how are people affording Bristol uni!
i've firmed uni of bristol and now I'm looking at picking my accommodation but my maintenance loan doesn't even cover the cheapest of accommodations. i have tried looking at getting a higher maintenance loan but there seems to be no chance of that
I'm planning on going straight into full time work post a-levels to save up and will find a job at uni but its still stressing me out that for some accommodations I'm a few thousand short and will still have to make more to actually live in the city- any advice would be great thanks!
I'm planning on going straight into full time work post a-levels to save up and will find a job at uni but its still stressing me out that for some accommodations I'm a few thousand short and will still have to make more to actually live in the city- any advice would be great thanks!
(edited 11 months ago)
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I would start looking for a job sooner rather than later, unfortunately there is a massive shortage of jobs for the amount of applicants! If you have hospitality experience then agency work is very useful.
I took a gap year and so have quite a nice chunk of savings to fall back on from full time work as I didn’t travel.
Bristol is very expensive and unfortunately it doesn’t get any cheaper when you move out (my rent next year is 10.5k and I also get min maintenance lmao).
If you have any kind of disability or health condition use it to your advantage, I got 20% off my accom fees last year as it was near the hospital and I got letters from my specialists saying that is beneficial to me. I would defo have this convo with your parents about money and have a frank discussion on how much they can and can’t help you (honestly everything helps even if it’s just £20 that’s your weekly food shop sorted!) and then go from there x
I took a gap year and so have quite a nice chunk of savings to fall back on from full time work as I didn’t travel.
Bristol is very expensive and unfortunately it doesn’t get any cheaper when you move out (my rent next year is 10.5k and I also get min maintenance lmao).
If you have any kind of disability or health condition use it to your advantage, I got 20% off my accom fees last year as it was near the hospital and I got letters from my specialists saying that is beneficial to me. I would defo have this convo with your parents about money and have a frank discussion on how much they can and can’t help you (honestly everything helps even if it’s just £20 that’s your weekly food shop sorted!) and then go from there x
(edited 11 months ago)
Hello there and first of all, congratulations on your place. Bristol is a great university & can be competitive, so you’ve done well.
My child is at university in Bristol and yes, it’s a very expensive city, but also great fun. They love it!
My advice:
-Claim the maximum student maintenance loan you’re entitled to
-Apply for any bursaries or scholarships you’re eligible for (look at the Bristol university website)
-Talk to the university finance advisors
-Discuss with your parents, because the government is assuming that they will make a substantial contribution, unless they earn less than £25000 per year. See the links below from Martin Lewis to show them.
There’s a calculator included to give an idea of how much the government expects the parental contribution to be.
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/students/university-living-costs-calculator/
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com
- Acquire a part-time job
- look for external scholarships on the Turn2us website
There are 2 thriving universities in Bristol, so students do manage to live!
Do enjoy your studies and the experience!
My child is at university in Bristol and yes, it’s a very expensive city, but also great fun. They love it!
My advice:
-Claim the maximum student maintenance loan you’re entitled to
-Apply for any bursaries or scholarships you’re eligible for (look at the Bristol university website)
-Talk to the university finance advisors
-Discuss with your parents, because the government is assuming that they will make a substantial contribution, unless they earn less than £25000 per year. See the links below from Martin Lewis to show them.
There’s a calculator included to give an idea of how much the government expects the parental contribution to be.
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/students/university-living-costs-calculator/
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com
- Acquire a part-time job
- look for external scholarships on the Turn2us website
There are 2 thriving universities in Bristol, so students do manage to live!
Do enjoy your studies and the experience!
Original post by ebxxwa
i firmed it too and the accommodation prices are so crazy😭😭😭😭
Would you have firmed one of your other offers if you had realised this?
Original post by normaw
Would you have firmed one of your other offers if you had realised this?
i would’ve still went bristol because of the status of it and i like my course i guess💀
Original post by ebxxwa
i would’ve still went bristol because of the status of it and i like my course i guess💀
what are the prices like? i’m thinking of firming bristol
Original post by certii_db
what are the prices like? i’m thinking of firming bristol
the accommodation prices ranges from 4500-13 thousand??? i think that was the highest i don’t remember but if u want an en-suite its always around 8 thousand
Original post by ebxxwa
the accommodation prices ranges from 4500-13 thousand??? i think that was the highest i don’t remember but if u want an en-suite its always around 8 thousand
oh damn 😭 thanks for letting me know
Original post by ebxxwa
the accommodation prices ranges from 4500-13 thousand??? i think that was the highest i don’t remember but if u want an en-suite its always around 8 thousand
The moral presumably is not to choose en-suite?
Original post by ageshallnot
The moral presumably is not to choose en-suite?
pretty much the moral of the story
Original post by certii_db
what are the prices like? i’m thinking of firming bristol
Have a look through the website:
https://www.bristol.ac.uk/accommodation/
Original post by certii_db
what are the prices like? i’m thinking of firming bristol
As a parent, I kept notes!
Year 1: Approx £775 per calendar month, including bills, for a student halls place, for 42 weeks.
Year 2: £725 per person per calendar month in shared house excluding bills, for a 52 week tenancy. Bills approx £50-100 per person per month, depending on the season (£100 when heating was on).
Max of £825 per month for 12 months.
Year 3: Shared house. £780 per person per calendar month, excluding bills, for 52 week tenancy.
There were cheaper places and also much more expensive.
I am assuming you’re not a mature student and not estranged from family?
See my previous post in this thread for the link (reply 2).
Show the calculator to your parents or family. If they can’t provide the amount in the calculator, perhaps they can provide something smaller?
Bristol’s a great city for young people!
(edited 11 months ago)
Original post by Antique1
...
Bristol’s a great city for young people!
Bristol’s a great city for young people!
Well it is if you get accommodation in Bristol, but you might end up with an offer of a room in Newport over 30 miles away with a 40-50 minute commute. There is a chronic shortage of student accommodation in Bristol and the unis are taking more student than they have accommodation for.
Original post by abiiorsamantha
i've firmed uni of bristol and now I'm looking at picking my accommodation but my maintenance loan doesn't even cover the cheapest of accommodations. i have tried looking at getting a higher maintenance loan but there seems to be no chance of that
I'm planning on going straight into full time work post a-levels to save up and will find a job at uni but its still stressing me out that for some accommodations I'm a few thousand short and will still have to make more to actually live in the city- any advice would be great thanks!
I'm planning on going straight into full time work post a-levels to save up and will find a job at uni but its still stressing me out that for some accommodations I'm a few thousand short and will still have to make more to actually live in the city- any advice would be great thanks!
Have you applied for an NHS bursary? Some uni’s allow you to apply for student loan & bursary. Also have you tried for a scholarship at Bristol? I had to sit an exam for mine but was awarded £2500 so was defo worth doing x
Original post by MrsOWEN
Have you applied for an NHS bursary? Some uni’s allow you to apply for student loan & bursary. Also have you tried for a scholarship at Bristol? I had to sit an exam for mine but was awarded £2500 so was defo worth doing x
The NHS bursary is only available to medics and dentists, or the NHS LSF to healthcare course students.
Original post by MrsOWEN
Have you applied for an NHS bursary? Some uni’s allow you to apply for student loan & bursary. Also have you tried for a scholarship at Bristol? I had to sit an exam for mine but was awarded £2500 so was defo worth doing x
unfortunately I'm doing a law degree so NHS bursary isn't an option, I'll look into the scholarship and whether that might be an option though thank you!
Original post by ALEreapp
I would start looking for a job sooner rather than later, unfortunately there is a massive shortage of jobs for the amount of applicants! If you have hospitality experience then agency work is very useful.
I took a gap year and so have quite a nice chunk of savings to fall back on from full time work as I didn’t travel.
Bristol is very expensive and unfortunately it doesn’t get any cheaper when you move out (my rent next year is 10.5k and I also get min maintenance lmao).
If you have any kind of disability or health condition use it to your advantage, I got 20% off my accom fees last year as it was near the hospital and I got letters from my specialists saying that is beneficial to me. I would defo have this convo with your parents about money and have a frank discussion on how much they can and can’t help you (honestly everything helps even if it’s just £20 that’s your weekly food shop sorted!) and then go from there x
I took a gap year and so have quite a nice chunk of savings to fall back on from full time work as I didn’t travel.
Bristol is very expensive and unfortunately it doesn’t get any cheaper when you move out (my rent next year is 10.5k and I also get min maintenance lmao).
If you have any kind of disability or health condition use it to your advantage, I got 20% off my accom fees last year as it was near the hospital and I got letters from my specialists saying that is beneficial to me. I would defo have this convo with your parents about money and have a frank discussion on how much they can and can’t help you (honestly everything helps even if it’s just £20 that’s your weekly food shop sorted!) and then go from there x
thank you so so much for the advice - genuinely helped so much! x
Original post by normaw
Would you have firmed one of your other offers if you had realised this?
i mean my other option was durham or kcl so neither are much better in terms of financial aspects haha
Original post by ebxxwa
i firmed it too and the accommodation prices are so crazy😭😭😭😭
glad its not just me ahaha!! what course are you doing?? congrats on the offer too!!
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