Want to know what Uni halls are really like? In another of our ‘Living with Us’ series of blogs find out what happened when Molly applied for accommodation with us and get her top tips on living with flatmates.

Hi, I’m Molly, and I'm studying Philosophy. During my first year at Newcastle, I lived in Marris House. Read my story to find out what it’s like living in University accommodation.

Why I chose to live at Marris House

It seemed like the best value accommodation as it had been recently refurbished and it was within walking distance from the University campus.

When I visited during Open Day, I liked the style and layout of the flat as it had a decent-sized kitchen and you only had to share shower and toilet facilities with two other people.

The application process

I applied for accommodation in June and got my accommodation offer at the end of August. Although I was worried while I waited for my offer, it all worked out in the end.

What my accommodation was like

I shared my flat with five others. The rooms at Marris House are well-designed to make the most of the space in a simple, modern style. In the communal kitchen/living area there's also a TV and a really nice L-shaped sofa, so it was a great space for socialising.

The best bits about my flat….and the worst!

The best part: the washing machine in our flat – this saved a lot of money on washing in the long run. The worst part: the stairs. My flat was on the top floor and walking up them always felt like a workout, especially with all my shopping bags!

Moving in day

I was really excited to move to a new place. I was also a bit nervous about how I would get all of my boxes into the flat. However, once I arrived, there was a whole team of people who helped me carry all my stuff into the accommodation in minutes.

Getting to know my flatmates

My flatmates all came from different places and were studying different degrees. I got to know them really quickly as we spent a lot of time together. We all had a lot in common and it was really nice to live with friends.

My biggest worry about living in Uni halls

I was worried about what my flatmates would be like, especially as I knew I would be spending a lot of time in the flat. However, I found that we all got along really well and had lots of common interests and hobbies.

My top tip for living in halls

Don’t spend too much time in your room. University rooms can get really lonely, so make the most of living with your flatmates by spending time socialising with them in the kitchen/communal area.

Want to know more about our fantastic Accommodation Service? Then don’t miss the other blogs in our ‘Living with Us’ series. Access top tips on finding a home from home with us; get to know the Accommodation teams that support our students; and discover how you could live your best Reslife with our supportive programme for first-year students.