No,it is not mandatory to living in the hostel for any type of students in any field.But if a student going for studies in some other states,cities.They are trying to settle in the hostel because the basic reason is that they are not know about that place and they do not know about anyone but if they are settle in the hostel they meet with a lot of people,who are outsiders and they are establish a good relation with them and  feel secure at the hostel....

The hostel maybe a good choice but in my personal view it's not good choice because there is lot of boundation and formalities of hostels .