A good bathroom ranks high among the unglamorous necessaries of student life. To some, an en-suite sounds like a sweet deal. At its best, it’s a canvas for creatives; at the very least, it’s a convenience in the morning rush. But for many students the cost is prohibitive, and sharing a bathroom is better value for money. The pros and cons seem to counterbalance, yet the question remains: can you put a price on privacy?

Sampling average prices for en- and non-en-suite rooms shows a sometimes steep en-suite premium. At Trinity College, the average price of an en-suite room is £210.60 per week, which is £14.04 more a week than a non-en-suite room at £196.56, based on averaging the mid-points of the published price ranges for different accommodation blocks. At Homerton, students pay £4,998.00 annually for an en-suite room compared to £4,253.20 for a non-en-suite: a difference of £744.80 a year and £26.60 a week. The en-suite premium is differingly pronounced across colleges, as the realities of Cambridge life prove to be highly college-dependent once again.

“Cost, convenience and college atmosphere all mix into a multifactorial decision”

How do students perceive this price gap? In a UK-wide Knight Frank/UCAS survey in 2023, 45% of students with an en-suite room in university-operated halls rated their accommodation as ‘good’ or ‘extremely good’ value for money, compared to 57% of those in rooms with shared bathrooms. Overall satisfaction with accommodation was 83% for students with en-suites, compared to 87% for those with shared bathrooms. But in 2025, only 10% of surveyed students living in purpose-built student accommodation would be willing to forego an en-suite bathroom for cheaper rent. Nationally, students attach more weight to comfort than cost when deciding whether to share a bathroom.

Bathroom-based decision-making sometimes means trading off tradition. Colleges with the highest availability of en-suites include Homerton, St Edmund’s, Murray Edwards, Lucy Cavendish and Selwyn, whereas colleges such as Pembroke, Corpus Christi and Queens have a lower availability. The number of en-suites is usually smaller at more traditional colleges, while newer builds enjoy modern plumbing facilities. As of 2025, over 90% of Homerton bedrooms include en-suite facilities, compared to 78% at Lucy Cavendish, 64% at St Edmund’s, 49% at Girton and 48% at Murray Edwards. Selwyn is a stand-out for combining a feel of quintessential Cambridge with a high percentage of en-suites (around two-thirds in 2024).

But for student interviewees across three colleges, having an en-suite was a low priority when picking accommodation. Trinity student Isaac prioritised price, storage space, and a good kitchen: “Sharing a bathroom really doesn’t bother me.” Pembroke student Francesca shared two showers between 12 in first year, one between 11 in second year, “which was a bit crazy,” and one between seven in third year. She could have chosen an en-suite in third year but opted for a set, with her own kitchen and living room: “For me an en-suite wasn’t a top priority.” Like Isaac, she finds: “Most days I don’t have to wait at all, which is surprising considering how many people I share with!”

Homerton student Eli had an en-suite throughout his master’s degree, but his priority was “proximity to my department only… other factors, including location, matter far more than having an en-suite.” He shared a bathroom during his undergraduate studies at another university: “Some roommates make a total mess in the bathroom, and that is not pretty,” but still “I have made life-long friends because we were roomies at uni.” When asked if an en-suite is worth the extra cost, he says: “Absolutely not!”

“Bathroom-based decision-making sometimes means trading off tradition”

Some students do value the added privacy however. Homerton student Jenny* reflects: “my en-suite is an extension of [my] personal space.” She enjoys the freedom to decorate and showers to relax: “I imagine that an upset neighbour running late to their lectures would not be a relaxing soundtrack to a deep conditioning hair treatment!” Other advantages for her include not having to engage in small talk when tired, and taking as long as she wants without worrying about inconveniencing others.

Common concerns with sharing a bathroom include long waits and subpar hygiene. But in a Varsity Instagram poll, 74% of respondents who share a bathroom in college accommodation typically spend “no time at all” waiting for the bathroom, and 13% spend only 5 minutes. Nevertheless, Francesca experienced a “chronically blocked” toilet and broken toilet seat in two out of three bathrooms shared between 11: “The toilet hasn’t always been the most pleasant experience, from broken flushes [to] toilet seats,” she says. But “the college keeps toilets clean and well stocked.” Isaac also recalls: “there weren’t many times at all last year where people left it in a mess.”

Are there any upsides to sharing a bathroom? Character-building is one: Isaac says it has given him the opportunity to “learn to be more gracious about it” when others leave the bathroom in a mess. When his shower broke, he could use the one upstairs; en-suiters may have fewer back-ups when things break. For Francesca, an unexpected positive has been “a small sense of home and family vibes seeing people’s toothbrushes and shower stuff out in the bathroom.”

Sharing a bathroom is not a nightmare: this much is clear. Much rides on price and personal preference, and some students are willing to sacrifice an en-suite for other desirables. Cost, convenience and college atmosphere all mix into a multifactorial decision. Both the availability of en-suite rooms and the associated price premium vary significantly by college. How sweet is the en-suite deal? It’s unproductive to ask: the answer is different for everyone.

*Name changed upon request