There are two basic alternatives for students – they break down into endless complicated subsets, but let’s not spit in the Evian right now, okay?

Students can either live in or out. The ‘in/out’ bit refers to university accommodation – housing that belongs to your university or college or is at least managed by them. Or at least by someone else on their behalf. Told you it got complicated.

If you live out, you have to find your own accommodation, deal with your landlord personally and generally get involved in the whole homemaking business for yourself. An altogether more real experience - read slugs on the carpet and damp on the walls. But on the plus: it feels more like your own pad and will better prepare you for post-uni life.   

If you live in, the university will lay on all sorts of extra benefits. For example, there may be someone who empties your bin and runs a vacuum round the floor every once in a while. There may be a canteen, common room, a bar even. And, what’s more, your bills will probably all be included in your rent. It's not uncommon to get an en-suite room now either.

As a rule, living in works out much cheaper. It depends on what the university is charging, but it’s rare that once you’ve allowed for bills, meals and anything else they throw in, it works out on the wrong side of what’s available locally. Another benefit is that it’s usually easier to manage your finances if you live in. Because bills are usually ‘all in’, you don’t have to worry about brown envelopes landing on the doormat threatening to cut off your heating and light, unless you pay the electricity bill. (What’s worst is they’ll probably pick the middle of EastEnders to throw the switch on you.)

Go to Choosing housing: what to consider to see what you need to think of and help you work out where you want to rest your student head.

• Rent and housing
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