University of Manchester News

A group of 4 students from the University of Manchester made it to the University Challenge final, but were narrowly beaten by Corpus Christi Oxford at the last hurdle. The team from Manchester was leading for most of the final. The University of Manchester has made it into the semi-finals the last 5 times and were crowned champions in 2006, when they beat Trinity Hall, Cambridge.

Things to do in Manchester

The city of Manchester has established itself as one of the most dynamic, progressive and vibrant cities in the whole of the UK. Buzzing with life all day and night, it has become an attractive, cosmopolitan city offering the widest range of activities for both locals and visitors. Shopping, music, culture, nightlife, sport – Manchester has become famous for every one of these and more. Situated in the heart of the north-west of England, the city is ideally located and easily accessible from every direction, especially since it has one of the country's biggest international airports. Manchester will always be internationally famous for its sporting achievements, from hosting the 2002 Commonwealth Games to being home to the world's most famous football club. Manchester United is one of the most successful teams in European football history, and a visit to their world-renowned Old Trafford stadium is a must for any sports fan. Fans can receive guided tours around the whole ground – even in the players' dressing rooms and this can be done relatively cheapily. The stadium also boasts a museum on the club's glorious past, containing trophies, kits and memorabilia. Speaking of museums, Manchester has a number of the top museums in the country, including the Urbis, which is in a funky glass building at the heart of the city, and the Museum of Science and Industry. There is also Manchester Museum, which contains many wonders of history and nature, such as Stan the Tyrannosaurus Rex, the second most complete T-Rex ever found.

Manchester also has a strong art heritage and the Lowry art gallery houses a collection of some of the most impressive works of LS Lowry, the painter who captured the essence of this city in its industrial heyday. There is even an art gallery, Whitworth Art Gallery which is owned by the University of Manchester. Shopaholics will also find plenty to entertain them in Manchester. Since the regeneration of the city during the 1990s it has become one of the best places to shop in Britain, with a huge selection of some of the world's top stores. The massive Arndale Centre contains many of these, as well as plenty of cafes and restaurants for shoppers to enjoy a break. Of course, the city has also attained legendary status in the world of music, producing groups such as The Hollies, The Bee Gees, The Smiths, Oasis and Take That. And then there's Joy Division, New Order, 10cc, the Happy Mondays, The Stone Roses, Morrissey…..Manchester's music heritage is unparalleled. And as such, anyone who is anyone will play Manchester on their European tour, at venues such as the world-class MEN Arena, Manchester Apollo and Manchester Academy near the uni.

If that wasn't enough, the city hosts other events, such as In the City, when hundreds of bands and artists play in every corner of the city centre. Meanwhile, legendary venues such as the Night and Day, the Roadhouse and Manchester Academy host thousands of unsigned bands and are a haven for music lovers from across the city. Manchester also has one of the biggest China towns in Europe, located just behind Piccadilly Plaza around George Street and Charlotte Street, off Mosley Street behind the City Art Gallery. There are many other ethnicities represented in Chinatown, including Thai, Malaysian, Singaporean, Nepalese, Italian, French and Japanese shops and restaurants. The Chinese district is dominated by the Imperial Chinese Archway, a gift to the City from the Chinese people, (pictured), the only one in Europe, and even more decorative than that found in San Francisco.

The Ideal place for International Students

The Greater Manchester area is home to more international students than any other area, except for London. It’s a cosmopolitan place that really welcomes people from around the world.
Over 2,200 international students attended MMU in 2008, The University of Manchester had 8345 students in 2007, which is the single largest number of international students at one university Salford University had over 2,500. There are particularly large numbers of students from China, India and the USA.

All three universities in Manchester have very active International societies that organise regular events for both international and native students to meet. For example the International Society at the University of Manchester regularly holds a night called the Erasmus party at the TigerTiger nightclub.

Transport in Manchester

Buses

The main mode of tranport for students in Manchester are buses. The need to buy a bus pass will depend on where you live and how much you intend to travel in Manchester. If you hardly ever venture away from the Oxford/Wilmslow Road area there is really no need to buy a pass. If you work in or go to the city centre a lot I would say its best to get a Finglands/Magic Bus/Stagecoach weekly pass as they tend to be cheap. As of 2009 the cost of a weekly bus pass is £6 for a week on Finglands and Magic Buses and its £7 a week for the Stagecoach buses because they tend to be enwer. However you will be limited to buses operated by that company - with the exception that Stagecoach passes are valid on Magic Buses (they are both owned by Stagecoach). If you need to travel across all of Manchester then a GMPTE System 1 pass is worth buying, but they cost about £10 a week, they do allow you to get on any bus in Greater Manchester regardless of the bus company though. You can also buy a Unirider which is around £135 for the year (september to June), this may sound expensive, but you tend to save a bit compared to buying the weekly passes.

Bus Companies

Heres some links to bus company sites which operate in the university areas. You should have an idea which areas they go to by the areas.
Stagecoach - South and East Manchester,- Wilsmlow Road, Stockport, Chorlton, Trafford Centre, Stretford, Old Trafford, Northenden, Wythenshawe etc
Bullocks - Oxford Road, Fallowfield, Withington, East Didsbury, Cheadle
Finglands - Oxford Road, Fallowfield, Withington, East Didsbury]
First group - Salford and North Manchester - University of Salford, Swinton, Bolton, Wigan, Oldham, Rochdale etc
arrivabus South Manchester – Stretford, Sale, Altrincham, Cheadle, Macclesfield, Wythenshawe
gmpte – This is the main government body which controls transport in Greater Manchester, this has a great route planner if you are unsure which bus to get. There is also information about GMPTE travel passes.

There are also some free buses that will take you around town and from Piccadilly train station, just outside, the run til about 7pm, they are ideal for lazy people who can't be bothered to walk around town.

Major Bus Routes

Manchester is a huge place so this guide will concentrate on some of the more major routes.
MMU and Manchester University from Piccadilly Bus Station (PBS) – 15, 42, 43,45, 85*, 86*, 142, 143, 145
Fallowfield, Withington, Didsbury, East Didsbury from PBS – 42, 142, 45
Fallowfield, Withington, Northenden from PSB – 43, 143
Chorlton Cum Hardy from PSB – 85 from the east of Chorlton, 86 from the North, the 86 covers more of the centre of Chorlton
Trafford Centre – 23, 23A Stagecoach) from Didsbury or Chorlton, 250 from Oxford Road or Booth Street West (not Rushulme, Fallowfield etc run by Stagecoach and UK North), 100 (Firstbus) from Cross Street (will be the new interexchange at Victoria station from Jan 2006)
Stockport – 23, 23A from Chorlton or Didsbury, 42 from Oxford/Wilmslow Road or 192 from Piccadilly.
*RNCM and MMU only

Free Bus Service

147 Oxford Road Link
FREE Travel for staff & students. The white 147 bus runs frequently (every 10 mins) from Piccadilly Rail Station to the Oxford Road area. The University of Manchester subsidies this in partnership with the Higher Education Precinct (HEP - Manchester Metropolitan University, University of Manchester, Central NHS Trust and Royal Northern College of Music). The University subsidises the service further to allow FREE travel for University staff and students between Sackville Street and the Students' Union - you just have to show your student ID to the driver. Journeys outside of this area are 50p which is probably the cheapest single fare in Manchester (or £1 for a day ticket). For route details visit: Oxford Rd Link Route Map

Trains

Most Manchester trains depart from Victoria or Piccadilly (both in the city centre) but if you're unsure Piccadilly is the safer option, Victoria tends to have trains going to Northern destinations such as Liverpool, Bradford and Blackpool etc. Some trains stop at the small Oxford Road train station, e.g the Liverpool, Southport and Blackpool ones. Some trains also stop at Salford Crescent but if you're going to Salford University from Manchester city centre its easier to get the bus. All London, Edinburgh, Birmingham and Southern England services depart from Piccadilly. Take a look at this site for information on local trains and the trainline for intercity services.

Trams

Manchester has an extensive tram system, however it doesnt operate in the main university areas. This map shows where it currently operates, beware only the green lines currently exist, the rest is planned for the future.
Tram network
The trams are great if traveling from some where like Bury or Altrincham. The Tram is also ideal for Salford Quays. They can be expensive though.

National Express

There is a National Express station in the city centre just on Oldham Street in Manchester. National Express is a cheap alternative to using the trains to get home, but the journey times will tend to take a little longer. Most of the coaches are relatively new so the jorney should be comfortable and they have some rediculous offers on sometimes, including journeys for as little as £1.

Bringing Your Car

There's really no need to bring your car if your a student, because on top of running costs, parking costs and just finding a place to park can be a pain. Parking is especially difficult around the Universities because they are based close to the city centre. It will also be expensive to rent a parking space from your halls of residences, for example Wilmslow Park charges in excess of £600 for the year. If you will be living far from home and you want to visit home on the weekends then maybe it would be useful to bring your car, but its definitely cheaper to just travel by train or coach.

Nights Out in Manchester

Going out in town can be expensive but the bars and clubs are classier, more relaxed and there tends to be a better atmosphere. There is a number of student nights, mainly on a Monday.

Deansgate

The top end of Deansgate, nearest to Market St, is popular with the after-work crowds and is at its busiest during weekends. This collection of pubs and bars are very trendy and can be expensive. You can sometimes see footballers at The Living Room and it's not uncommon to see a pop star or soap star staggering drunkenly. If you feel like a night out in Deansgate, then it might seem hard to choose where exactly to go, so here's some of the best places. For a premier night out, you might want to try RSVP, a spacious venue with reasonable drink prices. Walking towards Deansgate Locks, you'll come across Prohibition, just off Deansgate on St Mary's Street. Prohibition is a dark and sexy bar, with lots of cosy corners and comfy seating. The drinks are priced at about £3 and it has a chilled out atmosphere so definitely give it a go. Moon under Water is a huge, chilled out venue. It's so huge that it has been called the largest public house in Britain by the Guinness Book of World Records. It's based in a good looking building and most importantly, the drinks are cheap. It is a part of the Lloyds No.1 chain so it doesn't exceed expectations but is a great place for pre-drinks. It has the usual kind of clientele that you'd expect in a chain bar but has plenty of space, well suited to big groups.

Deansgate Locks

Deansgate Locks is another very popular part of town, just opposite Deansgate train station and Castlefield. Located on Whitworth Street West, it lights up the canal with clubs and bars built into the arches. Probably the biggest bar on the Locks is Loaf. It's very sophisticated and stylish, occupying two floors of the now infamous railway arches and there is a great student night on a Monday. Entry and drinks are cheap, and the music is pretty modern. Revolution bars are everywhere, and Deansgate Locks is no exception. This particular one occupies three floors and serves lots of lovely flavoured vodkas and tasty cocktails. At the locks, there is also the Comedy Store, where the drinks are a bit over-priced but the stand up acts are definitely worth a visit. Then there's the Sugar Lounge, where you used to be able to go celebrity spotting but it's not that popular with them anymore, they probably prefer the nearby Hilton hotel with its trendy sky bar. However its still expensive and can be difficult to get past the bouncers! The clubbers at Sugar Lounge tend to be of the good looking nature.

The Printworks

Formerly the Withy Grove Printing and Publishing House, The Printworks is Europe's first urban leisure and entertainment complex, it cost over £150 million and covers 350,000 square feet.It contains a number of restaurants, bars and clubs and a huge multiplex cinema. The Hard Rock Café is one of the biggest spaces in there, seating over 200 people and offering a contemporary menu and live stage music. It might not be the cheapest place to eat or drink but it has a unique atmosphere and is somewhere great for birthdays. A popular venue with students in the Printworks is Tiger Tiger. A three-floor, sophisticated spot, it provides an ideal backdrop to any night out, whether you want to chill out and sit on the comfy sofas and watch the world go by, or dance the night away. Although not always cheap, Tiger Tiger host a student night on Mondays called Vodka Island so drink prices are cheaper. There are lots of places to eat in the Printworks, including Nando's, Henry J Beans and Old Orleans. There is also Paparazzi and Norwegian Blue, a large, two storey affair with fairly cheap drinks and a small dance floor. Norwegian Blue also hosts a student night on a Monday but but is not recommended on the weekend! Another nice club is Opus which has 2 floors, its very popular with students and can get extra crowded, especially on a Thursday when they host an Asian student night called Kamasutra. Kamasutra is the place to seen if your an Asian student in Manchester, having said that it also welcomes other fun-loving students, the drinks are cheap and there's plenty of good R&B music. Sometimes they play host to some of the best DJ's around, recently DJ EZ has played a set there and MC Luck has also done the same. Also in the Printworks there is a cinema, that is the really impressive part of the Printworks. Formerly known as the Filmworks, it has now been taken over by Odeon and boasts of a huge multiplex, with exceedingly comfy chairs - the kind where you can lean back and relax and enjoy the film as if in the comfort of your own home.

Rest of City Centre

Another popular haunt with students is the Mtwo club on Peter Street near the central library. The best night for student is Wednesday when it can get seriously crowded due to the AU Social, when it gets full of good looking athletic people. They also play a good selection of music. Then there is the 5th Avenue club which offers the No.1 Indie experience in Manchester, so if Indie is your scene this is where you will need to go. 5th Avenue is on Princess St, a short walk from the North campus of Manchester uni. Another club for indie lovers is 42nd Street on Bootle Street just off of Deansgate.

Where to Shop

Manchester is awesome for shopping, its a paradise for shopaholics. Be warned though if your a student try to make budget to spend on clothes each month and try not go over it. There's no point buying too many clothes as students don't really care what you look like. The must have item of clothing for Uni students in Manchester are the uni sweatshirts because you can just put them on when you can't be bothered. Although they may seem expensive at first they will definitely pay off as you will wear them a lot. The sweatshirts are available in a big selection of colours from the Student unions and University Place for the University of Manchester.



When it comes to shopping for clothes the City centre is amazing. The Arndale Centre is where most of the high street stores are based, H&M is particularly good for students as they offer cheap but fashionable clothes. Topshop, Topman, Burton, Dorothy Perkins are also good for student as they all give you 10% of with your student cards. Girls will love Primark, you cant miss there huge store on Market St as you enter town, but they don't do good clothes for guys, its a shame. Another good shop is Gap which is located about 5 minutes walk from the Arndale. Office do good shoes and they have 2 shops in town. For the more hip student a new American Apparel has recently opened, where you'll find some funky items, again its not so good for guys. TK-Maxx is also good for bargain hunters as they sell discounted brand clothing, but they don't always have your size so be prepared to be disappointed if they only have an extra small when you want an extra large. For the rich kids or to just treat yourself there's a massive Selfridges store where you'll find all the big designer names, Armani, Diesel, Hugo Boss etc. Zara is a nice place too for those spending mummy and daddy's cash, but the sizes can be a bit funny, generally you may find your a size bigger, strange we know.

Further a field from the city centre, theres Trafford centre which has a huge range of shops. To be honest though if you live near the city centre in Manchester theres not much point in trailing upto Trafford to do your clothes shopping, but it does make a good day out.

Where to Eat

Without a doubt the greatest concentration of eateries is in the Rusholme area of the city (according to its official website it is the biggest concentration of Asian restaurants in the whole of the UK, attracting over 65,000 diners a week), which is a short walk from Oxford road, where the University of Manchester and MMU have their main campuses. Rusholme mainly has Asian restaurants, offering great offers on curries and kebabs etc. Most of these restaurants also have an English menu, so they will serve the usual fish and chips, pizzas etc. From my experience there is a big difference in quality depending on which restaurant you go to.

The first Indian takeaway on wilmslow road is Sangams, which is across the road from the Wilmslow Park halls of residence, although cheap the food lacks taste and is very oily. Apparently they do nice kebabs, but I have got this info from people who were very drunk, you'll probably eat anything when your drunk. I think its best avoided as there are far superior places on Wilmslow road, a short stone throw away.

The Darbar restaurant is a good restaurant offering dishes that taste authentic and the atmosphere is nice as it has been refurbished recently. It is also one of just a few restaurants that has bar, generally the Indian restaurants will be run by Muslims so they will not serve alcohol, so Darbar is a welcomed anomaly. The dishes are also reasonably priced and there is a friendly service.

The Royal Naz is another decent restaurant and has won many chef of the year awards, both local and national. They give you good sized portions and the service is very friendly.

The restaurant Al Bilal is definitely best avoided, as it has as recently as last year been closed for having a cockroach infection.

Outside of the curry mile, there is a good supply of big chain takeaways such as Mcdonalds, Pizza Hut and Subway. There are 2 subway's and Mcdonalds' branches on Oxford Road alone.

Within the University of Manchester itself, there is a large refectory in University Place, which is the large, circular, grey, building with the University of Manchester plastered across it. Although home to the School of Nursing, all students are allowed in. There is a good wide selection of foods to choose from, from Pizza and chips to stir fry, which is freshly made in front of you. Opening in 2008, the refectory is very modern and spacious, but the prices do let it down a bit, average meal will be approx. £2.50. There are also smaller cafe's in both the MMU union and the Steve Bilko Union building.

For vegetarians there is the Eighth Day Cafe, which is open from 9-7pm Mon-Fri and 10-4.30pm on Sat, it is quite a large place offering a huge range of vegitarian and organic foods. Be warned that it can get quite busy and it won't be light on your pockets.

If you can afford it, or as a treat once in a long while, there is a large Selfridges store in the city centre which has a large food area on the ground floor. There you will find a big selection of world foods, including a sushi bar, if that's what takes your fancy. There is also a Krispy Kremes here so if you've got a sweet tooth you'll feel right at home. A 15 minute walk into the Deansgate area, will take you to the Akbar's restaurant, which is one of the largest restaurants in the city. There is a great atmosphere here and the service is brilliant. It is also surprisingly cheap, as for under £15 you will be able to have a full three course meal. The naan breads are must eat as they are gigantic, but mouthwateringly tasty.

Best Websites to Help You Save Money

The following is a list of links you may find helpful and best of all will help you save money. They are all tried and tested by myself so they won't be no cons.

If you think Ive missed something out, just let me know. As I will be updating this blog on a regular basis make sure you click on the follow this blog link, on the right sidebar, to be notified when the blog is updated.

• http://www.myvoice.co.uk/, this site offers paid surveys, the surveys don't tend to be time consuming and normally take a couple of mins to complete. When you have earned enough points for £20 you can apply for a voucher. Basically 1 point is equalt to 1p. so you will need 2000 points in order to claim a voucer, this sounds like a lot but it isn't as I have already received 2 vouchers. The vouchers are actually usable and you can choose from a good selection of shops including all the Arcadia group of shops Topshop, Burton etc, which is great for students who want to look good.


• http://www.studentbeans.com/, is another great site that is free and tells you about loads of offers and competitions open to students, well worth a look. A current offer is buy 12 krispy kreme dohnuts and you can get another dozen free.


• http://www.moneysavingexpert.co.uk/, another awesome website for a student on a tight budget, the website is regularly updated by Martin Lewis and there are also great forums where you can find out about some great deals before everyone else.

Fresher's Week

The first week of University is called Fresher's Week and is specifically designed to help you settle in to your new home and meet as many people as possible. Be prepared for there to be a load of forms to fill in - student cards to apply for, loans to collect, rent to pay for the first term and on a better note be prepared for going out every night during the week - with a selection of events on offer. The point is that you get to know the people in halls, and also the people on your course.

The University of Manchester holds a Freshers Fair, normally held in the Manchester Academy, where you can meet all the different societies and you can sign up (try and join just a couple of societies you can seriously see yourself being a part of, as the time you spend outside study will look good to employers if you spend it wisely) or find out details of taster sessions. For instance there is a ju jitsu taster which will give you an idea of what sort of fight moves you could learn. Be warned that some societies may have an upfront charge for joining such as the Politics Society so its probably not wise to join every society as you wont be able to go to them all. The uni also holds a separate Sports Fair where you can specifically find out about sports clubs, this is normally held upstairs in the Steve Bilko Union Building on Oxford Road. Don't worry too much though as you should get a guide in the post a couple of weeks before Fresher's starts.

During the first week of uni, you are not normally scheduled to have any lectures so it is a good time to let your hair down, but don't go too wild as you don't want to make a bad impression with your new mates. During the course of the week you are also normally required to register, so this is where you will hand in your bursary form if you are entitled to one and you'll also have a photo taken for your student ID card. For more info on the Uni's individual Freshers week's click on the links below.

• The University of Manchester Fresher's Fair
• Manchester Metropolitan University
• Salford Univerity

Generally you should have your timetable by halfway through the week. It will seem like it needs its own degree to work it out, so take care and check if necessary. Make sure you don't miss the first few lectures, as they can be quite important. At the start of term, learning is the last thing on your mind. That's fine - there will be plenty of time for that later, but make sure you have all the bits and pieces you need, and keep up with the lectures. Otherwise it can be real hard to catch up. Although you may have heard that you just need to pass your first year, you still need to pass and gain enough credits to gain entry into the second year. You will also make your first impressions on your tutors and you know what they say about first impressions, so be good.

What Stuff To Take To Halls

You've probably got a lot of stuff in your bedroom, but unless you've seen the hall you're going to move into on an open day, you won't know how big the room will be. You can probably only take as much stuff as will fit in to your car. A fully-loaded averaged sized car is as much as you should take. Don't over-do it though, as you'll have to take the stuff back eventually. Unless you've got a Mini or a Porsche, there's no point in hiring a white van to bring all your stuff. What to Take Firstly, you need to separate what you're going to take into two categories; what you really need and what would be nice if there was room. Once the car is filled with what you have to take, you can decide what else you would like to take. Below is a list of the essentials you will need to take, you can print this out as a checklist.

Bedding

1. 1 or 2 pillows
2. Quilt
3. Underblanket that goes over matress
4. 2 sets of bed covers

Clothes

1. Take enough to not have to do the washing too often
2. lots of socks is essential, as they go missing from laundry
3. Party/Clubbing wear
4. sports Equipment (football boots etc)
5. School Uniform for School Disco

Toiletries

1. Toothbrush and toothpaste
2. Soap/showergel
3. All your makeup/beauty products
4. Flip Flops

Kitchen Stuff

1. A set of cheap cutlery, as they go missing easily.
2. 2 dinner plates and 2 bowls
3. 2 mugs
4. 2 pint glasses
5. Saucepan
6. 1 frying pan - preferably non stick
7. 1 big oven tray - for lots of those chips and pizzas
8. 1 wooden spoon for stirring
9. 1 colander for pasta draining (don't try using the saucepan lid)
10. 1 chopping board
11. 1 sharp knife
12. Washing up liquid and sponge thing
13. Tea towel and oven glove

Work Stuff

1. backpack or bag of some sort
2. folders for work
3. Plastic wallets
4. well-stocked pencil case
5. remember scissors, holepunch, ruler, rubber, pencil sharpener, stapler, pritstick and blutack, and pins
6. Plenty of biro pens
7. Loads of dividers for your folders
8. Laptop/computer - even though the uni might have lots its convenient to be able to work from your room, especially when you have deadlines

TIP: keeping organised is the secret of doing well, it will save you lots of time when it comes to revising.

Stuff That Would Be Nice To Take

1. Hi-Fi
2. TV - although you can get most programmes online through, BBC player, Itv player and 4OD so theres no need really
3. Playstation and other consoles

TIP: All these things tend to be expensive, and most heavy and large so make sure you get insurance for the expensive stuff.

TIP: If your adamant on bringing yout TV make sure you buy a TV license as you could be faced with a £1000 fine.

Other Stuff - most of this you can probably buy when you get there

1. Alarm clock
2. Watch
3. Desk lamp
4. Sports equipment - you'll probably feel the need to start playing loads of sport once you get to university. Make sure you've got your football boots.
5. Washing powder
6. Bin Bags
7. Laundry bag
8. Towels
9. Posters
10. First Aid Kit - plasters, aspirin, antiseptic cream, cotton wool
11. Mobile phone and charger
12. Umbrella - especially since it rains most days in Manchester
13. Camera - record your freshers week memories.
14. Condoms - just to be on the safe side.
15. Clothes Hangers

Leave the following out

1. Expensive Bikes - Bikes are a good idea, but unless you've got one of those rack things for your car you wont fit it in so buy a cheap one there. Bikes are one of the most nicked items in Manchester.
2. Ironing Board - The hall usually supplies one.
3. Toaster - It'll set off the smoke alarm in your room, and then you'll be in trouble. Use the one in the kitchen!
4. Blow-Up Chairs - You probably won't have enough room fit em in.

Where to Live?

The University of Manchester

The uni has 9,200 places in 26 different halls for undergraduates (there are a further 8 halls for postgrads), with prices ranging from £78 a week for a single room with washbasin to £132 a week for a single en suite room. First year students are guaranteed a place in halls as long as they apply before the deadline. Choosing the best accommodation will depend on your needs and what you think you can live without. If you feel you can share a bathroom, this will help to save you money in the long run, so you will have more to spend on nights out and shopping. If you want to rent a house with your mates, prices will start at £55, this sounds a lot cheaper but remember that this will not include bills and there is no guarantee that your mates will pay their rent or bills on time, which will leave you having to help them. For first year students it is recommended that you don't stay in a house as it gives you more time to learn about the area, to make friends and it may be catered so it will save you time on having to cook. With such a wide range of halls to choose from, it may seem a like a difficult choice. Its probably best to find out where your building is and then choose a place to live that is located nearby, this will mean that you can wake up as late as possible to get to lectures and save you money on traveling to uni. If your building is in the North campus then it is wise to choose halls near Sackville St, such as Western Halls or Fairfield halls. The best uni halls for student life are probably the Owens Park halls, but these are located a mile or so from the main campus so you will probably have to catch a bus there, but it is possible to walk. For more information on all the halls click here.

An excellent alternative to university halls are private halls which cost practically the same and tend to be of better quality and give you the opportunity of living with students from different institutions. The only downside is that you will have to pay for extras such as the Internet. Good private halls that give the uni halls a run for their money include, Wilmslow Park, which is very conveniently located at the start of Wilmslow Road home to the curry mile and it is also above a Tesco and Lidl, with a post office and Varsity bar, so pretty much all the amenities you would need are nearby. Wilmslow Park is also just a 5 minute walk to the main site, another decent private halls is Q3 Apartments which is located just behind Oxford Road on Plymouth Road, so you can get away with sleeping in. Both these private halls cost around £4000 per year and offer en suite and spacious rooms. You can find out more information on these and others from the Manchester Student Homes website.

Manchester Metropolitan University

The MMU have a choice of 8 student halls in Manchester and a choice of en suite or catered halls at its Cheshire site. The university guarantees accommodation for all full-time first year students who apply before 31 August. On the whole MMU offer modern student accommodation which is close to their campuses in the city centre and the prices range from a reasonable £70 a week in Cavendish Hall for a standard room. At the other end of the scale for £100 a week you will get a Deluxe room in Wilmslow Park, which will give you a double size bed and spacious room. A good tip for people staying at Wilmslow Park is to become a member of the residents' committee, as you will be offered either a free gym membership or free car parking space (which is extortionate if you have to pay). There are a further 8 halls at the Cheshire site ranging in price from a cheap £63 a week for a standard self-catering room in Daisy Bank House to £80 a week in Booth Hall for an en suite room. More info on MMU's student accommodation can be found on their website. Again there is the option of living in private halls, for which you'll find details of on the Manchester Student Homes website, which is run by the University of Manchester and MMU.

Salford University

Salford has 7 halls of residences for undergrads, 2 of which, Constantine Court and Horlock Court are located on Campus. All other accommodation is a short distance away, but the uni offers a free bus service during term time. The prices range from a very cheap £56 a week for a standard room in Castle Irwell to £78.54 for an en suite in Constantine Court. All the residences require a £200 damage deposit which is payable when you accept an offer and is returned within 4 weeks of your contract ending.

Other Important Stuff to Remember

Another important thing for people who cannot live without a TV is to check whether you will need a TV license. Generally if you bring your own TV you will by law have to buy a TV license, which will set you back £135.50 for the year, you can buy this online or at the post office. Sometimes if there is a TV supplied it will be in the communal area and come with a TV license, the private Q3 apartments do this. It is also important to check whether your rent will include contents insurance, as living in a large city such as Manchester it is inevitable that there is crime and this can be prevented by making sure you keep your stuff out of sight and if the worse happens by having insurance it will be less of a financial burden. Endlseigh is one of the largest companies offering cheap insurance to students, they have a branch in the union of the University of Manchester. A good website to go on is immobilise, which is the UK National Property Register where you can add details of your property so if it does get lost or stolen, the police help you recover it.

Which University?

Obviously this will be dependant on what grades you get, but if you do well then you will have the choice of applying where you want to. Manchester is home to the largest student population in Europe. There are currently three universities in Manchester, The University of Manchester is the largest of these, then there is Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) and The University of Salford, which is based in the Salford Quays just outside the city centre.

The University of Manchester

In 2004 when UMIST and the Victoria University of Manchester merged the University of Manchester was created, making it Britain's largest single-site university. Shortly after in 2005 the University won the inaugural Times Higher Supplement's University of the Year prize in 2005. The university is also the most popular University in Britain receiving more applications than any other, in 2007 the University received more than 64000 undergraduate applications alone. Currently there are 25,656 undergraduates with a further 9000 postgraduate students. Without a doubt The University of Manchester is the best university with respect to ranking, in 2008 it was ranked as 40th in the world and 5th in the UK by Shanghai Jiao Tong in their annual list of the world's top 500 Universities. The university has a bold ambition called the 2015 Manchester agenda, in which the university is aiming to become one of the world's 25 best universities. In the most recent RAE (Research Assessment Exercise) The university was placed only behind Cambridge and Oxford in terms of world leading research. The university offers an unparalleled selection of courses from Medicine to Russian Studies, in total offering just over 500 courses. The university's career service is consitently voted amongst the best in the country, appointments can be made before hand or you can just drop in, so you will receive excellent help in applying for your dream career.

The union plays an important role in university life, housing a bar, shop, eye clinic and underground club. Many socieities have offices in the union building, you are strongly advised to join a society as this will add to your uni experience and is a great way of getting to know people and to forget studying. There is a whole host of societies and clubs you can join, from sports clubs to the Sikh society. Next door to the union building is the Manchester Academy, open to the public and students of other universities, which plays host to briliant bands at an affordable price. Past performers have included Amy Winehouse, Foo Fighters, Coldplay and the Arctic Monkeys (to find out more click here).

The University has an excellent location, mainly centred around the Oxford Road corridor and it is just a 10 minute bus ride into the city centre. It is possible to walk into town from the university and it is conveniently located a short walk from the Rusholme area home to the "curry mile" although not exactly 1 mile long there are plenty of cheap Indian restaurants as well as some Chinese restaurants and bars, like Varsity, which are very student friendly.

Manchester Metropolitan University

MMU is one of the largest universities in Britain, offering around 700 courses to over 33,000 students and the majority are from state schools with a 94:6 ratio of state to privately educated students. MMU has a more grown up feel than Man uni because of the high number of local and mature students, with a fifth of the students being over the age of 25. The MMU is more spread out than its neighbour, with the All Saints campus located next to the University of Manchester on Oxford Road, the Elizabeth Gaskell campus (about a mile away from the main site)with further sites in the Didsbury area and sites further away in Cheshire (Crewe and Alsagar). Although not known for its academic prowess, the university was the first new university to achieve a 5* for research in 2001. The university also has good career prospects with 92% being employed 6 months after graduation.

The union building is located at the main site on Oxford Road, which has several bars including the K-Two bar which plays host to 3 or 4 club nights a week. The K-Two has also been a site for gigs such as Eagle Eye Cherry, Trevor Nelson, Chemical Brothers and Dreem Teem in the last couple of years. The Capitol theatre is also a great place to watch plays put on by the drama society.

Salford University

Salford university is the smallest of the three unis in Manchester with over 12,000 full time undergraduate students. Just over a mile away from the centre of Manchester, it is an exciting time to be living in Salford as it is undergoing a big regeneration. The majority of the university's bulidings are modern the campus is very green, so if you want an alternative to the busy cosmopolitan life in Manchester, Salford is a little bit quieter. The university has 3 main sites, Peel Park, Frederick Road and Adelphi, all within 10 minutes of each other where the majority of students are based. There’s also Irwell Valley, a further ten mins from Frederick Road, near the Castle Irwell Student Village. The nearby docklands will be home to 5 BBC departments and is the BBC's largest presence outside of London. This is part of the MediaCityUK development, which will give the area a boost and provide excellent opportunites for media students. There is a good careers service which can help graduates start their own business and provide placements in local industries.

Media courses are the most oversubscribed courses at Salford and there is also a new £8 million law school. The union has three bars, eight cafes, a stationary shop and offers a late night minibus. There are plenty of societies to join. Although Salford won't attract big bands it is a short bus ride into Manchester where the MEN arena is easily accessible and plays host to a variety of major international performers.

Which Student Account?

When should I open an account?

You should open one as soon as possible, most banks will accept anyone with a UCAS offer letter (conditional or unconditional). So it's possible to open an account before the start of term and get preferential terms early. Most students will be receiving some form of financial help, such as grants and student loans, so you will need a bank account for these to be paid into.

Picking the best student bank account
Virtually every bank gives online access and free cash machine withdrawals, so which bank is closest to you should not affect your decision. Therefore you should compare the banks to see which has the best offers. A major factor in picking the best bank account should be the overdraft. A bank may offer the biggest overdraft, but this isn't everything as this will only encourage you to spend, spend, spend so from experience a £1000 overdraft should be more than enough to cover you for a year. Look for banks that offer a reasonable overdraft and make sure it is at 0% interest for the longest time possible, most banks will charge 0% interest until after you graduate. When taking out an overdraft it is important that you follow the following rules:

• Never go over the agreed overdraft as the penalties will be very expensive and your credit rating will be affected, which wont matter to you as a student but will in the future.
  
• As part of your application for an overdraft you will be credit scored and some students may get rejected because there is a lack of data available on you. There may be no solutio to this so just count yourself lucky thta you will not be able to get into debt with an overdraft as this will only add to your debt after you graduate.

The best student accounts for 2009

If you're an English or Welsh student in England or Wales, the biggest 0% overdraft is from Halifax. It offers a maximum interest-free overdraft of £3,000 every year, so the average limit over a three-year course is also £3,000. The problem with this is an upper limit, so you won't necessarily get the full amount immediately. Most people get just £500 to start with. However increases can be requested, but they depend on a credit score and they are not guaranteed but by the end of year one most should have access to the full amount. Annoyingly there's no way to find out in advance if you'll get all this money, but as the same's true for most other accounts, and it offers the biggest 0% overdraft. As I said before it is best to not go for the largest overdraft as this will just encourage you to spend more than you need to.

If you're Scottish the Royal Bank of Scotland offers a 0% overdraft of £2,750, this also gives you the choice of freebies; either £100 free cash or its Travel Package, which includes a three-year 16-25 Railcard (which cuts many UK rail fares by a third) and one month's free bus travel in Edinburgh, Glasgow or Aberdeen. Plus, apply online and you'll also get a free webcam.

Another good bank account is NatWest. It offers a free five-year 16-25 Railcard worth £120 so if you're a regular train traveller, this is well worth it as it will cut a third off many fares. The railcard is renewed each year provided you’ve used the bank account within the previous three months. NatWest gives a much lower 0% overdraft of £1,250 in year one, £1,400 in year two and £1,600 in year three, but this is a reasonable amount which will help you to save in the long run.

Welcome!

If you haven't already guessed, in this blog I will be letting you know what its like to live and study in Manchester. I'll be telling you about the best places to shop, eat and party. I will also give tips on how to save money whilst your living on a tight budget as a student. I won't talk too much about myself, but I am currently a student here so most things I tell you will be from experience. I will be updating this blog on a regular basis so its a good idea to click on the become a follower of this blog button on the sidebar at the right side of the page. Please feel free to give me your comments and share some tips of your own.

Thanks for looking
Harpal