The start of a new university year and that important first semester is only weeks away, and with it, students up and down the country are starting to wonder what fun and frolics the future holds.
Many will also be feeling a certain amount of trepidation about leaving their families for the first time. The prospect of missing mum’s cooking, dad’s awful jokes and all the other familiar home comforts can often mean the next year brings nervousness just as much as excitement.
If you’re moving into student halls, in particular, then to get the balance just right between freedom and comfort, familiarity and adventure, it’s important to consider these 5 tips to help you settle in smoothly.
TYPES OF STUDENT ACCOMMODATION
Firstly, it’s useful to consider the different types of student accommodation you might be moving into, and how that might affect your settling in.
On-campus halls of residence are the most common form of student accommodation for first year students, and are ideal for helping young students settle into a new way of life away from their families. With lectures, libraries and amenities all close to hand, as well as a fantastic sense of community with other students, university halls of residence represents the most convenient accommodation option in that first year of study.
Most university cities also offer private halls of residence, which are often not located on-campus, for better or for worse. More often than not, private halls of residence are more modern and well equipped than those located on-campus, and may include students from different universities, should the city have more than one.
The guys at Student Beehive, who provide student accommodation in Leicester and Loughborough, tell us just how far student accommodation has come in recent years. Though in past decades, students may have shared rooms, both on-campus and private halls of residence are now usually designed as several single, private rooms built around a communal central area, kitchen and dining room. They suggest that in 2021, you should expect ‘’bills included, free WIFI, a free gym and free laundry at selected sites’’ as standard.
In their second year, a group of students who have lived together in halls may decide to collectively rent a single house. Doing so can significantly lower costs due to the sharing of expenses.
For those trying to keep costs low, some lucky students may have the opportunity to move into a friend’s or relative’s place and pursue their studies from there. This can be a viable option if such a house is available near the student’s institution.
TIPS FOR SETTLING IN SMOOTHLY
Regardless of your type of student accommodation, settling in smoothly and seamlessly will be your main goal in those first few weeks of university, before lectures and study begin in earnest.
MONEY MANAGEMENT
Let’s face things; even the most dedicated, thrifty students find it difficult to bear the high costs of university tuition fees. Add rent and living expenses into the mix, and things get pretty prohibitive.
Students may take part-time jobs to ease the pressure on their tight budgets, but this can have a detrimental effect on both study and their social life. It’s vital then, whether you choose to work part-time or not, to budget meticulously, to ensure you’re eating healthily, enjoying a fulfilling social life, and having enough money left over to buy books.
Make sure you know the exact rent you’re paying well in advance, including energy, water and wifi bills, as well as other costs that might take you by surprise, like transport, library fees and even printing.
Prepare a weekly or monthly budget and try your best to stay within the limit. This practice will go a long way to improving and polishing your money management skills, which is an integral part of the university experience, don’t you think?
LEARN TO LOVE YOUR LOCAL SUPERMARKETS & SPECIALIST STORES EQUALLY
Yep, perhaps university’s most important lesson is learning how to live independently and healthily. And if you’re resorting to takeaways every night rather than cooking for yourself regularly, then you’re not really living independently or healthily.
Sorry, we don’t mean to sound like a nagging parent on FaceTime. Regardless, prior to setting off for your first year at university, it’s a wise move to get a few staple dishes under your belt. Many students find themselves snacking or eating food which simply isn’t as healthy as it should be, due to time and financial constraints. But good practice when it comes to nutrition and diet can have a huge impact on how we feel. Make sure you’re eating plenty of fruit, vegetables, grains and pulses of different colours, as well as having your fair fill of mood boosting foods, too.
Figure out your closest budget supermarket ahead of arriving at your halls for the first time, and sign up for an account with them so you can avail yourself of home delivery and discount options. This year, Which? named Lidl, Aldi and Asda as the three most affordable. Also get familiar with your local Chinese supermarket, greengrocers, dried spice store, Italian deli and Middle Eastern ingredients purveyor, where you can pick up bargains and some more esoteric, delicious ingredients.
HALLMATE HARMONY
Your hallmates can make or break your time at university. They can either become your best friends for life or a temporary nemesis who kept you awake before each and every exam.
Though it might sound overly pushy or parental, it’s a good idea to establish a set of rules during your first week or two of sharing accommodation, relating to late night noise, cleaning rotas, and which items in the fridge and larder you intend on sharing. Go about establishing these rules in a gentle, democratic way for best results.
Read: 5 IDEAL tips on how to be the perfect housemate
MOVING IN DAY
Take extra care in handling your personal belongings while moving into shared university accommodation. First impressions count and there is every possibility that you’re not going to be the only person moving in. A chaotic array of packages and boxes scattered in the hallway, blocking someone else’s entry, isn’t the best way to ingratiate yourself with your new hallmates.
To take the stress out of unpacking, it’s a good idea to label all your boxes and luggage so you can settle in smoothly without too much help from your folks (a little embarrassing, don’t you think?). Do make sure you unpack properly before that first sambuca shot or trip to the local pub…otherwise, you’ll find yourself deep into Fresher’s Week still wearing the same jeans you arrived in.
PERSONALISE YOUR ROOM
Decorating your room may not seem all that important when you’re not envisaging spending much time in there, but having some reminders of home and other personal touches will make your university life feel more comfortable, make no mistake.
Make your room feel like home by hanging some of your favourite posters or artwork in your room, and use your own bed sheets and cushion covers if you brought them with you.
Perhaps consider investing in a couple of houseplants, too. Halls of residence bedrooms can often feel a little cramped and stifling, and a gentle injection of nature can really help brighten things up.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Leaving your family behind for your first taste of freedom can feel exciting and terrifying in equal measure. Settling in smoothly and quickly is essential to give yourself the best chance of getting the most out of university, both in terms of study and the arguably even more valuable life lessons the experience will teach you. Good luck!