As a student on a course with mandatory NHS placements, where you live during your time with BU may depend on the course you choose and your placement locality. Typically – in your first year at least – you can either stay in one of our halls of residence and travel to work at your placement locality, or you can choose to stay closer to where you’ve been placed.
If you are enrolling on one of the courses below, you will have the option to live in one of the student halls or hospital accommodation. As you will experience the full 24-hour shift pattern, including weekend and night shifts, you should consider whether you would prefer to live near campus and travel to placement, or to live near your placement locality and travel to campus for the lectures.
- BSc (Hons) Adult Nursing
- BSc (Hons) Mental Health Nursing
- BSc (Hons) Children’s & Young People’s Nursing
- BSc (Hons) Midwifery
- BSc (Hons) Operating Department Practice
For students on other courses with NHS placements such as Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy and Paramedic Science, you do not need to consider hospital accommodation and should instead investigate BU accommodation options.
Making the right choice for you
If you're not sure which option will be best for you in your first year, these student stories may help.
Staying in halls
You also have the option of staying in one of BU's halls of residence if you prefer, travelling to your placement location as required.
If you choose this option, you may be able to claim back travel expenses and dual accommodation costs – but it is worth carefully considering how this will fit in with your travel plans and shift schedule.
All of our halls of residence (except Purbeck House & Bailey Point), are available on 50-week tenancies.
In some cases, you may need to accept accommodation on a shorter tenancy and then apply for a summer let with the relevant provider, however they may require you to move rooms.
Further information & FAQs
Placement localities
When to book hospital accommodation
How to book hospital accommodation
How can I claim back travel and dual accommodation expenses?
Which accommodation options have parking?
Suitable accommodation options for Paramedic Science students
ResLifeBU
NHS accommodation
You have a range of options of where to stay if you need to be close to your placement location – from the on-site accommodation at many hospitals, to shared houses in locations such as Yeovil. If you are staying in hospital accommodation you can still get fully involved in BU activities and support can be accessed on site.