My experience living in Chamberlain
Hi, I'm Bianca
Chamberlain consists of three low-rise blocks and a 20-storey tower, offering a home to over 700 students. All the residences overlook the lake on The Vale and offer an incredible view of The Vale Village and the Birmingham skyline, especially if you are lucky enough to live on the top floors!
Accommodation
I loved living here because of the en-suite rooms with very generous showers, the wall-to-wall desk facing the window that made studying in my room enjoyable, and the small double beds that are more than sufficient for one person. My Chamberlain flat had 6 en-suite rooms, each with its own lock and a shared kitchen and lounge for everyone to use.
I chose to live in an all-girls flat and had a fantastic experience. We decorated our flat for every season and enjoyed a pink Christmas tree throughout winter. We always did things as a flat, from going to the supermarket to attending Hall Rep activities, going to society events together, going out for dinner, and even cooking our own Christmas dinner.
Location
Chamberlain is one of the further away accommodations on The Vale, but the 23-minute walk to the medical school was always beautifully scenic. It started with a stroll by the lake where I could see the ducks and swans sleeping on the grass every morning, followed by a walk down the quiet canal that always ensured I got my steps for the day in!
Social life
The tower benefits from its own reception and common lounge with games, accessible to all Chamberlain residents, making it the perfect place to meet people. The lounge is frequently used for events organised by our Hall Reps, a group of older students dedicated to organising fun events to help first years connect with each other.
Some of the events include gingerbread house making, Valentine’s Day celebrations, Chinese New Year festivities, Halloween pumpkin carving and many more. I met one of my best friends on my second day in Chamberlain during a welcome pizza party and we’ve been friends ever since!
In my second year, I lived with two of the girls from my flat, and we regularly meet with the others for coffee and catch-ups. University accommodation was a great way to meet people outside my course and make friendships with students I might’ve never met or interacted with otherwise! If you have any more questions, you can chat to me and others on UniBuddy.