cheaper price, university IT services, college cultures, etc.

College accommodations are only open to students registered in the college (with few exceptions). Normally college accommodation is cheap compared with other options in the same area, because colleges have paid some subsidies for the accommodation (and you have paid colleges fees). Rent differs from college to college, room conditions and location. Single room is about 280~350 pcm. Furniture is offered and students share kitchen and bathroom (some colleges provide en-suit rooms where do not need sharing with others) with others, and these sharing areas are cleaned everyday. Most college accommodations provide broad band and landline, and the bill of the former is usually included in rent.

Disadvantages: College accommodations are limited. Normally students are allowed to live only one year in the college, although certain colleges with more properties may accommodate students longer. In addition visitors of residents are generally not permitted to live in college accommodation.

University accommodation (http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/accommodation/)

Advantages: Similar to those of college accommodation, but some are located far from city centre.

Disadvantages: The application process can take a year or even longer, therefore it is not suitable for MScs. This long application process also means that if you are interested in uni accommodation you should apply well in advance, e.g. when you first arrived Oxford, then you may be able to move in the following year.

Private House

Advantages: Sharing with others, you may expand your social life, enrich your experience, and enjoy (more) freedom instead of rules set by college/university accommodations.

Disadvantages: Money is possibly the issue that will bother you most (e.g. water, gas, electricity bills, broadband and landline rent, council tax (maybe), etc.). Top-up gas and electricity cards are used in some private houses. If this is your case, you may have to pay more attention to the remaining credits of these cards; otherwise you may end up with some (expected) embarrassing situations. Safety can be another issue in your consideration. Unlike college or university accommodations, private houses usually make use a single lock to ensure safety instead of night porters.