University accommodation: 4 top tips for students from Collegiate AC
- Book early to avoid disappointment
- Make location your top priority
- Think through the amenities that are most important to you
- Work out which lifestyle services you plan to use
If you’re heading off to university this September, there’s plenty to think about. Not only will you have the fun of making new friends and discovering your new city, chances are you’ll be living independently for the first time. If that’s the case, you’ll almost certainly have questions about student housing.
“We find that many students are anxious about where they’re going to live and when and how to book their accommodation. That’s why we’ve made the booking process so simple on the Collegiate website – students can view our properties at their leisure, then book online to ensure they have the accommodation that they want.”
Heriberto Cuanalo, CEO, Collegiate AC
- The first thing to consider is how early to book.
According to UCAS, 48% of students book their accommodation before August. This means that you need to plan ahead and book early in order to have a decent choice of accommodation.
The UK has a shortage of university accommodation (2.3 students per available bed, according to Cushman and Wakefield), so don’t leave arranging your new home to the last minute, or you might end up living an awfully long way away from both the university and your fellow students.
- Location is the next thing to consider.
Do you want to be close to the university or close to the city centre? Many newly built student accommodation schemes offer accommodation that ticks both of these boxes, so shop around until you find a location that meets all of your needs.
Collegiate AC’s new Ernest Place accommodation in Durham, for example, is located within 10 minutes of the city centre and the university’s Durham city location, so whether you want to study, shop or go out for dinner, everything you need is within easy reach.
- Next, consider the facilities that you would like to have access to.
“Purpose built student accommodation gets better every year, so if an onsite gym or private cinema is important to you then opt for accommodation that has opened in the last two or three years. Communal features are becoming more and more important and students are reaping the rewards of this trend.”
Heriberto Cuanalo, CEO, Collegiate AC
At Collegiate’s Plummer House in Newcastle, for example, residents not only have their own en-suite apartments, but a wide range of luxurious amenities. There’s a games room, club lounge and bar for relaxing, a study room for hitting the books, an on-site cool room and concierge so that you can have your shopping delivered while you’re out at lectures, an on-site cinema for enjoying evenings in with friends and a private gym for keeping in shape.
- It’s also important to think about what you plan to take with you to uni.
Aside from clothes, toiletries and books, do you want the hassle of packing up pots and pans, plates, cups, bedding, towels and a toilet brush? No? Then make sure you opt for an accommodation provider that offers lifestyle services that provide these kind of items.
Consider too how you plan to cook and care for yourself. If you plan to live off takeaways, then kitchen facilities probably won’t matter too much, but if greasy meals day after day aren’t your style then make sure you opt for an apartment that includes a decent kitchen area, along with a breakfast bar or table where you can eat in comfort.
Then there’s the cleaning. Mum and Dad won’t be around to vacuum your floor or scrub your toilet, so if you don’t fancy taking on those tasks yourself, it’s best to find out what kind of cleaning services are available at your chosen accommodation. Many providers offer this as another of their lifestyle services. Find out in advance what’s available so you know how many dusters you need to pack.
“Starting university is the beginning of a wonderful new chapter, so make sure you organise your accommodation well in advance and have all of the features that you need. That way, you can arrive to the perfect home and focus on meeting new people and getting stuck into your studies, feeling happy and secure in your fabulous new accommodation.”
Heriberto Cuanalo, CEO, Collegiate AC
For more information and to book accommodation, contact Collegiate on +44 1235 250 140 or visit www.collegiate-ac.com.