We share the stories of students who are struggling throughout the Covid-19 pandemic and call for action to support them and higher education.

In January, Housemates launched the #SaveOurStudents campaign, calling for decision-makers to provide clarity, fairness and flexibility to students to help them through the Covid-19 pandemic and necessary restrictions. Today, guest-writer Mafalda Casanova, a first-year student at Lancaster University, shares some of the student stories behind the campaign.

As I was growing up I had this scenario in my head of going to university. The scenario would slightly alter throughout time as I would change my opinion about what I wanted to study, or where I wanted to go. However, there was this one aspect that I was quite sure about – as I entered the university gates, I would look around and see the people that would shape the world in a near future. The next doctors, politicians, lawyers, scientists, artists, nutritionists, entrepreneurs – they would be there. We would be there. Together, aiming for a better tomorrow.

At this very moment, I look around and see no one. I’m alone at my desk, locked inside my home, trying to learn as much as I can from a laptop screen – and like me, so are all the other students.

This virus has both taken and given – like a wicked event that no one chose to attend. It has taken our physical wellbeing, our freedom, our chance to socialise with our friends and to make new ones. It has taken the university experience that all of us were entitled to, and in many cases, it has even taken loved ones without ever returning them. But Covid also made offerings. It gave us anxiety, loneliness, a lack of focus and motivation, and the sense of imminent danger.

 “My anxiety and mental health has become so impacted that I am currently signed off work” - Charlotte Ashley-Higgins, 20, University of Wolverhampton.

I have this tendency to always try to find the bright side. The first reaction that came into my mind was, “Since I’m not able to travel, to eat out, or go to the shopping centre, or go to the movies, or go to any parties...or GO OUT at all, at least I will be saving tons of money. Covid will make me an emotionally destroyed millionaire. Cool.”.

Sadly, this is not the case. Students, while sitting at their home desks, are currently paying for accommodation they can’t access. Most of them rely on financial assistance from supportive parents, who may now also be struggling to support this expense. The closure of retail and hospitality has left those who would usually rely on part-time work to support their education in major difficulty, with no support from furlough schemes in most cases. None of them would have guessed that one day, their monthly expenses would include an uninhabited, distant student room.

Considering the pandemic that lives among us, it would be unfair to make students take the hit for this, even in the scenario of a student choosing not to return to their accommodation, especially if they have their own health and safety concerns. Charlotte, who’s studying at the University of Wolverhampton, is now staying at her mum’s house in Birmingham. Her mum has sarcoidosis and is currently shielding, so Charlotte has chosen to stay at home to provide care, home-school her younger siblings and avoid putting the family at risk. “Even if I could go back, I wouldn’t due to the fact I felt so unsafe before I left. ... There was absolutely no management of government restrictions”, she said. Though hygiene concerns are not the case in most student accommodations, there are clearly students with their own concerns which need the flexibility to cancel their contracts early and return when it is safe and viable for them to do so.

Students across the border in Wales share similar concerns. Elin, a student at Cardiff Metropolitan University said, “My experience with student accommodation this academic year has been horrible. We’ve been told to stay away for two months and despite this, we are only getting back two weeks’ worth of rent money. How is that fair? We shouldn’t have to pay for accommodation we legally can’t use.”

These issues alone should be worthy of considering rent rebates or early contract releases, but this is beyond questions of ethics or morality, it is a matter of duty. Many students are currently being penalised for following the rules and contributing to an improvement in the global health crisis - a crisis which they will be paying for over the rest of their lives. Either the time I’ve spent looking at a screen has damaged my sight, or justice is in fact nowhere to be seen. 

This calls for support. Actual support. Not a limited, headline-friendly version of it, as with the partial refunds being given by some accommodation providers. Joel, also a student at Cardiff Metropolitan University, said, “[my accommodation operator] have told us they will offer a 50% rent rebate for a four-week period, essentially meaning we get two weeks of rent rebate for what is looking like at least eight weeks away from the residences (...). All the while, they are still chasing students to pay their term instalment of around £2,400. My loan doesn’t even cover my rent instalment!”. This has since extended this refund to seven weeks, but kept it at 50%.  

Unfortunately, the “student” label seems to imply childish naivety suitable for financial exploitation and disregard from decision-makers. “They have failed to consider students’ circumstances and it feels like they are deliberately messing about young, impressionable students”, says Danielle, who’s studying at the University of West England in Bristol. 

Don’t be misled: our youth doesn’t carry immaturity, it carries courage. The type of courage it takes to leave our homes, wave farewell to family and take off to the place which enables us to shape tomorrow’s world. 

As for me, it was night time when my airport bus arrived at Lancaster University and the campus was dark and empty. As I turned around and looked at my friend I realised weren't scared. We were excited because we knew that we were on a journey that would eventually lead us to contribute to society and the economy, as we have always aspired to do. We cannot allow that energy and excitement be drained by poor treatment and a lack of support - it’s essential to our future.

If you haven’t already, you might be prepared to dial up your accommodation provider with an angry speech on queue, but wait. These providers are victims of this crisis too and are trying to get by with the same levels of uncertainty. Whilst their inboxes are understandably filled with students demanding rebates and contract releases, many accommodation providers do not own the buildings which they manage and are therefore under a legal obligation to pay their rents, too. 

Despite the stories from some major student accommodation chains, many providers want to do the right thing but need support to help their student tenants. Allied Students, who have buildings across Birmingham and Manchester, shared that, “With our own financial obligations, we need the Government to provide financial support and clear guidance so that we can help students by providing transparency, fairness and flexibility through this time. The higher education sector can help provide the country with a bright future, but we need support now to let that happen.”

In this struggle, students and providers are holding hands, albeit with gloves for sanitary reasons, and we need to be supported. The #SaveOurStudents campaign calls for the Government to provide clear guidance and financial support to ease the difficulty being caused by current restrictions. You can support the cause by visiting the #SaveOurStudents website.

#SaveOurStudents: The student stories behind the campaign

Life is unpredictable. We’ve partnered with Getsafe to bring affordable and flexible insurance to Housemates customers.

Given the past 12 months, we think it's fair to say that life is unpredictable. That’s why, when you book your accommodation for university, it’s also important to consider if you have adequate protection for your belongings in the event of accidents or mishaps, especially if you’re planning to bring an expensive laptop, phone or bike.

In line with our mission to make student moves smooth and secure, we’ve partnered with Getsafe to give everyone who books accommodation with Housemates £50 credit* towards Getsafe’s easy and affordable contents insurance policies. 

If Housemates is the digital student accommodation platform, by allowing you to book your accommodation securely online without hassle, Getsafe is doing the same thing for insurance with a safe, online process that allows you to secure your belongings in minutes, without any physical paperwork. 

Getsafe goes a step further than most insurers, by allowing you to manage your policy where you manage everything else - on your mobile. Better still, you’re able to change or cancel your policy at any time without administration fees - perfect for the ups-and-downs of student life, especially during a pandemic.

As you may know, Housemates has been calling for increased flexibility for students, especially during current events, so we’re thrilled to partner with Getsafe to provide this offer. Plus, with a “great”, 4-star rating on TrustPilot, you’re in good hands.

With Getsafe, you are able to customise your policy to your exact needs. You will need to provide the value of contents in your student home, these will then be covered if they are damaged due to fire, water, storms, burglary and other incidents. 

You’re then able to add on extras, such as accidental damage or out-of-home coverage for personal possessions such as a mobile or laptop. It’s important to read your policy documents thoroughly to understand what is and isn’t covered. Your accommodation provider may already have some insurance in place, it’s best to check. You can find out more about Getsafe and what their policies cover on the Getsafe website.

To get the offer, all you have to do is book your student accommodation through Housemates. Once you’ve booked your accommodation, we’ll send you the details to set up your Getsafe policy with £50 credit*. You will need to set up your policy before the Getsafe offer expires on the 31st of May 2021, but you are able to set the policy start date in the future.

To get started, just head to our homepage and search for your city or university. 

Accommodation is central to student life. Here we compare accommodation search platforms Housemates, Rightmove and Spareroom.

When it comes to searching for student accommodation, there are plenty of online and bricks-and-mortar services available to help you find a place to stay, many of which are well-known brands that you may have seen advertised, such as Rightmove and Spareroom. Then there’s Housemates, a new platform built specifically for students which allows you to book accommodation securely online.

Seeing as you’ll be spending so much time in your accommodation, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, it couldn’t be more important that you find the right place. To do that, you’ll want to start with an accommodation service that meets your specific needs as a student; be that for full transparency, speedy bookings, or increased rental security. 

Let’s look at how Housemates compares to some of the most popular options.

Rightmove is among the most well-known platforms for rental property searches in the UK, you may have seen their adverts on TV or at bus stops. Rightmove and similar platforms are particularly popular with UK students looking to rent private houses or apartments in groups. 

As Rightmove has been around for a long time, it’s popular for landlords and letting agents to list properties there, ensuring plenty of choice for students. Although, Rightmove is also used for the wider property market so most properties on this platform are not available for students. Be sure to check whether students are accepted on each listing before you proceed.

Once you do find a suitable property, you are able to make an enquiry by calling or emailing the landlord or agent who has published the listing. However, this can be quite a time-consuming process and most agents or landlords usually take a while to reply, many will not even respond at all. So in the meantime, it’s best to keep looking elsewhere or you could miss out.

Whatever you do, make sure you book a viewing, as many student houses and apartments are not well maintained by the owners and you don’t want to run into problems later with faulty appliances, mould or something else which will be uncomfortable to live with. Ideally, you’ll want to view the place in person, but if you can’t, many agents are now offering virtual tours due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

As of 2019, new laws have been brought in to prevent letting agents or landlords from charging any hidden fees in England and Wales. Similar rules already applied in Scotland. It’s best to familiarise yourself with these rules if you intend to rent a private house or apartment. However, you will likely need to send a refundable holding deposit to reserve the property before signing the tenancy agreement, and then a refundable security deposit to cover any damages or issues during your tenancy. Some landlords and agents may try to keep this deposit for unfair reasons at the end of the tenancy, such as general wear and tear, so be sure to understand your rights or you could lose out.

Having to use letting agents or landlords

Lack of information about properties online

Many properties are not suitable for students

Tenancy periods are usually 12 months, rather than 9

SpareRoom offers a similar style of service to Rightmove, but for landlords and tenants looking to sublet an individual room rather than an entire property. That makes it useful if you’re moving to a new city and need a place to stay but don’t know anyone there yet, so long as you’re happy to live with new people. Usually, the kitchen and bathroom are shared.

Again, once you find a property suitable for students, you can send a message or give the person who listed the room a call. It’s best for you to schedule a viewing to check the property is up to a good standard and you might also want to have a quick call or meet-up with the other residents in the property to check you’ll get on well enough. 

Whilst it's a good platform for finding properties and housemates, it can be quite a time consuming and tiresome process to find a suitable place and people you’re comfortable to live with. 

The same rules apply in terms of deposits, rent and fees, though if you’re paying rent through the other residents on a more casual basis, you may have less legal protection if something goes wrong. You should also be more vigilant when searching with Spareroom, as anyone can make a listing which increases the risk of fraudulent activity.

Lots of single rooms, sharing with new people

Not always free (pay to contact Early Bird listings)

Housemates is a brand new student accommodation platform that allows you to book instantly online, just like you would when reserving a hotel room. Whilst the platform doesn’t have any private houses like Rightmove or Spareroom, as a “student-first” business, all of the properties on Housemates are built specifically for students, so you won’t have to sift through listings just to find a place that accepts you. 

Housemates has rooms at all price points, ranging from budget-friendly student halls to luxury hotel-like boutique residences in a growing number of cities in the UK and Ireland. Though, regardless of your budget and whether you book by yourself or as a group, you’ll be amongst a community of like-minded students in any of the properties on Housemates, many of which have social spaces and gyms included which could save you money overall. Utility bills, including water, energy, broadband and TV licenses are also accounted for in most properties, saving you from further hours of unnecessary research and unexpected costs.

All of the properties on Housemates have dedicated, on-site maintenance teams who are able to respond to incidents quickly and keep the living spaces in good condition, creating a more comfortable living environment. Whilst it’s still recommended that you have a virtual viewing, you can be more confident if you aren’t able to do so. 

When you find a property that you are happy with, you can select your room type and tenancy period and then book it instantly online by paying the reservation payment listed on the site. This payment is completely secure and will be refunded by the accommodation operator when you pay your first month’s rent.

If you change your mind, you have 14 days to cancel the booking and receive a full refund. After that point, you’re still protected if you don’t manage to get your university place, your visa application is denied or you can’t get into the UK due to COVID-19 restrictions. By booking with Housemates, you receive an experience that’s customised to your student lifestyle, saving you the need to research the finer details of property law. 

By allowing you to book directly online, you’re able to arrange your accommodation without waiting for an agent to respond. However, if you do need to speak to a real person about a virtual viewing, group booking or something else, this can be done via the live-chat facility on the platform. 

Advanced cancellation (No university place/no visa/COVID-19 travel restrictions)

In-person viewings not currently available for all properties

Booking UK student accommodation: Rightmove, Spareroom or Housemates

We interview Jake Fox and Mafalda Casanova from Paperound and learn how the platform is gearing students up for a shifting graduate landscape

Media coverage often paints a false narrative of students behind childish, naive trouble-makers. In our Starts with a Student series, we’re putting the spotlight on students and recent graduates who are finding creative approaches to navigate the strange new world we live in.

For our first story, I virtually met with Lancaster University graduate, Jake Fox, who founded on-demand student resource site Paperound in 2020. I also spoke to Mafalda Casanova, a first-year undergraduate at Lancaster University, who is a “Student Tasker'' on the site.

In 2016, when Jake graduated from his Entrepreneurship and Management degree, he was, by his own words, “lucky” to get an internship at a consultancy firm where he worked on market research projects on tech, finance and retail sectors for four years.

Jake found that having almost no connections made it much harder for him to gain any of the real experience needed to land a job and firmly believes that young people and recent grads should be seen and rewarded for their “hard work and grit”, rather than their contacts. He is someone who likes to roll up his sleeves and get to work, describing himself as a “bit of a generalist”, who enjoys problem-solving and providing creative solutions.

“I had to work really hard to get this role, I was so lucky to get in, and my replacement was the daughter of one of our clients. She just walked in.”

During his internship, Jake was also working towards his Masters in Economics and Finance for Development at the University of Bradford, as well as building a sports-tech tennis startup. Then, after completing his masters, Jake went to work for Free, a start-up which helps people sell their house without fees. 

Whilst still in his role at Free, Jake launched Paperound towards the end of 2020. The site allows students to access ad-hoc, paid work alongside their studies. As well as helping students to earn some money, Jake says the service should help students to secure a graduate job by using the skills they’ve learned from university projects and societies on real-world, paid-for tasks directly with employers.

“It solves that student and graduate problem of struggling to get any experience, but needing that experience to enter the workplace.”

It also solves a problem for businesses, particularly for startups or smaller businesses who may not be able to commit to a full hire, but have work that needs to be done. Jake hopes that Paperound will make it quicker and easier to get somebody working on these tasks. After all, who wants to create extra hassle to get work done? 

He also mentions that in response to the remote working shift, many traditional companies, not just startups, are looking for ways to hire students and grads. Where traditionally they may just come in the office for a few hours a week, Paperound is a digital solution for that which also fits the student lifestyle.

Now based in Brighton, Jake runs an online interview with every student who joins the platform, ensuring that they are ready to work with businesses professionally and equipping them with essential skills to do so.

In the future, Jake hopes the site will facilitate connections between students and employers, providing a discovery platform for graduates - all without requiring a big commitment for students who get to choose their hours and the sort of work they're looking to do. With payments also managed securely through the platform, students are protected from the late payments often associated with freelance work.

In hiring students for the platform, Jake has had the best response when reaching out to societies and students directly. Mafalda Casanova, in her first year at Lancaster University, is one student who he worked with previously and then invited to join the platform. 

Speaking to Mafalda, it’s clear to see that she is both ambitious and proactive. Despite the setbacks that Covid-19 has caused, she is keen to be independent and Paperound has provided her with a great opportunity to gain experience on her terms far before being dealt an academic cap and certificate.

Mafalda researched other platforms, such as Fiverr, but found that they were not student-friendly and felt that she needed more experience to use them - partly because of how complex they were, but also because she wasn’t comfortable being among freelancers who had been working in their fields for several years.

The chance to dabble in many fields is something Mafalda also enjoys. Writing, graphic design, social media management and admin tasks are all among her skillset and having the chance to flex and grow these abilities is helping Mafalda to figure out where she could be in the future. 

Speaking about how her time at university is going, Mafalda shared that she has been back at home in Portugal since November. Just a single session on campus per week meant she chose to leave for the winter holidays early. Whilst empathising with teaching staff, Mafalda’s university experience has certainly been different. 

Despite “seven days of awesomeness” on arrival, where Mafalda was able to meet other students, she has chosen not to join any societies or social events out of screen-time fatigue, something we can all relate to right now. The ability to find work through Paperound which she can undertake from outside the country has therefore been important for her. She’s had three bookings so far, and since running the interview for this article, Housemates commissioned Mafalda to write an article about the student stories behind the #SaveOurStudents campaign.

If you want to learn more, you can visit the Paperound website.

Do you know a student or graduate who’s doing great things? Share the story with us at media@housemates.io. 

How Paperound is changing the world of part-time student work

We want to hear your story on how the 2021 UK COVID-19 restrictions have impacted on your studies.

The restrictions across the UK in response to rising COVID-19 cases this winter have been critical in ensuring everyone’s safety. However, students, in particular, have been hit hard by these measures and the mental health of thousands of young people is suffering due to the stress of having to pay for unusable student accommodation.

We are looking for students across the UK to share their story on the latest COVID-19 restrictions and how they’ve been impacted. 

Are you willing to share your story with us and the media? Let us know by responding to our questionnaire and we’ll be in touch. Alternatively, you can share your story to media@housemates.io. 

Applying to university is an exciting if slightly daunting task, but we’ve got everything you need to know to nail that UCAS application!

Applying to university is an exciting if slightly daunting task. For students in the UK and around the world, this is where UCAS comes in. UCAS, which stands for Universities and Colleges Admissions Service, is the central system that students use to apply to university. Anybody looking to study an undergraduate degree in the UK will use this service. 

You can think of UCAS as an online dating service but for courses and universities. By the end of the process, you should end up with your perfect match! The entire application takes place online and requires detailed research and planning to ensure your application is the best it can be. In this blog, we’ll outline the key things you need to know in order to nail your application!

Research is crucial to ensuring you have the best university experience possible. It’s important that you start thinking about this early to meet the application deadlines. For all students applying there are two deadlines to be aware of. The first is the 6 pm on the 15th of October for Oxford and Cambridge admissions as well as most courses in medicine, veterinary medicine/science, and dentistry. The second deadline is 6 pm on the 15th of January for all other courses. 

Before you even think about logging into UCAS you need to consider what and where you want to study. There are over 50,000 courses available in the UK from over 395 institutions! If you have no idea where to begin then there are two ways you can go about it. The first is to look into subject areas that are relevant to your future career. Certain careers will require you to study certain subjects meaning you should research courses related to this. If you're unsure of your future career then the second option is to look into subject areas that are of interest to you. From here you can explore career options and make a decision on what subject area feels right for you. 

Once you’ve discovered your subject area you now need to look at the courses available at different universities. Picking which universities you’re interested in studying at should help you narrow down which courses you actually want to apply to. 

When it comes to researching Universities one of the main ways is through open days. These are days where you can visit the university, attend course talks and get an overall feel for the place. Due to the pandemic, many universities are now offering virtual open days which allow you to have a similar experience from the comfort of your home, which should save you on train fares! This is also great for international students who previously may not have had the opportunity to attend. You can find a lot of information about the universities on their own websites too.

One thing to look at when researching what courses you're interested in is the entry requirements. These will be based on either set UCAS Tariff points or grades. When searching on UCAS, only UK grades are shown as requirements. For international students universities will normally take at the equivalent qualification instead and you will be expected to provide proof. 

This is probably the easiest step of applying to university. For UK applicants the majority will apply with the help of their sixth form or college however it’s also possible to apply individually. For International Students you can either apply independently or use a local adviser. A local advisor is someone who provides information about studying in the UK and can sometimes help you with your applications. 

During this step, you will need to fill out all your personal details including your full education history, your course selection and any student finance information. You can exit the application at any point and your information will be saved. It’s a good idea to plan a time to sit down and go through this section slowly ensuring you give the most accurate and up to date information. 

Probably the most important part of your application is your personal statement. This is where the university and course teams will get to know you. There’s lots of helpful information available online to help you write it including free guidance from UCAS. Remember you can only write one personal statement so make sure you don’t address any specific universities or courses.

The first step to a great personal statement is to be prepared. Make sure you find out what skills and qualities the universities like and match those with any you have. You should also include information about yourself that’s relevant to the courses you’re applying for. It’s a good idea to brainstorm the information you want to include and then you can pull out the best bits. Knowing what to include is important and if you’re stuck for ideas here’s a list to get started:

Why you’re interested in the course, show enthusiasm.

Highlight your relevant previous studies.

Any activities, hobbies and side hustles.

Any work experience or training related to the chosen subject.

Your best skills and qualities as an individual to highlight what a great candidate you are.

If you’re an international student you should also consider including these:

Your English Skills including any tests you’ve taken.

Why you want to be an international student.

When it comes to writing your personal statement it’s important to be clear and concise. You need to show enthusiasm to stand out but remain professional to show you’re a serious candidate. A good tip is to start with a strong opening sentence that catches the reader's attention. 

The overall structure is up to you but consider what the university is looking for and try to create an order that showcases your best skills. You may end up trying a few different structures before settling on one that flows the best. The conclusion is important for reinforcing your enthusiasm and qualities as a candidate. 

Make sure you leave enough time to proofread your statement multiple times and get feedback. You need to check all grammar, spelling and punctuation to make an error-free statement.

Here are some do’s and don’ts to consider when writing your statement:

Do plan what you want to include to help ensure it’s relevant to the courses you're applying to and to make sure you don’t forget any important points. 

Do highlight your strengths and show enthusiasm. Sharing your interest in the course may help you get a place. 

Do be prepared to produce multiple drafts before being completely happy with it. 

Do get feedback from people you trust. Your school or college may offer a service for this.

Don’t let spelling and grammatical mistakes ruin your statement, make sure you’ve proofread as many times as possible and used a spellchecking tool. 

Don’t exaggerate or make things up. You risk being caught out in an interview if you get asked to elaborate. 

Don’t be tempted to buy a personal statement or copy someone else's. All statements are checked for similarity so if yours is flagged as similar it may affect your chances of being offered a place. 

Don’t leave it until the last minute, take time to plan so it doesn’t feel rushed.

Now for the technical details. Your personal statement can only be up to 4,000 characters or 47 lines of text. This includes spaces and blank lines. Whilst it sounds like a lot, 4,000 characters isn’t actually that long which is why it’s so important to take the time to research and plan what you want to include. 

Once you’ve written your personal statement there are just a few final things to do before you send off your application. Firstly you need to review everything. Double-check all your details and proofread your statement one final time! You want to avoid making mistakes as this could slow down or even jeopardise your application. 

You then need to add a reference. For UK students this will usually be provided by your college or sixth form. For international students, you will need to source this yourself from either an adviser, teacher or another appropriate person (not a relative) who knows you academically. The application can’t be sent without a reference so don’t leave this until the last minute!

The final step in your UCAS application journey is to pay and send it. The payment amount is the same for both UK and international students and costs £20 for one-course choice or £26 for multiple course choices. Once you’ve paid and sent the application then it’s just a question of waiting. We know it’s a nerve-wracking time but you’ve got this! Make sure you follow us for more information and advice on interviews and more following the 15th of January deadline.

University Applications: Our guide to UCAS

With more students dealing with learning during lockdown, we spoke to team member Hannah about her experience being a student in the last lockdown.

As the UK faces tougher restrictions more students are having to adapt to more independent online learning. This is not only causing increased concern among students but is also impacting their mental health. We understand this time is difficult and wanted to get an inside experience on what it’s really like to be a student during a lockdown. We spoke to our own team member Hannah, who finished her undergraduate degree during the previous lockdown. 

Hi, I’m Hannah! I’m the Community Executive here at Housemates. I love all things to do with design and am constantly looking for new sources of inspiration. In my spare time, I like visiting art galleries, tasting the best of Manchester’s food scene and dropping into Verdansk (C.O.D. Warzone fan, anyone?). 

I studied Graphic Design at Manchester Metropolitan University. It was a three-year course, but I also did an Art Foundation course, so for the last four years, I’ve been immersed in a very creative world. I had to finish my degree during COVID and I’ve not yet had any graduation of sorts. It’s been really sad and also weird not having graduation because that should have been the thing that closed off my university journey. It was sad not to have that final celebration and it almost feels like the journey didn’t end.

How was final year with the COVID outbreak?

I think I was quite lucky with how COVID impacted my final year. We only felt the impact on our final unit not like the students now who will be affected throughout the whole year. The downside was that it all blew up just as we started our final major projects. It was the first unit where we could have gone and done literally anything we liked and in the end, we were quite restricted because we didn’t have access to facilities. 

I also ended up moving home as I didn’t want to experience lockdown in my flat so I was limited to what I could do there and on my mac. Luckily I had very good tutors who were super helpful and organised throughout the whole period. I also worked digitally beforehand so I didn’t need to change the way I worked too much, it mainly just impacted the work I did. 

The hardest part for me was the final hand-in. I remember being sat in my bed on a Monday afternoon by myself getting all my files ready and then clicking submit. Then just like that 4 years of university was over, done in a click of a button.

What are your best survival tips for the second UK lockdown? 

I think it’s important to try to get into a good routine. I found it really helpful when I was doing my final project as I got into the flow of just chipping away at my work each day. I didn’t try to force myself to finish it by a certain point but just got into the routine of working a decent amount each day. I think a lot of people try to be over-productive but this just ends up draining you. 

I was really lucky to be able to go home during the last lockdown and I got to be with my family. My brother also moved home so it literally felt like a flashback to life before any of us had left for university. I also have some amazing friends from my course and we all helped each other get through. Definitely keeping in contact with your friends and family is really important for your mental health during a lockdown. 

The other thing I’d suggest is to try something new. During the last lockdown, I experimented a lot with Kinetic typography and taught myself how to use After Effects. Doing something creative was just a nice distraction and it was a bonus to learn a new skill!

How did studying during this time affect you mentally? 

I think mentally it was a weird time. I was lucky with my situation last time which helped a lot and it was nice to be with my family. I struggled most with the fact that it happened during the time when I should have been celebrating. I really thought 2020 was going to be my year with finishing university but it just never came to be. 

How has life been since you left university?

Wild! I remember handing in my final project one day and then waking up the next to jump on a 9 am Zoom for my first day at Housemates. It was such a quick transition from student to an employee that it all felt like a bit of a blur. It took a while to stop seeing myself as a student because of that. 

Between May and September, life was a bit unsettled as I was at home for a bit, then in Manchester as lockdown eased and then back home before I moved back to Manchester permanently.  It was a massive challenge trying to balance working at Housemates with figuring out how to be an ‘adult’ and it did take its toll on me quite heavily at times. 

I feel really lucky to be working at Housemates as it’s been great to have something to focus on. It helped life feel more normal waking up each day for work. I’ve also had the opportunity to learn so much in an area I had little experience in whilst also bringing in the skills I love and developed during my time at university. Every single day is different and I thrive off of that. 

What have you learned from the first lockdown that you’ll be using to get through the second?

I think having a good routine and something to focus on is key but I know this might not always be possible. This time I think the lockdown will be harder just because it’s dark early and the weather isn’t as good. I think it’s important to learn to try and not worry about what's going on too much. If you dwell on the situation it becomes hard to stay positive. 

Personally, I was more worried about this lockdown due to the time of year however I’m planning on doing some fun activities to keep myself busy indoors. For example, I’m planning on making hand-made Christmas presents this year so I’ll start planning and making them now. To be honest, I might just start celebrating Christmas from now because why not.

Students in lockdown: Experiences from the first one, tips for the second

Things are looking a little different for international students coming to the UK to study this year. Here is all the information you need for when you arrive.

With world-class universities, a great way of living and fantastic postgraduate opportunities on offer, the UK is a popular destination for international students. However, enforced isolation periods, local lockdowns and a move to online teaching brought on by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has led to a significant drop in the number of international students arriving in the UK this autumn. 

Adjusting to life in a new country is always a challenge but we understand things will be a little tougher than usual at the moment. To ease your concerns, we’ve put together a handy guide to help you get through the quarantine. 

For most international students arriving in the UK, your first challenge will be getting from the airport to your university accommodation. If you're coming from Europe, you might be able to fly to a smaller airport local to your university or get the EuroStar into London. This will make things easier, as you’ll be able to take a more direct route of travel in the UK.

If you’re coming from further afield, you’ll probably arrive in one of the major airports such as London Heathrow, London Gatwick or Manchester Airport. These airports all have great links across the country by coach, train and underground/tram, as well as taxis. 

Research your route of travel before booking your flight or train, and remember to keep checking this before you travel too. Transport schedules are changing all the time at the moment, so it’s best to keep on top of it. 

Some useful apps include Google Maps, Trainline and Omio. You can also book coaches, which are often cheaper than trains, via National Express or MegaBus, and your university or accommodation provider may offer an airport collection service too.

When travelling in the UK, you will need to wear a face-covering over your nose and mouth at all times. Not only does this protect you, but also those around you. You also need to fill in a passenger locator form online before arriving in the UK and may need to self isolate upon arrival, depending on where you’re coming from. See full details on the UK government website. 

If you have a lot of luggage you might prefer to take a taxi to your destination. This will probably be quite expensive but will also be a quicker alternative to public transport. All airports and most train stations have taxi ranks with staff who can help you, but you could also find cheaper taxis by using apps like Uber or Gett Taxi in major cities.

Having to isolate when you’ve travelled from overseas does make it harder to buy groceries and toiletries when you arrive, but there is a range of supermarkets in the UK which you can order from online. These range in quality and price and can generally be broken down into five categories. 

High-end - M&S and Waitrose sell their own brand products which are high in quality and tend to be quite expensive. Both of these have online delivery available.

Mid-range - Asda, Tesco, Morrisons and Sainsburys sell a mix of branded and cheaper own-brand products and tend to be more suitable for all budgets. Many of these also have a range of international products. All of these have online delivery.

Budget - Lidl, Aldi and Iceland sell a mix of products at a much cheaper price. The quality is often the same as mid-range supermarkets so these are often a popular choice for students, but unfortunately, these stores have limited online delivery options.

Convenience stores - Co-op, OneStop, Nisa and Spar have a number of stores in built-up areas and you may be able to order a small number of items for delivery in under an hour from these stores through Uber Eats and Deliveroo.

International - Depending on where you are there may be international supermarkets available, which may offer home delivery. These will have imported food and a wider range of spices than UK supermarkets. For international students, it’s worth looking into these supermarkets as you may be able to find your favourite snack for when you’re feeling homesick.

If you know you’ll need to isolate, it’s worth booking a supermarket delivery slot online in advance. You may also be able to get support from friends, housemates or university staff who aren’t isolating.

To make this easier, Morrisons are currently offering food boxes for delivery at certain universities. These come with everything you need to make a few simple meals whilst you’re unable to go out.

You can also order takeaway food for those nights you don’t feel like cooking. Apps such as Just Eat, Uber Eats and Deliveroo make this really easy and you may get a student discount on your first order.

If you are travelling from overseas, you might not have enough space to bring any home essentials with you. Therefore you may need to order online to get everything you need. If you’re unsure about what you might need, check out our university checklist.

If your accommodation doesn’t come already equipped with any of these items, you may be able to order them from supermarkets online with your groceries. Anything you can’t order from supermarkets you’ll probably be able to find on Amazon, IKEA, Argos or Wilko and have delivered directly to your address. 

If you have an emergency and need immediate help the UK emergency services phone number is 999. It’s important to note that this is for emergencies and life-threatening situations only. Your university may also provide a phone number for emergencies on campus. 

If you have a medical problem but it is not life-threatening then you can visit the NHS 111 website or call 111. If you are not isolating, you can also visit local pharmacies which can help.

Please remember that if you are isolating or showing symptoms of COVID-19 then you should not leave your accommodation.

The UK government has recently released an app to help combat the spread of coronavirus in the UK. You can find this in the Apple App Store and Google Play store by searching for NHS COVID-19. It is recommended that you have this downloaded as soon as you get to the UK so that it can monitor if you come into close contact with someone who has the virus.

When visiting public places, you may also be asked to scan a barcode to log that you have visited this location. This is to help the app track places where you may have come into contact with the virus. You can also use the app to see the risk level of your local area and to check any symptoms you have.

COVID-19: UK arrival guide for international students

Housemates are on a mission to make booking student accommodation better, but what does that look like? Here’s a sneak peek of what we’re building right now.

Student accommodation is central to your entire university experience, providing you with a safe and comfortable space to focus on your studies and unwind at the weekends. In a post-COVID world, where we’re spending more time working, studying and socialising from home, it couldn’t be more important to be somewhere that you feel relaxed. 

With a good home, not only can you focus more confidently on earning your qualification and advancing your career prospects for when you graduate, but you can also ensure that you’re getting the most out of your time there. Informing your personal goals, inspiring your outlook on the world and having an abundance of enjoyment with friends too. 

For far too long it’s been unnecessarily difficult, slow and insecure to book student accommodation, especially for international students who are too often taken advantage of by scammers or substandard landlords. In fact, Action Fraud reports that students in the UK lost £22 million to rental fraud in the four years running up to the end of March 2018.

We’ve been through the inconvenient viewing appointments, anxiety-inducing lack of communication and complicated booking procedures ourselves, and we think it’s fair to say that student accommodation is not fit for purpose for the mobile-first generation studying today.

Student accommodation. But make it smooth.

We’re looking to change this notorious market by building a digital housing platform that actually puts the student first. With the technology available today, we believe that booking student accommodation should be as smooth as booking a holiday.

With the Housemates Marketplace, you’ll be able to search for properties near your university and then filter by type, availability, amenities and price. So whether you’re after accommodation with a double bed in Dublin or laundry service in London, we’ll help you find it. 

With accommodation being the most expensive part of student life, we’ve also been sure to make it clear exactly what you need to pay upfront and what you will need to pay in total over the course of your tenancy, based on your selected dates. 

Having been through the scramble for somewhere to live ourselves, we want to give students the peace of mind that their student accommodation is booked and can be checked off the to-do list. After all, isn’t there enough uncertainty for everyone right now? 

That’s why, unlike other student accommodation platforms which only allow you to make a simple enquiry with no guarantee of securing the accommodation, Housemates lets you book your place in minutes, without leaving our platform and without the risk that comes with such a high-value payment.

So there you have a taste of who we are and what we’re building; a housing solution for the students of today with speed, security, transparency and accessibility at its heart.

We’re working with a number of property companies and owners right now, including some that you can’t find on any other student accommodation platforms today, and we’re excited to be launching later this year for 2021/22 academic year bookings in London, Manchester, Liverpool, Edinburgh and Dublin, with more cities coming soon after. 

For now though, sit tight as we add some last-minute sparkle to the platform, and feel free to get in touch if you have any feedback or stories about your experience of student accommodation. We’re always ready to hear from you on Twitter and Instagram.

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, students are facing an academic year like no other. Here’s some advice and ideas to make the most of student life right now.

Over the next few weeks students will be heading to university to face a year like no other. Whilst it’s going to be a bit different from what you might have expected, there is still plenty to be excited about. Here’s a guide to help you get settled in.

First and foremost, this year you’ll need to get used to following restrictions which are changing frequently. With so many students travelling to new towns and cities for university, there is a higher risk of outbreaks in student areas. 

The government in the UK and Ireland is monitoring this and will update coronavirus restrictions as they see fit, possibly without much notice. The best thing you can do is wear a face mask and sanitise regularly. It’s also important to respect your university's guidelines to protect yourself and those around you.

We know many students are worried about the lack of social opportunities and unfortunately, there are going to be limits on the kind of events that can take place. Here’s a taste of things that you could get involved in.

Virtual social events - Most universities have been working hard to create a program of virtual events for the next few weeks. These events are usually free and you can enjoy them from the comfort of your student home! We’ve seen a huge variety on offer such as quizzes, club nights and virtual escape rooms. There’s sure to be something you will enjoy. 

Student societies - Meeting people with similar hobbies and interests is one of the best parts of university life and joining a society is a great way to do just that! Whilst going out as a society may be off the cards, you can still hang out online and make some great connections. You could even work on projects together which you can add to your CV. 

Local attractions - Whilst there might be limits on the number of people you can meet up with, there aren’t currently limits on going out to explore. You could easily spend the day exploring your new surroundings with friends. Why not take a walk to your local park, visit a museum or hit the high street? It’s always good to get some fresh air and see something new. Just be sure to follow the current local guidance and respect those around you. 

Housemates got talent - Spending so much time at your house might get a bit repetitive, so why not come up with some fun activities for everyone? Perhaps you could organise a student ‘Come Dine with Me’ with a different flatmate cooking each night, a house bake-off or a games night. Think outside the box. The more wacky ideas you can think of, the better! Don’t forget to show us what you get up to by tagging us on social media @joinhousemates. 

Whilst it’s easy to think of fun activities to do with your housemates, it’s harder to deal with conflict and disagreements. You’ll probably be spending more time in your student accommodation. For the most part, this will be great as you get to hang out with your friends all day however, this could lead to tensions for some. 

Not everyone has the best relationship with their housemates and this is something that can be quite tricky to deal with. When you move in it’s a good idea to sit down with them and get an understanding of how everyone is feeling, especially given the COVID situation. 

Make sure to plan some activities which include everyone to help them feel more settled. For example, if not all of your housemates drink alcohol, have some alcohol-free activities too. If a conflict does arise, try and deal with it early instead of allowing tensions to build up.

If for any reason you find yourself struggling there is high-quality support available online and at your university. Whether you just want someone to talk to or need help from a trained professional, you will be able to find support. It’s a good idea to research what services are available now so you know.

There is also a huge amount of online advice, especially about the uncertainty we are facing. Student Minds, a student-focused mental health charity in the UK, recommends that students face uncertainty by looking at the reality and understanding that things won’t be perfect at the moment. As hard as it may be, accepting the uncertainty allows us to focus on what we can do and be productive. For more advice on student wellbeing during the pandemic, visit the Student Minds website.

How to settle into university during a pandemic

Life as a Product Design Intern at Housemates

What’s it like to be an intern in an early-stage tech startup in Manchester? Before taking off for her next adventure, Claire gives us the low-down on life at Housemates. 


My name is Claire, I’m 21 and I’m a designer from France. I studied Design at Lancaster University and I’m just about to start my Masters this October at Loughborough University.

I come from a very international background - I am biracial (Hong Kong and France) and have lived in different countries growing up as my parents were expats. I decided to work in the UK between degrees to gain some meaningful experience.

How long have you been working at Housemates?

I have been working at Housemates for 6 months now. I started working as a Product Design Intern in March. It’s been a strange time as this was when the COVID pandemic first started in the UK, but I completed my internship remotely and stayed on as a Junior Product Designer until now. Whilst I’m excited to go back to studying, I’m sad to be leaving the team. 

When I first heard about Housemates, I was shocked to realise that there were no other companies or solutions in the industry that catered to students' needs and put them first. 

The Housemates
blog

#SaveOurStudents: The student stories behind the campaign

Getsafe: Flexible insurance for students

Booking UK student accommodation: Rightmove, Spareroom or Housemates

How Paperound is changing the world of part-time student work

Student rent crisis: Share your story

University Applications: Our guide to UCAS

Students in lockdown: Experiences from the first one, tips for the second

COVID-19: UK arrival guide for international students

Housemates: Making student moves smooth

How to settle into university during a pandemic

Life as a Product Design Intern at Housemates

What do I need to take to university in 2020?

Stay updated!

The Housemates blog

#SaveOurStudents: The student stories behind the campaign

Getsafe: Flexible insurance for students

Booking UK student accommodation: Rightmove, Spareroom or Housemates

How Paperound is changing the world of part-time student work

Student rent crisis: Share your story

University Applications: Our guide to UCAS

Students in lockdown: Experiences from the first one, tips for the second

COVID-19: UK arrival guide for international students

Housemates: Making student moves smooth

How to settle into university during a pandemic

Life as a Product Design Intern at Housemates

What do I need to take to university in 2020?

Stay updated!

The Housemates
blog