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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Original poster

Can someone explain student accommodation to me please

46 replies

AdditionalCharacter · 30/01/2021 18:10

DS is going to university in September.

Currently looking at student accommodation, and I have a few questions if someone would like to help me please

Does a student loan pay for the accommodation?
Is he able to get the same accommodation place as his friend?
How does he pay for food? A job I assume?
Is accommodation allocated by what course you're doing, so nearer to your course building?

Thanks

OP posts:
PastaAndPizzaPlease · 30/01/2021 18:23

He can get a maintenance loan, the amount of determined by your household income. You can use the student finance calculator to get a rough estimate.
Depending on how much loan he gets, where he’s studying and the halls he gets it might be
A) the loan covers the halls cost and his food
B) the loan just covers the halls cost
C) the loan is not sufficient to cover the halls cost

If there is a deficit as in B or C, it’s expected that this will be made up by the parents, or the student may get a job to help. Ultimately likely to be parents though.

The way accommodation is allocated varies uni to uni, but most will allow you to request to be with a friend. This info will be on the uni website in the accommodation section.

ErrolTheDragon · 30/01/2021 18:30

I'm afraid the answer to those questions is 'it depends'

Does a student loan pay for the accommodation?

More or less... some places/types of accommodation it will, others it might not.

Is he able to get the same accommodation place as his friend?
Afaik generally no, unless they go straight into the private rented sector, except maybe some places with double rooms. But probably there are exceptions.

How does he pay for food? A job I assume?

The maintenance loan might be enough to cover it, quite a few get a bit of help from The Bank of Mum and Dad, some earn money before/during (especially summer internships). Some unis have various bursaries for less well off students.
Some students will get some form of scholarship.
*Is accommodation allocated by what course you're doing, so nearer to your course building?
*
Afaik it's up to the student to figure out which set of halls to apply to.m

Original poster
AdditionalCharacter · 30/01/2021 18:39

Thanks. That's really helpful

I've just done the gov.uk calculator, and he'd get £10,670 maintenance grant, which would cover the digs and £3kish for the rest of the year. I thought it was just for rent, so that makes it easier if it's also useable for food. I intend on doing a food shop for him every month as well. Don't want him stressing about food. He also intends to get a little part time job for spends.

OP posts:
Original poster
AdditionalCharacter · 30/01/2021 18:39

Re maintenance grant, does it get out through all at once, or monthly/temper term?

OP posts:
ErrolTheDragon · 30/01/2021 18:42

I thought it was just for rent, so that makes it easier if it's also useable for food. I
Some halls are catered, with some of their food included in the price so there couldn't be that distinction anyway. The loan is supposed to more or less cover their term time living costs but in reality it tends to a bit less than more.

VanCleefArpels · 30/01/2021 18:50

The maintenance money goes into the students bank account - it is theirs to spend as appropriate. Food vs beer is often a dilemma 😊

The first term is the most expensive. Assuming “normal” student life, Freshers week, books, club and gym memberships etc mean that money disappears v quickly. Best if you can to start saving up now for those one-off expenses

MrsAudreyShapiro · 30/01/2021 18:51

@AdditionalCharacter

Re maintenance grant, does it get out through all at once, or monthly/temper term?
It is paid at the beginning of each term.
Frouby · 30/01/2021 18:53

He will get 3 grants per year, he will need to (probably) pay a deposit for uni accommodation in the summer, first installation is paid end of September I think. So will need to cover first couple of weeks food and spending money.

Ginfilledcats · 30/01/2021 18:54

Most uni will have a range of halls some catered some not. Pros and cons to both.

boys3 · 30/01/2021 19:12

Uni hall costs vary quite spectacularly even in similar parts of the country, and normally have a variety of options as already indicated, en-suite / shared bathrooms; catered / non catered , worth remembering some unis have only non catered halls, some a more mixed offer.

Older / newer builds, with it not necessarily the case that older is bad, and a small minority that I can only imagine were purposefully designed to actively undermine a student’s mental health.

Definitely worth your DS doing a bit of research.

Has he got his offers in the bag, and a clear view yet on potential firm and insurance choice?

Original poster
AdditionalCharacter · 30/01/2021 19:18

Thanks again, have been perusing the university website, didn't realise there was so much information on it Blush.

He has been offered all his choices, have narrowed it down to Newcastle as main and York as second choice.

OP posts:
ErrolTheDragon · 30/01/2021 19:22

Uni websites mostly are pretty good and I'm assuming most have virtual tours etc. Well worth you and your DS having a really good look!

boys3 · 30/01/2021 19:25

Great news for your DS, two great Unis.

I’d say Newcastle every time - although that is simply my personal biasSmile

ErrolTheDragon · 30/01/2021 19:27

I'd say it depends on the subject and what sort of vibe he likes.

boys3 · 30/01/2021 19:39

@ErrolTheDragon

I'd say it depends on the subject and what sort of vibe he likes.
That of course is the correct answer. I’m simply biased against anywhere south of the Tyne! Grin
clareykb · 30/01/2021 19:46

I live in Newcastle, it is a relatively cheap city to live in in comparison to other student cities.

clary · 30/01/2021 19:46

£10,600 is a huge loan (not a grant!), so you may want to look at that again. This year the max student loan outside London is 9,200 and that's if your household income is less that £25,000.

DD's first year loan was £7k and that covered her hall fees and most spends tho I topped up £20 a week. She's quite frugal tho.

Original poster
AdditionalCharacter · 30/01/2021 19:49

That's what it came up as Clary, but based on 20/21 as 21/22 not open yet.

He was set on York, but his friend is going to Newcastle on the same course, so he's leaning towards that.

OP posts:
Hellohah · 30/01/2021 19:50

@AdditionalCharacter

Thanks. That's really helpful

I've just done the gov.uk calculator, and he'd get £10,670 maintenance grant, which would cover the digs and £3kish for the rest of the year. I thought it was just for rent, so that makes it easier if it's also useable for food. I intend on doing a food shop for him every month as well. Don't want him stressing about food. He also intends to get a little part time job for spends.

I would check the amount again. The max. loan is £9250 outside London, so not quite sure where you've found your figure?
Original poster
AdditionalCharacter · 30/01/2021 20:05

Ok, just redone it, and not entirely sure where I went wrong first time. It's £7884 now, so that narrows things down for him a bit. He will just have to get himself a little job.

OP posts:
clary · 30/01/2021 20:07

@AdditionalCharacter

That's what it came up as Clary, but based on 20/21 as 21/22 not open yet.

He was set on York, but his friend is going to Newcastle on the same course, so he's leaning towards that.

hmmm ok deffo not right. Are you a v low income household? Sorry if that is nosy! Our income is about 45-50k to give you a guide.
clary · 30/01/2021 20:08

ah sorr X post. Remember if you go for shared bathroom it cuts the cost of accommodation from say, £7k to say. £5k

Original poster
AdditionalCharacter · 30/01/2021 20:15

Yeah been looking at that as well, he wants his own bathroom, I can't blame him, I'd want the same.

We actually live around Newcastle, so technically he could stop at home and save a fortune. If they are still doing mainly home learning he won't be going into student accommodation.

OP posts:
MarchingFrogs · 30/01/2021 21:34

Ok, just redone it, and not entirely sure where I went wrong first time. It's £7884 now

At a guess, you ticked the box for studying in London and living away from home? The maximum for that is just over £12000 this year.

ShanghaiDiva · 30/01/2021 21:39

It also cuts costs if you don’t need the room over Easter and Xmas vacation ie not on a 39 week contract.

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