Why You Should Treat Yourself to a Unihousing Student Home

Without question, finding the right accommodation is an important decision for students to make. As you're going to be studying at a high level while living in your accommodation, you should make sure you don't compromise on quality. With Unihousing, a letting agency Selly Oak students have been going to for years, you do not need to lower your expectations. Plus, with our properties offering Selly Oak locations, you can find supermarkets, shops and things to see and do that are never far away.

 

Doing Things Your Way

The easiest way to get started with student accommodation is by opting for a student studio. It might be the best place to start your search and the ideal first home for any student. What gives studios this unique characteristic is their straightforward set-up of the bedroom and living area combined with a separate bathroom adjacent. With Unihousing, you can expect university housing that exudes a higher level of quality whilst still incorporating the kind of amenities you would need from day to day. Tastefully decorated and spacious, and with the occasional bonus of utility bills and 100Mb broadband included in the price of rent, this is an affordable choice for quality Selly Oak accommodation.

 

More Space

Looking for more space? Then choose a Unihousing student house to share. Impressively presented and boasting the essentials for the modern student, our student houses are superb for living alongside friends for the total student experience. For example, our six-bed on Eastern Road, Selly Park is a delightful home equipped with an expansive kitchen/diner, washing machine, dishwasher and a large rear garden as well as two bathrooms, study desks and double beds. Brilliantly situated and with a reasonable price tag, this one should be hard to resist.

 

Unhousing is a Landlord and Accommodation Provider near Birmingham University since 1984

Unhousing is a landlord and accommodation provider near The University of Birmingham since 1984. We own all of our accommodation in the student village of Selly Oak, which means we can provide quick response times to repairs using our team of qualified tradesmen. We deal directly with our tenants from our property office on Bristol Road in Selly Oak, just a short distance from all of our student properties.

Unhousing was selected as the Number 1 Student Letting Agent in Birmingham by the UK's biggest fresher community, Unifresher.

 

Contact Unihousing today to find out more!

6 Tips for Effective Home Study

During this strange time, many people are having to work from home. While some of us are used to home study, this can be difficult for others. Distractions, poor working environments, and a habit of procrastinating are all potential causes of ineffective home study. It’s become more important than ever to find a solution to these problems so that you can continue to learn and develop your skills.

There are a number of steps that you can take to give yourself the best chance for effective studying. Some of these are as simple as giving yourself a good area to work in, whereas others are more about tricking your brain into “studying mode”. Giving yourself the best chance possible to study effectively will help you retain and improve your knowledge until you get back to uni.

1) Keep to a Routine

Losing your daily structure can massively impact your ability to retain information. It’s very easy to accidentally switch to holiday mode, and start waking up later, but this can hurt your studies. You should focus on getting up at the same time each day and stick to your normal routine for attending lectures and studying, minus leaving the house.

Keeping to a daily structure can help your motivation and maintain your mental health. A good routine also means that you can fit in some exercise, and still have time for relaxing in the evening. Not to mention the ability to regulate your sleeping schedule, which can often deteriorate when you lack a routine.

2) Don’t Succumb to Laziness

We all know how tempting it is to spend all day in your pyjamas when you know you don’t need to go out. However, getting dressed in a fresh set of clothes each day can trick your brain into work mode, and give you an energy boost. This also has the same benefits as the previous tip; keeping to this routine can help you stay motivated.

3) Take Regular Breaks

It can be easy to fall into the trap of studying all the time while you’re at home. Without the need to go anywhere, and without the clear divide between home and university, you may find that you’re studying for a lot longer than you realise. This can cause extra stress during this already stressful time, which will hurt your ability to study.

Taking a break regularly, and finishing your studies exactly when you should, can help you maintain the uni/home divide. A break can involve simply going for a walk around the house and getting a cup of tea. Alternatively, you can make your break more involved, by doing something more active such as yoga, or watching an episode from whatever show you’re currently on.

4) Create a Tidy Working Environment

Your working environment can influence your ability to retain information. Studying in a messy or crowded area can cause distractions or may lead to you not being able to study to the best of your ability. This extends to your digital working space as well; by reducing the number of distractions on your computer when you’re studying, you’ll be able to study more effectively.

You can start by having a clean and tidy desk to do your studies from. You should remove any distractions and give yourself plenty of space to write any notes or read any books. If you find that you’re spending too much time on your phone, try putting it in another room and only checking it when you have a break.

5) Use Technology to Help

Technology really can help make your life easier when studying. Several companies are also offering free access to their services during the coronavirus outbreak; make sure you do your research as to what’s available, and how trustworthy the company offering the service is. For example, Zoom, while easy to use, has many security flaws.

If you need to work on a project with other people, Google has lots of resources that can help. Google Hangouts allows you to talk to your project members, while Google Docs and Google Drive can help you collaborate on your work. There are also programs such as Google Calendar which you can use to manage your time.  

6) Stay in Touch with Your Friends and Family

Now, more than ever, we should be spending time keeping in touch with our friends and family. Reaching out to people can help if you feel alone being at home, and you may find that you’re helping others by giving them someone to talk to. This is especially important if you’re still staying in your student accommodation and haven’t returned home.

Staying in contact can be as simple as giving someone a call, but you can also use apps to video chat with your friends and family. Facebook Messenger and Facetime are both free apps that you can use to video call with other people. You could make this a regular part of your routine, which can give you something to look forward to.

Unihousing Student Accommodation

Being prepared for the next academic year at university can help reduce some of the stress caused by the COVID-19 lockdown. Unihousing is still open and can assist you in finding your ideal student accommodation at the University of Birmingham. By contacting our reception team, they can take down your requirements and send through details of any properties that may suit you.

All our Unihousing student accommodation, including our Selly Oak studios provide good working environments for home study. Our quality student lets feature a spacious study area, with enough room for your computer and any study material. Many of our student studios also include free internet in the cost of the rent, so you can study effectively and stay in touch with loved ones.

Talk to our friendly reception team today so you can find your ideal student accommodation for the next academic year.

Contact Unihousing Today to Discover What We Can Do For You!!

Pre-Christmas Plans and Birmingham Student Accommodation

 The end of the year is not far away and Christmas is on the horizon. There’s plenty of time to plan for the festive season as the time approaches, but for now it’s a good idea to get organised, work and have fun before you head to Christmas.

If you’re unhappy with your current student living and accommodation, then get in touch with Unihousing. Based in Selly Oak, Unihousing are registered lettings agents who specialise in student studios and houses. The high-standards and impressive furnishings of Unihousing’s Selly Oak student studios and houses is sure to make your student experience comfortable and enjoyable.    

Taking a Break     

At this point in the year you probably feel as though you’d benefit from a pause in the study schedule. So why not have a little get-together with friends? You could take the lead on organising this, meaning you don’t have to wait to be asked or invited to something.

Doing some planning now will set-up something fun. It also ensures you get a good chance to see everybody before things get busier in December and people start drifting off to other places for the Christmas period.

What’s the Plan?

If you can’t think of places to go out to, maybe start by considering places that are comparatively cheaper. Or find those offering special student deals. Or see where you can get discounts through other websites to narrow down your choice of places to go to with your friends.

You might choose to just have a gathering at your digs or someone else’s. This can still be a great way for you all to socialise and have a good night together.         

Sort Your Aims

Although you’ve maybe had enough of thinking about uni’, it’s definitely worth ensuring you reach the year’s end in the fashion you want to. This could involve a thorough evaluation of how you’ve done so far. You could then see where to improve and what to do next. Be honest with yourself, take a positive approach, and give yourself real focus going forward.    

  

Birmingham Student Accommodation with Unihousing

For a fresh start to living in student accommodation, you might want to get in touch with Unihousing. Unihousing’s Selly Oak student studios and houses have spacious interiors and are equipped with all the furnishings needed for student living.

They are also brilliantly located. Great for student communities, our Selly Oak accommodations provide quick and easy access to public train and bus services. Also nearby is a range of shops, amenities and nightlife options.

Contact Unihousing today to find out what we can do for you!!

Five Tips to Help You Revise

Revision isn't something that should be restricted to the exam period. By getting into good revision habits now, you can save yourself a great deal of stress in the future. Here are 5 simple tips that can help you to keep your head above water when it comes to revising for your exams.

Planning/Scheduling

Planning your weeks/months is one of the best ways to ease your brain from stress and anxiety. Having to hold all the info of your exams, projects, lectures, along with all your other interests in your brains can be extremely overwhelming. By planning and writing down important dates, study material, and anything else regarding your studies, it can help you free up some headspace.

Though university is extremely important, it’s also just as important to have a life that you are excited about living outside of your studies. Try making weekly and monthly schedules where you write down all your lectures, meetings, revising times and even hobbies/other activities to stay organised and keep your brain feeling refreshed. This is the best way to ensure you are staying sane and not forgetting important information regarding your course but also your everyday life.

It is also crucial to include some much-needed relaxation time in the planning to ensure you stay as stress-free and relaxed as possible. Being tired, stressed and overworked will only have a negative effect on your results and your mental health.

Know Your Learning Style

Everyone revises and learns differently and it’s important to find out what works best for you. There are many learning style tests on the internet aimed at helping you discover which learning style best suits you and how your brain retains information. Working out your unique style can help you to feel confident in what you are learning and can give you the best possible chance to succeed. Whether you write countless pages of notes or make bright and colourful diagrams, make sure the information is sticking in your brain. Here are four different learning styles that are quite common:

·         Visual: people who prefer to learn by looking at pictures, images and watching videos.

·         Verbal: somebody that learns best using speech and writing.

·         Aural: these people learn best using sounds and music.

·         Physical: people who learn by actively doing something.

By finding out which style works best for you, you can maximise your performance and be confident in your own work. You could even be a mixture of two or more learning styles, so try experimenting and see what works best for you. There are many varied types of resources online that you can find for free or for a small amount of money which can help you revise and can make learning more interesting for yourself. The goal is for you to do the best you can, so make sure you give yourself the time and space to figure your style out, in order to maximise your performance and come out with the best results you possibly can.

Prioritise Each Subject

Any subject that you find particularly difficult should be at the top of your list. Subjects that you feel less confident in should get the most revision time. Your time is precious and needs to be used well, so there’s no point dedicating time to subjects that you already know well. Instead, try to find new and exciting learning material that will make the difficult subjects more interesting to revise and allocate more time to the ones that need it. Try focusing on the tough subjects first, that means you can look forward to your more favourable subjects down the line.

Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle

It’s easy to forget, but our brains function the best when we are drinking, eating and sleeping well. Drinking energy drinks or coffee all day to keep yourself going is not a good idea and can set you back in the long run.

Additionally, try to maintain a healthy and balanced diet. Although it may be much easier to grab quick takeaways, they can leave you feeling sluggish, making it harder for your brain to concentrate and retain information. Our diet is directly linked to the well-being of our body and brain, so try to give yourself fresh, nutritious food. Great brain foods include nuts, blueberries, eggs and broccoli.

You can also try doing some regular exercise to keep your brain active and alert, and don’t forget to take time to relax and unwind. It is just as important to rest your brain as it is to revise and keep your brain active. Minimising your screen usage or simply taking short breaks from all screens will also help your brain truly relax and get some rest. Our day-to-day lives are constantly taken over by our phones, computers and TV, but by giving ourselves a little rest from screens we are more likely to feel rested and able to concentrate better.

Avoid Distractions

Distractions are everywhere and can be super difficult to escape. Try tuning yourself out of your digital life by silencing your phone and moving yourself to an area with no TV or anything that may cause distraction. Find a quiet area in which you are able to focus. If you struggle to do this at home, try heading to your local library or park where you will be unable to distract yourself.

Additionally, try to figure out what things help you concentrate. For some, that may be listening to music in the background; and for others, it could be needing complete silence. Do you study better alone or with people, meaning you can keep each other accountable? And don’t forget that many devices offer applications that will block your ability to use social media, video sites or gaming, this can be one of the best ways to reduce distraction.

Unihousing Student Lets

If you're looking for student accommodation in Birmingham, Unihousing offers quality, studio lets in Selly Oak, ideal for students at the University of Birmingham. These studio apartments come fully furnished and have high-speed fibre optic internet and utilities included in the rent.

Don't miss out, contact us today to speak to our team or register interest. 

Diet, Food, and a Good Night Out in Birmingham for Students

Getting a Good Start

It’s easy to overlook the importance of healthy eating, or to be a bit complacent about making mealtimes healthier- especially when it can be so easy to order a pizza sometimes. With just a little bit of effort though, it’s not difficult to increase your intake of the foods you should be having more of and reducing those you should be consuming less of.

What is also easy to do is to not realise how much better you can feel by changing your diet. With the new academic year on the horizon, altering your habits could get you off to a healthy and positive start.

Places to Eat in Selly Oak 

The reality is that it’s unlikely anyone would really avoid take-aways and eating-out altogether. So, with that in mind, it’s worth knowing that if you are a Selly Oak student looking for a quick meal or dinner out with friends, Selly Oak has a lot of options. As well as some of the bigger name restaurants like Frankie & Benny’s and Nando’s, Selly Oak includes other places like the succulent chicken-skewer serving Paprika Grill UK on Raddlebarn Road, and other cafes too.           

Digbeth

It probably goes without saying that the city centre of Birmingham is ideal for students, as its plentiful supply of places to get something to eat and drink pretty much caters for all tastes and makes for a great night-out. What may not be so obvious is the fact that Digbeth is a less-familiar location stuffed with little surprises- including a location for some totally terrific food.

The food is brought to you courtesy of Digbeth Dining Club. Digbeth Dining Club is held every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday and asks for a small entrance fee to get in, but it’s absolutely worth it. This unusual yet buzzing little event brings together a diverse collection of street-food vendors that are spread-out through its busy venue. Sandwiched between the two halves of the DDC layout is a bar, making it easy for you to get yourself a drink when you want it. A vibrant place in distinctive surroundings, Digbeth Dining Club is accompanied by DJ music overflowing from its speakers into the masses, providing a bouncy backdrop to this lively food experience.

    

While You’re There

Just because you’re in Digbeth to get a little something to eat, doesn’t mean the night has to start and end with this eating experience. The reason for this is that Digbeth also offers other interesting places to go to that you may not have heard of before. There’s Ghetto Golf; an imaginatively decked-out, urban twist on standard crazy golf that’s strictly for adults only. There’s also a variety of bars to head to. And, don’t forget The Custard Factory: great for visits day or night, The Custard Factory has its own cinema called The Mockingbird that shows a unique range of films, which could make it the ideal way to round-up your evening.  

   

Student Accommodation with Unihousing

On the previously-mentioned subject of the forthcoming academic year, it would be helpful to be aware of the impressive Birmingham student accommodation that Unihousing can provide you with. Registered lettings agents that offer you student housing for a reasonable price, Unihousing boasts a number of student studios and houses to share within the busy, bustling town of Selly Oak. Spacious, tastefully modern and featuring all of the furnishings that are suitable for everyday student living, Unihousing’s student studios and houses’ superb situation also means that in just a quick walk you can get to the local train station and other public transport points. Positioned with a variety of shops, supermarkets and pubs nearby as well, Unihousing student accommodation makes your day-to-day student living easy, convenient and enjoyable.

Contact Unihousing today to find-out what we can do for you!!

16 Tips to Help Prepare Yourself for University – Part 1

Doing all you can to prepare yourself for university can help make student life much less stressful and busy. There are quite a few things to consider before September rolls around, so it’s best to start early and get everything sorted. In part 1 of this 2-part blog series, we take a look at 8 tips that can help you get prepared for university:

1. Get into a Routine

It’s good to hit the ground running when you get to university, so it can help to adopt regular routines to help you get the most out of your days ahead. You can try more regular sleeping patterns in the week, normal eating hours and even exercise to keep you refreshed and feeling on top of your life. This will also give you lots of energy to study well, be social and enjoy the craziness of weekend fun. Having healthy routines can enable you to get all your most important jobs and responsibilities done and out of the way, leaving you with plenty of time for friends, flatmates, going out and enjoying your independence.

2. Stay Organised and Keep on Top of Your Days

The best way to have the least amount of anxiety and stress about your weekly schedule is to plan and stay organised throughout the week. You can use daily/weekly planners to help you remember your lectures, one-on-one meetings with tutors and staff, crucial deadlines coming up, utilities and rent due dates, and even fun nights out to look forward to! By knowing your schedule, you can also plan the mundane yet necessary jobs like weekly shopping and other errands and chores. Planning and getting these done can free you up to spend more time with your friends.

3. Get Ahead

Even though it’s extremely important to have a well-deserved break throughout the summer, getting started on any work and learning what you can over the summer can really help your first weeks and months of settling back into university. Getting your freedom back and studying what you love can be brilliant, but it can also be very tiring and difficult to get back into the regular swing of things. While everyone else is cramming and stressing last minute about reading lists and assignments, you could be having a relaxed start to the year with plenty of time to adjust into your routines with little stress about outstanding work or study.

4. Keep on a Budget

Living on a budget can really help you to feel that you are on top of your life, instead of drowning in financial stress. Studies have found that half of UK adults in debt are also living with mental ill-health [1]. While sometimes it is fun and good to let loose, doing it too often with money you don’t have can begin to create large amounts of stress and burden in your life. Don’t be scared to check your bank balance frequently and know what you can spend, in order to avoid any extra mental strain that can affect the whole of your student life. You can still have fun weekends without over spending and ending up without money at the end of the month for food and other necessities. Be in control of your money, instead of letting your money control you!

5. Try out Meal Prepping

Weekly meal organisation can do wonders for freeing up your busy schedule. Try planning 3-5 main meals in advance, therefore saving yourself the brain power needed to plan your meals EVERYDAY. By shopping for a few different recipes in your weekly shop, you are free to cook whenever you want in the evening depending on what activities you have planned. There’s no need to keep on popping in and out of the shops after the long, busy days ahead and meal prepping can additionally help you create meals that are healthier, get you excited and give you something to look forward to. Another brilliant way to plan ahead and save money is meal sharing. Dinner with flatmates and friends can be a fun way to hang out while also sharing the cooking responsibilities in the house and saving money all around. You could also go to the shops and plan meals together as a way of keeping the process exciting. There are plenty of exciting meals you can have on a student budget [2].

6. Choosing your Accommodation and Flatmates

In order to have as little stress and worry as possible, it is good to get on top of finding your accommodation sooner rather than later. The earlier you look, the more choice you’ll have, and you’ll have plenty of time to find good and dependable flatmates to rent with you. Nonetheless, sometimes life gets in the way and/or plans fall through, but don’t let this stop you. Unihousing is here with plenty of options and properties for you and your friends. To ensure the best experience, try to team-up with people who will be good and reliable flatmates; who will help you take care of the house, share responsibilities, respect your privacy and will make the year a fun and exciting one without drama and complications.

Check out Unihousing today and see some of our available studios in September 2019 or subscribe to our newsletter to be among the first to see our student accommodation for the academic year in 2020/21.

7. Don’t Forget your Supplies

By this, we don’t just mean university supplies! Make sure you and your flatmates have all the necessities for your shared home including pots, pans, dishes, cutlery, cooking utensils, bedding, towels, cleaning products, and anything else you might need. It’s great to move into a space that already has all the things you need, without the stress of running around last minute and attempting to find needed home supplies. That being said, make sure you don’t forget about your university supplies either. Start your academic year feeling relaxed knowing that you have all your books, pens, notebooks, art supplies and anything else you will need to give you the best head start. Try picking the best supplies for you, things that get you inspired but will be practical for your needs. Having a fun trip to IKEA with your flatmates to pick out needed household items and supplies together is a great way of letting everyone contribute and can create a fun kickstart to the new university year.

8. Learn the Support Channels

University life can sometimes feel a little overwhelming, so it’s important to learn about all of the necessary support channels, just in case. In particular, the University of Birmingham has a wellbeing service [3] in place to help support your physical, emotional and psychological wellbeing. Doing the necessary research now means you know where to go when you need help.

Making use of these 8 tips is a great way to make your university experience a great one. You’ll not only get the most of your education, but also make some great memories along the way. We’re not finished here though, keep an eye out for part two, where you can find even more helpful tips and tricks for getting prepared for university.

[1] https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/a-to-z/d/debt-and-mental-health

[2] https://www.amazon.co.uk/NOSH-Students-Student-Cookbook-Colour/

[3] https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/undergraduate/support/health/index.aspx