Student Accommodation in Milton Keynes

How Much Does Student Accommodation in Milton Keynes Cost?

Milton Keynes operates slightly differently from other university towns in that it does not feature a central hub university campus. It features the Open University’s headquarters, as well as a campus of the University of Bedfordshire, being 11km away from Cranfield University, implying that the majority of students that choose to rent in MK do so because of its accessibility and affordable housing, and not the close proximity to the campus. A studio is usually rented for GBP 200 - 270 per week, whereas the price of a room in a shared house starts from GBP 150 a week, which is quite cheap compared to London housing, but 32 minutes away from Euston.

Since there are no purpose-built halls in Milton Keynes compared to a single university city, it is best to consider bills-inclusive studios and apartments arranged by local real estate agencies that include electricity, gas, water, and WiFi in one fee. For private accommodation in Milton Keynes, such as shared accommodations in Oldbrook and Netherfield areas, bills would often be paid individually and would cost each student around GBP 30 - 40 per month. The newest accommodations found in Central Milton Keynes area and in Silbury Boulevard are the highest in the market, but in return offer a gym, co-working space, and proximity to the city center.

Types of Student Accommodation in Milton Keynes

Milton Keynes' accommodation market serves a mix of University of Bedfordshire students, Cranfield postgraduates commuting in, and Open University staff and associate students, so the housing stock leans more towards private renting than traditional halls.

• En-suite Rooms - A private bedroom with its own bathroom, sharing a kitchen with housemates. Less common than in most university cities, but available in some shared houses and smaller PBSA-style developments, generally running GBP 150-190 a week.
• Non-en-suite / Shared Rooms - A private bedroom with a shared bathroom in a house share, the most common form of en-suite student accommodation in Milton Keynes' wider private rental market, typically GBP 130-175 a week.
• Studio Flats - A fully self-contained unit with its own kitchen and bathroom. A student studio flat in Milton Keynes typically costs GBP 200-270 a week, popular with postgraduates and Cranfield students who had rather commute by bus than live on a rural campus.
• Sharing Houses (HMOs) - A room in a private house shared with coursemates or working professionals, common across Bletchley, Wolverton and Oldbrook. One of the cheapest routes into private student accommodation in Milton Keynes, from around GBP 150 a week, with bills usually managed separately.
• University-Linked Options -The University of Bedfordshire's MK campus does not have its own halls of residence, and students are generally advised to look at private housing locally or, for a more traditional halls experience, the university's Bedford campus, roughly 45 minutes away by bus.
• Private Halls / PBSA -There is not much PBSA accommodation provided in Milton Keynes when compared to other conventional university towns; hence, most of the students depend on private letting agents and landlords like Wilson Peacock and Cauldwell Property Services. The rise in popularity of build-to-rent schemes in Central MK among both students and young professionals is notable.

Best Areas for Student Accommodation in Milton Keynes

Milton Keynes is designed on a grid system that consists of separate districts and not a centralized district like most cities, meaning that it matters where you choose to live in terms of cost and commuting time. Below is a list of the best places to live for students in Milton Keynes and the reason behind them.

The districts of Bletchley and Wolverton continue to be the cheapest place for students to live in Milton Keynes each week, and they attract students who prefer cheap accommodation to being centrally located. For those wishing to be near Milton Keynes Central railway station and Centre: MK, Central Milton Keynes would be ideal. Monkston and Oldbrook could be suitable for students wishing to have more residential and quieter neighborhoods.

Student Accommodation Near Top Milton Keynes Universities

• University of Bedfordshire, Milton Keynes Campus -The campus is situated on Midsummer Boulevard, Central Milton Keynes, very close to the main town center. Student accommodation around University of Bedfordshire Milton Keynes would usually consist of private studio apartments and shared flats in Central MK or Oldbrook areas, as there are no halls of residence on campus.
• Cranfield University- Located in the village of Cranfield, 11km away from Milton Keynes, there is no university-owned accommodation in MK for students, but many students still prefer living in Milton Keynes and commuting by the Uno bus to their campus, taking them 30 minutes from Central Milton Keynes to campus.

As both universities do not have halls of residence in MK, students in Milton Keynes are faced with the choice of private studio apartments in Central MK or cheaper shared houses in Bletchley or Wolverton, which makes their situation a completely different one to that in a normal single-campus town.

Student Accommodation in Milton Keynes for International Students

Moving to Buckinghamshire from overseas brings its own checklist, and sorting accommodation early takes a good chunk of that pressure off. Here's what's worth knowing before booking your international student accommodation Milton Keynes options.

1. UK Guarantor Not Always Required -Some letting agents and build-to-rent developments in Milton Keynes accept advance rent payment in place of a UK-based guarantor, making student accommodation in Milton Keynes without a guarantor possible for some international applicants, though it's less standardised here than in cities with dedicated PBSA. Most private landlords letting HMOs will still ask for one.
2. When to Start Looking -For September intake, start looking as early as possible once your offer is confirmed, since Milton Keynes' private rental market moves quickly and isn't reserved specifically for students. Your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) typically follows once your deposit is settled.
3. Documents You Will Need -Your passport, UK Student visa or BRP, CAS, and your offer letter from whichever institution you are joining, ideally scanned well ahead of arrival.