Moving to university does not mean there will be lots of funs ahead– giving up the comforts of home to an empty room on campus might not sound very appealing. However, once you have all your possessions sorted and have made your first friends, mum and dad will be nothing more than a distant memory. So settle into University as quickly as possible. It will give you more free time to party away the night, eat your own weight in take-away and sleep until the afternoon. Just follow this guide to make sure you start university the right way.

Halls on campus

Some first year students will end up in halls of residence or “Halls” for short, which are flats and buildings privately owned by the University, designed to cater to their students. You will be in capable hands and in nearly every case there will be people specifically appointed to help you move in to your new room.

It is obvious why so many students spend their first year in Halls. They are usually at the centre of campus life and within stumbling distance of subject buildings and lecture theatres. There no hidden costs or utility bills. Probably the best reason will be that you will be in the same boat as hundreds if not thousands of fresher’s.

Remember: If you want to have a TV at your place you are going to have to pay for a your own separate TV licence – it’s the law!!

Living on your own

Most students will end up having to arrange their own private housing with other students they have only met for the first time. for many the house hunting process will not be plain sailing. signing for a house can often feel like a race but do not at any point let yourself be pressured into signing a contract! Your Assured Shorthold Tenancy agreement aka your contract, should be given to a trusted individual for review. The university will often have an expert at hand to go over student housing contracts.

More so than with hall of residence, you will need to create an accommodation budget as there are extra financial concerns when in private housing. You should check to see how much you will be paying for utilities such as water, heating and electricity. Read the house’s meter upon arrival and write it down. When you register with the suitable company, give them the reading. This will avoid the unpleasant surprise of having to foot the bill of the previous tenants. Don’t begin the school year without having any internet by making sure you set it up as early as possible as well as your landline.

Pay for your TV licence if you know you’re going to be watch television. Most students do!! Unfortunately part time student will have to pony up for council tax. If you are unsure whether you need to pay or not, contact your University – they will be happy to help.

An inventory can be a life-saver when trying to claim back the deposit at the end of the year. Do not sign your contract before creating an inventory of all the important places within the house as well as taking photos as proof. Any damages should be documented and a copy made for your landlord to sign. It might sound like overkill but you’ll thank us when your landlord claims the hole in the wall was all you’re doing!

Remember to lock up!

Students are unfortunately a target for local thieves, so do as much as you can to protect your abode and possessions. You should always lock up whenever you leave your Hall, apartment or house. Burglars can often pry open windows that are only slightly ajar, so make sure they are locked shut as well as any doors. You should of course have a working burglar alarm if you have your own house.

Insuring your valuables

Make an inventory of all the possessions you wish to insure. At the very least you should have your laptop insured against theft as they are the most commonly stolen possession from student accommodation. You should be able to insure them through an insurance company affiliated with the University – they will often give students a discounted price for a year’s cover.

Shipping possessions

In most scenarios, mum and dad will be own personal couriers, however annoying for them that may be. If for whatever reason you can’t enlist the help of the parents to move in your possessions, then it might be necessary to hire a removals company.

You should try to pack as much as you can into two suitcases that you will be able to lug around personally. Your remaining items is what needs to be transported. Make its easier for yourself by only moving things that you know you will use. You may want to pump your guns but personal gym equipment will be a chore to ship. So let the dumbbells and other non-essential items remain at home – it will save you both time and money.