Accommodation
Choosing a place to live while you study at BCUIC may seem like an enormous task - especially if you are unfamiliar with Birmingham.
This is why BCUIC and the Students' Union have teamed up to help you find safe, secure and affordable accommodation.
Types of Accommodation
Halls of Residence – You normally share a kitchen and living room with between 4 and 7 fellow students.
Studio Apartment – You have your own bathroom, kitchen and living area, and only share communal facilities with other students.
House or Flat Share – You share a house or flat with a group of friends.
Private Apartment – You have complete privacy and don’t share any facilities with other residents.
Halls of Residence
| Halls of Residence | ||||||||
| Name of Halls | Inclusive Price per Week (£) | Address in Birmingham | No. of weeks | Approx. distance to BCUIC | Approx. distance to City Centre Campus | How to travel to BCUIC | ||
|
Belgrave View*
|
From 128.00 | 1 Belgrave Middleway (B5 7AJ) | 44† | 5 km | 2.1 km | No. 63 bus | ||
| Universal Student Living (ROOMS STILL AVAILABLE!) |
From 185.00 | 495-505 Bristol Road (B29 6AU) | 50 | 1.5 km | 4.75 km | No. 61 or 38 bus, then a walk | ||
| 800 Bristol Road (FULLY BOOKED) |
199.00 |
800 Bristol Road (B29 6BD) |
51 |
1.5 km | 5.75 km | No. 144 bus, then a walk | ||
Please note: There will be a one-off admin charge of £150.00 to be paid to BCUIC.
* suitable for students aged under 18
Belgrave View
Room sizes :
11 – 14.5sqm
Three reasons to live at Belgrave View:
1. Just a 15-minute walk to Birmingham City Centre
2. En-suites included with all rooms
3. On-site laundry room, social lounge and free gym
| Belgrave View | ||||||
| Types of room available | What would be in my room? | What would I be sharing with others? | Ideal for… | |||
|
Bronze (£128) |
Single bed Shelves |
Kitchen Lounge |
Those wanting to experience the community feel while still having their own privacy | |||
|
Silver (£138.50) |
Small double bed Shelves |
Kitchen Lounge |
Those wanting to experience the community feel while still having their own privacy | |||
Communal facilities at Belgrave View:
- Kitchen
- Lounge
- Laundry room
- Social lounge – with pool table, games and Sky TV
- Music practice rooms
- Free gym
- Free bike storage
Weekly cost (to Belgrave View): from £128.00
One-off admin charge (to be paid to BCUIC): £150.00
Universal Student Living
Room sizes :
17sqm
Three reasons to live in Universal Student Living:
1. Brand new in 2016
2. Located in Selly Oak – Birmingham's student hub
3. As well as superfast Wi-Fi, you can also enjoy the benefits of an on-site gym and TV room
| Universal Student Living | ||||||
| Types of room available | What would be in my room? | What would I be sharing with others? | Ideal for… | |||
| Studio Club |
Wi-Fi Kitchenette |
Communal facilities | Anyone who wants complete privacy but also access to shared communal facilities | |||
Communal facilities at Universal Student Living:
- Large lounge
- Gym
- Dining room
- TV room
- Study room
- Bike store
Weekly cost (to Universal Student Living): from £185.00
One-off admin charge (to be paid to BCUIC): £150.00
To book a room with Universal Student Living, please complete the following application form, send the completed form to accommodation@bcuic.bcu.ac.uk and make your payment of the £150.00 admin charge here
800 Bristol Road
Room sizes :
21 - 31sqm
Three reasons to live in 800 Bristol Road:
1. Brand new in 2016
2. The studio apartments are larger than average – all including double bed and double wardrobe
3. As a resident, you will have access to exclusive luxury facilities including a private gym and on-site cinema room
| 800 Bristol Road | ||||||
| Types of room available | What would be in my room? | What would I be sharing with others? | Ideal for… | |||
| Spacious studio apartments |
4ft double bed Stools Fridge Icebox Microwave 4-ring hob |
Communal facilities | Anyone who wants complete privacy and access to exclusive facilities | |||
Communal facilities at 800 Bristol Road:
- Private gym
- Study rooms
- Club lounge
- Cinema room
- Dinner party room
Weekly cost (to 800 Bristol Road): £199.00
One-off admin charge (to be paid to BCUIC): £150.00
To book a room with 800 Bristol Road, please complete the following application form, send the completed form to accommodation@bcuic.bcu.ac.uk and make your payment of the £150.00 admin charge here
House Shares
This is where you can get together with other students and collectively rent a house or flat – maybe in Selly Oak, which has a large student community and is just a mile from BCUIC in Bournville.
Rent differs considerably and normally reflects the location and facilities on offer. Prices will range from around £70 per week up to over £100 per week. Some rent prices will be without utility bills, so you'll need to add around £15 to £20 per week to cover your utilities. House shares are generally lower in price than privately operated halls of residence, but you normally share a bathroom, lounge and kitchen with your housemates.
If you’d like to enter into a house share, there are a couple of providers in Birmingham that we can recommend. Simply email us at accommodation@bcuic.bcu.ac.uk
Privacy (en-suite rooms and studio apartments)
If you would like to have your own bathroom, our halls of residence options offer en-suite facilities with all of their rooms. If you choose to live in a studio apartment, you will have your own bathroom and your own kitchen area.
Occasionally house share properties will have en-suite rooms, but it isn’t very common.
How do I book my accommodation?
To book your room, complete the relevant application form (below), send the completed form to accommodation@bcuic.bcu.ac.uk and make your payment of the £150.00 admin charge here
If you’d like to book a room at Belgrave View, simply email accommodation@bcuic.bcu.ac.uk
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I speak to someone?
Call us on +44 (0) 121 331 5791 or email us at accommodation@bcuic.bcu.ac.uk
Where are your properties?
We have properties in a number of locations throughout Birmingham. Universal Student Living and 800 Bristol Road are located in Selly Oak – Birmingham’s vibrant student hub – while Belgrave View is in Birmingham City Centre.
What types of property are they?
Our accredited landlords offer a range of different properties and we can help you to find a room in one of these purpose-built student halls – either Belgrave View, Universal Student Living or 800 Bristol Road. Most offer en-suite facilities, apartments and studios.
Alternatively, we can find you a room in a house share with other students. We have properties with up to 8 bedrooms in various areas of the city.
How much is the rent?
The average for a house of 4 or more people in a house share would cost around £70-£100 per person per week. The cost will depend on a number of things, such as location, condition of the property and the size of your bedroom.
Student halls tend to be a little more expensive (from £141 per person per week) but do offer a number of advantages, such as en-suites, security and all-inclusive bills. We have a number of student hall options available: Belgrave View (from £128 per week), Universal Student Living (£185 per week) and 800 Bristol Road (£199 per week).
How much will the utility bills cost in a house share?
Very few landlords will include the utility bills. You would expect to pay roughly around £15 to £20 per week per person, depending on how many live in the house. Many students will wait until the bills come in and then share the cost amongst the number of people living in the property.
A popular alternative is to use a company that will supply your gas, electric, water, broadband and TV for a fixed monthly payment. This means that you are not responsible for anyone in your house who does not pay their bill. The system is called 'utility allowance', and the energy that you use during your tenancy is reconciled at the end of the tenancy with the amount that you have paid for the period.
Do I pay council tax?
No. Students obtain 100% discount for council tax, but you must fill in the appropriate forms in order to get the full discount. Failure to do so will result in you having to pay the full council tax. Forms are available from the Birmingham City University’s Students' Union office.
Do I need to pay a deposit?
Not always, but it is normal to pay a deposit for a house share. Deposits can range from £250 to the equivalent of one month's rent, but it is usually around 1.5 x one month's rent. Ensure your deposit is protected with either the DPS or TDS; it's a legal requirement and there are heavy fines for a landlord who does not comply with this legislation.
Would I expect to pay when booking through BCUIC?
If you’re booking a room with Belgrave View, Universal Student Living or 800 Bristol Road, you will need to pay a £150 admin charge to BCUIC. The remainder of the payment should then be made directly to the provider.
If you choose to live in a private flat or a house share, letting agents may charge you an admin fee.
What happens if I have a maintenance problem? Who do I call?
If your property is managed by Belgrave View, Universal Student Living or 800 Bristol Road, you will need to contact the provider directly. For house shares or private properties, it is normal to call the landlord directly with any issues..