Going off to university can be a very exciting time but also a little daunting. Many students will be heading off to new cities and learning how to live independently for the first time. Once you've made the grades and confirmed your place, then it's time to start looking for somewhere to live. There's a lot to consider; what type of accommodation you want and what your budget is. Balancing the budget can be quite tricky, as different accommodation types have different ways of doing things. When you are planning your university accommodation, you may be wondering how you are going to manage to pay for it. Here are some things you need to consider.
Your options about student accommodation mean that you can either choose university accommodation or arrange private accommodation managed by a private landlord. University accommodation can either be catered, where you will have all your meals provided for you or self-catering, where you will be provided with access to a kitchen area, and you can create your own meals. These two types of arrangements have different budgets, so you should make a careful decision. Self-catering tends to be cheaper unless another reason puts it into a higher price bracket, so a standard catered room may be cheaper than a luxury self-catered room.
Do you get a student loan for accommodation?
If you are wondering how you will afford the accommodation costs, there are several options. You can apply for a maintenance loan at the same time you apply for your student tuition fees loan. Maintenance loans are based on your household income, where you live, what you study and how long you study for. These loans tend to be paid in advance at the start of each term. You may also be entitled to maintenance grants if you are eligible for certain benefits if you are disabled or need help with childcare costs.
Some universities may offer bursaries or scholarships for students who excel in their subjects. Universities will usually publish the details of the terms and conditions for bursaries and scholarships on their website, so you should check the details to see if you are eligible to apply.
There are other options to help you pay for student accommodation. Depending on your availability, you may find part-time work close to the university that will help you earn some money to put towards your accommodation costs. Many universities have details of local part-time jobs that are popular with students. Don't worry about not having experience; many of these jobs are temporary jobs and can sometimes be just very brief requirements to help out at busy times, doing bar-work, waiting on tables, cleaning, or handing out flyers. Be careful to look where the jobs are and bear in mind you may have travel costs, so make sure it is cost-effective for you and practical for you to be able to get to work.
You may be able to save to earn money to pay for your accommodation. Some students take a gap year and live at home whilst saving enough money to go off to university. Once you get to university, there are often different ways you can take advantage of discounts that are offered to students. If you're looking for self-catered accommodation, you can be quite creative at making a little money go a long way.
Is student accommodation paid monthly?
Choosing whether to take university accommodation or private accommodation means looking at the availability of the room and the time schedules for payments. University accommodation tends to be paid termly and private accommodation tends to be paid monthly. You should check whether bills are included and work out how the costs compare.
If you're thinking of using private accommodation, you need to consider what your budget is and what your requirements are. Work out how many people you want to live with and find a suitable house. You need to factor in the location as you might find extra costs on getting to and from university start mounting up. You also need to work out how much the bills are likely to be and whether they are included in the rent. You should also look carefully at the contract and see how you are tied into the accommodation. If something happens that means you need to leave the accommodation; then you have to look at the terms of the contract to see what your obligations are.
When you are choosing your student accommodation, consider the prices and the budget you have. You may have to compromise on certain things if you need to take a cheaper option. You should look at the size of the room, the location and the running costs. Options such as the facilities available within the student accommodation may affect the price, and you should decide whether this is really necessary.
You should look at the availability of the room. If you take university accommodation, it may require you to only occupy it during the university term times. The prices may reflect this. Private student accommodation will usually allow you to stay for the full academic year and for a while before it starts and after it ends. This might be useful if you take a part-time job and decide to stay living in your university city outside of term time.
You should consider what facilities the accommodation has to offer and what you need. For example, if you need to have a car at university, then you will need a parking space and there may be extra charges for this. Generally, universities tend to be near good transport links, so a bicycle or public transport should be suitable for you. Bear in mind that if you need to use public transport a lot, then the costs may start to mount up, so you should pay careful attention to the location of your accommodation. There may be other facilities and costs that you need to consider, for example, if you require access to a gym. Bear in mind too that you need washing facilities, either a washing machine or access to laundry facilities.
Once your place is confirmed, you should start to look for accommodation as soon as possible so you can make the best choice. Have a look at the nearby town and the accommodation and facilities available. If possible, visit the town or city before you start and see where the locations are for the best accommodation and how they connect with the university in the context of where they are situated and what they have to offer. University accommodation offices will be happy to supply you with all the relevant information.
If you decide to look for private accommodation, contact student letting accommodation offices and leave your details to receive information on what is available. You can visit available properties either on your own, if you just need a room, or go with your group if you are planning to share a house. Be sure to look at a number of properties to make sure you are making the best decision on the right accommodation for you. Remember to find out all the details as to what is included in the costs, how long the property is available, and how suitable the location is. You need to weigh up the budgets carefully to make sure that it is suitable for you.
What is the Best Student Accommodation in Preston?
If you are planning to study in Preston, then you might consider looking at Brunel Court. It benefits from being in an excellent location, located just 10 minutes away from UCLan and offers various types of student accommodation, from luxury pods to studio rooms. It provides extra facilities free of charge, including a laundry, gym, entertaining kitchen, cinema, study room and a retro arcade. The rooms are all furnished to a high standard, and the rent costs cover all the bills, including power, heating and water. Broadband is also provided free of charge, up to 100MB wired & Wifi. The tenancy terms last for 44 or 51 weeks, so you can make the most of being in the local area. The security arrangements are excellent, with CCTV and the management and maintenance team on site during the day to help if any problems should occur. You can feel safe and secure and know that if there are any problems, they will be quickly sorted for you, giving you extra peace of mind.
Everything is in place for you at Preston student accommodation Brunel Court. You will need to bring your own bedding, and you will be responsible for keeping your room clean, although the cleaning team will make sure that communal areas are kept clean and tidy, such as the corridors, stairs and the gym.
If you do decide to take a room at Brunel Court, the reservation process is quick and easy. You need to complete the reservation form, pay a holding deposit and then the contract will be drawn up and emailed to the guarantor. Once everything is in place, you can relax knowing that your accommodation is sorted and you can look forward to enjoying your student days.