Speak to any university graduate that you know, and most will say that their second year was the most fun and academically rigorous time of their university journey.

Having spent a year getting accustomed to the daily routine and social life of your university, your second year gives you the opportunity to live with the friends you have made, as well as feel more comfortable in your degree modules.

But the second year of university also brings with it many important decisions. While most students generally spend their first year in student accommodation, many decide to live off-campus in private accommodation in their second year.

For most students, living off-campus is a popular choice in the second year. This is partly because you have more free choice to live with your friends, but also because most universities like to reserve their student accommodation for first year students.

Even when it comes to off-campus residences, the student-favourite accommodations are usually booked out well in advance, months before your second year begins. This means that the best way to get your preferred location is to plan beforehand and decide on where you would like to live and who you would like to live with.

This article should provide you with more information about how to decide on where you wish to rent, how to go about renting private accommodation and what to consider when undertaking the process.

Second Year Accommodation: On-Campus or Off-Campus?

Students should be aware that both on-campus and off-campus second year accommodation come with their benefits as well as drawbacks.

Students who spend their second year on campus particularly cite the increased chances for socialising with fellow students as a major advantage. Additionally, your distance to classrooms is far closer on campus and this allows for better time management. Moreover, living on campus means you can benefit from the university infrastructure.

This means you can more easily take advantage readymade meals at campus eateries and food halls, cleaning services in each dormitory, and intra-campus transport options on larger campuses. By living on campus in your second year, you are saving a lot of time and effort which enables you to focus more on academic and research pursuits. Moreover, you can regularly attend vibrant college events and entertainment venues.

On the other hand, off-campus housing allows you to have more privacy and space away from student halls life, where you must remain in close contact with flatmates in smaller flats or houses. While on-campus housing provides you with enough communal spaces to relax, you will have more peace and quiet if you live off-campus.

The Off-Campus Accommodation Process

There are several key steps involved in applying for and leasing private accommodation in your second year. You should have documents related to each step prepared well in advance, in order to ensure that the application and lease process is managed smoothly. Here are the steps:

Inspection

You should thoroughly inspect a house or apartment before leasing, and take photographs of the space to refer to later. Lighting, electrical wiring and heating arrangements are some of the things you should ask the landlord about.

It is very important that you ensure that your accommodation is in good condition before you move in and then when you move out. If any damage has occurred during your tenancy, you may be liable to pay for any repairs if you cannot prove that it was not you who caused the damage.

Security Deposit

Security deposits for rental accommodations are meant to help the landlord recover payments in the case of unpaid rent or damages to the property. This is supposed to discourage you from late rent payments, property damage or non-payment of dues. Usually, you will be required to pay a security deposit amounting to between two and three months’ rental price of your selected accommodation.

At the end of your rental tenure or if the rental agreement is terminated early, the landlord is legally bound to return your security deposit within 30 days. If they do not return the full amount, they are required to provide a detailed account of why they have withheld the remainder amount.

Guarantor

A guarantor is a close relative, guardian, parent or other third party who is legally bound to pay your rent in the event of you not paying. The requirement for a guarantor is a legal necessity for most rental accommodations in the UK, as well as in most countries worldwide.

Your landlord may require your guarantor’s credit history or proof of income in order to approve them as your guarantors. In most cases, you will be required to provide a guarantor residing in the same country. If you cannot provide a guarantor, some landlords may still agree to lease to you but will require a larger advance payment as security deposit.

Lease Agreement

A lease is a signed legal agreement between you and your roommates, and the property owner or landlord. This agreement will almost always be made in writing.

If you do not fulfil the conditions set out in the lease agreement by the landlord, they can pursue legal action against you. For instance, if you move out of your accommodation before the end of the lease tenure, the landlord may hold you legally responsible to pay the remainder of the lease, or if you cause any damage to the property, you can be held liable to pay for the repairs.

This is why it is important for you to carefully read the entire lease agreement, and point out any objections or issues relating to points in the agreement to your landlord before you sign.

Tips for Finding the best Off-Campus Accommodation

Most students looking for off-campus housing in their second year of university will have little to no experience of living alone and searching for accommodation. It is important to keep a few things in mind while locating your ideal off-campus accommodation, because selecting the best accommodation for your needs and academic schedule can be quite challenging.

Below are a few things you must consider when looking for off-campus housing for your second year:

• Carefully select your roommates: Constant partying and an unclean home environment can distract you and hurt your academic performance. You should look for roommates who prioritise academic and professional growth 
• Review the lease before signing: You should make sure to avoid leases with any hidden fees or excessive charges relating to pet policies, trash disposal etcetera
• Create a move-in inspection checklist: If any equipment at your apartment is broken or damaged before you move in, you should carefully note it down, photograph the items and communicate with your landlord in order to avoid damage fees later on
• Renter’s insurance: Make sure to select the best renter’s insurance policy so that you are protected in the event of accidents, natural damage and other unforeseen events
• Learn to cook: Avoid eating out on a regular basis as it will save you significant amounts of money. Cooking with your roommates can also help you socialise and bond with them
• Furniture search: You should look for affordable furniture on Facebook, Craigslist and nearby second-hand marketplaces before you buy new furniture from retail stores. You will surely find excellent deals on barely-used furniture in and around student neighbourhoods
• Distance from campus: Make sure to select a well-located residence which is connected in multiple ways to your university. This means your accommodation should either be walking distance from classes, or well-connected by road and bus networks to your campus

Search for degree courses.

Search for masters courses.

Search for online courses.

Sixth form and college students in the United Kingdom today have an increasingly large set of options to choose from when selecting their ideal university for a degree. Having such a large choice of universities to choose from is a real privilege, and allows you to pick a university that is right for you. However, having such a large number of universities to choose from may become slightly overwhelming, especially if you have no method through which to identify the best universities for you.

This can often lead to sub-par choices and below-average application quality, because you may be busy applying to an excessive amount of universities or you may not have found the ideal university for you. But your ideal university can be found, and you can make sure you optimise your application chances with the help of a process called shortlisting.

What is Shortlisting?

Shortlisting is a process through which you identify a list of universities and their respective degrees which you feel you will be best suited for, and will have an excellent chance of admission.

Although it sounds simple, this process can be far less straightforward than it seems. This is because, for instance, your particular degree programme may be only taught in specific universities, or you may be only searching for universities in a particular area. Additionally, you may have financial constraints, meaning that you have to consider scholarship and grants when applying to universities.

The key to well-planned shortlisting is to do it well in advance, and give yourself plenty of time to complete your university application and achieve the exam results required for admission. If you shortlist early, you give yourself the best chance to optimise your application and present the best version of yourself to university admissions teams.

Why Should I Shortlist?

Defining your Priorities

Beginning the shortlisting process prompts you to first identify the aspects of university life and academic degrees that you place the most value on. For example, a vibrant campus environment with great diversity may be the most important non-academic aspect of your future university for you. This will enable you to eliminate universities which lack diversity, and allow you to focus on the universities where you will enjoy a diverse atmosphere. In this manner, shortlisting allows you to identify the 6-10 universities which are the most in line with your preferred characteristics, whatever your ideal degree subject may be.

By shortlisting universities in a timely manner, you will be able to save a lot of time which you can then use to further highlight your admission application by improving your essays, exam results and other relevant aspects.

Shortlisting Enables In-Depth Communication with Ideal Universities

By shortlisting your ideal universities early, you will save enough time to do further research on your shortlist and have an all-round perspective of life and academics in each university.

For example, you could connect in person or virtually with university alumni to better understand the class structure and campus life in a university. Additionally, you can make in-person or virtual visits for open day events to your ideal universities to get a better grasp of what life would be like as a student in that university.

Factors to Consider When Shortlisting

Tuition and Living Expenses

For many students, tuition and living expenses for a particular university will be the most important factor to consider when creating their shortlist. In fact, this may even impact your geographic consideration of where you want to attend university, because non-urban British universities require far less in living expenses than major cities such as London, Manchester or Birmingham.

Shortlisting universities early enables you to pursue universities which might offer scholarships for the courses you are interested in studying.

Geography

Due to financial, family or social considerations, many sixth form students decide to narrow down their university shortlist to a specific region. This may be your local area around your hometown or a specific part of the UK.

You might want to stay close to home when you go to university, which could allow you to save money by living at home. You may also want to go off and explore a different part of the UK to widen your horizons.

University Rankings

Although general university rankings may differ significantly for each specific degree programme, they provide an accurate indication of where a university stands in terms of its academic quality, campus life and overall university resources for students.

The most well-known rankings for UK universities are the Guardian University Rankings and the Times Good University Rankings. As well as overall rankings, both ranking guides also measure and rank the universities with other metrics, such as student satisfaction, careers and employability, and continuation of study.

Campus Environment

For many students, having the right campus environment is key to enjoying a successful and happy university life. Choosing your ideal campus environment depends on the kind of student you are.

Some students would prefer to join an urban university whose campus is well-integrated into a major city such as London, Leeds or Manchester. In such an environment, you have the luxury of being able to enjoy a wide range of activities, employment opportunities and entertainment venues away from the classroom.

On the other hand, some students might prefer the focused environment of a rural or small-town campus where you will build stronger bonds with fellow students and not have constant distractions.

When Should I Apply to University?

If you are applying to university via the UCAS system with your sixth form or college, you will receive guidance as to when your applications need to be submitted. There are two application deadlines for undergraduate courses, the first is normally mid-October and is relevant to any student wanting to study at Oxford or Cambridge, as well as most courses in the medical, veterinary and dentistry fields. The second deadline is normally mid to late January and is relevant to the vast majority of courses.

Search for degree courses.

Search for masters courses.

Search for online courses.

As a current sixth form student interested in going to university, you might have come across a few terms in your research that need further explanation. This might include the terminology used by UCAS.

The Universities & Colleges Admissions Service in the UK, commonly referred to as UCAS, is an organisation formed in 1993 to provide a centralised application portal service for all undergraduate courses across the United Kingdom. The UCAS system serves to make the university application process a lot more straightforward for students. This is because the centralised UCAS application portal enables multiple benefits and cost savings for applicants, including the fact that you can apply to five universities for £26.

Additionally, UCAS has launched several systems over the years which have been designed to streamline college and course identification as well as shortlisting for applicants. One of the most prominent systems you will come across is UCAS codes. This article will explain what UCAS codes are and how they are useful to students.

What are UCAS codes?

The UCAS code is a 4-character alphanumeric reference assigned to a course offered by a UK university. This means that the code comprises both numbers and letters.

Although each university can assign its courses with a unique UCAS code, they generally follow the JACS (Joint Academic Coding System) for  assigning codes to each course. As per the JACS, the 4-character code consists of a letter and three numbers. Moreover, each letter and first number in a JACS code signifies a specific discipline for a subject. For example, ‘H’ signifies engineering and Technology disciplines and the number ‘6’ symbolises the electronic engineering sub-field.

Below is a brief overview of the disciplines that each letter signifies according to JACS:

• A: Medicine & Dentistry
• B: Subjects Allied to Medicine
• C: Biological Sciences
• D: Veterinary Science & Agriculture
• F: Physical Sciences
• G: Mathematical Sciences
• H & J: Engineering & Technology
• I: Computer Science
• K: Architecture
• L: Social Studies
• M: Law
• N: Business & Administrative Studies
• P: Mass Communications & Documentation
• Q, R & T: Languages
• V: Historical & Philosophical Studies
• W: Creative Arts & Design
• X: Education
• Y: Combined

While most universities historically follow the JACS structure when assigning UCAS codes to their courses, some universities may apply an entirely different system with their courses.

In addition to UCAS course codes, the UCAS application portal also features unique alphanumeric codes through which each UK university can be identified. For instance, S85 is the UCAS institution code for the University of Surrey, and L72 is the UCAS Code for the London School of Economics & Political Science.

Why are UCAS codes useful?

UCAS codes offer a variety of benefits for university applicants, primarily when it comes to quick identification and selection of courses during the shortlisting process.

For instance, you can use the UCAS search tool to identify each course relevant to your intended field of study. You can then conduct further research on each course by entering the UCAS course code on the selected university website, and find out the modules, fees, and teachers for each course.

This will give you an excellent idea of what the course will offer in terms of subjects covered, the quality and experience level of the course teachers, and even a basic overview of the software or books required for the course.

This can help you make well-planned course selection decisions, and is especially beneficial for sixth form students who will require a student loan and/or a maintenance grant to go to university.

UCAS codes also help students make efficient decisions while shortlisting universities and courses. Shortlisting is a process through which you identify a list of universities and their respective degree programmes which you feel you will be best suited for and will meet the requirements for.

For some students, their choice of course at university can be even more important than the university itself. This is because certain universities may be offering world-class quality of courses in a specific discipline. This may be due to several factors such as the university’s proximity to a certain industry, exceptional faculty quality in a field of study, or a historical advantage in terms of teaching a specialised field of study such as petroleum engineering or astrophysics.

For students interested in specific courses, UCAS codes allow you to identify the courses you’re looking for quickly using the UCAS search portal. This, in turn, enables you to move forward with other aspects of the shortlisting process in a timely manner. These other aspects of shortlisting include, for instance, communicating with selected universities you are interested in.

Remember, current UCAS application rules mean that you can either apply to a maximum of five universities, or apply to a maximum of five courses at the same university. This makes understanding the UCAS course codes an essential task as you begin your university applications.

Search for degree courses.

Search for masters courses.

Search for online courses.