Key Summary
FAQs
Should I choose catered or self-catered halls?
It depends on what you value most. Catered halls suit students who'd rather not worry about cooking, budgeting for food, or washing up in first year, while self-catered halls give you more control over what and when you eat, plus a stronger social pull around the shared kitchen.
What are the benefits of catered halls?
Catered halls take the pressure off cooking and food budgeting in your first year, with breakfast and dinner provided in the dining hall and options for lunch around campus. It's a gentler way to ease into independent living while you adjust to everything else that comes with starting university.
What are the downsides of catered halls?
You don't get much choice over what you eat at each meal, even though most halls cater for vegetarian, vegan and other dietary needs. Meal times are also fixed and the dining hall is only open for a few hours, so eating outside those windows usually means a microwave meal or takeout.
What are the benefits of self-catered halls?
Self-catered halls tend to build a stronger social dynamic, since the shared kitchen and living area naturally become a hangout spot with your flatmates. It also gives you real practice cooking for yourself, which is useful given you'll need to do it for the rest of your life after university anyway.
What are the downsides of self-catered halls?
You have to budget for and do your own weekly food shop, on top of cooking and washing up after a long day of lectures, which not every student enjoys. It takes more discipline and time management than catered halls, where meals just happen for you.
Is catered or self-catered accommodation cheaper?
Catered halls often look more expensive upfront, but that's because the cost of all your food is built into the price. Self-catered halls can work out cheaper or similar overall, but only if you budget and shop sensibly for your weekly food, since costs are easy to underestimate.
Which is more common in the UK, catered or self-catered halls?
Self-catered halls are the more common option nationally in the UK. Catered halls are still widely available, particularly at university-run halls, but self-catered has become the standard default at most universities and private providers.
Can I get vegetarian, vegan or dietary options in catered halls?
Yes, most catered halls cater for vegetarians, vegans and other dietary requirements as standard. You won't get quite the same level of choice as cooking for yourself, but dining halls are generally used to catering for a wide range of needs.
Before moving to university, one of the most important decisions you have to make is whether you want to live in catered or self-catered accommodation. While self-catered is the more common option on a national level, there are advantages and disadvantages to both options. This list will hopefully help you to decide between catered vs. self-catered halls.
Catered Accommodation
PRO – Helps to bridge the gap:
Moving to university can be daunting. You’ve moved out of home for the first time and now have to look after yourself with all the responsibilities that come with it. Catered accommodation can help to bridge the gap in a sense. For the first year, you won’t have to worry about cooking for yourself or budgeting for the weekly shop. In this way, catered accommodation helps to make the transition to independent living and adulthood less daunting.
PRO – Don’t have to worry about cooking:
After a long day of lectures, the last thing you’ll want to do is cook dinner. Fortunately, with catered accommodation, this is not a worry. Breakfast and dinner are provided in the dining hall, along with plenty of options for lunch on and around campus.
CON – Don’t get a choice in what you eat:
While you won’t have to worry about cooking, catered accommodation means that you won’t get to choose what you have for each meal. While there are different options that cater to vegetarians, vegans and those with dietary requirements, you won’t have the same level of choice that you could have in self-catered accommodation.
CON – Set meal times:
In my experience, the meal times in catered accommodation are too early. While it is nice to come back from lectures to a nice hot meal straight away, the dining hall is only open for a few hours. It can also be difficult to make food outside of mealtimes without opting for takeout, as appealing as that may seem, as most halls will only have an additional microwave.
Self-Catered Accommodation
PRO – Sociability:
If you’re more of a social person, then self-catered halls may be for you. While you get a social aspect in catered halls with the dining hall, the communal space of the kitchen and living area can become a social hotspot for you and your flatmates. Self-catered accommodation is a great way to get to know your flatmates, to learn about who they are and their unique meal choices.
PRO – Prepares you for life:
One of the benefits of self-catered accommodation is that it prepares you for life. As much as we all would prefer not to, you will have to cook for yourself after uni, so self-catered accommodation gives you practise. Whether you want to improve your cooking skills or try some new foods, this is a great way to expand your culinary tastes.
CON – Finance:
While catered halls may appear to be more expensive at first, this is because it includes the catering costs for all your food. In self-catered halls, meanwhile, you have to factor in the costs for a weekly shop into your budgeting.
CON – The hassle:
The last thing any student wants to do after a long day of lectures is cook a meal. Even if you enjoy cooking, living in a self-catered hall comes with having to do the washing up, which I can guarantee that no student enjoys.
To summarise, if you don’t want to have to worry about cooking, washing up, budgeting, or anything to do with cooking your own food for your first year, then catered halls is the one for you. However, if you want the independence to choose what you eat and when you eat, then self-catered halls may be your preferred option. The decision between catered vs. self-catered halls is an important one, but no matter which you choose, I’m sure you’ll meet some amazing people and make some amazing memories.