Preparing for University
With the move to University often a student's first experience of living away from home, there's a number of things you can do to ensure your son or daughter are as prepared as possible for the increased independence that higher education will bring.
Finding a Place to Live
Edge Hill University offers a safe environment in which to live and many new students appreciate the supportive, sociable and secure atmosphere that life in halls of residence can offer for the first year of their course.
The on-campus accommodation is priced to suit a range of budgets, housing over 1,400 students in a mixture of catered and self-catered accommodation, including the ultra-modern Founders Court and Graduates Court, with the equally impressive Chancellors Court set to open later in 2012. Over 500 rooms offer en-suite facilities.
There's also a variety of privately owned accommodation in walking distance of the Ormskirk Campus or within easy reach by public transport in nearby Liverpool and Southport. Those students living off campus enjoy the extra independence private accommodation brings while still being very much immersed in university life.
Whilst we can't guarantee accommodation in halls for all first year students, we do provide a fair chance of securing a room on campus and offer advice and support in finding alternative accommodation, such as lists of registered properties and househunting workshops. Details of how students can apply for accommodation in halls for September 2012 will be announced early in the New Year.
View our accommodation guide for more information.
Packing
One of the most important things to consider is what to pack. Your son or daughter may need to bring their own bed linen (including duvet and pillow), towels, crockery, cutlery and cooking utensils. Students should pack a sensible mix of clothes (including sports, winter and summer wear) and bring clothes hangers, toiletries and any required medication.
All rooms in Founders Court and Graduates Court come equipped with a flatscreen computer / freeview TV but other students will need to bring their own TV and laptop as well as any other entertainment equipment they want to use, such as an MP3 player or games console.
Mobile phones are an item few students will want to be without, especially with free wireless internet available across the campus. An alarm clock is always useful to avoid missing those early morning lectures and students may also wish to bring photos and posters to personalise their accommodation. Some form of photographic ID and passport photos to enrolment
Money Matters
Your son or daughter will need to apply for student financial support as soon as possible after submitting an application to UCAS and ensure they have a bank or building society account which their funding can be paid into.
The week before the start of the programme it's important to ensure they have received a Financial Notification Letter. This is essential to activate student funding - the original letter needs to be brought to registration and a copy should be handed in. If a Financial Notification Letter has not been received prior to registration, students should contact Student Finance England to check on the progress of their student finance application.
Student Finance England can take 5-10 working days following enrolment to process payment of funding so it's strongly advisable to ensure your son or daughter bring some money as an 'emergency fund' for the first 2-3 weeks on campus to cover basic expenses such as food and travel together with the various social activities scheduled for the busy first week.
If an emergency fund is exhausted before the funding is received, students should contact a member of the Student Financial Support Team based in the Student Information Centre for support and advice.
Other Tips
Your son or daughter can prepare for university and save money throughout their course in a number of ways:
- Check reading lists - make sure any provisional reading or other initial tasks are completed before the start of the programme;
- Get domestic - if your son or daughter will be living away from home, brushing up on cooking and general domestic skills is good preparation for the increased independence that awaits;
- Sign up for a student bank account - many banks offer special rates or incentives for students, such as interest-free overdrafts or lower penalty charges;
- Grab an NUS card - a student card gets discounts on a variety of purchases, from cinema tickets to clothes and haircuts;
- Take advantage of other discounts - students are often entitled to free prescriptions, dental check-ups and sight tests, as well as a Young Person's Railcard and exemption from council tax;
- Get covered - insure possessions in case the worst happens - many insurers offer special policies for students. If your son or daughter are bringing or making use of a television or PC with tuner card (excluding in Founders or Graduates Court) they will need a TV licence;
- Check the small print - for students living off-campus, it's essential to check if the cost of accommodation includes electricity, gas, water and insurance and, if living with others, get agreement on how the bills will be split. Also check for the presence of smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and find out when appliances were last checked.
Please note, this page is not intended to be an exhaustive list but some of the key things your son or daughter should bring to university and a few of the ways they can save money while studying.
