8 Reasons Why You Should Go to University This Fall

So much has changed in the world over the last several months, and for many, it can be difficult to picture what university will be like in the fall. As we are still living in a time of uncertainty, things are constantly changing and developing to help keep everyone around us safe, whilst also trying to establish some kind of normality. You may be wondering, ‘Is it still worth it for me to go to university this year?’. Our answer is yes, and here are a few reasons why!

1) A wide network of support

As Covid-19 has had such a massive impact on many of us, it can be strange imagining yourself having a ‘normal’ university experience. For some, it has been a continuous mental and physical health struggle, resulting in needing a great amount of support from the people around them. The reality is, the normal we once knew is going to be very different for quite a long time still.

Though family and friends can be very helpful through this time, it is important to note that universities also have some wonderful resources designed for you, with people to look after you and provide extra support. Now more than ever, the university staff will be more aware of the mental health needs of the students, ensuring that people can easily get and find help when needed. 

In response to the pandemic, Universities will have a helpful team whose focus is to provide help and support as you navigate through your university experience and studies. Here at Unihousing, we have a dedicated team who will be focusing on our students, making the accommodation process as easy and straightforward as possible. We strive to help you find your ideal living situation that creates the least amount of stress and can positively boost your mental health in the upcoming year.

2) New city, new experiences

Though life is not back to normal yet, there is still a lot to experience in a new city. Your university experience will most likely be different than you expected, but you will still be granted the freedom to grow and shape your days and weeks as you like. Moving from home into a new place is an exciting new chapter, and the fact that you still get the chance to be independent is brilliant. You will still get the benefits of being out on your own, with the freedom to explore and fall in love with a new place and city.

Don’t be afraid to wander the streets, explore the culture and find the exciting and unique things that make your new city stand out. Another thing to remember is that you have an entire three years to explore and get to know your surroundings. Even though some places and hotspots might still be closed, you will have plenty of time in the future to experience and enjoy them.

3) Safety is a priority

In these current times, Universities, student accommodation providers and local authorities are working hard to ensure you are kept safe and have adequate places to live and study in. Safety and following the government guidelines is a main priority and focus, which will ensure that you can have the best experience at university, knowing you will be well taken care of. Though it may be difficult to picture how this next year will look like, you can be sure that people are putting in a huge amount of work and effort behind the scenes.

Many universities have also put various systems in place to keep their tenants and students safe. This includes numerous cleaning measures, as well as social distancing rules that are emphasised throughout the campuses. Universities and accommodation providers in the UK will also be bringing in these systems, ensuring that students feel safe and have as little stress as possible.

4) There could be an influx of students next year

As difficult as it already is to get into University, it is likely that next year the number of students applying will greatly increase. Therefore, this influx of students could mean that it will be even more difficult to get that acceptance letter, and the spots for each degree will be filled a lot quicker than normal. It is hard to predict what next year will look like, so it is not a bad idea to start your degree now when the numbers of applicants are a bit more evenly balanced.

The possible influx of students in the 2021 academic year could be furthermore complicated as it is likely that most international students may also postpone their studies until next year. This could be due to finances and limited travel depending on the country.

5) Taking advantage of the world-class university facilities

As there could be fewer students around in the 2020 year, you are more likely to have free use of the University facilities. This could mean that you have even more freedom to explore all the University has to offer, without being blocked by other students who got there first. Library’s, computer labs, and even equipment could become more easily accessible to you regularly. Imagine, not having to worry about being unable to book out a laptop, finding a free computer or printer to use, or even scoring the best study nook in the library!

6) More opportunities may open up

As our economy is going through a massive rough patch, jobs are harder to keep and companies are harder to keep open. As difficult as this is, it could create a lot of possibilities for many students this year. More companies will likely begin advertising for volunteers or low paid work, which could be the perfect opportunity for you to gather experience to add to your CV.

Many companies have also begun focusing on remote work, online courses and skill-sharing and collaborative projects. This could also result in many courses reducing their prices, enabling students, freelancers and other workers to find online resources and qualification courses that are more affordable. 

7) A gap year might not work out

Though some people may be thinking of trying a gap year instead of university this year, it could prove more difficult to find opportunities than it has been in the past. Since many businesses have been struggling financially, finding internships, apprentices or side work could prove more difficult than ever before. Travel is also a difficult thing to predict right now. You might end up spending your gap year sitting on the couch!

With countless travel bans, quarantines and general health monitoring, it could be extremely difficult to even leave the country. And travelling from country to country and in some cases, even city to city could prove to be near impossible. As all countries are independently experiencing the virus and government-induced lockdowns, you could quite easily get stuck in a country with no place to stay and unable to leave for long periods. It’s important to remember that this pandemic is still evolving, and each country is dealing with it differently.

8) You’ll still make friends and experience new things

As strange as this year has been so far, it’s important to keep your head above water. Having something to focus on and work towards throughout all of this craziness could be a very good thing. Many universities have already begun planning ways to bring students together online, creating social events where students can meet other students, and continue to follow their interests. There are likely to also be some supported by face-to-face events, which are done safely and with limited numbers. This means you’ll still be able to follow your passions and sign up to clubs and societies, to meet friends and explore your interests further.

You will still have countless opportunities to make friends on your course and in your accommodation, and you will be able to go through the future changes together. Lockdown for many, was a very lonely time, so having people by your side who are experiencing similar things, could be extremely helpful. And as frustrating as this pandemic has been, it could bring you closer to the people around you, your tutors, housemates and course mates. You are all in this together! 

How can Unihousing Help out?

At Unihousing, we are putting your health and peace of mind first. We have put certain systems in place to help protect our students and our staff, including first-class cleaning, more in-depth hygiene standards, carrying out social distancing measures and avoiding face to face contact where possible.

Visit our website at www.unihousing.co to have a look at our available accommodation this term.

Adjusting to Student Life in 2018

Fun, friends, academic achievement. All of these things are waiting for you when you begin your years at university. Before you step out into this new phase of your life, take a moment to read this blog and consider some of the changes that will be made to your current way of life. Reading this blog may help you to prepare, and ultimately, get the most out of this university period. Even if you are already a student, some of what follows in this blog might be helpful to you.

1.) The Change: New accommodation and a new area - Moving away from home is a big change for anyone, and it is easy at first to feel as though this new area is difficult to adjust to. Not only that, but you will be living in a new place and be surrounded by a whole load of new people.

How to Cope: Familiarise yourself with your area and the people around you. If you do this, you will start to feel more comfortable with this change in scenery and will start to realise what the local area and its nearby towns can offer you. It can also mean plenty of enjoyable hours spent in the company of new friends exploring this unfamiliar environment. 

2.) The Change: Sharing a House or Living Alone - Slightly different to living with your family at home, sharing a student house requires the ability to make compromises and be much more mindful of others and the space they are sharing with you. Things like household chores, bathroom usage and noise levels will all need to be considered when you're living with other tenants. For those that opt for a studio, there's obviously less need for compromising. But as a result of you being on your own, the responsibility for chores and anything else related to the accommodation rest completely on your shoulders.

How to Cope: The best way to respond to this change is to chat with those around you and come to some agreement about who does what and when, as well as making sure that you are considerate of those you live with at all times. Sometimes doing this can just mean getting into good habits, like ensuring that you wash up and tidy up after yourself. Whether you will be living in house with other tenants or renting a studio, a little extra thought and effort is really all that's needed.

3.) The Change: Money - You've probably heard many times before about student life and money being a difficult combination, but it's still something that needs thinking about, as it is a challenging factor that makes up the student experience. Oftentimes, the student lifestyle is one that is characterised by a lack of financial comfort, and it may be that you discover this once you begin your time as a student, a discovery that may come as a shock after years spent living with your family.

How to Cope: To deal effectively with this change, a sound strategy to managing your finances is advisable. This could very well involve regular budgeting, perhaps on a monthly or weekly basis. At the very least, just ensuring that you are sensible with your money is key; prioritise the more necessary things, avoid large expenditures that aren't essential and aim to keep the more fun or frivolous purchases to a minimum. Putting a little money aside here and there would be a good idea too, as would taking advantage of any discounts and deals you see, especially those aimed specifically at students. 

4.) The Change: Cleaning & Maintaining Your Student Home - The reason this point is being mentioned is that making the leap from living at home with family to overseeing your student home is a significant one. It comes with new responsibilities and new demands that you may not have really had to deal with before, such as cleaning, tidying and ensuring that the property is maintained to the correct standard. These things can be time consuming and not exactly enjoyable.

How to Cope: Aside from the fact that simply putting in the time and effort is required to keep your accommodation clean, tidy and well-maintained, it's helpful to remember that the more regularly that the job is done, the less thorough the job will need to be each time it's done. As for maintaining the property, the lettings agency will usually be the people to contact if there is an issue that requires attention. The quicker you make it clear that there is a problem with your property, the greater chances are of an effective solution. And on the subject of cleaning, if you are living in a house shared with other tenants, you can easily share the duties, and maybe even introduce some sort of schedule so that these duties are completed on time and in a way that is evenly distributed between the members of the house. 

5.) The Change: Opportunities for socialising and the need for studying - As a student living away from home, you are pretty much in control of what goes on in your life on a daily, weekly, monthly basis, which is something of a shift from how things were before becoming a student. Handling all of the domestic, academic and social aspects of student life could be a challenge, especially as all of them are highly important in their own way.

How to Cope: Put simply, you will need to be sensible about how you manage your time. Maybe prioritise the things that have to be done, such as your university work. Then, of course, all of the time that remains can be utilised for socialising and the more fun activities that you want to take part in. 

Student Accommodation with Unihousing

For those of you out there looking ahead to student life and searching for first-rate student accommodation, or even current students out there wanting somewhere new to settle, Unihousing are the people to go to. Registered lettings agents based in Selly Oak, Unihousing offer a fine selection of Birmingham studios and houses that are equipped with excellent furnishings.Their Birmingham student accommodation also boasts great locations that enable you to reach local amenities and the fun of the City Centre as well as other Birmingham towns with no difficulty whatsoever. All available for very affordable prices, get in touch with Unihousing today to find the right student property for you.