Once one gets through a college or a university in UK, it means this is the time for celebration. Though one needs to think about a lot of things and back of the mind a lot are going on but still there should be the joy of achieving something.
When one is shifting to a new place or even in a new country where everything around is new then one takes a lot of time to adjust. But finding a new accommodation and settling down is the primary matter of concern that remains there. One has to look for Student accommodation in Bristol UK, if they have got selected in s college in that area. One can either look for on campus accommodation, or else they can look for a place to stay which is nearby (preferably walking distance) from the college.
When one starts accommodation hunting, there are a few things to keep in mind to make the searching process easier.
- First of all, one must not panic when they are looking for accommodation. The place in the university is already secured and one just needs a place to stay according to their preferences. But yes, even if one should not panic, one must not start searching them in a laid back attitude. In that case most of the studios which are good and nearby might get occupied. So, in order to search for an accommodation, one must make a preferred list first. One has to contact the university authority and check the accommodation options which are available there (if there are at all). If there are places to stay, they can show the pictures of private halls of residence and the other facilities that they can provide. One can also check the cost of those rooms and if possible, can also reserve a space for them online.
- If there are no on campus accommodation option, then one can also look for shared ensuite or dual occupancy studios. In these cases, location becomes the key factor to finalize a staying option. If one finds a place to stay which is quite nice but an hour away from the university then it is not suitable because it is going to affect the academic life of the student majorly. So, it is preferable to stay nearby may be 15 to 20 minutes away from the university.
- One also needs to make sure that they get all the necessary facilities near the accommodation they choose. There are many accommodation which come with a strict guideline. One must check the parking restrictions payment patterns, maintenance and security facilities. If one has a habit of working out on a daily basis they can also check for an on-site gym or a nearby gym. One also needs to consider the other essential things like where can they eat. Do those accommodation have canteen facilities as well?
- If one has found a few places to stay then before finalizing one must do a proper research online for those places. One should take all the necessary information from the booking agent and if possible, can also take a virtual tour of the place where they will be going to stay. One should not hesitate to ask any questions or about any information they need before they finalize down the accommodation. It is also okay to check the rooms and the bed (to see if it is comfortable enough to sleep) before taking the place. There are shared en suite options as well which one can check.
Apart from the above mentioned things there are some other things to consider as well. Can one take help of student loan in order to pay the living expenses apart from the school fees and other allowance? Well, it completely depends on the student loan that they have got. The money will be sent to the student directly in some loans or in some cases it can go the university directly and then the fees are deducted from there before the rest is handed over to the student. The rest amount can be easily used to pay for the shared apartment or other accommodation that one will be using.
It is true that student loans can be used to pay for the housing whether it is on campus accommodation or an off campus one. One can also opt for a dormitory which is beneficial because there are some universities that also include the food payment in their monthly fees. This can take away the worry about regular meals for the students. Most dormitories are furnished and so one does not have to buy furniture as well. They are less expensive because one also does not need to pay any kind of security deposits and for maintenance utilities. But shared apartments can be better than dormitories in other terms because there are less people sharing the space and there are more choices to go through.
When one is applying for college loans then there are federal backed student loan options where one has to fill up a free application for the student aid form as it wants to know about personal details of the applicant like their family income and desired school details. If one is eligible for a student loan then they must look for the ones which pays both the tuition fees and the living expenses. Once one has already applied for the loan, they must try and pick up an apartment for the accommodation facility in the meantime.
When one is looking for some accommodation, they can also ask their friends and relatives who have already experienced this before and they have something to guide. Researching online is a great and convenient way to look for accommodation. One can also ask students who are already studying in the same university about the accommodation options.
Once the staying place is finalized, they can check all the documents and sign them so that they can start living there the moment they shift to that new place.
