Should you choose catered or self-catered accommodation?
When you're deciding on which halls of residence to choose, you might be given the option of catered accommodation or cooking for yourself. So which one's right for you?
By Ryan Lunn (Content executive, The Uni Guide) | 14 March 2025 | 3 minutes read
Catetered accommodation means you won't have any big spends in the supermarket and you'll also save a lot of time not having to shop.
I was in catered halls and it is definitely worth the money. It doesn't mean you're posh, it means you know you are going to be fed three times a day and having this security when you have no money is great in your first year as you begin to find your feet as a grown up. Food is just typical school food. Lunch is great because there are so many different choices on campus.Third year English student | University of Liverpool
As you won't spend any time cooking, you'll have some more time to settle in.
Great for socialising and making new friends, so if you think you can eat the food for the year, definitely go. The accommodation there is of good standard and you save yourself a lot of time and energy cooking when often you don't know how to cook. Especially useful in first few months when you're concentrating on settling in, making friends, working out what you're supposed to be doing with work.Fifth year Medicine student | University of Edinburgh
The college kitchens usually provide all meals, but this can mean student kitchen facilities are not well equipped. I didn't mind this though because college food was always convenient, delicious and reasonable value for money.Fourth year Physics student | University of Cambridge
Cook for yourself
Without having set meal times, you'll have a lot more freedom to eat when you want to.
I much prefer self-catered since you have a bit more independence. You can cook and eat when you want. On catered halls, they have set times for breakfast and supper. Although cooking all your meals can be a pain especially when you're tired and hungry, there are quick meals you can make - like pizzas, etc.Second year Physics student | University of Nottingham
Cooking is a great life skill to have - you can make whatever meals you want and your food shop will be a lot cheaper than catered accommodation.
Non-catered halls are a better choice since catered halls don't have a real kitchen and you can't prepare anything apart from microwave food outside meal times and cooking for yourself is much cheaper and something you have to learn anyway for later in life. However, even the self-catered halls often don't have plates, pots etc. in the kitchen, so you'll need to buy the basics.First year English student | University of Aberdeen
The kitchen is also a social hotspot, even if you're not the best cook.
My halls also include shared kitchens which I would recommend, even if you don't like cooking, as it's a great communal area you don't get in the catered accommodation. Plus, if you are rubbish at cooking you can still make use of the cafe.First year Psychology student | University of Winchester
Still not sure?
Catered halls could be a good choice for you if you want the convenience of having your dinner cooked for you without having to worry about washing up or budgeting for food shopping.
On the other hand, if you want to become a better cook and have the freedom to eat whenever you like, then self-catered accommodation will probably suit you best.
