My advice- live on the vale. I started the year off in Bournbrook (Selly Oak) and had a very quiet social life, and really didn’t enjoy it. So when possible I immediately switched accommodation to the vale (Chamberlain) I’m enjoying my time at UoB much more now. Most of the people you meet in first year will live on the vale, and you can walk back from Broad street easily which is a huge bonus. Mason, Shackleton, Chamberlain, Aitken, and Tennis courts are all good options imo. Selly is better for shopping but far worse for social life in my experience.
My advice: If you don't mind sharing, go for Tennis Court. It's the Vale accom closest to uni, 20' or 15 if you walk fast. It also has a bus stop right next to it which is great when going/coming back from the city. The kitchens are pretty big and there are parties almost every night, so it's great for socialising.
Thank you so so much for that, it was so helpful. I've had to submit my UCAS application early and I wasn't sure about my choices. I was looking at Bham as an option and this has definitely made me sure about it, u guys are the best
Great video guys ! Just want to say one thing: I have experience living on the Vale and accommodation I lived in was about halfway up the hill. I’m not a fast walker (I have a mild disability) but I could still get the centre of campus (the green heart) in 13 minutes. The walk itself is pretty nice and safe - it’s a walking path and it’s fairly well lit in the evenings . I’d say the distance between the vale and campus may only be an issue if you’re a very slow Walker, if you live at the top of the hill (Chamberlain, Elgar Court or Maplebank) AND your subject is based on the far side of campus in relation to the vale ( the side closest to Selly Oak) or at the Medical School. Living at the top of hill at the vale though does have its advantages though as you are closest to Morrison’s ( which I’d say is about a 15 minute walk away). The biggest disadvantage to living on the vale is that you are pretty far in terms of walking distance from any Aldi.
Hey, thanks for this :) if u don’t mind can I ask which accommodation u lived in and how far away the supermarkets r? The vale looks rly nice but I can’t justify it if I’d have to trek like 40 mins to Aldi for food haha
@@sharmilathirumurugan7381 hey! I lived in Aitken which is on the far side of lake in relation to the footpath to campus but is is only about half way up the hill ( Chamberlain , Elgar court and Maple Bank being at the top) tbh I don’t think there’s an Aldi that nearby. The closest ones are in Selly Oak and by Edgbaston Cricket ground which are both quite a way from the Vale (I think around 30-40 mins away). However, there is a Morrison’s about a 15 min walk away (on the other side of the Vale from Campus ) which I didn’t find too bad a distance. I know that many people also got food deliveries from various supermarkets too so that’s always an option. Costcutter is also there for when you’re in desperate need of something but it is quite pricey so I wouldn’t recommend doing your regular shop there. I think being on meal plan is a big help in terms of convenience as you don’t have to worry about shopping and cooking that often so I think that’s definitely something to consider if you want to live on the vale but are concerned about not being close to an Aldi. Hope this helps! :)
@@cressonyoutube4192 ahh right, I rly want to go self catered so ig selly might be more convenient for me then. Thanks sm for all the advice, rly appreciate it :)
I live in Mason and it’s really social! I met my best friends here and having an en-suite bathroom is really nice ! However the kitchen is not really social as it’s long in the length and not depth or smth For that green com, tennis court and Shackleton is much better !
I am not at the end yet but guys I am so impressed with you for the time you take in offering so much detail/ Good job! Pity you didn't speak more on the Postgrad. facilities.
Just to add I would say it depends where you live on the Vale as to how long it takes to get onto campus (and obvs where you are going on campus!) but for me when I lived in Tennis Courts it only took me 15/20mins walk to get onto campus! I would say that most people live on the Vale first year so it is the most sociable place to live and its easy to walk between accommodations. Plus in non covid years the uni puts on loads of events for free on the Vale for freshers throughout the year, like animal petting days, outdoor movie screenings, blow up obstacle courses etc. Also most people I know got their shopping delivered (Asda, Tesco, Sainsburys) which you can share with your flat, although some people did walk to Aldi in Selly Oak as well but it was quite far to walk. Also I may be biased as I lived there first year, but I think that Tennis Courts was one of the most social accommodations because of how the blocks work (you have 6 flats of 5 people to a block). So within that its easy for the different flats become friends and socialise together especially in freshers, so it was a great way to meet people outside your own flat! In the summer there is usually a big festival on the Vale called Valefest which has bands playing and other performances/ food and drinks stalls which is really fun, there is also usually a colour run as well so loads of activities going on!
If you're at the top of the Vale in Elgar, Aitken or Chamberlain it's a ten minutes walk up Arthur road or carpenter road to a co-op nearby!! Way cheaper than costcutters and no need to go into town or near campus
As a final year student, I have to say Tennis Courts (Green Community) is the most lit accommodation. If you want to have freedom, limited security disturbances and a decent layout kitchen for pre-drinks its the best choice. It is also the closest to campus from the Vale Village so you don't need to walk that dirty incline that the rich Chamberlain live at. The drawbacks are obviously the fact that the rooms are small and shared facilities but if you want a proper uni experience i'd recommend it.
Bournbrook is between 4-6 people, I have 5 in mine. So much storage it’s ridiculous, kitchen is great and there’s great views but It’s gone up in price from this year & not sure it’s worth it. Wished I was in the vale it’s more social. bournbrook is not very social as it’s vertical and there’s lifts so you never pass anyone plus you if you get a room looking over selly you get constant ambulances and police cars going past as it’s the road to the giant hospital so it’s noisy! (Btw we’re on the same course 😂)
Oh okay, thanks for the information!❤️Yeahh it’s gone up this year because they need to make money back from what they lost from last year x oh really sports science?😂
Hiya, when u say it’s not social is it basically impossible to make friends apart from w the people in ur flat? Also did u find urself having to walk to the vale if u wanted to do anything since I’ve heard that’s where everything happens? Idm if there’s not always a party going on but if it’s proper dead I might reconsider putting it as my first choice haha :)
This was sooo helpful omg! Didn’t know vale was that far from campus . Deffo want to be in Selly oak now!(cus of the shops/amenities and just general decent places for sure)
What are your thoughts on alcohol free accommodation or quiet accommodation? Particularly quiet accommodation like would it be full of people that are really quiet or people who just don't like going out to clubs and stuff. Do you know what it's like?
I’d opt for somewhere like Metalworks or Bournebrook if you want a quiet place. They’re far from the Vale and are tower blocks, plus their motives are DEAD so I doubt you’d get many noise disturbance. They’re both right next to campus, so study spaces are right on your doorstep too.
just realized you uploaded this 2 weeks ago lol. i’m a canadian student and just got my offer to do an exchange semester at UoB and can’t wait to move there next year:)))
When I was a student there (1973-1976) the residences comprised single (usually) rooms, shared bathrooms, a semi-functional kitchen (no fridge) and 2 meals/day were provided. I lived in Ridge Hall in the Vale, but was actually a postgrad (medicine) from another country.
P.s battery retail park used to be really good, but then it got worse, also the canal is really good for people who like exercise. It runs alongside the railway to the city centre, so that’s another bonus to selly oak
@@emilylo6900 the good shops all moved to the shopping but next to it and then they did roadworks so u couldn’t even get there for a bit, but that’s just the retail park, the uni is still good
So helpful! Just wondering if you have any advice on obtaining a studio/studio apartment due to specific requirements - mainly for personal religious reasons. I've seen they're supposedly in pritchatt's , but if it's random allocation I'm not sure about mentioning it in the application.. Thanks!
Hi. I found this video engaging and entertaining. It was worthwhile but I'd like to know if these accomodations are mainly for undergrads or postgrad students get a chance at them? Also, what type of jobs can international students get around campus?
It really depends on the people you live with, some people are, some aren’t. If you think they’re messy then from the beginning say something about it before it gets worse and they keep going😂😂 or sit down as a flat and raise the issue together, but be nice because some people genuinely don’t think they’re being messy xx
hiii, i've been reading some reviews and I heard that Selly Oak can be a bit dodgy in terms of safety, what has your experience been for this? Also, which accommodation would you say is the safest?
Hi Jessie and Jessica, Your videos are really helpful as I am choosing my accommodation for September 2022 entry. I think Calthorpe court suits me well, I don't mind it being far away from university but I have read some reviews about management and security not being good and also I want to be in all girls flat due to religious reasons. I just want to know how much they care about your preferences. Can you please ask people you know who live there for their reviews? and give me some information. I'll be really thankful to you. Kind regards feels like I have written a whole email.
Are there buses so if you choose to wait you don't have to walk the 30 mins? What are the accommodation rules when it comes to guests because of Covid? Hopefully studying abroad next year and would love to know
Public transport is getting better. I’ve never got the bus from the Vale to Selly, but there are the electric scooters and Beryl bikes if you’re just trying to get around, and an Uber from Selly to the Vale is about £6.
This was so helpful, thank you! Would you say that The Vale has the most undergraduate students? I was looking at Bournbrook as the accommodation (room itself and the retail parks) looks really nice there but if most of the undergraduate students live in The Vale, I feel like the Chamberlin would be better?
The vale is the main place for first year undergraduate students, but bournbrook is also mainly undergraduates and the closest to campus, so it has its pros! Chamberlain is also very modern and has loads of flats, so can be very social, but further away from campus
@@JessieJessica ahhh thank you! Don't know why I'm finding it so stressful choosing an accommodation lol there's just so many to chose from and so many factors to take into account
don’t worry, as long as when you do the application you’re happy with all 6 choices, all accommodations have their pros! and you’ll have a good time anywhere!
Hi, for PG students, should we book accommodation through an uni website or contact the housing agent? Which one is more affordable? Is the Calthourpe court more convenient for females?
I went there a few years ago and when I lived on the vale I lived in Shackleton, tennis courts and then (because I’d had such a nightmare) moved in with boyfriend in mason. In Shackleton I had a massive flat but the smallest room and although it had an ensuite I could barley move. I couldn’t even open my bathroom door all the way yet my flat mates down the hall had enough room for an extra pull out sofa in their bedroom. I then moved to tennis courts because my friend had an extra room in their flat and boy did I regret that one! Other people are disgusting. Personal hygiene was so low they were using makeup with bugs crawling in it that they’d left in the bathroom and I was the only one who cleaned. They were all on the same course with significantly less contact hours than me yet I was coming home from a full day of classes only to have to clean the flat from head to toe. Moving into mason was much better even though me and my boyfriend (now husband) were squashed into one room. Honestly, you couldn’t pay me to live with anyone else ever again. P.s. meal plan is such a scam
Thank you! They can’t guarantee that, but in the ‘additional requests’ in your application you can tell them who your friend is, their student ID and then you can ask to be together x
hey could anyone living in pritchatts park let me know what the construction is like as i am planning to go this september and although i quite liked it, i am quite put off by the construction!
I was desperate to be on the Vale, living in Aitken on there now but because of Covid none of the stuff I was excited for like big flat parties or vale fest can even happen hahah
@@grengabs The flatmates I have are okay - most people seem to get on with their flatmates, although the people I get on with more are a few floors down from me. What I would say is that compared to the Vale, people are a lot more inhibited towards parties - in the Vale and some of the other accoms, people are really on it: they want to drink, they want to party with you, they want to do stuff. Battery Park is very much full of people who prioritise comfort - you do tend to get the partiers, but they're few and far between. The best word I could use is that people are generally 'restrained'. For me, that's not what I was looking for at all out of uni, although the accom itself is that pleasant that you learn to make do with it. It's certainly more lonely than other accommodations though, I feel like.
@@aliyaauguste7391 atm it’s deffo strict compared to the vale, but u can always sneak someone in somewhat easily... by the time you go to uni as well it won’t be a problem at all
We’re moving into a student house x if you look early within first year you can find a really nice 2nd year house, but they’re probably never gonna be as nice as uni accommodations
Selly oak is know to have some burglaries and muggings but burglaries are more common for 2nd & 3rd year student housing than 1st year university accommodations as the security is higher. The guild of students has loads of tips on how to keep your items safe, locking doors and windows ect. In terms of out and about, it’s just about making sure to walk in groups at night and avoid certain areas xx
You can apply all the advice to the uni you want to go to, but check the Oxford brookes website to see what accommodations they offer because it won’t be the same as Birmingham xx
Green community is on the vale village, so about a 30 min walk to uni, it’s in the centre of Tennis Courts, so you’re really close to that accommodation, it’s £124 a week, self-catered, there’s 6 people in a flat and you share a bathroom: 2 showers and 3 toilets, the rooms are a good size, there’s lots of storage space, it’s a single bed, the kitchen are really big with a a really good social space. The green community is all about sustainability, so you live with like-minded people who want to live sustainably, if you live there you have the opportunity to organize charity events, volunteer for charities ect. It’s a really nice accommodation
Literally laughing at myself, can barely walk for 15minutes and you guys are saying its 30 minutes. Thanks for the info cause I wouldn't have really checked it.
