University of Manchester

Manchester

Manchester Uni PGCE Accommodation

Hey everyone,

Congrats to everyone finally getting firm offers through from universities. No doubt its been stressfull for a lot of people waiting for so long. So now, onto the next stress...Accommodation.

Was wondering what people were planning to do for their accommodation? Is it best to go back into uni halls, private halls, private accommodation flat shares etc.

I've got a firm offer for a secondary PGCE in business at Manchester uni so if anyone else is doing a PGCE in Manchester would love to chat about your plans.

But equally, would be interested to hear generally what route people go at different uni's.

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Reply 1

LouiseP

Hi there,

I have been accepted onto Uni of Manc Primary PGCE and I am unsure as to what to do. I am going to apply to halls but I think that a house share would be better for price BUT I am unwillling to share with undergraduates. I would love to share with a bunch of people in a similar situation to me.

Feel free to message me with any idea.

Louise :smile:

University of Manchester

Manchester

Reply 2

LouiseP

Hello!

I am indeed thinking about accomodation. Going to apply to halls but they are so EXPENSIVE! House sharing would be an option but I am unwilling to do so with undergraduates and would like to live with people who are also doing a PGCE.

What ideas do you have?

Louise :smile:

Reply 3

Chichz

Hi!

I'm in the same situation to be honest, I've been looking at halls - postgrad ones, really don't fancyliving with freshers again 5 years on! - and some of them seem quite nice, near campus etc. I'd also definitely consider sharing with other PGCE students (this is what my friends going to do pgce's at other unis are doing, though they know people which is lucky!).

Would be good to hear everyone's plans

Claire

Also: should have made clear that this is at Uni of Manc - Primary PGCE too

(edited 13 years ago)

Reply 4

JupiterSunshine

I'm on a PGCE in Man Uni and everyone on my course lives in private accommodation. The course starts before most people are back in uni and therefore before most halls contracts start.

Also for your placement schools you could be placed as far away as Leeds (depending on car ownership and location) so it doesn't really matter where you live as you're on placement more than in uni.

Reply 5

Chichz

Jupiter sunshine, that's quite a good point about the halls not even being open when we begin - hadn't thought of that. I'm actually from Leeds, and did think about maybe just staying at home (esp. as we aren't gettig bursaries). The problem then, though, is if I have a placement going the other way from Manchester - towards Liverpool, for example, it's going to be one hell of a journey! Do they consider where you will be living before giving you a placement?

Reply 6

girlwithsharpteeth

Original post by LouiseP

I'm pretty sure postgrad sections of halls are separate from undergrad sections. These halls all offer either only postgrad accommodation or postgrad sections separate from the undergrad sections:

PG only:

Ladybarn House - http://www.accommodation.manchester....ladybarnhouse/

Linton House - http://www.accommodation.manchester....d/lintonhouse/

PG and UG mixed:

Oak House - http://www.accommodation.manchester....ield/oakhouse/

Ashburne Hall - http://www.accommodation.manchester..../ashburnehall/

Woolton Hall - http://www.accommodation.manchester....d/wooltonhall/

Reply 7

JupiterSunshine

Yeah they consider where you live and if you have a car.

There's a person on my course from Leeds and has been placed there. There are also people from Warrington who have been placed nearer there.

It would be dire straights if they placed you nearer Cheshire or Liverpool when you're in Leeds to be honest. The only annoying thing for you staying in Leeds would be commuting to uni for the little time you spend there.

Thing with the pgce is that you don't have a student
lifestyle so there's no need to live in the student hub.

Reply 8

Chichz

Ok, that's useful to know! I presume they'll get in touch before the summer about that. I think my schools might be limited as I'm doing the Spanish specialism and I imagine they have a small hub of participant schools, but we'll see :smile:

Reply 9

Jennifer-louise89

they usually place you near to where you live... im applying at liverpool but live in warrington so they said that i will more than likely be at a placement near to where i live rather than the opposite side..

an other point - leeds to manchester is definately commutable and trains are mega cheap for days when your in uni - id definately advise you to do that rather than move - save some money! unless u have your heart set on it!

Reply 10

Chichz

I do like Manchester but it's all going to be about placements I think! Also, I live just outside of Leeds which adds another 45 mins on to Leeds - Manchester train times...

Do you think we'll receive more info about how many weeks/times we're actually in uni, a timetable or something before the summer?

x

Reply 11

burtie89

Hey guys,

glad I came across this thread, Im in the same situation. I like about 30 mins drive from Leeds and was going to look at going into halls for the year, however after what was said about the course starting earlier than the contracts I'll have to rethink.

If they do go as far as Leeds with the placements Im very tempted to stay at home, I dont mind commuting for the first semester when we are in Uni.

Anyone on the course at the minute, is it 9-5 every day to start with like they imply at the interview or is it not as bad as that?

Thanks,
Sarah.

Reply 12

Chichz

Where abouts do you live Burtie, if you don't mind me asking? :smile:

I'm near Ilkley

Reply 13

Chichz

Also, just looking at some of the postgraduate only halls in the 2010 brochure, most of them offer 51-52 week contracts - presumably this would begin at the very beginning of September... maybe an option still

Reply 14

burtie89

Yeh thats what I was thinking, you would assume that would be an early one? I was looking at Opal Gardens, mainly because it has parking available and I want to be able to bring my car. Opal is a 51 week contract so I think that would be ok but not sure. Have you found anywhere you like?

And Im from Wakefield :smile:

Reply 15

Chichz

Opal Hall and Opal Gardens have been my favourite so far - Opal gardens is the one in Victoria Oark, right? And there's George .. something in the centre which has heaps of places, though a *massive* modern building!

I'd definitely only go for completely post-grad halls :tongue:

Reply 16

burtie89

Yeh Opal Gardens is Victoria Park, there's like 500 places there too. Ill probably go for this one if I choose to move but ideally I'd like to stay at home. Do we know when we get our start date, timetable and stuff like that. Just cos we can't really make a decision about moving til we know what's going on really can we?

Reply 17

Chichz

I know the start date is 5th September - very early!

It's definitely just a case of waiting for more info from the uni, but I imagine it's not a problem to leave accommodation until the summer. I've been in St Andrews for five years, where if you don't have it sorted by February, you don't have a place to live... so quite a welcome change!

Anyway, if they haven't given us more detailed information by about May I reckon I'll get in touch and see how many weeks we'll actually be in

Also, would you drive?

Reply 18

burtie89

Yeh I'd probs drive, long as I could find somewhere to park. Not a huge fan of train journeys really. You?

Reply 19

soho

Hi!

I have also been accepted onto a PGCE (Secondary MFL) at Manchester and am wondering what to do about accommodation. I have been looking at uni halls (postgrad only) and most of them offer a 51 week contract, while I would prefer a 40 week one. I guess as soon as the course is over I will move on to wherever I would get a job (IF I get one!).

Another option for me is to share a flat/house with other people, but as someone mentioned earlier, I would also prefer to live with other postgrads rather than undergrads. Sharing with fellow PGCE students sounds like a great idea. If anyone is up for that, let me know!

Oh, and as for the placements- they really put you that far away? I hadn't even thought of that. I always assumed we'd get a placement somewhere in Greater Manchester... ah well, early mornings then, ey?