Student accomodation

Student accomodation

I'm planning on going to uni in September but I''m unsure what the best route is with accommodation. Some m8's were in halls whilst they were in college up here and they were shit, and cost more per person than a 3 or 4 bedroom flat/house would. Is this the general trend or is it just dependant on the region?

What is everyone's experience with halls? They always look like shitholes to me.. tiny shared kitchens that get messy as fuck, small rooms, shit internet and restrictions regarding visitors etc.

if you go to uni, go into halls, otherwise you'll end up bitter and friendless.

it all depends on where you go, but there are usually loads of different choices. down here we have everything from dodgy little shitholes to really nice flash ones with en suites, loads of rahs, etc. i've never heard of restrictions on visitors though, the only place i could imagine that being tricky is castle leazes (newcastle uni) where they have staffed reception. but then if you're from newcastle you should probably move away to uni anyway.
halls in first year were one of the best experiences of uni and i met some amazing people, most of which i still see now.

Definitely halls for a year.

Halls for the first year, then move out.

I had a mixed experience with halls to be honest. I didn't get my accomodation until January of first year because I was a local student, and the flat I was put into in the end was full of total bell ends with absolutley no craic. They didn't like it when I brought mates/girls/myself in a fucked up mess back to the flat at all and used to criticise me for it.

On the plus side though there were decent people in the surrounding flats so I could spend time around there and meet sound people through those guys. The fact that I was out of my parents house was also decent due to independence etc.

It's all about the people who you share with at the end of the day, because for me Uni was all about the like-minded people you come across there.

move away into halls

my first year was the best ever

Ok, halls it is then

Regarding the restrictions, my m8 is going to Selford (manchester) and the 'halls' that they provide can include houses as well.. not sure if that's normal or not but that's what she told me could happen. Anyway, apparently if you have visitors, there's a maximum stay of two nights and before they come you have to ask everyone around you if it's ok.. if one knobhead says no then you can't have anyone over at that time. Security apparently check up on this too and reserve the right to chuck anyone out who's been 'sneaked in' and everyone has to sign in/out. The landlord at one of the student halls in town was a bit like this too.. if she found visitors there she'd sometimes go ballistic and shout at us all to leave. Fair play sometimes though as some mornings there's be some of us sleeping in the main room with a stinking hangover

i want to go to uni but im 23 now

Im 24 and just gone back, don't let age stop you mate theres a bloke who's 37 on my course too!! I get grants aswell cos im classed as 'independant' which is nice cos don't have to pay them back.

hows that work ? like i say im 23 stuck in a callcentre with no qualifications so i need to do something, what uni are you going to and what you doing ?

Im at Northumbria doing Sport Management, although its only really the management parts Im interested in. I get the grants cos Ive supported myself financially for over 3 years, its actually 6 but all they ask for is evidence of 3 years. So a letter from Digital's gaffer and one of the inland rev with my 3 years earnings and they accepted straight away. The tuition fee loan is paid straight to the uni (just over £3K a year) and standard loan of £3.5k is made up to just over £6k with the free grant. Although I do need a part-time job too its a huge help. I get scholarship and bursary too, if you're a bit older and seen as independant you can get loads to help you through. Deffo worth looking into mate, if you need any help/info PM or facebook me

Im 25 and just started uni! like ruffers theres a guy on my course who is 38!

my work sponsor me to go but I get £255 a year grant that doesnt need paid back and if work werent paying my fees I qualified for a £2000 grant per year towards fees and I would only have to pay the balance.

*edit* mine is based on a part time course 1 day per week. It is alot more if you are full time student.

hahaha my school i support (psyc/sport sciences) - who's your tutor?

Gordon Macfadyen, soundest tutor going imo.... what do you do there??

I'm off to Leeds Met in Sept so i will be in the same boat, i was thinking about the halls for easiness, and because i am only down there for 1 year (doing a PGCE) they seem the cheapest option as well

cheers ruffers and zoe thats all been a big help like, ive been thinking about journalism, publishing or something along those lines.

thanks the two of you

So what kind of things enable you to get a grant? Im never gonna get into the career I want unless I get a few more grades I reckon, although I never ever thought about going to Uni when I was younger I'd love to go now.

aye, he's spot on is gordon. did u know nick caplan is an ex-raver?

i look after the IT equipment for the school

if you know what you want to do then apply to the uni, then get intouch with the student services at your local council they will tell you all you need to know, or direct.gov.uk.

you may have to take a different route like i have done, i couldnt join the Bsc course, I have to complete my first year of the foundation degree course first then if i get above 70% in my first year i can join the BSc in year 2. or I oculd of went to college and done my HNC or HND first then join uni. this is because I have no A levels but they do take work experience into consideration and if the work experience relates to the course you want to do then they will accept you without a doubt.

as for grants it depends on if you want to go full or part time. the student services at the uni are quite helpfull too. I didnt have a clue when i first started looking into it.

i didn't start until i was 21. i graduate this summer (i'm now 24) and i'm moving to asia for a few years next year, but i still intend to study medicine when i come back. if it will further your career then you might as well go for it. my mrs' mam has just doner her mba!

mr. b - which uni are you looking at going to. halls all say that you're only allowed two nights, you have to tell reception, etc., but in reality nobody actually gives a shit. everyone in my block in first year had different people every night, nobody is really bothered.

Poly.