Since tuition fees were trebled in 2012, it might have been easy to be put off going to university. Again, even more so, with the news that living loans didn’t increase in line with the cost of living last year. Many parents and students believed that universities were no longer a viable option for everyone and scary headlines claimed of graduates being saddled with many thousands of pounds worth of debt to carry around with them for the rest of their lives. Well, the good news is, it’s a massive myth, unless you’re earning top whack, in which case you should be able to pay it back. Up until earlier this year, any graduates on less than £21,000 had to pay back nothing at all. The even better news is, now, thanks to a rise in this threshold last month, English and Welsh students who took out loans from September 2012 onwards will only start to pay them back when they earn £25,000 a year. After that interest is charged at 9% on the amount earnt over the threshold. So essentially, the amount of student loan that you take out does not relate to the amount you pay back – this is decided on the amount you earn, once you get a job after university. Unlike traditional loans, which often have a deadline, repayments are all dependant on how much you get out of your education – and how great the job you get is, as a result – all part of the government’s aim to get more people into higher education.   Student loans disappear after 30 years Any worries about moving into the retirement years still struggling with thousands of pounds of debt can also be blown out of the water. That’s because, you stop owing the money back, either once it’s all paid off, or once 30 years has passed. And if you don’t earn over £25,000 during that time, you never have to pay it off at all. According to research by the Money Saving Expert website, using their Student Finance Calculator, most people, apart from those who are paid a vast amount will not,...

Gone are the days of student digs being damp and depressing, Leicester has some awesome state of the art places popping up all over the place, so when luxury student accommodation is what you need, then there’s never too far to go.  Back in the second half of the last century, student accommodation had a pretty poor reputation – just check out the likes of The Young Ones, for example. It couldn’t be further from the amazing accommodation that there is today and – call us biased – but we reckon Leicester has some of the best. Not only is there loads of new student accommodation all over the place, which has a wide range of all the mod cons as standard (flatscreen TVs, dishwasher, washer/dryer, Sky/broadband etc) – but, when it’s something truly special that you’re looking for, it’s all there. And you’ll be pleased to know that lots of the luxury student accommodation in Leicester is affordable too. Each of our luxury properties has something extra special, from the on-site communal gyms and cinema rooms to the high hotel spec finishes, our premium luxury student accommodation is perfect for those wanting stylish student living. And it’s this, combined with a team of staff which is committed to providing excellent standards of services and accommodation, which means the benefits of choosing Westmanor for your luxury student accommodation are many. Luxury Leicester student accommodation While we like to think that most of our Leicester student accommodation is pretty special, here are some of the ‘luxury’ properties, right on the top end of the scale, which should truly blow your socks off. Student Beehive Complete with its own on-site gym and cinema room, this is luxury student accommodation that is truly exceptional. It’s also only a five-minute walk to Leicester University and 15-20 minute walk to De Montfort University. Here you’ll enjoy everything you’ll need at university plus all-inclusive rents, free internet connection, free on-site laundry facilities, bike storage and a whole host more. Millstone Place These luxury studio, 2, 3 and 4-bed apartments were brand new in 2017 and have free Wi-Fi, water costs included, washer/dryer, microwave and large...

So, you’ve bagged a place at university and can’t wait to dive in and get involved. But, if it’s your first time as an undergraduate, you might be wondering what you’ll need to take with you as you venture into the unknown. We’ve put together a first-year university checklist to help you along. Keep it simple To start with, it’s worth saying that there’s a whole ton of stuff you could take with you that you won’t need, so do try and keep it simple. Travel light. After all, it’s likely to be just the one room you have to get all your stuff into, so don’t have your new home bursting at the seams. Try to stick to just the one suitcase of clothes, bedding and towels as well as a handful of other personal bits and pieces, such as family photos and posters, along with only the toiletries you’ll use. Also, don’t feel like you have to pay the earth for new stuff. Supermarkets and shops like Argos, for example, are excellent places to find cheaper good quality things you’ll need in the first year at university, such as pillows, duvet, electrical items and toiletries. And talking of electrical items – check what is already provided in your Leicester Student Accommodation before you waste money on providing yourself with something that you just won’t need. Things to bring So, you’ve got your 2018-2019 accommodation booked, but what are the first year university must-haves? Obviously, everyone is different and of course everyone has different likes, dislikes, essentials and non-essentials, but there are a few basic items that apply to everyone… Clothes – remember clothing for different occasions (eg lectures, lounging, nights out etc), warm clothes for as the weather gets colder, nightwear, different types of shoes and plenty of pairs of socks and underwear. Furniture for your room – after you’ve checked what is already provided, consider a laundry basket, desk lamp, alarm clock and an airer for drying clothes (if there’s no tumble dryer). Work stuff – as well as your computer or laptop, also give thought to stationery, such as pens, scissors, sellotape, blu-tack, paper, post-its,...

  It might feel like 2018 only just rolled around, but believe it or not Spring is on the horizon and that means it’s definitely time to make sure your accommodation for the next academic year is well in the bag! At Westmanor Student Living we make it our business to search properties and find De Montfort University and Leicester University students the very best accommodation, that way they can make the most of their time here. So how about somewhere brand spanking new? If you’re on the hunt for somewhere great to stay next year, take a look at just some of the stunning new student accommodation for 2018-2019 that we have on our books, many of which come with bills included!   Student Beehive This amazing student accommodation was brand new for 2018 and is perfectly placed for students of both Leicester universities at only a five minute walk to the University of Leicester and 15-20 to get to De Montfort uni. These modern, inclusive and fully furnished studio and one bedroom Leicester student flats come in various sizes and also include the following: Free internet connection Water costs included in rent Energy costs included in rent TV provided Free on-site laundry facilities On-site gym On-site cinema room   Dover Street and York Street Apartments Situated in the heart of Leicester city centre, this brand new development opens in September 2018 and consists of a selection of studios flats and en-suite three, four and five bed student apartments. Because it doesn’t open until September, this means no summer rent and on top of that, students get a £250 energy allowance provided in studio flats and a £200 energy allowance per person in cluster flats, with water costs included in the rent. Thanks to its great location it is surrounded by an array of all the best shops, cool bars, restaurants and much more. Oh – and it’s just a short walk from the University of Leicester and De Montfort University too!   Zone 8-10 West Walk Another new development of studio flats for September 2018 – this time brought to you by ZONE – a company which...

For many people, starting university can also mean the first experience of living away from home and all of the responsibilities that come with it. That’s why, when it comes to first time digs, many students opt for Student Accommodation Leicester Bills Included. The great thing about having your own place is the sense of freedom that it brings. However, it also means dealing with added extras that haven’t been on the radar before, such as setting house rules and paying bills. And any help finding your feet with it, to start with, is often much appreciated. At Westmanor Student Living, we think it’s always a good idea to establish house rules among the people you’re sharing with, such as washing up/ cooking/ cleaning rotas and bathroom usage, as soon as possible. It’s a great way to avoid disputes further down the line. And an excellent way to ensure energy and water bills are paid is by having them included in the rent, which will reduce the worry of how much they will be or when they’ll arrive. In an ideal world, student accommodation in Leicester would be a stone’s throw from your campus, so you can have an extra half an hour in bed; all bedrooms would have en-suite bathrooms so no waits for the shower; and all your bills would be included in your rent. This way you wouldn’t have the hassle of chasing up your housemates for payment or organising separate direct debits for your water, gas, electricity and internet. A top tip to getting all of the above is by picking accommodation early and finding the best property for your needs. And if you are looking for student accommodation in Leicester with all of your bills included we have many properties available to suit your requirements. There are hundreds of Leicester student properties on our books which include all bills in the rent for the next academic year. With prices to suit a range of budgets and individual requirements, our student flats and houses in Leicester also come with a selection of the following facilities: Furnished Double beds En-suite bathrooms On campus locations City centre...