Where to Search for Uni Accommodation
Going to university is a massive change to your life. Not only are you moving into the last stage of education but a lot of students move out of their family home for the first time, and into student accommodation. Both can be extremely daunting and unless you are extremely laid back, stress can creep up on with everything that is changing in your life. Below I have included some tips that will help you search for your new place as you embark on the first building block towards your career.
Google Search
Like everything, start with google. Once you know which university you are going to, Google will put you in the right direction when it comes to private student renting or university halls. A major bonus is generally there tends to be reviews from previous tenants. This will give you an idea of the experiences they have had and whether some opportunities may be better than others.
Student Forums
All social media sites have specified groups or forums for new, current and former students to chat. The likelihood is, this is where you will get the biggest insight into student accommodation. When it comes to student accommodation in Melbourne for example, they have a vast array of student forums based directly on the accommodation and unlike reviews, you can open and start a conversation rather than just reading about the feedback.
Speaking to your University
When you are accepted to a Uni, you will be given a lot of information about your course, campus, rules and also accommodation. Even if your university doesn’t have onsite residency, speaking to them can be very useful, even if it’s just for their contacts alone. A lot of universities tend to partner up with estate agents or landlords and they can look to pass on contact information or contact them for you.
Estate Agents
Estate agents seem like the most logical step at times. If you do want to contact an estate agent, do a bit of research first. Not all estate agents deal within student accommodation but for example with student accommodation in Melbourne there are agents that specialise in the matter. Speak to them directly whether it being over the phone, on webchat or in person.
Student Accommodation Websites
Like everything, there is nothing better than a website that can give you all the information you need. Student accommodation websites are no different. Compare them, see what they offer and how they can make your life easier. A great thing about the sites is that they also give upfront fees/prices or what will happen if your circumstances change. It is really important that you have this information as it’s probable that there will be deposits involved and potential rental cancellation fees. Don’t jump into anything unless you are sure you know what you are getting into.
House Share
It’s not a hidden fact that money can get a little tight whilst going through uni. To combat this make sure you look into house sharing with other students. Not only is this a great way to bring down rental pricing but it’s a great way to get that university experience and make new friends along the way.
Try out all of these options in order to find yourself the very best student accommodation.
How To Stay Motivated With Uni Work During Lockdown
On the face of it being stuck at home under lockdown circumstances may appear to give you the ideal time to get your head down and focus on you uni work. With this being said however feeling motivated to keep working hard is far more difficult than it seems. Melbourne uni students in particular have been discussing recently the challenges which they have found in keeping their motivation levels high during lockdown.
Whilst many students were able to go back home, a lot of international students were unable to do this. In terms of student accommodation Melbourne has seen a great number remain here, and that is down to the challenges for international students. With this being said, there are some hints and tips which may help you to keep your motivation levels high, so that you can focus on your work.
Dedicated Study Area
Our homes are usually where we go to relax after a tough day of studying, and trying to relax and work in the same space can blur the lines. This is certainly something which negatively impacts motivation. With this in mind it makes a great deal of sense to try and separate the space in the home where you would relax and where you would study. This will help with focus and ensure that you don’t get sick of the same four walls.
Minimizing Distractions
Another factor which can affect motivation is the number of distractions which we have in our homes. It is simply too easy to grab our phones or to switch on the television when we should be studying. For this reason ensure that your study area is as free from distractions as you can make it. In reality you should be looking to strip out everything but your study resources, so that you can stay motivated and focused.
Using Timers
A timer can sometimes be a great way for you to stay on track with your studying, and the Pomodoro technique is a proven approach to increasing motivation. This timer runs in 25 minutes segments with a 5 minute break in-between. There are 8 of these 25 minute segments in total, before having a 30 minute break and starting again. Studying in bursts of 25 minutes is excellent for motivation and you’ll find that the clock almost becomes your authority to keep pushing you to study.
Setting Times
Another great idea is to set the times within which you will study. No matter if this is 9 in the morning until 5 in the afternoon, or 9 at night until 5 in the morning. You have absolute flexibility in terms of when you study, but the key will be that you structure your time within the day. If you don’t do this then you can easily lose the discipline which you need, as well as the motivation to study what you need to. The more days that you do this, the easier it will become and the more motivated you will be.
These are challenging times but with some discipline and some hard work, you will be able to find that motivation again.
Winter Uni Student Guide in Melbourne
For Melbourne uni students the benefit of living in this city in particular is one that they can enjoy all year round. The temperature can in fact drop quite a bit in the winter months but this is a city which can adapt very quickly and present those living here with plenty of opportunities to have fun.
When it comes to student accommodation Melbourne has plenty of off-campus locations which are close to the university grounds but also close to the action. This provides students with the perfect place to stay and still enjoy themselves during the winter months.
Take it To The Hot Springs
Melbourne uni students will find a great deal of pleasure in heading off to Fingal and enjoying the hot springs which they will find there. This is around a 2 hour trip from Melbourne and students can buddy up and share the load in terms of transport. Here you will find water which is bubbling away at 60 degrees celsius, which can be enjoyed whilst taking in an incredible view.
Watching The AFL
Melbourne is mecca for a number of activities, the first being food, the second being music and the third being sport. The Aussie Rules season takes place primarily throughout the winter and this is a great sport to watch at the MCG. The sport is fast and ferocious and always entertaining. Because of the size of the ground, there are always tickets available and there are special prices for some matches which students can take advantage of.
Heading to The Docklands
During the winter months, on every Friday night, the Docklands is alive with a fireworks display which never gets boring. Not far from UC student accommodation the Docklands offer fireworks displays, pop-up markets, open air restaurants and many bars and terraces all open where you can enjoy the very best of the display. This event runs from June through to August and the fireworks officially get started at 18:30. Usually you will find that the actual display starts closer to 19:30.
Go Adventurous
Melbourne uni students don’t have to head far from the city to enjoy some winter sporting activities, and in Mount Buller and Falls Creek you will have the chance to get some skiing and snowboarding fun. This is a great way to spend the weekend with friends, and there are plenty of off-piste activities as well. The scenic views are impressive, the activities are fun and this makes for the perfect short-term winter break from the city, the perfect way to get away from your studies for a while.
And finally students should be identifying the right pubs to enjoy during these months, which feature a roaring fire to warm them up. There are a number of pubs which place the fire front and center, and have many seating areas around it where you can really enjoy the experience of watching the fire blaze.
The temperature may drop in winter, but that doesn’t mean that there is any less to do than during the summer in Melbourne.
Student Accommodation and Coronavirus. What to Look Out For?
Given the current climate with regards to the Covid-19 pandemic, there are many areas of our lives which won’t be the same for some time. One particular group of people who were particularly affected are students, many of whom will be going back to university under altogether different circumstances. Although we know that most of these young men and women are not at high risk from the virus, there is always the chance that they can get it. Additionally students can pass that virus onto more vulnerable people and, until the vaccine program is fully rolled out, students will have to tread with caution.
Student accommodation in particular is something which will be impacted, and many students are nervous about the prospect of living in close quarters with so many others.
Putting Rules in Place
Uni accommodation on campus will see new rules in place with regards to the wearing of face masks, as well as the addition of sanitization stations. This emulates many of the same precautions currently in place across many businesses & institutions and whilst students are being invited back, they have to be careful and mindful of these new rules & measures.
Staying Inside
Across many universities teaching will either be in socially distanced spaces or through the use of video calling software. There is no doubt that there will be a much bigger focus on students staying inside their dorms than previous years. This will also go beyond the classroom and will most likely be the case for many social areas on campus, which will remain closed for the foreseeable future. Whilst this is not great news for students, they will still be able to continue their studies and there will still be other opportunities to socialise with fellow students.
Private Accommodation
Those who live in private uni accommodation have been contacted by universities, who have laid out the best action plans to keep students safe. In these types of accommodation it is expected to see similar rules enforced as seen across private rentals. This will include the availability of hand sanitisers and enforcing of social distancing where possible.
Cleaning of Accommodation
On-campus student accommodation would usually have been cleaned on occasion, but most of the time it was up to the students to keep their own living space clean and tidy. Given the importance of keeping the infection rate down, universities will have to use private cleaning companies to regularly sanitize the accommodation. This should be expected by every single student heading to campus, and it will be critical in making sure that there is no rise in fast transmission figures.
These are certainly testing times and whilst there is a low danger to students regarding mortality, the risk of COVID-19 to a large group of people in one space cannot be ignored. For this reason a variety of changes have to be made at university, especially when it comes to the management and the cleaning of uni accommodation. It is also recommended that students also look to keep themselves prepared & bring masks, avoid unnecessary contact with others & santise whenever possible.
Student Budget Tips
The reason why many students struggle financially is that they are out on their own for the first time, without their parents to pick up the tab. Even if student accommodation is paid for, spending money has to be well managed and monitored. Some students have jobs and some rely on loans, but no matter how they are funded budgeting is an important necessity for any student.
However, there are many budget hacks which students can use to make their dollars go further. Let’s have a look at some great ways to do just that.
Textbooks
Textbooks are something which students cannot go without, but buying new isn’t the only option. Instead of putting large amounts of cash on new textbooks, students can look to rent them from the library, find a downloadable online version or buy the books second hand. However, if you buy second hand from last year’s students, be sure that it is the latest version of the textbook.
Coupons and Deals
If you are going to go drinking then happy hour is the perfect time to do it and it is critical that you take advantage of as many savings and promos as you can. The same thing goes for grocery shopping, there are loads of coupons which you will find online, that can help you to save some serious cash on the essentials.
Paying the Bills
If money is tight then it is important that you don’t lose money unnecessarily. One way that can happen is if you don’t pay bills on time. A late payment fee can be very expensive for someone who is trying to watch their money. The same goes for interest payments on credit card bills. Stay organized and pay those bills early.
Buy a Bike
A bike is going to be a very smart investment and although you may feel as though you are shelling out some money, the savings over the long term will make it worthwhile. Most universities are well placed and you’ll find that many places you go to are within cycling distance. This will save you huge amounts on public transport and cabs.
Buddy Up The Bills
Don’t take on all of the bills in the student accommodation you are sharing, work with your roommates to split services up. For example, if you are going to get music and TV streaming services then take one each, this way you can all enjoy it without one person footing the whole bill.
Student Discounts
Student discounts are there to help and support you, make sure that you take advantage of as many as possible. Most students fail to do this because they simply aren’t aware of them. There is plenty of information online which you can find that will point you in the direction of all student deals available to you.
Finally the key to saving money during your time in uni accommodation is to be aware of all the money that you have coming in and out. The moment you begin to ignore it, is the moment that you will overspend.
