Living in Student Accommodation at Roehampton University
If you’re planning to study at Roehampton and considering living on campus, you might be wondering what that’s really like. During my first two years, I lived in Roehampton student accommodation. First in Shaw House on the main campus, and later in Whitelands College.
Both experiences were very different, and I learned a lot about the pros and cons of living in student accommodation. Here’s my honest take.
My Experience: Shaw House vs. Whitelands
When I first moved to London, I was assigned to Shaw House in a quite quiet all-girls flat. While the location was convenient (close to lectures and main campus facilities), the flat didn’t suit what I was looking for.
Most of the people I’d met at uni events lived in Whitelands College (about a 15-minute walk from main campus). Whitelands felt like its own little community, and the flats were much more social in my opinion. I moved there soon after, stayed for my second year, and even over the summer before my third.
That move completely changed my uni experience! I met so many more people and had a much more social life on campus.
Pros of Living on Campus
- Choice of flats: Quiet flats, social flats, mature student flats, all-girls flats, or moving in with friends, there’s flexibility to suit your personality
- Different room options: En-suites vs. shared bathrooms, single vs. double beds, some even with balconies.
- Close to lectures: No commuting costs or stress. At most, you’re a 15-minute walk away.
- All bills included: Rent covers gas, electricity, and water, so there are no hidden costs or extra fees. When I lived on campus, we had to pay for laundry services (but I saw on Roehampton’s website that that is now included within your accommodation fees).
- Support: Each flat has a student rep (second- or third-year student) to help you settle in, plus easy (though sometimes slow) maintenance requests. Additionally, there are College Wardens that work as out-of-hours wellbeing support.
- Security: On-campus security and student ID access in the evenings make it feel safe.
Cons of Living on Campus
- Room standards: They’re not luxury flats and rooms can feel a bit basic.
- Fire alarms: They go off easily (steam from showers, cooking, even hairspray!), which often meant being outside at 2am.
- Living in a bubble: Everything is on campus: classes, library, gym, events. It’s convenient but can feel like you’re not experiencing much of London.
- Travel into central London: Roehampton is further out, with only one nearby train station about 15 mins away (even further from Whitelands) and a few bus routes. Journeys into central can feel long, and getting back from central after late events often means checking the last trains or relying on the night bus.
When I first moved to London, I thought student accommodation would be the easiest way to settle in, and it was. It made the transition to uni life smoother. Yes, there are a few downsides (like basic rooms and travel times), but overall, living on campus was such a big part of my Roehampton experience. I met friends I might not have otherwise.
- Erica