Staying In Nottingham City To Study
When you think of being a student you usually imagine moving out of home to a different
part of the country. But these days there seems to be more and more students studying in
their home town and sticking to living with their parents.
I became a student in Nottingham two years ago, and over half of all the people I have
become close friends with are also from Nottingham. Student life is so expensive these days
so worrying about accommodation is one massive headache you can do without if you have
the choice.
A few years ago, when my sister was a University student she made a point of finding the
course she wanted to do as far away from Nottingham as she could. She couldn’t wait to get
away and start fresh somewhere new, so when I told her I had no intention of moving out of
Nottingham, and that I was completely over the moon that Nottingham University held the
course I wanted to do she was a bit confused.
“What’s the point of being a student if you’re not even going to move away from home?
You won’t have the full experience of being a student” she said.
I really don’t agree with her view at all. I suppose it depends on the individual circumstances
of each student. Some people stay at home for financial reasons (which was the main
reason for me), some parents wont let their kids move out and others might have health
issues or religion can be a factor.
Maybe I was just lucky. I didn’t stay at home in Nottingham because I wasn’t allowed to
move away. I chose to stay in Nottingham. If I had really wanted to follow in my sisters
foot steps my parents would have helped me out but I didn’t see the point in stressing over
having to sort out student accommodation every year and the pressure to find a part time
job straight away. For me, being a student in Nottingham, and living at home with parents
in Nottingham just made things so much easier. I still get to do the same things as everyone
else. I go out regularly in Nottingham and enjoy student discounts along with everyone
else. My parents are pretty relaxed but if my friends and I are planning a particularly heavy
night out I tend to stay at one of their houses. One of my friends lives in shared student
accommodation. It’s a five bed house near Nottingham city centre full of students so falling
in at 5am is pretty standard!
Another advantage (or disadvantage depending on which way you look at it) of Nottingham
being my home town was that I automatically became designated tour guide! I’ve been able
to recommend bars that I know are full of students, areas of the city where I know there’s
plenty of affordable student accommodation and all the high street stores where you can
use your NUS card for discount!
So overall I don’t feel like I’ve missed out on the student experience at all. Being a student
shouldn’t be about worrying over accommodation or cash flow problems and staying at
home is definitely a big money saver. I still have a part time job because I like to have my
own cash and to keep Mum and Dad happy I do pay them some rent (although considerably
lower than I would if I was renting student accommodation.) Helping around the house
and sometimes cooking the dinner is another good way to keep the parents on side! I’d
recommend staying at home to anyone, and if you’re fortunate enough to already live in
Nottingham and go to Nottingham University that’s an extra bonus. If not, come and be a
student in Nottingham and I’ll help you find some cheap student accommodation!
part of the country. But these days there seems to be more and more students studying in
their home town and sticking to living with their parents.
I became a student in Nottingham two years ago, and over half of all the people I have
become close friends with are also from Nottingham. Student life is so expensive these days
so worrying about accommodation is one massive headache you can do without if you have
the choice.
A few years ago, when my sister was a University student she made a point of finding the
course she wanted to do as far away from Nottingham as she could. She couldn’t wait to get
away and start fresh somewhere new, so when I told her I had no intention of moving out of
Nottingham, and that I was completely over the moon that Nottingham University held the
course I wanted to do she was a bit confused.
“What’s the point of being a student if you’re not even going to move away from home?
You won’t have the full experience of being a student” she said.
I really don’t agree with her view at all. I suppose it depends on the individual circumstances
of each student. Some people stay at home for financial reasons (which was the main
reason for me), some parents wont let their kids move out and others might have health
issues or religion can be a factor.
Maybe I was just lucky. I didn’t stay at home in Nottingham because I wasn’t allowed to
move away. I chose to stay in Nottingham. If I had really wanted to follow in my sisters
foot steps my parents would have helped me out but I didn’t see the point in stressing over
having to sort out student accommodation every year and the pressure to find a part time
job straight away. For me, being a student in Nottingham, and living at home with parents
in Nottingham just made things so much easier. I still get to do the same things as everyone
else. I go out regularly in Nottingham and enjoy student discounts along with everyone
else. My parents are pretty relaxed but if my friends and I are planning a particularly heavy
night out I tend to stay at one of their houses. One of my friends lives in shared student
accommodation. It’s a five bed house near Nottingham city centre full of students so falling
in at 5am is pretty standard!
Another advantage (or disadvantage depending on which way you look at it) of Nottingham
being my home town was that I automatically became designated tour guide! I’ve been able
to recommend bars that I know are full of students, areas of the city where I know there’s
plenty of affordable student accommodation and all the high street stores where you can
use your NUS card for discount!
So overall I don’t feel like I’ve missed out on the student experience at all. Being a student
shouldn’t be about worrying over accommodation or cash flow problems and staying at
home is definitely a big money saver. I still have a part time job because I like to have my
own cash and to keep Mum and Dad happy I do pay them some rent (although considerably
lower than I would if I was renting student accommodation.) Helping around the house
and sometimes cooking the dinner is another good way to keep the parents on side! I’d
recommend staying at home to anyone, and if you’re fortunate enough to already live in
Nottingham and go to Nottingham University that’s an extra bonus. If not, come and be a
student in Nottingham and I’ll help you find some cheap student accommodation!