There are five main accommodation options described below. Not every cife college offers each option, and the available choice will also depend, for example, on whether a student is under or over 18 years old at the start of the academic year. To find out more do contact cife or its member colleges.
For a lot of students this is the only option, and in many colleges, especially the London-based ones, most students commute in to college from home. In general that works well, provided that the commuting time doesn’t take more than an hour or so each way. Commutes longer than an hour start to become tiring, especially during the winter rush-hour.
For younger students who can’t live at home this is often a good option. Because the accommodation is directly controlled by the college it is likely to be well managed with good communication between teachers and residential staff. Not all colleges offer their own residential accommodation, and of course, you will need to satisfy yourself that the provision and the supervision offered are appropriate.
This is a popular option with overseas families who want accommodation which offers facilities and supervision similar to those at home, especially if it might help the student’s English improve more quickly. Most colleges offer homestay, either managed by the college themselves or through a partner organisation with whom they work closely. In either case they check homestay arrangements carefully and regularly. Are there any drawbacks? Inevitably, the personal chemistry between the student and the host family is critical – far more so than in a large boarding house within the college where there are many students and staff. If the personal chemistry doesn’t work there is a risk that families don’t provide as much personal contact as expected, and students may find it less easy to make new friends, particularly if their homestay family is a long way from the college. The best arrangements, however, can lead to lifelong friendships.
Hostel accommodation has many different names these days, but whatever name they use, they are all independent organisations which offer rooms to students. These are particularly common in the big cities where independent hostels offer rooms to students from any college, university and even private individual. These hostel “rooms” range from basic bedsit accommodation to luxuriously equipped apartment-style. Many colleges have links with organisations that can make such arrangements. Student hostels are supervised, though the level of supervision can be minimal and may be more appropriate to university-level students. Communication between college and hostel may or may not be close. These are all factors for students and parents to consider, but for the older student, there is no doubt that hostels can offer independence and a stepping stone to life at university.
For most cife colleges this comes bottom of their options for good accommodation. It’s impossible for the college to supervise, and the extra freedom can prove a big distraction for all but the most mature and experienced student. For overseas students there are the extra issues of isolation or, if sharing with compatriots, of getting very little English practice once classes are over.
