Student Life 2013/14 January 2014 | Page 66

STUDENT ACCOMMODATION Exeter has a variety of accommodation to cater for a wide range of requirements, but it’s pricey here. Due to being in the south, the average rent is £88 per week, higher than the national average of £79.42. University halls, in particular, are more expensive than most, although Exeter achieved The Sunday Times University of the Year 2012-2013; so don’t let the higher prices put you off. EXETER However, student satisfaction has been ranked consistently high in recent years and the campus feel helps create a warm community for students. Exeter city is simply a pleasant place to live in comparison with other towns. Competing cities, such as Plymouth and Bristol, are listed further down the table for overall satisfaction. For first-year undergraduates, there is an extensive range of halls to choose from, from 66 studio apartments and self-catering ensuite rooms to catered corridors. All have 24/7 security, so you can be quite picky. Depending on which campus you go to, second-year students and beyond tend to rent houses in clusters near campus. There are several areas of Exeter that have been taken over by the student housing population, which helps create healthy competition for the market and drives up quality - so much so that Exeter was one of the first cities to enforce accredited quality standards for landlords! Mount Pleasant is popular amongst students, scoring a 56% satisfaction rates and £87 weekly rental rates – in line with Exeter’s average. The city centre can also seem appealing, as it is central for all the bars, clubs and restaurants. With a 92% satisfaction rate, students living there certainly like it, and the average £65 weekly rental rates are surprisingly low too! www.accommodationforstudents.com