The perks of catered halls

I really enjoy being catered for. It makes daily life easier and more social. The dining halls create a great social atmosphere and eating together with friends became a daily highlight. Having meals provided during the week meant I didn’t have to worry about cooking or shopping, which saved time and allowed me to focus on my studies and enjoy campus life.

The food options in the dining hall are varied and freshly prepared by the chefs. The catering team make a real effort to accommodate different dietary needs for you, whether you have allergies, intolerances or are vegetarian, vegan or need Halal meat.

Keep an open mind about halls

I was worried about sharing facilities, but sharing a bathroom was much easier than I expected.

The bathrooms are cleaned regularly by hall staff, which makes a big difference in keeping everything clean and comfortable. Since you are put in halls with people on different courses who have different lecture schedules, you find everyone has different daily routine, so I have never found myself waiting to use the bathrooms. Everyone is respectful and considerate  of each other, and I would definitely recommend it to future students as a great way to keep costs down.  

Speaking with current students and staff on open day reassured me that the facilities were managed efficiently, and any issues were promptly addressed.  I suggest visiting Loughborough on the open day and keeping an open mind – don't rule out a hall just because of sharing a bathroom!

Valuable skills gained from committee work

The best thing about halls is the strong community and support from day one.

I feel at home and part of a community in Cayley hall. The Welcome week parties are a great way to kick off university life. For me, it helped break the ice and made it easier to meet new people. The Student Union night also quickly become a weekly highlight, I've made great memories with my flatmates there. 

Activities like flat dinners, movie nights, hall socials, playing sports made it easy to make friends. The Cayley winter and the summer ball, and the IMS hall sports awards, were really special nights too where the whole hall came together to celebrate in style. 

Being on the Cayley committee has been a very rewarding experience. One of my main focuses was helping freshers feel welcome and part of the community from the very beginning. I made every effort to get to know everyone at hall events and in the dining hall, so they always have a friendly face to turn to and ask any questions. 

In my committee role, I manage sports events for Cayley throughout the year. Hall sports day is a highlight event which brings everyone together with inflatable games. Whether you want to compete or just enjoy the atmosphere, its a super fun day. I also run the one-day sports events where you can try some fun and niche sports. I make sure that our events are well organised, inclusive and have a great atmosphere. Balancing my committee responsibilities has not only been great experience but has taught me valuable time management and leadership skills.

Why I chose Loughborough University

Living on campus has made a positive impact on both my academic and social life. I returned to halls for the convenience, location and overall experience and atmosphere.

Living on campus has been a great experience. It’s easy to settle in and make friends since you are surrounded by other students in the same situation. 

I chose to study my degree at Loughborough University because it offered the perfect combination of academic excellence, world class sports and a vibrant campus environment. Living on campus allowed me to work hard on my degree, use university facilities and stay involved with societies and sports. 

Academically, it’s easier to attend lectures, study in the library and meet groups for coursework because everything is close by. It saves times and reduces stress, which helps me stay focused and organised. Socially, being surrounded by other students helps create a strong sense of community, making it easier to join societies, attend events and make friends – there is always something going on either in halls or at the university. Staying in halls after your first year is a great way to stay connected with your current friends, and meet new ones each year!

Throughout my time living in campus accommodation at Loughborough, I’ve felt incredibly supported by the various teams that help make hall life safe, inclusive, and comfortable.

Cayley has an amazing balance of fun, support and community that has made my time here so memorable.   

Our Hall Warden (Elaine) and the sub-wardens are very approachable and supportive, which has helped to create such a great and welcoming atmosphere in Cayley. It really helped knowing that the team was always available to give us advice, help with any issues across accommodation, academic or just have a friendly chat about your wellbeing or anything on your mind.  The campus security team also provide 24/7 support, which give me extra peace of mind while in halls.