Houses, Apartments, Studios and Flats: A Tough Student Decision

As a student studying in Birmingham, having student accommodation which you can feel comfortable in is key to having a positive University experience. But choosing the right student property for you can be much harder than it first seems. Knowing what is right for you is the first step in ensuring that this year is one of the best as a student in Birmingham. 

Continue reading below to find out which student property is right for you, and how Unihousing could help to find you the ideal property for your next academic year at the University of Birmingham. When looking for student accommodation, there are generally 3 forms of property available. These are:

•             Student houses – usually shared between a group of peers.

•             Student flats/apartments – you can find both single and double occupancy student flats.

•             Student studios – ideal for those looking for privacy and independence.

The question is, what’s the difference between the three and which one should you choose? Well, let’s start by explaining the difference between the three.

Student Houses

A typical student house in Birmingham can be shared between a group of anywhere from 3 students. The normal layout will consist of a communal living and dining area, usually with some seated areas and a kitchen that is used by all the occupants of the house. This then is much like your student halls environment, except on a slightly smaller scale. The communal areas of a shared property require students to work together as a unit to keep the house clean and tidy. Consider a rota to help make this easier.

Advantages

More often than not, student houses will come with a small back garden offering students a place to get outside without leaving the house. Some properties are lucky enough to have a driveway for students who are able to drive, which can be very beneficial. Finally, students can group together to help save money on student utilities including washing up liquid and toothpaste. The same can be said for food if students choose to eat together.

Disadvantages

More frequently, shared accommodation students will find that their shared accommodation is not as clean as they would like it, usually because there’s always somebody in the group who doesn’t pull their weight. This can lead to aggravation between housemates. Finally, while all students have their own room, some students may find that the privacy offered isn’t on the same level as that offered by living in other forms of accommodation. Additionally, sharing a bathroom between several people can cause tension.

Student Apartments/Flats

Student flats and apartments are common in the local area and do offer a great place for students to stay during their studies. A flat or apartment will normally consist of a small living area including a cooking station and some form of seated area. Depending on whether you opt to share a flat or go it alone, most flats will come with a shared bathroom and two/three separate bedrooms while solo occupants will have a private washroom and a bedroom separate to the living area of the property.

Advantages

This form of property comes with slightly more privacy, especially when you think about having peers and friends’ visiting. You may often find that students living in a flat have slightly more room around the apartment, due to the fact they aren’t sharing with a bunch of other people. Finally, you’ll also find washing, cleaning and the general tidiness of the property will be easier. 

Disadvantages

Student flats generally forego gardens, which means that in the summer months it becomes harder to enjoy the sun without going out. Other negative points include having to share a bathroom should you be living in a pair or a three.

Student Studios

These are quickly becoming popular in Selly Oak for students at the University of Birmingham. This form of student accommodation is for solo occupants only. If you're living in a studio you can expect one large room containing pretty much everything you could need as a student. This includes a sleeping area, cooking facilities and a small living area, the only thing that will be separate to the normal living area is the washroom. This is ideal for students who live a fast-paced lifestyle, or for those who would like a more independent and private student living experience.

Advantages

The main advantage you receive from living in a studio is privacy. This home enables you to get away from the world and enjoy some time to yourself. This is often not a possibility when you’re living with others. Another benefit to living alone is you control the tidiness of your property, this means you don’t need to clean up other people’s mess, and you don’t need to put up with housemates not doing their chores. Finally, all studios come with their own private washroom, something which is a luxury to most students.

Disadvantages

Living on your own does come with the downside of a lack of social interaction. It’s important that if you do live in a student studio you make the effort to go out and interact with people. Student societies are ideal for this. Other negative also include no garden or outdoor space, and the fact that this can be a slightly more expensive way of living, as you can’t share the cost between several people.

Knowing What is Best for You

Now you know about each type of student accommodation in Selly Oak, but you still might not know what is best for you. Well here’s a brief rundown which should tell you everything.

Student House – This property type is ideal for a group of close friends, who are all comfortable around each other. This sort of living requires a team of friends that can work together to live in comfort. If you’re easily annoyed or like your own space, this may not be the one for you.

Student Apartment or Flat – Ideal for two friends or as a solo occupant who can live and work around well on their own or as a pair on a daily basis. This property is ideal for social people who like to invite friends over but still like to have the opportunity for privacy.

Student Studio – A student studio is designed for a fast-paced living style. This sort of property is built to house a sole person, and while it may not offer as much space as other types of properties, it still offers some space to have friends over for studying or pre-drinks. If your privacy and independence is important, then this is the place for you.

Student Accommodation In Selly Oak

So, by now you should have a reasonable idea about what it is you want for your next academic year. The only thing left to do is begin searching, and where better to start than Selly Oak-based Unihousing. Offering all three types of student property, they are sure to have the ideal location which makes you feel right at home.

Contact Unihousing today and find a student accommodation which is right for you and register your interest.

Seeing More, Doing More

Being a Birmingham student puts you in a highly appealing city to live in, and it also makes it incredibly easy to find student accommodation that you can be happy with. Unihousing, with their high-standard student studios and houses are your solution to seeking-out the right kind of student housing for you. Based in Selly Oak Birmingham, Unihousing pride themselves on paving the way the for student tenancies that are as straightforward and positive as possible, whilst making sure that the student accommodation they provide is comfortable and spacious as well as convenient and affordable.

What’s On?

It’s easy to find yourself in front of the television at the end of the day or at the weekend, watching a film or the next episodes of your favourite shows. While this is certainly relaxing, there are much more exciting ways you can watch movies and TV shows, or even freshen-up your viewing routine, especially for Birmingham students.

For those students in Birmingham, The MAC (Midlands Arts Centre) is running a number of very interesting films at their cinema between May and June. This is your opportunity to dive into some really fascinating choices of film, ranging from the edgy to the more exotic, and to get ideas for more things to watch and explore.

On The Edge

What better way to shake-up your regular viewing patterns then heading over to The MAC for the Controversy Season? A line-up of screenings that takes in some of the more provocative examples from TV history, this season sees The MAC presenting some of the most striking films to ever be released, all of them having sparked controversy at some point since their initial production. This season includes the unforgettable A Clockwork Orange (1971), as well as Scum (1979), a depiction of the borstal system in 1970s Britain that was bloody and violent and banned by the BBC.

With selected screenings being accompanied by Q&As or special introductions, this is a chance to see some compelling movies you may not have seen before that are sure to get you thinking.

World Cinema

Why not go further with your cinematic adventure and delve into some of the latest World Cinema offerings. From May to June, you have the opportunity to catch some bold and intriguing movies from around the globe. Check-out the MAC website now for more information!

Birmingham Indian Film Festival

Get to the MAC a little further into June, and you can experience the Birmingham Indian Film Festival (presented by LIFF). The MAC will be showing a diverse collection of films that will be tackling a fascinating range of highly relevant key themes and issues. So why not get down there and take a look?

While You’re There….

Another advantage of being a student in Birmingham is that no matter where you find yourself, there’s a good chance that you will never be too far from something interesting to see and do. And this is certainly true of the MAC. The MAC is located in Cannon Hill Park, Moseley, which is close to various places that might be worth a visit. So, if you make plans to go to the MAC for a screening or anything else that takes your fancy, you could easily opt for another activity close-by and make a day of it.

A Couple of Nearby Places

Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Park: Offering an eye-opening trip through some of the exotic reaches of our natural world, the Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Park makes for a fun way to spend an hour or two on a Saturday and at just £5.30 for a student ticket, it won’t cost you too much either.

Golden Putter Mini Golf: Located in Cannon Hill Park, the Birmingham course for the Golden Putter Mini Golf features a challenging number of holes that put you to the test. Imaginatively spread-out over an engagingly devised man-made terrain, the Golden Putter Mini Golf course boasts a delightful conglomeration of islands with accompanying walkways, cobbled paths and waterfalls that are bound to keep you busy for a bit.

Unihousing

Birmingham is an obvious choice for students looking for accommodation that truly meets their needs. And with Unihousing’s Selly Oak properties, you can be sure that the location of your student accommodation will enable you to get to all of the necessary shops, supermarkets and other amenities on a regular basis.

Also in Selly Oak, you will discover a number of pubs, clubs and restaurants to make your evenings and weekends that little bit more enjoyable. Plus, with Selly Oak being so well-served by public transport, access to all of the attractions pointed-out above and everything else that’s fun to see and do in the City Centre should be no problem whatsoever.            

       

Get in touch with Unihousing today and discover what we can do for you!!

How to Get Some Extra Cash as a Student

A difficult yet commonplace part of the student experience is a shortage of money. This becomes a bigger issue when summer arrives, and there is not enough in your account to allow you to make the most of the sunny weeks you have to yourself once the term finishes. In addition to the cash-flow issue, another factor that’s common to the student experience is living away from home in student housing. 

No matter what you have become accustomed to since moving out of home, student accommodation that is suited to you can always be found with Unihousing. Based in Selly Oak, Birmingham, Unihousing provide high-standard and affordable student studios and houses that are situated in excellent locations.

Extra Cash?

As nice as it may sound to simply have more money, it is actually quite easy to boost your finances by just clearing out some of your old belongings. Clothes, CDs, DVDs, unused tech and other unwanted stuff- all of these could make you a good sum of money if you can sell them to the right person or place, and all of this can generally be sorted by accessing the internet.

Where You Can Look

Preloved

Based on a three-step process, selling your things on the popular site Preloved is pretty straightforward. Placing an emphasis on trust between those interacting through their site, Preloved is a large and diverse site that offers you a no-fee basic-level sign-up. It may just be the place for you to clear out some of your unwanted yet totally ‘must-have’ items.

C-EX

C-EX is a great place to go if you’re looking to trade in your unwanted tech. If you find any DVDs or games/games consoles that you don’t need any more, C-EX might give you a good price for what you have. More retro games consoles from the 90s and beyond such as the Sega Mega Drive 2 for example, can be particularly valuable. C-EX is situated on most high-streets and has their own website, which means that you can check online what kind of price they can offer for the items you want to take in before you make the journey to one of their stores.

eBay

An obvious choice perhaps, eBay is really easy to use to your advantage when trying to raise a little extra cash, so it shouldn’t be overlooked. Also, given that it has such a wide-reach across all-manner of categories, eBay is a useful way to get a general overview of what your possessions might be worth. This might help you if you are planning to go elsewhere with your goods and want to be sure that these places offer you a reasonable price. Make sure you don’t get stung by listing fees, however.

Other Places

There’s also Facebook Marketplace, Gumtree and Craigslist. As always with selling things online, it’s wise to approach with caution and read the small print. Stick to well-known and reputable sites so you can be sure you’re protected should anything bad happen.

Further Out

Although going online can seem like the easy way to do things, you could always take the more old-fashioned route and try a car boot sale. A quick Google search reveals that several car boot sales take place in Birmingham. This could be a great way to make some extra money on your old stuff and might make a fun activity for you and your friends. 

If you find yourself with several possessions that you can’t get any money for or simply need to clear-out for whatever reason, then you could donate your stuff to a charity shop. There are bound to be some near you and the items you hand-over will surely be appreciated, too. Also, if it is just clothes that you no longer need, clothes banks dotted around the city are great places for them. They’ll be going to a good cause as well.

Unihousing Student Accommodation

Birmingham student accommodation should meet your requirements and not just your budget. Offering both student studios and houses to share that are spacious, tastefully decorated and equipped with all of the furnishings needed for the student lifestyle, Unihousing’s properties are a must-see if you want a student home that you can feel comfortable and relaxed in.

Alongside these features, Unihousings’ student properties allow you to enjoy the benefits of the local area. This is made possible via the convenient situation of these accommodations, meaning that getting-out to nearby pubs, clubs, cafes and restaurants in the Selly Oak area can become a regular thing for you and your mates. Plus, with Unihousing’s accommodation being so close to public transport links, getting the bus or train to the City Centre or other Birmingham towns will be simple, quick and cost-effective.          

Get in touch with Unihousing today to find out more!!

7 Ways to Improve Your Student Experience

There’s no denying the difference that comfortable and spacious accommodation can make to your student experience. Selly Oak-based Unihousing is in the position to offer Birmingham students the kind of housing that help make student years more enjoyable. Whether you opt for one of their private and modern student studios or a house to share with your friends, Unihousing’s well-priced and high-standard student accommodation is ideal for a better, more comfortable student living experience.

Travel and Holiday

A good way to get out and get away from it all, travel is something that you can look forward to and can make for a truly memorable experience. A lot of how good this holiday experience will be is dependent on how you approach it, so begin by making a plan of what to look for and what you would like to get out of your trip away. It’s probably best to be realistic about what you can afford of course, but with a little effort, identifying some holiday options that are both appealing and well-suited to the student budget should be within your reach. With some friends chipping in and making use of student discounts, you can have some great experiences.

Stay in Touch

Though it can perhaps be complicated by the use of phones and social media, having good, solid conversations with friends or family is extremely important to your well-being. It can be a way to address any problems you are facing and stop you from becoming isolated, which is something that can affect anyone, including students.

If you do find that the issues you have are becoming a little too much and talking to those around you hasn’t helped, or it is just not the right option for you to take, then seeking help elsewhere is the sensible route to choose. The University of Birmingham offers a student support program that can help with whatever problems you’re facing. Your mental health is important, so make sure you place the right emphasis on this aspect of your well-being.

Socialising

Just as important in many ways as talking is spending time with others and socialising. An additional way in which you will feel less of the effects of potential isolation, socialising is best when it takes place around activities. Parties, trips to the cinema, nights out- whatever it is that’s going on, it’s an easy way to keep in touch with people as well as an obvious way to really enjoy yourself. And while money can be tight which makes going-out to places a little difficult, just having a simple get together with mates is just as rewarding.

Your Fitness

While it’s not always easy or convenient, doing what you can to stay healthy should always be one of your priorities. The list of factors that contribute to healthy eating is extensive and worth exploring online, but keeping fit is perhaps a little more simple and no less important. The added advantage with keeping fit is that you should feel better too, meaning that it has benefits that are emotional as well as physical. Ride a bike, go for a run, play a sport with friends- there are so many possibilities!

Finding an Outlet for You

Finding an outlet so that you can be creative, keep yourself active or relieve your stress can be a way of spending your spare time at university. Activities like writing, creating art, blogging or gaming are all great ways to express yourself. This can help you build character, and give you time to recharge your batteries after stressful university work or busy nights out.

Variety

As a general point, it’s probably never advisable to simply stay doing the same things and following the same routines for too long. It’s a good idea to be open to trying new things, especially while you have the opportunity at university. This way you will give yourself opportunities to discover something new and get a fresh perspective perhaps on your situation as well as helping you to stay clear of the boredom that comes with the over-familiar. Sometimes, just the simple act of learning a new thing can have a positive impact on you, too. A great way of achieving this is with societies, where you can share your new experiences with new people.

Student Accommodation with Unihousing

For students located in Birmingham, it is not only the all-round quality of Unihousing’s student studios and houses that gives them an edge over the competition. In amongst the number of features that make Unihousing accommodation so appealing, such as their furnishings and tasteful interiors is their superb situation. With Unihousing’s student studios and houses placed within a short distance from the University of Birmingham Edgbaston campus as well as local public transport links and supermarkets, their range of student housing is a sensibly convenient choice for the contemporary student. Plus, with pubs, restaurants and a bustling nightlife sitting nearby, Unihousing’s student accommodation is an easy choice for any student in Birmingham.

Get in touch with Unihousing today and discover what we can do for you!

Days and Nights for Birmingham Students

Being a student at university can mean weeks that are long and filled with a lot of hard work. By living on your own and being largely independent, you may also find that sometimes you are without a plan of what to do when there is nothing on the academic schedule. If you are a student in Birmingham, you are at the front door of a whole range of things to keep you active throughout those periods when you have some free time to fill.

A rewarding student experience though is not quite possible without good student accommodation. And for students in Birmingham, the accommodation that is both high-standard and affordable can be found with Selly Oak-based registered lettings agents Unihousing, who own all of their properties. Brilliantly situated in order to allow for easy access to the University of Birmingham Edgbaston campus in addition to the kind of interesting places that will be highlighted in this blog, the student studios and houses that Unihousing provide are most definitely worth a look.

Keeping The Costs Down

Many places in the city are appropriately adjusted towards to the local student population by featuring prices attractive to university-goers. Even if you lack the inclination or the budget that allows for a trip out for the day or evening to become a possibility, some of the nearby take-aways could make a delicious accompaniment to a night in with friends, possibly including some imaginative games or a themed night of films, for example. Many bars or clubs also offer discounts on certain nights of the week for students, so make sure you make the most of the various discounts you can find.

Unfamiliar Choices

Apart from those restaurants that are probably not so out of the ordinary but are still amazing for a bite to eat, you can get a more unique taste experience in Brum at the Digbeth Dining Club. Held every Thursday and Friday 4-11pm, Saturday 1-11pm and Sunday 12-8pm, and only a few minutes away from the Birmingham Bullring in the City Centre, the Digbeth Dining Club attracts a diverse collection of disparate food vendors. Pretty expansive, vibrant and an experience that offers more than just food, being at the Digbeth Dining Club means you could quite easily find yourself spending a while there.

For an activity that is a definite step away from the ordinary, Escape Rooms are a great little challenge for you and a group of your friends. In Brum, you can have a go at Escape Reality: a six-room centre situated on Constitution Hill that promises both varying levels of difficulty and intrigue, Escape Reality offers a consistent level of excitement throughout. Something different, for sure.

Another way to put yourself to the test for a bit of fun is by getting to Depot Climbing. It’s located on Sherlock Street just south of Grand Central, and features some of the best bouldering walls in Birmingham. Suitable for a range of abilities, from first-timers to advanced climbers. Bouldering at Depot Climbing is highly physical, very enjoyable and is very reasonably priced, too.

If you’re studying in Birmingham though, it is not only the City Centre where you can discover enjoyable ways to spend your time. Within various towns around Birmingham, busy pubs imbued with a distinctive look and atmosphere is easily located, in much the same way that a great many cafes can be found as well.

More Stuff for Students In Birmingham

If some of these suggestions of places to go sound perhaps a little too out-of-the-ordinary for you, or you feel that you need them balanced with some of the places you are more used to, then bear in mind that Birmingham has all of the usual fun places to keep you entertained on your days away from uni’ when you have a  good chunk of time to yourself.

In Birmingham, you will find a range of cinemas showing all of the latest blockbusters and star-studded movies, you would expect. Plus with The Electric Cinema, located on Station Street- the oldest working cinema in the UK, and the cinema at the MAC (Midlands Arts Centre), you have added opportunities to see a more eclectic choice of films.

Birmingham will also offer you, especially in the City Centre, a splendid array of restaurants and eateries that are ideal for you and your mates to head-to at the weekend. Chinese, Indian, Caribbean, Italian-it’s pretty much all here, and all pretty hard to resist as well.

Student Accommodation in Birmingham with Unihousing

In addition to the appealing price tag and superb locations of Unihousing's Birmingham student accommodation, what makes Unihousing student studios and houses so appealing is their spacious and well-presented interiors alongside the furnishings that are perfect for modern-day student living. Furthermore, these student properties will be given the necessary maintenance by Unihousing’s own team of qualified tradesmen if any problems with the property should arise. This means you are left to enjoy your comfortable and convenient student accommodation stress-free.

So why not get in touch with Unihousing today and see what we can do for you?

10 Tips for Moving

Moving-out will certainly be something you’ll have to face at some point in your academic experience and it’s a big task, so tips on how to make it easier will surely be welcome. Finding that new student accommodation would surely come first though, and this is where Unihousing comes in. Selly Oak-based registered lettings agents offering student studios and houses with all the furnishings needed for contemporary student living, Unihousing provide high-standard student accommodation in Birmingham for affordable prices in excellent locations.    

• Planning Ahead

To make the whole process of moving go smoother, putting together a little plan should help you. By creating a plan or even by writing down some useful notes you can list all the things you need to pack and all the other jobs you need to do before you finally say goodbye to your old place. Planning ahead may help you move your items from one place to the other in the most efficient way, as well.

• Advanced Packing

Just because the date you need to move-out on is a while away doesn’t mean you can’t start packing stuff into boxes early. If you start packing well-ahead of the date you are due to move, you may find that the whole process will be less stressful and tiring as the moving day approaches.

• Boxes and Bags

When it comes to moving, having a large number of boxes ready is a great idea. It’s very easy to underestimate how many boxes you will need for all of your belongings once you begin packing, so “the more, the better” is a good way to approach this aspect of the move. There’s also a risk that at least one of the boxes will rip or break, so having some spares is useful, too. Bags- whether that’s plastic carrier bags or rucksacks etc- are another huge boost to anybody’s chances of having a successful move.    

• Tape and Paper

Having lots of paper to hand is very important, as it can be used to protect your belongings while they are being transported from one place to another. Or, for better protection, you could use bubble-wrap. Something else that will be very much appreciated as you pack your possessions is a tape dispenser gun, which is a vast improvement on using masking tape or Sellotape in a conventional way. 

                 

• A Little Assistance

Having extra pairs of hands ready to assist you will get all of your carryings, transporting and final pieces of packing done more quickly and with less stress. And if you don’t drive, having someone who is willing to give up their time to drive your stuff to your new student accommodation would obviously be a huge benefit.       

• Be At Your Best

Getting all of your belongings out of your current studio or house and into another one will take a while, meaning that a good sleep the night before is ideal for making sure you have plenty of energy for the following day. By getting up early as well, you give yourself plenty of time to get things done and increase your chances of completing all of the liftings and carrying before it gets dark, which would only make things more difficult. 

   

• Timing is Everything

If you haven’t quite got round to making a plan or a list, or simply don’t think you really need one, at least remember the times at which things need to be done at throughout the day. Times at which you are required to be out of your current place and into the new one, or times at which you are supposed to meet people necessary to the move, are important. Having these times in mind could help you stay on schedule during the day as well.

• Stay Fed and Watered

Ensuring that you take breaks or at least one substantial break during your moving day is vital, even though it can be difficult to stop sometimes once you have started and are building momentum towards getting the whole thing done. Without breaks, you will become increasingly tired and less productive as a consequence. It’s also wise to drink plenty throughout the day and have a little snack every now and then to keep energy levels up.

• Background Music

Although it can be a long day and there may be a lot of people busying around you to make your move happen, you can still try and keep people in high spirits. Put some music on and make the day a little more relaxing, and it should feel as though it’s passing by a little quicker also.   

• Safe Lifting

Perhaps the most crucial point of all here, being careful with lifting is essential; not only is being careful with heavy lifting good for your health, but not lifting correctly could get you hurt which would mean you probably not lifting anymore for that day.
Sharing the load with someone who’s there to help, crouching down instead of bending to the load and assessing the route you are taking to carry the load are some of the general principles for lifting, but it’s best to look online for a comprehensive guide to correct lifting and carrying.   

Unihousing

Making a move with Unihousing is a good move. Unihousing’s student properties are an impressive option for any Birmingham student. Whether you decide on a student studio or a house to share, their student accommodation is also superbly situated. This means that easy access to amenities such as shops and supermarkets as well as getting to pubs, nightlife and other places of interest in Birmingham will be quick and convenient.

So why not get in touch with Unihousing today to find out more!

Effectively Using Your Time at the University of Birmingham

Keeping busy while you’re at university is often not that much of a difficult task. In fact, if you ask most students at the University of Birmingham they will tell you that they could do with a lot more time to get everything done. However, this is not to say that there aren’t students out there who may have some spare time during the week and don’t know what to do with it. If this is you, or you’d like some other ideas of what to do with your time, read on to get some great ideas on what you can do with your time when you’ve not got your head in a book.

Sports

Sports are not for everyone but investing a small amount of time in new and interesting sports could help you to find some sports that you actually quite enjoy, whether that is in an individual sport such as tennis or fencing, or in a team game like football or basketball. However, you don’t have to just think of competitive sports, as there are many other options. Joining a local running or athletics group offers you the chance to exercise without applying the added pressure of a competitive game. Other options include rock climbing, such as bouldering or lead climbing.

Finding clubs and teams that you can join also couldn’t be easier. All students at the University of Birmingham have access to the student union, from here students can get involved in a variety of local sports groups. Alternatively, students can also find great connections in the local gyms and leisure centres that could help you to find an activity which is right for you. Whatever it is that takes your fancy, finding a sport or exercise that you enjoy is good for both your physical and mental health.

Music

Whether you are someone that likes to put on a pair of headphones and bob along to the music, or if you love to be right in the middle of a mosh-pit at a gig with your favourite band or singer. No matter what, all of us can find a way to listen to music that excites us. If you’re someone who loves their music then Birmingham is the place for you. The city is littered with music venues, raves, clubs, orchestras, choirs and many others. You name it, Birmingham has it.

However, you’re not just limited to listening to music. Learning to play an instrument is also a possibility. The University of Birmingham can help to set you up with something like this. Not only is this an opportunity to fill your time constructively, but also offers you the opportunity to learn a new skill.

Games

Being out in large crowds and in very social areas is not for everyone, sometimes a much smaller crowd is all that is required to fill hours and hours of fun. Gaming is a great way to use your spare time and still accomplish small achievements. This can be in the form of a video or board game. Gaming can be great for meeting new people and socialising. The University of Birmingham offers several societies for board gaming, wargaming, and video gaming. Don’t be afraid to get stuck in, meet new people, and have a fun time.

Books/Films

For those who enjoy relaxing and enjoying spare time on their own then maybe this is one for you. Books and films offer an escape from the real world and allow you to enter a world of wonder without needing to leave the house. Investing in Netflix or Amazon Prime can get you access to thousands of hours of films and tv series which could help to take up your time. Alternatively, the student library also offers a great place to pick up reading material to suit all.

If you’d like to meet people who share a similar interest, or who can give you recommendations for books or films, you can join one of the many societies that UoB has to offer. Finding people who share your interests whilst at university can really help your student experience flourish.

Student Societies

We’ve already mentioned student societies, but it definitely deserves its own section. Your university experience will be mostly defined by the people you surround yourself with, and one of the best ways to find people who share your interests is by finding a student society. You don’t have to stop at just one though, filling your evenings with different social activities is a great way to meet new people, try new experiences and have a fun time. Societies range from sports and exercise, to books, films and animation, to board and video gaming. There are also several societies that offer uncommon experiences, such as batsoc, the society for battle re-enactment (if you see people around campus in chainmail, you can guess which society they belong to!).

Most societies often go out for drinks some evenings as well, so you can also get involved in the classic student experience, alongside something new.

Volunteering

Volunteering isn’t for everyone, but can be a great experience. For something such as volunteering it is often a good method to offer your services directly to the place you would like to volunteer. This doesn’t however mean that the University will not assist in helping you find a volunteering placement. This means that not only can you fill your time, but you are helping to make the lives of others better. Something that will help you to stand out as an individual at the University of Birmingham, and when you find work in the future.

Unihousing Student Studios

Are you prepared for next year at the University of Birmingham? Finding student accommodation early means you can spend more of your time enjoying yourself, worry free. Unihousing still have accommodation which is available to students at the University of Birmingham. Our student studios could be just what you are looking for, offering a fully furnished kitchen, study, bedroom and personal bathroom. They’re going fast, so make sure you book yourself a viewing soon, so you don’t miss out.

Interested in student housing? Why not get in contact with Unihousing today and find the student property that’s ideal for you.