Five renowned universities, thriving nightlife, good job opportunities, and affordable Northern prices make this city one of the best for the students. Although Leeds has a huge population, it is a smaller city than Manchester and Liverpool. Leeds is known for being ‘the biggest small city’. This means you can have a great time if you have come here for the first time.
What to do when you first arrive in Leeds?
When you arrive in Leeds, you will want to know where to go to buy the kitchen utensils, bedding, or maybe your favorite food. Before you can start the course, you might need to complete your enrolment process too. The colleges invite you to the international orientation. It is something you must attend. Here you can get the opportunity to meet people and start making connections.
Search for your Student Accommodation Leeds
Before you start your search for student accommodation Leeds, then look at the areas below:
- Leeds city center: This is one of the top-notch areas for the students to stay in. With a inordinate connection to other parts of the city, this area in Leeds is one of the top-notch student hubs.
- Hyde Park: Another renowned student community hub that has a wide range of restaurants, shops, and more for the students. The students can look for different types of local cuisines available.
- Headingley: With a wide range of student accommodation to hand-pick from, this area of Leeds is known to have excessive connection to the city. The train station is a few minutes’ walk away and the bus service is also easily available.
The Best Types of Student Accommodation in Leeds
Below are some of the best types of accommodation available in Leeds. You can choose which is perfect for you:
On-campus student accommodation: These are accommodations offered by the university you go to. By choosing on-campus accommodation, you will stay within the university campus.
Off-campus student accommodation: These are PBSA which are built to cater to the needs of the students. these are referred to as student housing, these accommodations are situated near the universities, thereby ensuring students do not have to travel a lot to reach the university. different off-campus accommodations are:
- Studio rooms: It is ideal accommodation for people who want to stay in themselves in a compact space.
- Suites: These are the most demanded student accommodation as it is comfortable and cost-effective.
- Ensuites: In this accommodation, a greater sense of privacy is offered to students by offering them a personal bedroom with an attached bathroom, shared living room, and kitchen.
Private apartments: If you want to live by yourself and without any rules, then these residential apartments are perfect for you. Over here you will get the whole apartment to yourself with a bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, and living room.
University life and expectations
- Active engagement in the co-creation of knowledge, innovative learning, and more.
- Effective and positive teamwork
- Fair and inclusive treatment
- Active engagement with different learning opportunities
- Open, effective, and timely communication
- Recognition and celebration of the diversity of the global university community
- Culture of Collaboration
Tips to manage finances
- Create a budget: Making a budget is the first and also the most essential step of money management. To make a budget, you can estimate the amount of money you will need to spend each month based on one’s income, lifestyle, and wants.
- Save first and spend later: It is the rule of thumb to save first and spend later. Whenever you get money, you need to save some part of your monthly income. With the rest of the money, you need to spend the money on regular essentials such as groceries, rent, electricity, loan repayments, etc.
- Set financial goals: With financial goals, you need to allow yourself to stay focused and also avoid any overspending. So, it is important to plan what you want to do with your money in the short as well as long term. You also need to achieve your long-term financial goals, you need to start investing in financial products.
- Start investing early: It is also advisable to start saving money as early in life as you can. This will provide you with more time to grow the wealth and get back higher returns in the long run. Therefore, you need to start saving and also investing from your first paycheck.
- Avoid debt: When moving to a new place, it is very easy to take debt. Avoid taking on multiple loans as it can also affect your credit score. Try to limit your expenses.
Transportation and getting around
Leeds is a compact city and you can find many areas which are located within walking distance. Some of the easy ways to travel around are:
- Bus: First bus is the best to travel around. You can get unlimited student travel tickets to save money.
- Train: This is another easy way to commute. Use 16-25 railcard for discounted tickets.
- Taxi: Taxi are costly but they are convenient. You can hire private taxis such as Uber.
Student activities and social life
Leeds is known to have the fourth largest number of university students in the UK so if you are a student studying at Leeds Beckett University or Leeds City College, this city is just the place to spend the school days. Since it is a small town, it can be a little boring. Leeds is one of the best choices for any student who is looking for a lifestyle on a budget. Some top-notch areas in the city comprise of Leeds city center, Springfield Mount, Westfield Road, Clay Pit Lane, Hyde Park, etc. These neighborhoods are equipped with all the required amenities and are home to some of the top-notch cafes, pubs, and restaurants across the city. The best part is that Leeds students can easily walk to some of the top-notch areas around the city center, thereby reducing the cost of travel.
Health, Well-being, and Support Services
When in Leeds, you will have a network of well-being and support services. You will be assigned an academic personal tutor who you will meet regularly across the studies. They can help you to adjust to studying at the university and also guide your academic and personal development. You can also have easy access to free and professional counseling, well-being, and mental health support with the help of groups, workshops, single-session consultations, and much more. If you need long-term support or treatment, then you can find the most apt National Health Service.
