Accommodation

Securing affordable and comfortable accommodation is a vital aspect of preparing for college life. If the location of your intended college makes living at home impossible, then you should start your research regarding the various accommodation options (to share or live alone, what you can afford, etc) as soon as your CAO choice is made.

Demand for student accommodation is often high, and you don’t want to be forced into last-minute decisions when most of the prime affordable locations are no longer available. Living in cramped or unsuitable conditions can greatly reduce the enjoyment of your time in college, and it certainly does not help toward achieving good results.

Most higher education and many further education providers have an accommodation office. They are your first and most useful port of call, providing information on campus accommodation (if available) and also on local landlords, rental properties and host families. Other useful sources of information include the Students’ Union in the college in question, local newspapers, and websites such as Daft.ie, Studentlettings.ie, and Collegecribs.ie.

For those whose college is within commuting distance, then living in the family home is usually the best option. Not only are thousands of euro saved, but a recent survey by the Higher Education Authority revealed that far more of those living at home than those living in other accommodation are ‘very satisfied’ with their living arrangements. The underdeveloped culinary skills of many young school leavers no doubt playing a big part in these findings.

There are lots of top quality accommodation choices available to the modern student. These can be divided into three broad areas: Student Housing, Lodging/Digs, and Private Renting.