It’s easy to see how many students we have living on-campus at Staffs, you can see them milling around between lectures, drinking at the bars and hanging about outside of halls, but there are many more who don’t live on campus.
Whether they commute from home, rent a student house somewhere nearby or live in alternative student accommodation, such as London House or Liberty Court, the vast majority of our student population live away from our campuses. A lot of people will think these guys have the raw end of the deal, having to travel more than five minutes to their lectures and living away from a campus full of bustling students, but they couldn’t be more wrong.
Here are just some of the benefits of living off-campus:
The Community
When you’re on-campus, you’re in a little student bubble. It’s not the same as the outside world; which is something you’ll get to experience as a student living off-campus.
You’ll get to interact with the locals, whether they’re your neighbours or the blokes who serve you kebabs at the local takeaway, and just immerse yourself in the true culture of the area.
The Shops
We’re not badly catered for on-campus when it comes to shops, with the various cafes, the students’ union shops and a number of off-licences and takeaways dotted around Shelton, but if you’re looking for somewhere to buy clothes or a big chain restaurant like Nando’s you’ll have to travel further afield.
So there’s a good chance if you live away from campus that it’s easier for you to reach these places. London House, for example, is just over the road from the Sainsbury’s supermarket in Stoke town, a much easier trip than travelling all the way from Leek Road.
Peace and Quiet (a bit anyway)
Students can get a bit rowdy, especially on a Wednesday night before Gobble. So there’s no doubt, you’ll get a bit more peace living away from the main student hub.
And, on that note, the LRV is on-campus, a convenient enough distance from the students living there to make the temptation to head out on a Wednesday or Friday unbearable, even when you’ve got a tonne of work to do. If you live in Stoke or Hanley, anywhere that’s a fair distance from the LRV really, then you can make a rational decision as to whether you stay in or go out. Your course grades will thank you.
Housemates – Your Mates in a House
A lot of you are in this boat already and the rest of you will be there soon, but one of the great benefits of living in a student house is getting to choose your housemates.
In halls you’re lumped in with whoever applied at a similar time to you, which might prove to be the best thing ever, but can always lead to some friction further down the line. When renting a house off-campus, you can cherry-pick the best of the lot to spend the majority of your time with. Choose wisely!
Keeping Fit
It might not have the same kudos as other forms of exercise, but walking is one of the best ways to keep fit and trim. The fact is you’re not going to be doing that much of it living on-campus, when all your lecture halls are a two-minute stroll away.
While the longer commute might not seem ideal at first, it will become second nature in no time. As well as giving you a physical boost, it gives you time to wake up and plan the day ahead, giving you the edge over your coursemates who were in bed a mere five minutes ago.
We hope you enjoy your time at Staffs and feel free to take part in any of our activities on campus. If you have any other concerns about living off-campus, get in touch with us at union@staffs.ac.uk and we’ll do our best to put your mind at ease!