[HDNG]IN COLLEGE:[EHDNG][PARA][GRPH]A1[EGRPH][STAT][BULL] Catered: 2% [BULL] Cost: ú44.35 (38wks) [BULL] Self-catering: 58%[PARA][BULL] Cost: ú27 (38wks)[ESTAT][PARA][BOLD]Availability:[EBOLD] All 1st years not native to Birmingham are guaranteed[PARA]accommodation if they apply in time, mostly on campus in 3 [PARA]20-storey towers and 4 low-rise blocks of self-catering flats and [PARA]at the University Village at Handsworth Wood, 4 miles from the [PARA]campus. Just over 1/3 of the rest of students can also be [PARA]housed, including most finalists. The Village offers the choice of [PARA]catered hall places in Handsworth Hall (178 places) or 2 smaller [PARA]houses, or self-catering flats (in groups of 6), often reserved for [PARA]mature students. Almost every room is single and most areas [PARA]are mixed. There is limited provision (66 places) for married [PARA]couples (without children) and free parking at the Village only. [PARA]Students in self-catered rooms can rent them for an extra 8 [PARA]weeks at half rent.[HDNG]EXTERNALLY:[EHDNG][PARA][GRPH]A1[EGRPH][STAT][BULL] Ave rent: ú32[ESTAT][PARA][BOLD]Availability:[EBOLD] [ITAL]Accommodation is cheap and easy to find.[EITAL] Selly Oak[PARA]and Selly Park are the closest and the most student infested. [ITAL][PARA]Harbourne is a bit posher, where yuppie, filofax-flashing students[PARA]park their Golf GTIs (elsewhere parking ain't so easy, but cars [PARA]aren't necessary). It's quieter and not so much of a student [PARA]ghetto, unlike King's Heath and Moseley, the homes of the more [PARA]bohemian students and which are really cheap and have a [PARA]villagey feel, [EITAL]but are further from the University (2 to 3 miles).[ITAL] [PARA]Edgbaston is Brum's poshest part, but, the part of Edgbaston [PARA]that's near the cricket ground is a red light district, quite run down,[PARA]poor, multi-racial - being so cheap, it's ideal for students. [EITAL] [ITAL][PARA]Incidentally, they often get propositioned (ú20 in the car, ú25 in a [PARA]bed - fancy being a [EITAL][PUSH]push[EPUSH] [ITAL]researcher?). The scuzzier parts of [PARA]Balsall Heath are best avoided. [EITAL][PARA][PARA][STAT][BULL] Renting: 40%[ESTAT][PARA][BOLD]Housing help:[EBOLD] The Students Advisory Centre offers standard [PARA]renting contracts and help with landlords, [ITAL]but students don't need [PARA]much help - there's plenty of University-managed [PARA]accommodation and housing around town.[EITAL][PARA][PARA]
