The Iglu Guide | Blog
What is the ultimate student accommodation?
If you ask a group of students what to look for in the ultimate student accommodation, you might get a whole host of different answers. Needs and priorities can look very different for each student, and what suits one may not suit another. But there are certain common features that all students typically look for when searching for student accommodation which means they can live their best student lives: security, accessibility, community and connectivity. Here’s what that looks like in the ultimate student accommodation.
Location
Proximity to campus is a huge benefit when it comes to student living. There’s nothing better than rolling out of bed straight into a lecture – or having the option to stay late on campus and be able to quickly return back home. It also means students can fully immerse themselves in university life, societies and clubs – and be able to benefit from socialising both on-campus and in student accommodation. With many universities located in and around the city centres, well-located student accommodation means that students are ideally placed to access the best of city living, and other essential services without incurring unnecessary travel costs. All Iglu buildings are located close to universities and transport links in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne, designed with this type of accessibility and convenience in mind. Location is definitely King when it comes to student accommodation.
Safety
Living in a secure environment is key to enjoying university life. The ultimate student accommodation building offers controlled access, with well-lit areas and 24/7 security for complete peace of mind. This gives students the opportunity to focus entirely on their studies without worrying about belongings or personal safety. Key card access and CCTV cameras like those available at Iglu are crucial to stress-free living, especially for new students embarking on an independent experience for the very first time. It also helps to know there is a supportive community around at all times.
Community vibes
University is a unique opportunity to make lifelong friends and meet like-minded people. The type of student accommodation you choose will play a huge role in how that evolves. The ultimate student accommodation offers the ability to interact with an off-campus community in a building that also provides common social and study areas. This really helps create a sense of community, and it’s completely refreshing to leave your uni peers behind for the day, and have a whole different social circuit to interact with at home. If you live some distance from college, your travel time constraints will impact how you socialise, particularly if it means travelling home late at night. Equally, if you are returning to a house share where you have rented a single room, you are missing out on the benefits of community living every time you walk out of college. For students living independently for the very first time, community support is incredibly important and can make or break the uni experience.
Facilities
Many students look for inclusive modern facilities in a student accommodation provider such as kitchen and laundry facilities, a fitness centre, games rooms, lounges and study spaces. Connectivity is key, and so access to high-speed internet and enjoying 24/7 connectivity is generally a non-negotiable for most students. With accessibility and convenience on tap and everything included on site at no extra charge, life is definitely easier to manage – along with the student budget. These types of facilities tend to get included in purpose-built student accommodation buildings such as Iglu Melbourne City, where they are specifically designed around how students like to live.
Privacy
Privacy is an important aspect of the student experience and something that many students seek from their student accommodation provider. It doesn’t necessarily mean living alone and socially isolated, but it does mean having access to privacy within your student accommodation. For students living in a house share, it can be as simple as having your own bedroom and bathroom to retreat to whenever you need it. Some students may prefer their own living space, and sometimes it just means having a private space to study away from all distractions. Iglu Student Accommodation buildings like Iglu Mascot offers the option of shared or private living, with ensuite bathrooms included as standard. Additionally, there are private study spaces available for students who want to escape the living environment and work quietly elsewhere within the building. This type of flexible living is key to enhancing the student experience and definitely a requirement in the ultimate student accommodation.
Modernity
Most students would wish their ultimate student accommodation to offer a modern building and room design, with well-maintained facilities. This is essential for a comfortable and enjoyable living experience. The communal areas should be well-kept and regularly cleaned, with social and private spaces provided within the building to reflect how students live today.
All-inclusive
Managing the student budget is part and parcel of the pathway to independent living, but it can be quite an overwhelming responsibility at first. As well as learning to live alone, students may also have to manage rental leases and utility bills as well as the demands of daily living and studying on top. For this reason, many students prefer the ultimate student accommodation to have all their rent and utility bills wrapped up in one easy number. This means they don’t have to worry about having the responsibility of signing up to different utility providers, and it enables them to focus more on what’s important.
Supportive environment
Instead of enjoying the transition to student life, some students can find it an incredibly stressful experience as they try to navigate this new territory. Along with the pressure to perform academically, there’s the social expectation to have the best time ever and leave university with a huge new set of friends. Of course, this is not the case, but perception and self-doubt can be difficult to shift. For this reason, it’s important that any student accommodation can provide wellbeing support to all students that may be struggling with any aspect of university life. All Iglu properties, like Iglu Brisbane City, have fully trained residential leaders onsite and available for any student in need of help.
Find out more about what you might look for in student accommodation, and what to avoid during your search.
Image: Felix Mooneram @ Iglu Summer Hill
