Choosing the accommodation you will call home during your university studies can be tricky. To get the best value for your buck you’ll need to decide on many things including the location, price range and transportation. Of course, you might have to make compromises and sacrifices on some of the points but in order to make it all work in the end, here are six points to consider when choosing your place.
Commute or not to commute?
If you’re going to a university in a different city, you’ll need to do a little research on where your campus is located and which buildings you will be studying in. From there you’ll be able to start pinpointing the area for your accommodation and how you are going to commute to university.
And here comes in the dilemma. “Should I rent closer to university and save money on transportation or find something further but cheaper?”
In the end, the determining factors will be the following. Firstly, the time you spend commuting. Secondly, the price for transportation. Last but not least, whether living further will actually cut down the cost drastically.
Shared vs Single accommodation
Renting a studio apartment starts anywhere from 300 euros in a small town in Europe. But it goes all the way up to 850 euros in England.
Renting private student housing is popular in the United Kingdom. Private student halls are comparable to residential halls, except reputable businesses operate them like amber student accommodation. This implies that you’ll have your own bedroom and will share the living room, dining, and washroom with other people in the home. Many locations with a significant student population are densely packed with private student housing, like student accommodation in London or Oxford.
The more budget-friendly option would be to rent a room in a shared flat/house. Other option is to apply for the student accommodation at your university.
To decide on this one, you need to ask yourself a few questions. Are you comfortable with sharing common areas such as the bathroom and the kitchen with others? Or do you absolutely need the quite and independence for when you are at home.
The benefit of shared accommodation is that you can split the cost of such things as TV license and kitchen utensils. And to have a buddy at hand to help you out.
Storage, parking, and studying
Whether you share the place or live an independent life, consider where you will be spending most of your time.
Storage. If you’re not planning on returning home to change seasonal clothes for the semester, plan in advance the storing area for all the luggage, warm clothes and sports gear in case you own some. Great if you can utilize the underbed space for storage or have a cupboard just for junk.
Parking. Whether it’s your bike or a car, check the availability of a parking space in your accommodation and at university. Also, make sure to communicate with the landlord and your institution about you using it.
Desk area. It’s important to know if you like quiet or can tolerate background noise. Ask yourself whether you need everything to be in one place or you carry everything in your laptop. This will determine if you actually need a desk at your house or you can use the university facilities e.g. the library, free classroom, or language cafes.
Get Accommodation with Realtors vs Solo
It makes it a whole lot trickier to rent an apartment if you are an international student. Not only will you need to provide proof of finances and secure a deposit. You might need a guarantor and have a local bank account too.
Not physically being in the country, you may find numerous alluring offers which will turn out to be scams.
To avoid that, check the university information on student housing and companies which directly provide services to students. Always check the information, request proof of ownership and read the contract.
In the end, spending a little bit in advance will spare you extra visits, anxiety, and possibly staying at a hostel before all the paperwork is done.
Remember that student accommodation goes like hot cakes start planning it at least six months in advance!
Photos: Shutterstock
Read more here:
Intergenerational Accommodation – The Alternative To High Rents And Loneliness
French Universities Will Not Impose an Increase in Tuition Fees for International Students
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