When to look for accommodation (Newcastle) and apply for loans

[ItStartedWithaKiss72]

Hello,
My 18 year old is currently taking a gap year but has deferred a place, at Newcastle University, to study civil engineering.
As it was obvious he was going to take a gap year I didn’t really look into when he should be applying for student loans and maintenance loans nor when to start looking into securing accommodation. We live in the southern end of County Durham so commuting is possible but I think it’d be a lot of hassle for him (I did a similar commute when I was at university at it was tough).
When do I need to start sorting stuff and applying? Does the maintenance loan tend to cover the cost of rent each year?

My son is at Newcastle ( 3rd year), the amount of loan they get totally depends on household income, my son gets the lowest amount which wouldn't even cover his rent so we pay that and he lives on his loan and a pt job.
There is loads of accommodation in Newcastle and more being built all the time, he has been in the same place the whole time- right in town near the football ground but a lot of students share houses in Jesmond.

Loads of info online re dates and open days are helpful, they have student finance and the accommodation providers in attendance usually.

www.gov.uk/apply-for-student-finance

www.ncl.ac.uk/accommodation/

Most students at Newcastle spend their first year in halls and the bulk end up in house shares in Jesmond for the second and third year. For second and third year they start looking now for houses. If he is taking a gap year he should be sent info about applying. Even if he has an unconditional offer it is a while before accommodation is allocated. My DD was in Park view which has modern double ensuite rooms and is easy walking distance to lectures. Castle Leazes is more basic with shared bathrooms and single beds and much older.

He has a confirmed offer with Newcastle. It’s deferred for a year. I checked with student finance and they can apply for funding after Christmas with the deadline in May 23.
He wants halls the first year so we’ve had a look. Seemed keen on Windsor Terrace and Marris. He would get the lowest rate of maintenance loan but we will have to top
it up for what he needs. He has a part time job but planning on going to Canada to work for the summer.
We can apply now for accommodation so I’ll probably do that in the next day or two.

DD is in Park View and loves it. She says the Marris House flats have a really great layout.

I think there capacity of Marris isn't huge, while both Park View and Castle Leazes are much larger. I think you put down ? 6 choices on the form. My DD also had a gap year and Marris was her first and Park View her second.

I’ll take a look at Park View - thanks!

It was three choices when my dd did hers which was on results day. My dd got her first choice but her friend who applied at the same minute didn't get any of hers (they weren't the same as each other)

I've got a feeling Newcastle do first come first served so he might be in the first round of admissions whereas York which was my dc's first choice have a deadline and then a lottery.

All of the halls are in a good location really. I wouldn't say there are any to avoid on location grounds although Portland is ten to fifteen minutes walk.

Oh also, my dd knows people who are desperate to swap out of Leazas as it's a 'party hall' but of course other people there love it.

I read the reviews on Leazes and it was full of complaints about the party atmosphere and noise. Thin walls. It put me off straight away.

The walls in Kensington Terrace are probably a foot thick.

DD also had friends who hated Castle Leazes. One of her friends managed to swap to Park View because someone dropped out.

@ItStartedWithaKiss72 Newcastle doesn't operate a first come first served for university managed accommodation. They usually open accommodation applications in June or July.

Unfortunately, it is allocated completely randomly, so my advice is to not fall in love with any of the accommodation as you may not get any of your choices at all. It is a complete lottery. TBH, I don't even know why they ask you to put choices down.

I believe Castle Leazes is one of the older halls. We had a look around it and it is certainly showing its age. And yes, it does have a party reputation. That's not to say that students don't party in other halls. DD went to a few parties in Park View.

Does the maintenance loan tend to cover the cost of rent each year?

Depends entirely on how much maintenance loan he’s entitled to! What’s your household income?

@RampantIvy
Yeah, I noticed that it wasn’t a first come, first served thing. We will probably leave Castle Leazes out of the list.

His dad and I are divorcing but I did the calculator for the maintenance loan and he’d get the lowest one. About £4500 a year.

Are there prices on the university halls website? My DS is at university in the midlands-his first year in halls was about £5600 and the second year in halls was more like £6500, so another £2000 this year to find. Bloody expensive when you’re giving them money every week for food/travel and have more than one DC at university at a time 😳

@Shinyandnew1
Yes, prices are on the website and the maintenance loan would cover two of them. His dad and I would pay the rest between us. He is quite lucky with the travel costs as he gets free train travel (his dad works in the rail industry) so that’ll help. He has a car too although he would probably leave it at home. We are 35 miles south of Newcastle so his plan is to catch the train home Friday evenings and stay at home on the weekends. He has a part time job but not sure he will keep that going if he has a busy university schedule.

@Shinyandnew1
I have a 4 year age gap between my two and had hoped they wouldn’t be at university at the same time but his course is a 4 year sandwich degree meaning he will be in his final year when his sister is university age - unless she also takes a gap year!

Here you are @Shinyandnew1
www.ncl.ac.uk/accommodation/university/undergraduate/

@ItStartedWithaKiss72 parking at university halls is very limited, and TBH they don't really need a car in halls. The metro system is excellent if they want to go to the coast. Quite a few students have cars when they move out to Jesmond. They will need to buy a parking permit then.

Yes, prices are on the website and the maintenance loan would cover two of them

Sorry, I’m confused-two of what?

@Shinyandnew1 the annual fees of two of the halls are less than £4500
Castle Leazes - £3737
Windsor Terrace - £4340

Is there any reason why your DS isn’t doing all this research and sorting things out, rather than you doing it?

DD asked for my help when looking for year 1 accommodation @Houseplantmad. I had no input in subsequent accommodation apart from signing up as guarantor.

The two top picks of accommodation