Looking for student housing in Newcastle? Take a look at our guide to make sure you find the perfect home from home!
If you’re currently studying in Newcastle, chances are you’re already thinking about student accommodation for your second year.
Unlike your first year, where you likely lived in university-owned halls of residence, your second year comes with an added challenge – choosing somewhere to live from the hundreds of privately rented student houses in Newcastle.
Don’t worry – we’ve got you covered. We’ve compiled these top tips for picking student accommodation in Newcastle.
When it comes to looking for student housing in Newcastle, location should be your number one priority. You don’t want to end up living in the middle of nowhere, miles from your mates and any kind of nightlife! Unless, of course, that’s what you’re wanting from your new home!
When you’re viewing student accommodation, make sure you check out what the local area is like. There’s no point finding the perfect student house with a huge garden, spacious living room, and modern kitchen if there’s nothing nearby.
Try looking for accommodation in Newcastle’s most popular student areas – think Jesmond, Heaton, and Sandyford – you’ll be guaranteed a student-friendly neighbourhood with a vibrant social life!
Check out our guide to student housing locations in Newcastle for more information.
If you have to wake up at 6 am and hop on 2 different forms of public transport to make it to your 9 am lecture on time, your attendance will likely take a hit!
When looking for student housing in Newcastle, check how long it’ll take you to get to campus and the city centre. If you’re not a fan of public transport or want to cut down on transport costs, try to find student housing that’s a short walk from your uni. Sandyford is a great option if you’re studying at Newcastle University – it’s only a ten-minute walk to campus!
Is there a trendy bar or a cosy pub where you and your housemates can grab a few pints? Is there a supermarket around the corner for your weekly shop? Is there a cheap takeaway within walking distance?
Make a list of what’s important to you and check what’s close to the accommodation you’re looking at. If a gym’s your number one priority, check if there’s one nearby and what the membership prices are like. If you’re an avid runner, see if there’s a nice park close by, like the picturesque Heaton Park.
Voted the best city in the UK for student nightlife by Which in 2016 and by Student Hut in 2019, Newcastle is the place to be if you’re a big partier. There are a tonne of amazing nightclubs in Newcastle, and there’s a student night every day of the week!
Some of the most popular nightclubs in the city are Skint at the Points every Thursday night (featuring the infamous £1 drinks!) and Feral Fridays at Think Tank (the name probably tells you everything you need to know).
Check how far your new student house will be from your favourite clubs and bars or the average cost of an Uber home.
There are loads of part-time student jobs in Newcastle upon Tyne – perhaps you’ve already got one or know you’ll need one next year.
If you’ve already got a job, don’t forget to check how far your prospective accommodation is from where you work. The last thing you want is to sign a contract with your mates only to realise your part-time job is 3 buses away!
If you’re considering getting a job in the future, being near the city centre is a pretty safe bet – this is where many student jobs are.
Newcastle is one of the most affordable cities in the UK, and this is one of the reasons why it’s so popular with students. However, there’s no way to get around it – your budget will probably be a huge factor when finding student accommodation
Make sure you know the maximum amount you’ll be able to spend on accommodation and stick to it. If you’re sharing with friends or coursemates, they might have different budgets, so ensure you talk to your future housemates about what you can afford.
Have a look at our blog on how to budget money as a student for more details on creating a budget.
Newcastle is generally a pretty safe city, but security should still be a priority when it comes to picking student accommodation.
When viewing properties, ask if there’s a burglar alarm system. Check if the front door is adequately secured – ideally, it should have a lock that locks automatically to reduce the likelihood of you and your housemates leaving it unlocked.
When choosing student housing, consider all of Newcastle’s great days out and exciting attractions. Junkyard Golf Newcastle is always a firm student favourite, with 3 mashed-up crazy golf courses and mid-week deals on delicious cocktails!
Another popular option is Ouseburn, a trendy cultural hub with bars, pubs, and restaurants. Also home to a bustling alternative live music scene, Ouseburn is a great place to wander around and absorb the best of Newcastle’s music, food, and drink.
Most privately rented student accommodation doesn’t include bills. It’s possible to find student accommodation with all bills included, but sometimes it can reduce the pool of properties you can choose from. So, you might have to compromise on more important factors, such as location.
Don’t panic – this doesn’t mean that choosing student housing without bills means you have to deal with the stress of utility bills all by yourself. You can rely on a bill-splitting service instead!
Once you’ve found your perfect student accommodation in Newcastle, it’s time to get your bills sorted.
Split the Bills are a bill-splitting service trusted by thousands of students. Relying on our bill-splitting service means you don’t have to worry about setting up complex direct debits and getting your housemates to pay on time!
We handle all that responsibility and stress, so you don’t have to. All you have to do is pay one neat monthly payment. We’ll automatically split the bills equally among your housemates, so you only ever need to pay your share of the bill. You won’t have to deal with ringing up multiple suppliers and trying to haggle over the best deal; we’ll do everything for you!
With Split the Bills, you can create a personalised package based on what your house needs. You can include energy, broadband, water and even a TV licence if you plan on watching live TV. Plus, our energy plans are completely unlimited, so you can use as much electricity and gas as you like!
If you want to make living in Newcastle as simple as possible, learn more about how Split the Bills works or contact our team!
The move from first to second year at university often comes with a lot of change as most students will have to start paying bills for the first time. In this feature we discuss how you can keep your finances organised and pay bills responsibly.
The move from first to second year at university often comes with a lot of change as most students will have to start paying bills for the first time. In this feature we discuss how you can keep your finances organised and pay bills responsibly.
The move from first to second year at university often comes with a lot of change as most students will have to start paying bills for the first time. In this feature we discuss how you can keep your finances organised and pay bills responsibly.