Affordable Student Accommodation Near the University of Glasgow

Affordable Student Accommodation Near the University of Glasgow: A Complete Guide

Moving to a new city for your studies can be quite an adventure; however, getting affordable, safe, and convenient accommodation can prove to be rather difficult. If you are planning to join the University of Glasgow in September 2020, then it may be helpful to start searching in advance as student rooms in the sought-after areas may prove to be hard to come by. The city of Glasgow boasts a number of options when it comes to accommodation – university halls of residence, private flats, and even student apartments.

When considering your place of stay, do not forget about transportation to and from it and the campus. If on occasion you may require an easy way to get around the city, then a Glasgow Taxi may come in handy especially if you have luggage to move or it is late at night. However, for regular transportation expenses may be kept low by taking the bus, train, biking or even walking whenever possible.

University of Glasgow Student Accommodation Options

One of the prestigious universities in Scotland is the University of Glasgow, which offers accommodation services to students by providing their own accommodation services. University accommodation is usually a very attractive offer to new students since it gives you already formed company and introduces you to other people who are also starting their university life.

There could be various types of accommodations such as catered halls, self-catered accommodation, flats, and rooms that might have both types of facilities or only shared ones. Price depends on the type of accommodation, its facilities, length of the contract, and location. It should be noted that university accommodation is not the cheapest one.

Affordable Private Student Accommodation in Glasgow

If the university accommodation does not match your budget or personal preferences, then there is another option which you can consider, that is, private student accommodation. There are a few options for purpose-built student accommodation in Glasgow providing rooms, apartments, common rooms, study space, washing facilities, gymnasiums or social spaces.

There are many student accommodation websites where you can make a comparison of rooms and flats based on cost, distance from campus, room type, services and availability. Websites such as Student.com, Unipol, and SpareRoom could help you start searching for rooms or flats.

In addition to comparing costs, make sure that the billings related to electricity, heating, water, internet and other services have been accounted for. The slightly higher-priced room with all the services might be a better bargain than the room at a lower price with additional charges.

Reliable Websites for Finding Student Housing

One way to start looking for housing is to go through the student housing sites available on the internet. There are various sites that offer numerous properties to choose from according to your budget.

Student.com

The site Student.com is made specifically for the students looking for accommodation near the universities. The students can search for the places by city or university and compare different rooms with varying facilities. This site will prove especially helpful for the international students trying to organize their accommodation before reaching Glasgow.

SpareRoom

One website that is quite popular when it comes to room search in shared accommodation is SpareRoom. Instead of renting out a whole flat, one can choose a room in already available house or flat. In this way, one can save money and at the same time meet new friends.

Unipol

Unipol offers advice on accommodation for students in various university cities in the United Kingdom. This may come in handy for analyzing the different kinds of accommodation that exist and finding suitable accommodation for the student.

Zoopla and Rightmove

Though these websites have not been created specifically for students, they provide a large number of private rental options. They could come in handy if you are planning to share an apartment with your friends. Remember to thoroughly examine the conditions of the rental and understand all the expenses involved.

Consider Professional Transport When Comparing Locations

It might be less expensive to get accommodation further away from the university, but the price of transport could soon change your overall budget. When signing a lease, be sure that you consider the time and money needed to reach lectures, libraries, shops, and other important destinations.

If you need to travel to the airport, move heavy luggage, or travel with family members, companies like Glasgow Chauffeur Hire could offer a better way to do so. For everyday trips to and from the university, however, using the public transport system or even walking could save you some money.

Best Areas for Students Near the University of Glasgow

West End is one of the most preferred places for students studying at the University of Glasgow. This place provides restaurants, cafes, shops, supermarkets, parks, and great access to the university. But being popular also means that renting costs could be more

expensive especially those near the university.

West End

Places like Hillhead, Partick, Kelvinbridge, and surrounding areas are student-friendly. Most of them are within walking and cycling distance from the university, hence saving you on travel costs.

Partick

Partick proves to be helpful for those students who are searching for a place where there is convenient transport connectivity. There is rail and metro service available in this region along with buses, shopping centers, food places, and many other facilities.

Kelvinbridge

Kelvinbridge provides convenient access to the university and the wider West End. Its location beside the River Kelvin and Kelvingrove Park also makes it attractive to students who enjoy outdoor spaces.

Also read: Where to Stay in Oban, Scotland for Tourists

City Centre

Life in the city center of Glasgow may mean easy availability of shops, entertainment options, restaurants, and transport facilities. Students need to evaluate costs because some centrally located residences can cost more than those situated on the western side.

How to Reduce Your Student Accommodation Costs

But even before that, it is important to think of methods that would help you reduce all other expenses related to your stay in a city.

Renting a flat along with other students may prove to be one of the most efficient ways of reducing rent and other household bills. As the costs of electricity, heating, broadband, and other services will be shared by several people, it will be cheaper for you to rent private housing.

Another way to reduce expenses is to cook at home rather than go out all the time. Try to choose the accommodation located near supermarkets, and prepare meals together with other flatmates. Prior to moving into the flat, discuss with other people how you are going to share all household bills.

It is also important to check the conditions of tenancy agreement in detail.

Avoid Accommodation Scams

It is crucial that students are extra careful while trying to search for accommodation online. No student must ever pay someone whom they do not know anything about, purely on the basis that he or she offers a room for rent.

The exact location of the property must be asked for, and wherever possible, a viewing must be organized in order to verify the landlord or accommodation company. Beware of properties that are advertised well below the market rate, especially if there is pressure on the part of the landlord to make an immediate payment.

In case the students are searching from outside Scotland, they should think about university accommodation or reputable housing companies.

Start Your Search Early

Good accommodation can go very fast, especially at the beginning of the year. Starting your search several months before you arrive will give you enough time to compare the places in terms of location, costs, facilities, contracts, and transport possibilities.

Prepare your budget based on monthly spending including rent, utilities, food, travel, educational material, and entertainment. This way you will be able to compare various places using your budget rather than the price of the rent only.

Final Thoughts on Finding Affordable Glasgow Student Accommodation

Securing an affordable student house near the University of Glasgow would be significantly easier if you look at several reliable websites in advance. The most suitable accommodation option for new students could be university residences; however, private rooms, shared flats, and student houses would offer more opportunities.

Student accommodation could be easily found using websites such as Student.com, SpareRoom, Unipol, Rightmove, and Zoopla. You need to take into account not only the rental price but also other costs related to the overall price of living and the location that impacts travel costs.

Most of all, take your time and sign the contract after carefully checking the property and understanding the terms of the tenancy agreement. It is important to know what exactly is included in the rent and who you would rent the accommodation from.