Starting University – The Cost Cutting Fresher’s Guide

LONDON - Sept. 10, 2014 - PRLog -- With the latest hike in tuition fees, students could be left with nearly £26,000 of debts. There will be a rise of two per cent to the annual tuition fees for students starting in 2014, resulting in average fees of £8,647, getting closer to the maximum fee of £9,000.

Students can apply for a student finance loan to cover tuition fees or a student maintenance grant to help with costs of living and other expenses like rent. Figures suggest that the full cost of a standard three-year degree course is likely to stand at an average of £25,941 under the new system. Loan repayments will then commence once your income is above £21,000.

Many students are going to be living away from home for the first time. Living in the family house is the economical option but university halls are perhaps the best place for students starting uni. Halls can be quite expensive. Students can save on bus and train fares. Students can make friends the easiest as it will be where people will regularly meet for social activities. Privately run halls can be another option for student accommodation. Moving into a private house or apartment can be the most frugal option. Students are susceptible to high rent prices in some cases. Not having any of the official supervision can affect students in terms of study and GPA, or financially if they do not take care of the house and lose their security deposit. It is important to evaluate the people you are moving in with to make sure that you will become friends. Treat others as you would like to be treated yourself, i.e. with dignity and respect. Ensure to respect the other person’s personal space, property and possessions. Outlining these ground rules initially can save a lot of trouble further down the line. Try not to have large gatherings of friends over. Open communication is usually the way forward.

Fresher’s week of university is one of the highlights of your life, as it combines all the fun of social activities, freedom and meeting new people without any pressure of academic study. It is important to ensure that your student loan has gone through, that you are registered to a college email and that you take the tours of the library and university. Fresher’s week is also the time when students should join groups, sports and societies, so take a little time off the boozing for this. It is a great opportunity to step outside your comfort zone, make new friends and try new things, as university is about educational as well as life growth. Making friends in your course is crucial, and can also help with study groups, exams and when taking class trips away to make the whole experience more comfortable.

The purpose of uni is to further your education. Choose classes that appeal to you as a person and your strengths. Even if your strengths are not clear then they will become apparent over the years. Classes which you are not particularly interested in are the ones which will require the most attention and work, so make sure not to skip lectures. As you identify your strengths and weaknesses, picking a major will be a lot easier than you think. If you pick a random class, something outside your perspective field it also helps maintain interest in study. There are a few things that can be done to minimise stress and effort around exam times. The first of these is having notes prepared throughout the semester that cover the main topics in each subject. The next is to have a study timetable made out and stick to it throughout the semester, so that you do not become overwhelmed during the weeks that matter. If you can have dinners prepared during exam time, this can also be a great time saving technique. Things like lasagne or shepherd’s pie tend to keep very well in the freezer in my experience.

Students are going to have to come to terms with budgeting. Picking up second-hand books can be a great money saver. If you have to buy new course books, laminate them and keep in good condition to be sold on at the end of the year. If you manage to pick up a copy of the textbook from the library it can usually be photocopied and bound for cheaper.

Try to keep your diet somewhat healthy. The best way to remain healthy is to do actual grocery shopping, and look for healthy food and savings. Avail of weekly deals that the supermarkets may have to offer. Savings can be made on shopping with discounts for top brands and retailers with discount codes found on www.dealpages.co.uk

With Wi-Fi freely available in most student venues and on campus, try not to use your mobile phone credit on data. The important thing is to keep your phone safe and secure. Be aware of the dangers such as drink and drugs. If you are drinking, it is important to drink in moderation. Try to avoid drugs altogether and any peer pressure that may be associated with drug taking; it will be for the best in the long term. Sexual activity is also going to play a part of uni life. With such a rise in sexually transmitted diseases throughout the UK, it is important to always protect yourself and practise safe sex. Many do not have any symptoms but can cause serious long-term complications, so be educated on the risks. If you are sexually active, STI testing, advice and health checks are available free in many universities. Many students will use one of their summers to travel abroad with many opting to go to party destinations like Ibiza or Ayia Napa. Do not drink to excess. Alcohol is available at very cheap prices and there are high rates of sexually transmitted diseases. These holidays can be enjoyable, so it is important to save money during the year or work a part-time job.

It is important not to pick a career path based solely on preconceptions or ideas about future lifestyle or income. What is a high earning money position today might change future when you finish university, so try to enjoy what you do. Realise your skills and pick a career path based on your personal strengths and interests. A work placement can be a great way to get practical work experience and give you a head start on competition. Although this may involve giving up a summer it can be an invaluable experience and looks great on the CV and lead to better career opportunities.

Be aware of what you post on social media. This can carry risks for a future career and cause social problems. This information is readily available to anybody with access to the internet. Do not say or post anything that may result in future embarrassment. Use the positive side to social media. Twitter and Instagram can be used to promote groups or societies that you may have joined in university and can help build your network of friends. Facebook is an invaluable tool to university students nowadays. College project groups can be made and word documents, PowerPoints and much more can be shared.