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Accommodation Tips and Advice

Keep up to date with our regular blog 'Live well Learn Well' - where you can read more on topics such as study tips, wellness advice and homesickness.

Tips and advice while living in halls:

It can feel a bit overwhelming, moving away from home; Living with a group of people you have never met before. Here are our 5 tips and tricks to  make university accommodation a bit simpler.

  • 1) Save the Security team's phone number in your phone, they may become a time where you have locked yourself out or you see something specious. Having the security phone number saved in your phone not only saves you the hassle of trying to find it, but also makes the time they can arrive a lot quicker. It can keep you and the people around you safe.

    Securities phone number can be found below:

    - Central Number: 01228547662
    - Ambleside: 07809190531
    - Carlise Fusehill Street: 07809190530
    - Carlise Brampton Road: 07809190541 (Till 10.30pm Mon – Fri) 07809190530 (on weekends)
    - Lancaster: 07809190566

  • 2) If you are considering an online food shop, do this as a flat and divide the delivery fee. It makes it so much cheaper in the long term. I can almost guarantee that there will be someone who needs the same item as you, it helps you save money and space in the kitchen.

  • 3) Make or use a cleaning rota. By dividing up the tasks to do it keeps your kitchen nice and clean and avoids you failing an inspection. The university provides a Cleaning Rota(pdf) but do feel free to make your own as a group if that is what works best.

  • 4) Washing at university can be expensive, especially if you are doing it constantly. The trick is to do a big load once instead of lots of little loads. The washing machines at university are big so they can hold a considerable amount of clothes. This helps you save money and time waiting for your washing.

  • 5) Join and try all the events and groups. Being at university is the prime time to find what you enjoy; you will be spending a lot of time in and around campus so make use of the social element to university life. Have a look at the Student Union groups which put on events thought the academic year and UOC active with a gym and classes for you to join.

Kitchen Inspection Expectation:

During your time at university, you will have weekly kitchen inspections, to check your living comfortably and safely.
Follow the tips below to ensure your kitchen passes:

  • Brush, vacuum and mop the floor. Including around the cooker.
  • Wash and tidy away your dishes.
  • Clear and clean all surfaces – Sink, Kitchen Units, Table and inside of your fridge.
  • Empty the bins and remove recycling.
  • Clean the inside of the microwave.
  • Clean the cooker (Inside and Hob Top)
  • Tidy up the corridor and remove all obstructions.

These tasks can easily be divided with you and your flatmates. The university provides a rota but do feel free to make your own as a group if that is what works best.

Dealing with homesickness:

Moving away from home is a big step in everyone's life, but here at the University of Cumbria we want to make that process as smooth as possible. It is important to remember that homesickness is common when moving away from home, and you are not alone. The National Union of Students (NUS) states that homesickness affects between 50-70% of students during the first few months at university.

Homesickness can make you feel:

  • Scared
  • Alone
  • Isolated
  • Sad
  • Confused
  • Sick

And leaving you to think:

  • “I want to go home”
  • “I don't fit in here”
  • “I feel very lonely”
  • “I miss my friends and family back home”
  • “I don't like my course”

Here you can find some helpful tips which may help make the adjudgments that bit easier:

- Join a Society: Joining a club or society is a great way to meet like-minded people with similar interests and hobbies. Find out what groups are available to you on the Students Union website.

- Mental and emotional support: It is important you remember that your thoughts and emotions are valid. Here the University of Cumbria is staffed by qualified Mental Health Practitioners and Trainee Counsellors and offers appointments to students Monday - Friday. Appointments are available between 9.00am and 4.00pm, with a limited number of early evening appointments. Approximately 1 in 12 students at the University seek some support from the Talking Therapy Service, for a range of different issues including homesickness to make a self-referral click here.

- Create a routine: There are numerous benefits to establishing a routine from reducing stress to making your time as effective as possible. Routines help bring structure to your life and allow you to time manage which is particularly beneficial for university in terms of assignments. However, not everyone benefits from routine therefore finding the right balance for you can bring benefits to your mental and physical health.

- Look out for yourself: Making sure you get enough physical exercise can bring mental and physical benefits. As well as exercise making sure you get the correct amount of sleep and eating a balanced diet and other ways you can look after yourself. To join the university's gym please click here.

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