National Student Money Week

It might Valentine’s Day this week, but once your cards have been handed out, gifts received (hopefully!), and kisses sent, it’s time to get back to more serious matters. Money matters, to be precise, as this week also happens to be National Student Money Week!

The annual awareness campaign, managed by the National Association of Student Money Advisers (NASMA), kicked off on Monday (February 12^th), with the purpose of helping you manage your money and finances.

Where I Live 

The theme for this year’s NSMW campaign is ‘where I live’, which will focus on the link between student housing and finances. At Sheffield Property to Let, we’ve been providing student houses to rent in Sheffield for over 20 years, so thought it apt we get involved!

This year’s campaign has a deliberately broad theme; ‘where I live’ is an opportunity for students to talk about where they live, why their Uni/city is brilliant, the best places for bargains, and of course student housing.

One of the top stress factors for a student is housing, and it’s a sad fact that many students will drop out of courses in their first year, due to financial and housing issues. 

That’s why NASMA aim to assist, wherever possible, in helping you understand and manage all aspects of student finance. They have several housing resources on their website, including; a handy rental calculator, tips on looking for student accommodation, and guides for household budgeting.

Only 28% of full-time students in the UK work a part-time job, so money and housing concerns are a common worry amongst many of you. With student accommodation being a big expense, it makes sense to do your research beforehand on which city you might want to study in, as the ‘student cost of living’ does differ greatly depending where you choose in the UK.

So, in line with the ‘where I live’, NSMW theme, we thought we would take a look at why so many of you love Sheffield, and what makes it a great city to study in.

Student Life in Sheffield 

Our universities in Sheffield do consistently well in student polls for all manner of reasons, and not all of them academic. Student satisfaction is high, the student union is recognised as one of the best in the country, and people just, well, love living in Sheffield!

The Steel City is known for its friendliness, and has long been a popular city with students, a high proportion of which choose to stay and settle here. And with around 48,000 students here, it’s fair to say, the student social scene is alive and kicking.

From club nights, dive bars, to arenas; Sheffield has a vibe for every tribe. That’s without even mentioning our renowned live music scene.

Student accommodation in Sheffield, is scattered throughout the city, rather than isolated, so students mingle amongst locals, adding to the ‘community’ vibe, that the city and both universities have.

Excellent public transport links most of the city centre, surrounding areas, and both universities, meaning its quick and easy to get around. Only the fit will want to walk about everyday though….Sheffield is notoriously hilly!

Writing for The Guardian, former student Laura Kay, dubbed Sheffield as “inclusive, welcoming and joyfully cheap”, she then went on to point out how rent is cheap, beer is cheap, and transport is cheap; all of which make the transition from home to student digs that little bit easier – your student loan goes that bit further.

Just last year, marbles.com made an infographic, comparing the living costs of the 50 best-ranked universities in the UK, as decided by The Complete University Guide's 2017 list.

The infographic was put together considering student necessities such as weekly rent, travel, and even the local kebab prices! Sheffield came in at number 17 on the list, not the cheapest, but in comparison to studying in London, for example, it’s a bargain!

How Much do Student Houses Cost in Sheffield?

Student accommodation in Sheffield comes in all shapes and sizes, to fit all kinds of budgets. From new builds, to historic converted barns, you really can find any type of accommodation in Sheffield.

One of the most popular areas for students, is Ecclesall Road, due to the variety of shops, bars, restaurants, and proximity to Sheffield Hallam's Collegiate campus. The area is a real community, offering flavours from all over the world, and people from all walks of life.

So, what are the average prices for student accommodation in the Steel City? Because as NASMA are highlighting this week, the cost of student housing can make or break a student.

Well, according to the Complete University Guide, Sheffield sits very favourably, at well below the national average. The typical annual cost of private accommodation is between £4,576 - £5,060.

Even if you want to live right in the centre of the city, very close to University and all of the action, rental prices are still below national average, with student accommodation in Sheffield city centre, as cheap as £110 per week.

Student Accommodation in Sheffield 

If you are planning on attending one of the universities in Sheffield later this year, or are looking for new student accommodation, then check out our current properties.

Sheffield Property to Let are a family run business, we aren’t a leasing agency and as such, the properties we let are owned by us, so you receive a much more personal service. If you have any questions about student housing in Sheffield, please contact us and we will do our best to help!

NSMW18 will be held from 12-16 February 2018; follow @NASMA_uk and #NSMW18 on Twitter for all the latest news, updates, and student finance tips.