Varies wildly... (Accommodation)

Member Name: MichaelR

Product:	Accommodation
Date:	27/01/01 (69 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Depends on the residence

Disadvantages: Expensive. Some residences are dumps

Well, I have lived in three different University owned residences here, and I have to say that they range from excellent to abysmal. (My current residence being the abysmal one)

The one thing that all University of Abertay Dundee residences have in common is that they are very expensive to live in. I would go as far as to say wildly overpriced.

However, they do offer security, the chance to meet new people each year, and you don't have to worry about any utility bills (other than telephone if you're lucky enough to get a line in your room like I have at the moment)

Oh, and you get someone to do the cleaning! :)

The first residence that I lived in was Hillside Halls in Dalrymple street.

The worst thing about this residence is that it is so far from the University - over three miles.

On the plus side, it is the cheapest residence (although still expensive) and it is organised into flats for 6-8 people, so it feels more like a home than a hall, as each flat has it's own front door, own bathrooms, kitchen, lounge etc and is pretty much self-contained.

The fact that Hillside is a hall for first year students only is also an advantage.

The only thing that I really didn't like about Hillside (apart from being so far out of town and away from Uni) was the fact that there is segregation by sex in Hillside, i.e. flats are either all female or all male. Having said that though, there are both male and female flats within the same block.

In the second year, I lived in Victoria Chambers, and I absolutely loved it there. The rooms are spacious, there are loads of bathrooms and WC's, each kitchen has it's own washing machine, there is a large lounge on every floor, and it's clean, well maintained, and well decorated. Oh, and it has a working lift!

It's also a very attractive and well renovated Victorian building. It definitely has to be the most luxurious accom
modation at UAD.

The best things about it are that it is only five minutes walk from the University, so you can roll out of bed at 8:50 and still be on time for a 9 o'clock class!! and the fact that it has thick walls, so you can make as much noise as you like without disturbing other people, and their noise will not disturb you.

It seemed to be full of mainly foreign students, but I liked this, as I like to meet people from different countries and cultures.

The rent for Victoria Chambers is one of the highest, but it definitely presents the best value for money of any UAD residence.

This year, I am living in Pinegrove House, and I can't believe that I am paying so much money to live in an absolute dump.

The walls are as thin as paper, and are dirty. (not badly, but grubby, not as you would expect. The place badly needs decorating) The lift does not work, and nor does the payphone on this (the top) floor. The heating is also inadequate and does not function properly, and there is no front doorbell or buzzer system. Very annoying when guests are waiting at the front door...

It is not too far from Uni, about 15 minutes walk, but it is still further away than I would like.

I'm hoping to get back into Victoria Chambers again next year, it's definitely the best!

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