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Accommodation Advice for Parents and Carers

If your child is considering going to university, there is a lot to think about! Among the biggest decisions you will have to make together is whether they will live in university accommodation or stay at home and commute to campus.

Often it will be the first time your child has lived away from home and there are lots of things to consider including location, cost and type of accommodation.

Home or away?

Living in university accommodation might not be for everyone. It is a very personal choice and depends on many things including finances, commuting options, and whether your child is keen to move out or prefers to stay at home. For those who choose to stay at home, it’s worth remembering that they can still have the same experience in terms of lectures, social activities, clubs and societies and all university has to offer but without the cost of accommodation.

Types of accommodation

The best way to find out which halls are the best choice for your child is to look around them at an Open Day or campus tour. That way, you can see the rooms, the campus, facilities, and check out the local town or city. At DMU, students are lucky that halls are within walking distance of both the campus and Leicester city.

University-owned halls

These halls are managed by the university and include benefits such as on-site security and all-inclusive bills. Halls usually consist of flats with several bedrooms and either a shared bathroom or en-suite, and a shared kitchen and social space. DMU offers guaranteed accommodation [students add link to this page maybe? Guaranteed accommodation to all first-year students who place us as their first choice.

Privately-owned halls

Purpose-built student living complex owned by a private company. Typically consist of flats with bedrooms and either a shared bathroom or en-suite, and a shared kitchen and social space.

Shared houses

A privately owned house where students have a bedroom each and split the cost of the rent and manage the bills. This is the typical choice for second and third year students and is arranged independently.

DMU accommodation

We offer DMU-owned halls and also work in partnership with private companies that own student flats.  Our halls are all self-catered with shared kitchens and options for en-suite bathrooms, or flats with shared bathrooms. Flats consist of between 3 and 10 bedrooms and we offer different contract lengths and prices.  

You and your child will feel safe with on-site or on-call security and secure entry systems for all halls. 

Our halls are within a short walk of the campus and the city centre. Most have bike storage and laundry facilities on site. Some halls have cinema rooms, fitness suites and study areas.

We offer different contract lengths to suit your needs (a standard DMU contract is 41 weeks and 1 day) with prices varying from £95-£158 per week, including all bills.*

*Prices are an indicator, taken from 2024/25 entry

Accommodation Livestream Replay

Showcasing the range of accommodations that is available to our first year students. Hear from current residents and take a sneak peek into student life as we explore the modern facilities, vibrant communal spaces, and cosy bedrooms on offer to DMU students.

  1. What’s typically included in the cost?

    In addition to the rent which includes bills (£95-£158 per week), you should also consider the cost of setting your child up with everything they need to live in halls. Prices will vary but we estimate an average of around £150 to cover essential items like bedding, cutlery, crockery, kitchen utensils etc.

  2. What if they have a disability or special requirements?

    DMU has a limited amount of accommodation for disabled students. If your child has a disability or medical condition that may affect them in their studies or their accommodation, please let us know. Students should contact the Disability Advice and Support team so that their needs can be identified and addressed early.

  3. Can they bring a car?

    While some halls have limited parking, we recommend your child does not bring a car unless absolutely necessary. There will generally be an additional charge to secure a parking space.

  4. Can they request single gender flat share?

    There are both mixed and single gender flats and the option is selected during the online booking process.

  5. What if they don’t like their accommodation?

    If your child is unhappy in their accommodation, they should speak to their Hall Manager who will try to help. If they want to leave their accommodation, then they will need to find someone willing to take their place and pay the rent for the remainder of the contract. Otherwise, you will be liable to pay the full rent to the end of the contract. The accommodation contract is legally binding. Once the accommodation contract is signed all the rent for the duration of the contract must be paid.

  6. What can’t they bring?

    In terms of electrical appliances they can bring TVs and games consoles but cannot have fridges or microwaves in the bedrooms. Air fryers are allowed but must be kept in the kitchen. And no pets!

  7. Can they have friends and family stay?

    As a rule, no. An occasional overnight guest might be allowed but should be agreed with the hall manager.

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