University Guides August 20, 2010

• Students find London cost-effective

  An annual poll of student expenditure and earnings from part-time work suggests that London is the most cost effective city for students, with Dundee coming second place. The survey also found that average weekly student expenditure was £185, reduced from more than £200 in 2009. For more on this article in The Independent >

  The Complete University Guide offers lots of advice on student finance: financial support and budgetting >

  If you’ll be studying in London, take a look at our featured article on Living like a Londoner >

• Live like a Londonder

   

  The
  UNITE Insiders Guide to Capital Living

  If you are
  heading off to university in London this September, insider knowledge will be
  invaluable when it comes to making the most of your new city – and your
  budget. UNITE, the
  UK’s leading provider of student accommodation, has called upon its city savvy
  residents to offer up their insider tips for London living. 

  Whether you
  are heading North, East, South or Central, veering off the tourist trail will
  take you to a world of secret student haunts – from thrifty vintage hideaways
  to the best bars and music venues. Become a ‘local’ with the UNITE Insiders Guide to Capital
  Living 

  CENTRAL

  Film fix: With
  regular director Q&As, documentary events and Midnight Movie sessions,
  Curzon Soho is the only place to go for art-house cinema.  Students can
  get an annual pass for a reduced rate of £30 (usually £50) which means there’s
  money left for the bar! www.curzoncinemas.com  99
  Shaftesbury Avenue,
  W1D 5DY

  Sunday lunch
  sewn up: Hang out with one of London’s coolest crowds at the famed
  Sunday Knit Roast.  Hosted at The
  Crown and Two Chairmen in Soho, enjoy a slap up lunch while mastering the art
  of knitting – the ideal hangover cure. www.iknit.org.uk 31-32 Dean Street, W1D 3SB

  A
  favourite among fashion and design students, R D Franks is one of London’s best
  book shops stocking hundreds of national and international titles – drop in and
  lose yourself for an afternoon. www.rdfranks.co.uk  5 Winsley St., W1W 8HG

   Make it Social: Students looking for proper
  cocktails, global beers, cutting-edge DJs and good grub should head to The
  Social close to Oxford Circus. With free Wi-Fi and all the fish finger
  sandwiches you can it, it’s the perfect local. www.thesocial.com   5 Little Portland St, W1W 7JD

  Designer for less: For some of the best
  designer
  cast-offs and vintage bargains, head to the Salvation Army thrift store in
  Mayfair.  On the first floor you’ll
  find brilliant shoes, hoards of designer jackets and chic dresses.  Upstairs is a treasure chest of more
  luxurious finds such as glam evening bags which can be snapped up for less than
  £10. www.salvationarmy.org.uk  9 Princes Street, Mayfair,
  W1B 2LQ

  EAST

  One to watch:
  Students with even the slightest interest in films should venture to Umit &
  Son – an intriguing shop in Lower Clapton selling a huge mix of old, classic,
  cult and blockbusters like original Bond films. Stacked high with old film
  reels, film projection equipment and cameras, it’s a real Aladdin’s Cave. 020 8985 1766 35 Lower Clapton Rd, Lower Clapton, E5

  On your bike: Lock 7 is a hit with the East End’s two-wheeled
  community. It’s a walk-in repair clinic, a cycle shop and café all in one – and
  you can even hire a bike for the day or week from just £10.  And if your budget won’t stretch to a
  brand new set of wheels, there is a selection of cheap second-hand bikes from
  police auctions – restored and returned to the road. www.lock-7.com 129 Pritchards Rd, E2

  Cheap seats: Housed in a stunning converted factory in Hackney, Arcola
  Theatre has made a name for itself as one of London’s most exciting fringe
  venues. What’s more,
  every Tuesday evening Arcola sells a limited number of
  tickets as ‘Pay What You Can’ for Studio 1 & 2 performances, which makes it
  a popular student haunt. www.arcolatheatre.com 27 Arcola St, Dalston, E8 2DJ

  Blooming bargains:
  London’s Columbia Road Flower Market is a great place to pick up cheap blooms
  and plants for your new place. But it isn’t just about the flowers. Discover
  the small yard-market around the back of Ezra Street for vintage bric-a-brac
  and bargain bits to dec out your student pad. www.columbiaroad.info Columbia Road
  Flower Market, Columbia Rd, E2

  London look: Student fashionistas will love The East End
  Thrift Store.  With lots of
  wardrobe bargains and constant new stock, it’s one of the best second-hand
  stores in London.  Students get a
  10% discount and regular customers are rewarded with highly sought-after
  invites to the shop’s bi-monthly shindigs, so it’s well worth a visit. www.theeastendthriftstore.com Unit 1a, Waterman’s Building,
  Assembly Passage, E1

  SOUTH

  Music to
  your ears: If you’re
  into live music then check out The Windmill, a small pub tucked away in the heart of Brixton
  with a difference! Championing new music talent, the venue has played host to
  some of London’s most successful guitar bands so it’s well worth a visit. www.windmillbrixton.co.uk 22 Blenheim Gardens, Brixton SW2 5BZ

  Secret of the South: Brixton
  Market has undergone a huge revival, and those heading down to Electric Avenue
  can now expect pop-up art galleries, vintage stores, textiles shops and great
  little cafes serving up everything from jerk chicken to tea ‘n’ cupcakes. www.brixtonmarket.net Brixton Market, Electric
  Avenue, SW9

   Refuel:  Whether you’re
  looking for somewhere to nurse a hangover or a nice place to take mum when she
  visits for lunch, head to Breads Etcetera on Clapham High Street. Shiny white
  toasters on the tables are a hit with students, and the sandwiches are a far
  cry from spaghetti hoops on toast. www.breadsetcetera.com 127 Clapham
  High St, SW4 7SS

  Wi-Fi with a view: If you don’t want to be stuck
  studying in your room, lots of places offer free Wi-Fi.  With stunning views of the Thames and
  Somerset House, the second floor café at the Royal Festival Hall is the ideal
  spot. Students can also get 50% off tickets to performances and exhibitions. www.southbankcentre.co.uk Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road,
  SE1 8XX

  Laughter
  sessions: If you’re
  getting to know your new housemates, Up the Creek in Greenwich is the perfect
  ice breaker. Renowned for being one of the best places to see live comedy, it
  offers discounted tickets to students. What’s more, comic wannabes can even try
  their hand at stand-up on special open mic nights. www.up-the-creek.com Up the
  Creek, 302 Creek Road, London, SE10 9SW

  NORTH

  Pub treasure: Jumble has had a makeover, and London’s trendiest
  20-somethings can be seen touting their upmarket wares at Jumble and Peals – a
  monthly sale at The Horatia pub on the Holloway Road.  With a mix of vintage goodies and cut-price designer
  treasures, it’s a student haven. www.thehoratia.co.uk The
  Horatia, 98-102 Holloway Rd, N7 8JE

  Free Art: Camden Arts
  Centre is a word-class
  visual arts space – and it doesn’t cost a penny to visit! Take advantage of
  free screenings, live art performances and professional talks every Wednesday -
  and check out the bookshop too; it’s full of quirky little publications that
  you’ll struggle to find anywhere else. www.camdenartscentre.org Camden
  Arts Centre, Arkwright Rd, NW3 6DG

  Praise the music: Union Chapel
  is a 500-capacity Victorian gothic church which doubles up as one of London’s
  best gig venues. Big name acts including José Gonzaléz, Amy Winehouse and Keane
  have all performed at this magnificent venue, so check out this season’s line
  up. www.unionchapel.org.uk Compton Terrace, London, N1 2UN

  The great outdoors: When it
  comes to staying fit, you don’t need fancy equipment. Regent’s Park and
  Primrose Hill are ideal for running and there are a range of routes to suit all
  levels of fitness. Open from 5am, Regent’s Park is the ideal place for a
  pre-lecture workout. www.royalparks.org.uk Regent’s Park, London, NW1 4NR

  Eclectic
  cinema: The Phoenix is one of the UK’s oldest cinemas in the UK
  with a stunning art deco auditorium. It screens new releases, independent,
  foreign-language and specialist films, plus a repertoire of old and new
  classics.  Film fans can also make
  the most of regular events, festivals, one-off screenings and film classes. www.phoenixcinema.co.uk Phoenix
  Cinema, 52 High Road, East Finchley, London, N2 9PJ

  With 25 properties now available in the Capital, UNITE
  offers students the best choice of location, room type and price. Students
  can browse, organise viewings, view virtual tours and book rooms online by
  visiting www.unite-students.com or
  find out more by calling 0800 783 4213.

  UNITE also has a large range of rooms available for Short
  Term Stays in Central, East and North London with prices starting from as
  little as £148 per week. Short stays start at one week and can be booked per
  night thereafter – there´s no maximum stay. Many of these are available for an
  immediate start so are great for anyone coming to stay in London for the
  summer.

  Article supplied courtesy of Unite. 

   

   

• UCAS advice and Clearing

  As an article in The Independent reminds us, Clearing should not be seen as a bargain basement or last-chance saloon for those who have failed all of their exams; going through the Clearing system doesn’t mean that you have failed. It could be that you have had offers of a university place, but not received the required grades, or you might have changed your mind about which subject to study or indeed where to study. Clearing is supported by a team of advisers – experts whose knowledge and understanding make the university admissions process easy and simple to use. Their advice is not to panic and to remember that chosing the right university and the right subject is an important decision as you will be spending at least three years studying the course. Bear in mind, also, that there are alternatives to full-time study, such as part-time or distance learning, which may be appropriate for you.

  To read this article in full >

  To see The Complete University Guide’s Clearing FAQs >

  For information on Flexible Learning >

  For advice on Choosing a Course and Choosing a University >

  Click here for the UCAS website; UCAS Exam Results Helpline 0808 100 8000; UCAS Customer Service 0871 468 0468.