If you’ve enrolled in university and decided where you will be studying next year, now is the time to start looking for student housing and secure your student room.
The admission process for an international graduate program is both challenging and exciting, and nothing beats the excitement of being admitted to an international university. Now is the time to start planning how you can make your life easier while living abroad.
Finding appropriate housing during your studies is one of the first obstacles you should solve. This is so vital that it might make or break your experience. Accommodation is responsible for 15% of negative student experiences, according to student reviews.
Here, I will discuss the details of getting student accommodation in Leicester. You can search here: Student Accommodation Leicester
Different types of student housing
- University-provided student housing
The university will help you find a place to stay. Many universities in Leicester offer dorms and student residences. You may apply for housing either at the same time as your study application or after receiving your acceptance letter.
Simple access to campus grounds, the company of many foreign students, and lower costs are all advantages of staying in a student residence. The danger is that there is a small number available, and you might not be able to get one. Furthermore, working conditions are not always ideal.
- Living in your own house
Many students think about renting a space. Even in this case, you might ask the university staff for help finding apartments and other students willing to share rent. It’s always a smart option to look for updates on social media sites and student groups where you can find rental listings or other people searching for a place to stay.
- Sharing a room with a host
Since private housing can be costly, some students choose to live with a host. This entails renting a room in a host’s house or flat. Although this is a cost-effective choice, you have no way of knowing how well you will get along with the host. Furthermore, there won’t be much privacy.
- Hostels and other types of temporary housing
When a student goes to a foreign country without having found a place to stay, they shift to hostels for shelter. Hostels and other similar temporary accommodations can be inexpensive for a short time, but they can be expensive in the long run. So, while you’re looking for a more stable place to stay, you can use this option.
Considerations for Student Housing
We understand that finding student housing can be stressful, whether you just moved to your university, need a new place to live, or want to be closer to your school.
Let’s take a look at important considerations when looking for student housing.
- Keep calm and keep looking
So, you’ve gotten yourself into a tough spot. First and foremost, don’t be concerned; everything will work out fine. Stressing about your situation will not help you find student housing any quicker or easier, so why go to such trouble?
Take a deep breath and relax if you’re having trouble finding your student accommodations. Once the semester begins, you’ll have a lot on your mind, so now is the time to consider how you can manage stress and improve your mental health while being in school. Maintain a positive perception of your housing situation. Keep your head up, because you can and will find a fantastic place to live. When looking for a place to stay, patience is a virtue. There will always be a variety of choices for you to choose from. Don’t get too overwhelmed!
- Get to know your new city
It’s important to familiarize yourself with the ins and outs of your new residence, whether you do so virtually or by pounding the pavement in the area where you’ll be studying.
Consider the things that are important to you when searching for student housing. Are you taking early or late-night courses and need proximity to campus? Are you just a night person who wants to stay in the city’s city center? Maybe you are a gourmet looking to dine at the newest restaurants? Or do you choose to live near parks and other outdoor recreation because you enjoy the great outdoors?
Following local influencers and status updates on social media will help you interact with life in your new city if you’re doing your search from home. You can also use YouTube to find a wealth of useful information about the area you’ll be relocating to. This way, you can get a sense of the environment and see what’s available.
- Make a budget
It’s no surprise that student housing can be expensive! It is important to set a reasonable budget so you don’t get invested in a place you can’t afford.
Remember the following costs when making your budget:
- Visa
- Health insurance
- Tutoring
- Classroom supplies
- Transportation costs
- Other associated costs
- Investing money
Once you’ve had a rough estimate of how much your study abroad trip would cost, see how much you can set aside for your student housing.
Remember that many student housing choices are partly or completely furnished, and services and facilities are included in the monthly rent, so look for these savings.
- Evaluate last-minute possibilities
If you are in a rush for your student housing, approach the situation by being flexible with your living choices while keeping your interests in mind. To put it another way, know what you want but be able to compromise.
When considering your last-minute choices, explore the advantages of off-campus living vs. on-campus housing, a studio, or a shared room/apartment. Check out the facilities that apartments offer. Swimming pools, research spaces, recreational areas, bike parking, and other facilities are available in several student housing options.
If you are in Leicester and need student housing, you can contact Leicester’s local Host Portals.
Do your research
Even on a tight schedule, please ensure you do your research while looking for your student housing. Be careful of student housing scams, which are common all over the world and prey on innocent students.
Procedures to Reserve Your Student Room
After doing your overall research about getting your student housing, you should proceed with the following:
- Find your accommodation
If you already know which university or college you’ll be attending, use the Host website to look for available housing in that town or city. You may have more than one property available in certain places, so take a look at what each one has to provide and determine your options.
The location of the property, the amenities, room styles available for booking, and the contract lengths are all things to think about when selecting your accommodation.
- Fill out and submit your application
Once you’ve found the perfect room, it’s time to make a reservation. Pick your preferred room choice in the Host portal.
You will need to register and build an account with the provider as part of the application process. All details on your application and booking will be stored in your account. To have your reservation verified, you must complete all stages of the application process, including signing contracts, presenting any guarantor details, and making your first rent payment.
- Pay your bill
As explained earlier, you should submit an initial rental payment as part of the application process to secure your room and activate your reservation.
The accommodation provider offers a variety of payment options, all of which can be made through your online account to give you more flexibility when paying for your student housing. You have the option of paying in full at the time of booking, in three or four installments over the year, or on a monthly payment schedule.
- Move into your home
After you’ve reserved your accommodation and made all of your payments, all you have to do now is relax and wait for move-in day!
After you have moved on to your new room, ensure that your room is safe and secured. Here are some ways to prevent a break-in and what to do if you are burgled.
- Make it seem as if you’re at home when you aren’t.
- Keep valuables out of the sight of windows.
- If you have expensive electronics, you can get content protection.
- Hide the packaging of laptops and cell phones.
- Only welcome people you trust into your home.
- Keep your bike secured with a sturdy bike lock if you own one.
I hope this information will help you if you are inexperienced with student accommodation. Best wishes to you!