Friday 11-08-2017 - 15:48

Congratulations, you’re heading to GCU!

 

We here at GCU Students’ Association have put together a wee handy guide to help you get ready for September, which we'll be sharing with you over the summer.

To get started we’ve gathered a bunch of information to help you with the practical side of moving and preparing for starting university.

 

Accommodation

 

Coming to GCU might mean that many of you will be leaving home for the first time and will need to find somewhere to stay whilst you study. From on-campus accommodation to private student housing to private renting there are a range of different options available, and our Student Advisors can help you with any queries you have.

One of the most popular choices for new students is moving into their university’s halls of residence. GCU’s Caledonian Court is a stone’s throw away from the university, includes utilities and is ideal for meeting students from all across the world. If you would like more information about applying just go to the university website. 

If you’re looking to live off-campus but would still like the experience of living in halls then you could look at staying in private student accommodation; there are a few private halls listed in our Accommodation Handbook and you can always pick up flyers from the Welcome Desk (in the Students’ Association Building).

If you prefer independent living you can always look at private rentals. There is a noticeboard in the Advice Centre (in the Students’ Association Building) listing the details of rooms to rent and shared accommodation, and you can always look through the Private Accommodation Database for private flats. When looking at private accommodation please bear in mind that you will need to consider things like facilities and location – check out the university’s guide to the private sector for more information.

For more information about accommodation you can check out the Advice Centre’s information on accommodation or read through our Accommodation Handbook.

 

Council Tax

 

As a student you may be eligible for a discount or full exemption on your council tax. If you go to Glasgow City Council’s website you can check if you are eligible and make your application. They also have an information page about council tax for students.

 

Electoral Register

 

As demonstrated in the 2017 general election the youth vote can have an impact on British politics so it is vital to make sure you are registered to vote. If you’ve moved away from home to study then you can always look at registering both addresses. If you haven’t already registered or if you need to update any of your details just follow the steps on-line.

If you have any further questions about the electoral register then you can always contact your local Electoral Registration Office.

 

Utilities

 

If you watch or record programmes, or download or watch BBC programmes on iPlayer (on any device) you will need to pay for a TV licence. If you aren’t sure whether or not you will need a TV Licence you can check on-line, or you can complete a form to get help with a specific query. You can pay for your license or declare that you don’t need one on-line.

When you move into your new home make sure to take a note of the meter readings (even take a time-stamped photograph) then contact the energy providers for the property and give them the readings along with your move-in date so that you only get billed from when you moved in.

Typically energy bills come through every quarter, however, you can look at setting up a monthly direct debit rather than being hit with a large bill every three months; just remember that you will need to have sufficient funds in your bank account for the direct debit to avoid any charges from your bank.

 

Remember that you can always look at joining our Official GCU Freshers 2017 group on Facebook or you can have a look at our next post!