Tsz Kam Yeung

I am Tsz Kam Yeung from Hong Kong, a MSc Events Marketing student. After choosing BU as your postgraduate university, the next important step is finding accommodation. There are many factors to consider when living away from home – location, distance between your accommodation and the campus, nearby supermarkets, proximity to Bournemouth town centre, and the most important point…security. There are eight different accommodation choices for postgraduate students. After evaluating them all, I chose Lansdowne Point to be my home for this year.

Central to top spots

Lansdowne Point is located in the Lansdowne Campus and within walking distance from many places. It is approximately a fifteen-minute walk to Bournemouth town centre and only a five-minute walk brings you to a large supermarket (ASDA) with the train and coach station directly behind it. There are direct buses to areas a bit further away, such as Talbot Campus, Poole and Castle Point. The primary buses to campus are the (U1) purple Uni Bus and the (U6) yellow bus. I would recommend taking the U1 as it runs every ten mins during the day (weekdays only), which helps as buses can get busy in the mornings. The journey is about 10-15 minutes from Lansdowne to Talbot Campus. Although the U1 bus does not run on weekends, there are options such as the 17.

You won’t be alone in a studio

Lansdowne Point offers students the choice of either a private studio or a shared flat with a common kitchen and living space. Whether you choose a flat or studio, all the rooms provide a bed, study area, ensuite (own private bathroom) and all the bills/utilities are included.

I chose a studio because I wanted more private space. Some students think that you won’t meet other people easily if you live in a studio. However, living in a studio does not mean you can’t have a happy social life. In fact, there are various social activities organised by Lansdowne Point every month – such as a welcoming party for the freshers, movie night, or karaoke – where you will have a chance to meet other students. In addition, the common room on the 12^th floor has a secure outdoor roof terrace where you can enjoy the sea view and watch the amazing air show during the summer.

Safe and Secure

Security is a top priority and their reception is available 24 hours a day. They are friendly and always happy to help. I feel very safe at Lansdowne Point because there are CCTVs and a secure entry into the building. The atmosphere in the building is very quiet both day and night which means I can focus on my postgraduate studies without interruptions or excessive noise!

Fresh food and fun

Lansdowne Point offers catering services. If you don’t want to cook, the Compass restaurant is the choice for you. It serves delicious hot food and sandwiches every day. My favourite is the English all-day breakfast! The menu for lunch and dinner is different every day – you will never get bored with the food. The best part? It feels good when you finish university at 7 pm and there is delicious hot food waiting for you.

Even if you are vegetarian, don’t worry! The Compass Restaurant also prepares a vegan/vegetarian option every day. From time to time, the chef will even organise baking/cooking workshops, such as how to make a traditional mince pie. This is another fantastic way to make new friends.

Living away from home is not as scary as it seems and there are many people surrounding you. Think carefully about what you need and want from your uni experience before choosing the accommodation option that will make you feel at home while you study at BU.

By Tsz Kam Yeung, Hong Kong, MSc Events Marketing, 2017/18