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“Set just off campus, the University Village is closer than many resi-dences to the Tesco Express, the supermarket on Bluebell Road, used by many a student for late-night snack supplies. However, per-haps the greatest advantage of this splendid off-campus community is the en-suite ‘pod’ in each room. Featuring a shower, toilet and sink in an obscenely small space, you can sit-down for a shower and clean your teeth all at the same time. Ut-ter genius!

In my first year I lived in Yew House in the Village and it’s a great place to call home for that time. The rooms are small but homely and the Village has a friendly, sociable atmosphere. It’s not far away from campus, though it might seem that way after a night out, and you are right next to Earlham Park and the river, which is great in the summer for lazy-days and impromptu Fris-bee games.Sarah Hetherington, NAM 3

Victory, Kett, Paston, Browne and Brit-ten are the newest campus halls and are all very much in the same mould as the nearby Colman. They replaced Waveney, which was a dark and grimy abode, though much loved in spite of that. The transformation has been miraculous, with the new buildings boasting spacious bedrooms and kitchens, cou-pled with en-suite facilities and almost instant access to the centre of campus.

The halls have all been given well-known East Anglian names: Victory was Admiral Nelson’s ship, Robert Kett a Norfolk revolutionary, the Pastons a local aristocratic family, Thomas Browne an author, Benjamin Britten a com-poser from Suffolk, and who hasn’t heard of Colman Mustard?

One feature of Paston House el-evates it above all other accom-modations and that is the boiling water dispenser. It may sound like a very small point, however when you have experienced the decadence of having tea, coffee or hot Ribena in-stantly at your command, you will

wonder how you ever wasted thirty seconds wait-ing for the kettle to boil. Paston is also one of the

swankiest accommodations on campus and out of the new blocks it is

closest to campus. Lie-ins can last until five minutes be-

fore a seminar and you’ll still make it on time!Andy Jones, PSI 3

AccommodationOver the course of your first year you will probably spend hours debating it to no

avail: which are the best halls? It’s like saying, ‘My mum is better than yours!’; you’re

just never going to agree. To start you off with some basic arguments, here we take

a peek at each accommodation, with a little help from some former residents.

The Village

The New Residences

Victory, Kett, Paston, Colman, Browne, Britten

Average distance to Union House: 340.5m

Approximate distance to Union House: 869.4m

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”“Between them, these two older res-

idences house only 116 students, but those who live there will never forget it.

Accommodation from yesteryear prevails in Orwell and Wolfson, with shared bathroom facilities and less plush surroundings creating a strong sense of community. Orwell and Wolfson are tucked away at the end of campus nearest Bluebell Road, making it extremely easy to nip on a bus into town.

The underdogs of campus. Many people look down on these lesser accommodations, or forget about them altogether, but this creates a great community spirit as you mutter about those fl ash people in Colman. You tend to end up with a more diverse group of fl at mates which, combined with shared bath-rooms, means that you build up a great rapport over the year.Ben Harvey, LIT MA

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Both Norfolk and Suffolk have had their interiors revamped over recent years, bringing new life to what were becoming slightly tired buildings. The shared toilet and shower facilities remain and appear to contribute further to the vibrant atmosphere and sense of belonging that many residents often talk about.

You can also boast to your friends that you are a proud lodger in UEA’s most fa-mous structures, which also carry listed building status. So when you return many years from now you will still be able to gaze upon them and reminisce about that glorious fi rst year.

These iconic pyramids aren’t only pleasant to look at; they are the best place to live at UEA. Appearing in almost every publication about UEA, Norfolk and Suffolk have a

following of loyal fans who have lived in them over the years. The accommodation isn’t the most luxurious, but the views down to the lake are the best on cam-pus, the centrally located kitchens create the friend-liest and most communal living spaces available and best of all, Norfolk and Suf-folk Terrace are far cheaper than any of the new accom-modations!Martin Jopp, PSI 3

Norfolk & Suffolk

Orwell & Wolfson

Frankly, Nelson Court is farcically close to the centre of campus, standing as it does just beyond the LCR. Now while this has obvious advantages, residents should be warned that after living there, travelling more than fi ve min-utes to get anywhere will just seem obscenely long!

En-suite facilities, pleasant rooms and comfy seating in the kitchens mean that there are no obvious disadvantages from living here. Unless of course you have an important seminar at 9 o’clock, the LCR has just emptied its contents out onto the grass in front of Nelson and those pesky students just won’t be quiet!

What is the best thing about Nelson Court? Location, location, location. Only a two minute walk from the Square, it’s the closest residence and one of the best. From the

kitchens, you have a beautiful view of the lake which is only a short walk away, and if you have a 9am lecture, it’s a com-fortable 5 minutes from duvet and en-suite bathroom to the Arts Block or LT1. Plus, being so close to the LCR is perfect - no need for winter jackets or umbrellas. And for the fash-ion conscious, it’s even close enough to go back and change your shoes or whole outfi t!Natasha Kundaiker, PHI 3

Average distance to Union House: 260.3m

Approximate distance to Union House: 474.3m

Nelson Court

Approximate distance to Union House: 121m

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”“

Mary Chapman Court is situated in the middle of Norwich, within min-utes of all the main shops and bars. So whilst the commute to campus may seem a tad inconvenient, at least you will become far more fa-miliar with the city centre and the windy, cobbled backstreets that claim many a lost fresher during the first term.

Bathroom facilities are shared and relatively basic, but there will inevitably develop a strong sense of community spirit and a natural affinity with the city.

Mary Chapman Court is student ac-commodation that’s built on top of an underground car park. It may not be the most luxurious residence, but the rent is far cheaper than on campus and it is so centrally lo-cated that all the distractions that Norwich has to offer are within stumbling distance. If you invest in a bike you’ll be carbon-free and at UEA inside fifteen minutes. This is accommodation for the thrifty so-cialite.Jack Clark, LIT 2

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A brief stroll down Chancellor’s Drive brings you to Constable Ter-race which has been around for 13 years now, but is ageing well. Hap-pily, en-suite facilities and large kitchens populate all the flats. Two other advantages include being situated right by the Sains-bury Centre where you can add some culture to your life and very near to the University playing fields at Colney Lane – ideal for early morning jogs!

The lovely thing about Constable Terrace is that, although it is a little further away from the main centre of campus, you still feel very much part of UEA. You are within five to ten minutes walking distance from the library, lecture halls and, perhaps most importantly, the bar and LCR and whatever Constable may lack in proximity, it makes up for in terms of community spirit. Tiffany Woolsey, LIT 2

Accommodation

It can be pretty daunting in the be-ginning if you are a fresher and don’t live in halls, as everyone else seems to be a member of an exclusive club. Don’t worry; there are plenty of peo-ple in the same position! Although it might seem like everyone is becom-ing best friends with their flat mates, remember that everyone is really keen to make more friends too! Liv-ing off campus need not define your uni experience - follow our handy guide for three top years at UEA.

First, remember there are some real advantages to not living on campus: you don’t only have a microwave to cook in, you can have a car, you know all the best places in Norwich before everyone else and you may be in the lucky position of having both student and non-student friends – off campus can mean the best of both worlds!

The trick with living off campus as a fresher is managing to feel part of campus life. Make sure you mix with other students occasionally, and get involved – whether with a club or society, Union Council, a job on campus or just hanging out in the campus bar. The more involved you are, the more you will feel part of the campus community.

Five top tips for a wicked first few weeks:

First things first: don’t miss your school ice-breaker. The

free wine and nibbles are a welcome bonus.

Buy a ticket for at least one event in Freshers’ Week and

be brave – go along! Talk to other people while waiting outside lectures, in-

stead of looking at the floor. Go to SocMart and Sports-Mart and join some societies

and clubs – and then make sure you go to them. Don’t miss the socials .

Give it time. Even if you live in halls it doesn’t come together

overnight.

Constable Terrace

Approximate distance to Union House: 607.1m

Living Off Campus

“ ”Off campus can mean the best of both worlds!

Mary Chapman

Approximate distance to Union House: 5471m

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