What's on in Birmingham for Students

Birmingham is a multi-cultural hub of activities and events. After a long week of lectures and studying, it can be nice to go out and experience something new, or different. For those studying at the University of Birmingham, this is very easy to do, as every weekend promises something exciting.

Below, we recommend a number of events that will be happening around Birmingham, that might interest you as a student. But remember; it's important to have your student accommodation sorted before the next academic year. If you don't have anything sorted, make sure you head over to Unihousing and book a viewing as soon as possible, so you don't miss out on your choice of accommodation.

Keeping It Light

First-up, with tickets priced at £5 at The Dark Horse in Moseley, is Wax Elephant with Tony Law during February. Tony Law is the surreal comedian who has appeared on Never Mind the Buzzcocks, Russell Howard's Good News, Have I Got News For You, and more. He brings his unique comedy to Birmingham in what promises to be a laugh-filled night that won't stretch the your bank balance too much. At a venue easily accessible from Selly Oak and surrounding areas in Birmingham, this is a fun way to spend the evening out with friends, and should give you a great break from all the studying and hours in uni'.

Music To Your Ears

As music enthusiasts know, seeing a live band can be very costly indeed, especially if it's a big name act. So how about a tribute act for one of the all-time biggest names in music, and for a very low cost. If that's sounds appealing to you then you may be interested to hear that Hells Bells are performing live at Cotteridge Social Club, Birmingham during February. A highly regarded ACDC tribute band, Hells Bells will be riffing their way through some serious classic, and you can see the whole thing for as little as £8.

Birmingham Vegan Festival

For a palatable mix of food, beauty and clothing stalls, the Birmingham Vegan Festival could make for a stimulating visit. Held at Edgbaston Cricket Ground on 14^th April between the hours of 10am and 5pm, this should have something for everyone. And with all profits from the festival going towards the care and re-homing of rescued animals, it's all in aid of a very worthwhile cause, too.

Big Flavours

To really indulge your appetite, head over to the Bedight Dining Club, based in Lower Trinity Street, Digbeth. An event so good it has been recognised with a number of awards, the Digbeth Dining Club is sure to tantalise taste-buds with its inviting array of street food traders. Sink your teeth into pizza,waffles, kebabs and so much more, and soak-in the delights of the music and entertainment that accompany this mouth-watering event.

Getting Out in Selly Oak

There doesn't have to be an event to keep students entertained, as there is pretty much always something to see and do in Selly Oak, and elsewhere in Birmingham. For a relaxed evening out with your friends, one of Selly Oak's pubs should be ideal. Make your way to the Goose or the Bristol Pear and enjoy a bite to eat. Watch the latest sporting action on screen and get competitive over a game of pool.

Into the City

Selly Oak also has its own diverse collection of superb places to go and fill your stomach, but if you want a little change of scenery then maybe journey into Birmingham City Centre. Perfectly positioned, Selly Oak is only a short train ride, bus trip or taxi drive to the City Centre, so it's not really any effort to begin seeking out all the range of activities - both day and night - that the heart of this city has to offer. See the latest blockbusters or alternative screen gems, browse the shops in the Bullring and stalls in the markets during the day, and then loosen-up to the tunes at some of the various nightclubs which Birmingham is known so well for. It's safe to say that, regardless of what your interests are and what appeals to you most, both you and your friends are sure to find something in Birmingham City Centre to entertain you.

It's Your Year

Any academic year has its challenges and rewards, but hopefully as this guide has pointed out, being a student in Selly Oak and Birmingham in general can be a lot of fun as well. As you tick-off all the essential things on your weekly to-do list such as doing assignments and things related to your accommodation, you can also give some thought to those enjoyable activities that let you socialise and enrich your time as a student away from university. Ensure that the whole student experience isn't dominated solely by endless amounts of studying and explore these experiences in Birmingham. Make your time in the city as rewarding as possible.

Top 10 Tips for Improving your Student Experience

Your 2018 student year is another step towards your future. It should be a successful year, and it should be fun. You should get out of it as much as you can. However, you should give a thought to certain little things that could make living as a student better for yourself. So read this blog for some of the little tips that are all part of having a worthwhile student year.

Also, if you are wondering what student accommodation Birmingham boasts for those studying at the University of Birmingham, then Unihousing may be for you. Look into the impressive accommodation that Unihousing has on offer on their website today. For your academic year, Unihousing provides Birmingham student accommodation that is furnished and ideally located, all for a price that is absolutely perfect for a range of budgets.

1. Spending

Having to budget is surely an inevitable part of student living. It doesn't have to result in a poor standard of living though. Take a sensible approach. Think about your necessary outgoings, and balance these against the more fun and frivolous aspects of your lifestyle that need to be covered. There are often more ways to cut-back financially than you may realise. Plus, there are often various deals and discounts to be found if you look for them.

2. Doctors and Dentists

This is especially useful if you are living in student accommodation that is a good distance from your family home. Making sure that you are registered to a doctor and dentist is seriously important. Not only are regular dental check-ups a recommended part of healthy living, being able to see a professional for quick or urgent care is essential. So if you haven't done so already, make sure you register with a local doctor and dentist.

3. Socialising

Creating and maintaining friendships is always a good idea. It can be easy to become isolated at university, especially if you live on your own, so meeting-up with people when you can and socialising often is definitely recommended. To help with this, the University has a number of societies, so you can meet people who share your interests.

4. Going Out

This is when being a student can be most fun. Parties, night-outs and other activities may all be on the menu as you progress through this academic year. Doing what you find enjoyable is important. It's also a good idea though to do some research into what's on offer. For going-out or other activities, there can be various money-saving discounts to be found. However, there may also be times when you get bored of doing similar things on a weekly basis. This is when you may wish to look a little deeper into what's available for students and young people today.

5. Studying at Home

You're at university for a reason. While this is stating the obvious, it's a good idea to keep focused on the overall goal of being a student. So try not to fall behind on your studying. Concentrate and focus at lectures, and make them as worthwhile as you possibly can. And, when you're away from university, have a proactive attitude towards study; prepare your surrounding environment in a way that makes working as comfortable and non-distracting as possible. And find the approach that best suits you in terms of effective working, which could involve thorough planning, carefully scheduled breaks or gentle background music, or something else altogether. Whatever gets the best result.

6. Storing Important Documents & Records

A fairly simple one, really. All documents or records that are particularly important to living as a student, such as those pertaining to your accommodation or finance, should be gathered together securely in one easy-to-access place. This is just a sensible tip for organisation and convenience. You'll appreciate the effort you put into organising your documents and records when you next need to find a particularly important letter.

7. Sharing Jobs/Duties

Sharing a house can have its challenges. Ensuring that all of the household jobs are carried out, and are shared evenly between all the tenants is one of these. Just a simple discussion or even a chart to list who will do what and when can be an easy solution to this little obstacle. In a house of multiple occupancy, things can get messy very quickly without a proper cleaning schedule.

8. Maintaining Your Property

Any signs of wear and tear on your property should be reported to the relevant people. The sooner you report an issue, the sooner it can be resolved. Additionally, not reporting an issue as soon as it occurs could cause it to become worse. As you are renting, getting in touch when there are problems with your accommodation is also appreciated, as it allows the owner of the property to make necessary improvements to the property they own.

When it comes to maintenance and repairs, Unihousing boast their own team of qualified tradesmen to deal with any problems with your student home.

9. Keeping Fit

It's not difficult to fall into a routine and forget about exercise. Between attending lectures, studying and seeing friends, it's hard to find the time. Exercise doesn't have to be done to excess, and can take the form of just walking. It is always beneficial to your overall health, though. Try and squeeze-in some physical activity here and there and you should notice the difference. Whatever time you can make for doing some exercise, it is definitely wise to do so.

10. Healthy Eating

Another factor in keeping fit is healthy eating. Incorporating healthy ingredients and healthy meals into your diet is certainly what you should be aiming for. To do this, only simple adjustments may need to be made. A general increase of fruit and vegetables is an obvious improvement, but cooking healthy meals for yourself can be really simple, too. You may be surprised by how delicious they can be, as well.

How to make this year at Uni even better

As we are now into January of the new year, as a student you will surely be preparing yourself for a whole heap of university work that will be coming your way very soon. Hopefully you are enjoying your course and aren't dreading the thought of more studying and more lectures. The studying aspect of university though, is just one part of the overall experience, and there will be a number of other things to think about as you advance in your studies. To get the best out of this university year,  it's good to refect on the issues caused you problems last year and plan some steps to make this year even better.

Money
This can be a difficult matter for a lot of students, but with a little effort, money can become less of a problematic issue. The best way to start controlling your finances is to budgeting. It will help you manage with your finances in a sustainable way, meaning all the essentials, such as food, are covered by the money you do have. Creating a budget for yourself also means that once you have listed or set aside the cash for necessary expenditures, what remains can be used for for enjoyment, or savings if you are particularly frugal. There are other ways you can make the financial side of your student experience a little easier, such as limiting the amount of take-aways and lunches out that you consume, looking for sales or money-saving deals, and being careful how many times you go out every week.

Studying

Although studying is just one part of the university experience, there is no denying it's probably going to be the most important part your the university experience and hopefully provide an academic qualification; that will have value for many years to come. So it's a very good idea to do it right. One way you can tackle your studies effectively is to plan. Planning may not be for everyone, some people may prefer to just dive straight in to their work, but giving yourself some time to prepare what it is you're trying to get done can be very helpful indeed. Simply taking a moment to outline the key areas you're attempting to focus on can help identify the areas that needs the most attention. This allows you to use your time efficiently, leading to better overall results.

When writing assignments, planning can make a huge difference, by enable you to organise your writing. This ensures that you won't miss anything out, so you know that you will be meeting the criteria for the piece. It can help to structure your assignment effectively, so that it achieves its purpose. Also, planning is great for the research element of assignments. You can gather all the information you have discovered and begin setting it out in the desired way, making it easy to then insert into the overall body of the assignment.

Student Accommodation
Going into the new year, you may have already realised where you live now, is not where you want to live next year! It may be the area, the living arrangements, or even the place itself that makes you want to move out quick! If this is you, it's important to find somewhere else now, as most of the student accommodation for next year will already be taken. Feeling uncomfortable where you live can lead to you feeling less motivated and a weaker performance in your academic work as a consequence. And of course, it's not nice to feel unhappy where you live.

This is where Unihousing can offer assistance. Based in Selly Oak, Birmingham, Unihousing are registered lettings agents that specialise in providing high-standard student accommodation and a fine service for their tenants. The Unihousing studio is one that affords you a level of privacy that living in a house with other students simply does not. If you are someone who likes to have some peace and quiet at home, this should be a definite advantage to you. Studios and apartments are compact and self-contained too, which means that they enable you to enjoy a simpler way of living. And for some people, simple means less-stressful. Plus when you are living on your own, you won't need to discuss and make agreements with housemates regarding times of bathroom usage or household chores.

Aside from the quality of their accommodation and the furnishings that accompany each studio, Unihousing also: have their own property maintenance team to respond to any issues with your property; and include utility bills and internet within the price for each of their studios. In addition, the area of Selly Oak, where Unihousing is based, has great places to go for a night-out or a meal with friends, and offers excellent access to the University of Birmingham, Birmingham City Centre and other worthwhile places to visit.

The Year Ahead
This year is a great opprotunity for you, both inside and outside of Univeristy. While last year may have presented challenges that are oultined in this blog, these challenges are in many ways a natural part of the University experience. From accommodation to finances, these issues can be overcome, for a fantastic year of studying and succeeding.