Sign up for Student Housing!

While neither of us went for student housing (Titchie lived with her aunt while Tricia got an apartment and shared the rent with a roommate), based on interviews with other Filipino students abroad, we suggest that you consider student housing, at least during your first semester abroad.

It may seem as if student housing doesn’t leave you much choice when it comes to location or roommates, but the experience may prove interesting and one way to get yourself immersed into your new community. Most student housing is close to the school or located within the campus. Deciding on student housing also exposes you to a new realm of people and cultures, which is one of the many reasons you may have gone abroad to study, right? Signing up for student housing also frees you from the ordeal of apartment hunting which can sometimes take several months.

Choosing student housing ensures that your accommodations are in order as soon as you reach your new place of residence, and can then spend the first few weeks of your stay familiarizing yourself with the location of the buildings where your classes are to be held (you don’t want to be late for your first class), learning how to get around your new city, and even surveying the nearest supermarket where you can buy white rice. Lastly, with a room in school housing, you can ask your RA or Resident Adviser questions about living in your new home city, how to use the washing machine, places to avoid, cheap places to eat, security, curfews, etc.

"The University’s housing program for post grads is great. The buildings are well maintained and the University provides students with all the essentials (pots/pans/duvet). Unfortunately, the slots are on a first come, first served basis but there are lots of rooms." –Charina Quizon, University of Birmingham, Birmingham

Application forms and brochures about housing usually come with the letter of acceptance from your school. Read these forms thoroughly. Take note of the length of the lease, whether meals are included with the fee, the building description, and the facilities each residence hall offers: computer services, parking, child care (for those who are parents). If you don’t get information about school housing, write or call your school’s admission office and ask about housing information as soon as you can. Aside from your personal information, the form will ask for your residence hall preference, roommate preference (smoker/ non smoker, early riser/ night owl), special needs (e.g. I would prefer an elevator building, I have a back problem). When done filling out the form, make a copy for your files and then send the original via a quick delivery service (Airborne Express, Fed Ex, JTS Express) so you are sure that the school gets your reservation. Competition for housing is tight so make sure you reserve early or at least make it before the deadline.