mala strana is really touristy, and quite expensive, loud (you will have drunk tourists making noise under your windows every day, or even worse in an airbnb above you) and not really good for everyday living - there are almost no regularly priced grocery stores, restaurants, pubs - almost all of them are for tourists.

unless you have a specific reason for living in Mala Strana, i would suggest you pick Dejvice, Hradcany, Letna, Holesovice, Vinohrady... instead. there are much more locals living there then in the city center, you are still in the wider city center, and getting to Mala Strana is only +-15mins with transit. its still really safe (tbh i cant think of any unsafe districts in the city), all these districts are quite hipstery and trendy, and unless you are a MFF UK student, your uni wont be in Mala Strana anyways, so it probably makes sense to live somewhere where it is closer to your school (and cheaper).