Need help to plan accommodation!

bled

Hi guys, I'm hoping to study in UCD next year and would like your opinion on accommodation and what would be my best bet. I'm really tight on money and commuting for me would be a nightmare as I live nearly 2 hours away. Anything within cyclable distance would be great. I'll take a bus if necessary though I'd like to avoid the extra expense. YWhat would be my cheapest option?
This is important for me as I really need to plan ahead financially.
Thanks guys for your help

sunshine and showers

On campus accommodation is the best bet for first years. Look into when the waiting list opens.

bled

sunshine and showers wrote: »

On campus accommodation is the best bet for first years. Look into when the waiting list opens.

Any ideas on prices? Thanks

sunshine and showers

Depends which residence you want to live in. http://www.ucd.ie/residences/residential-services/finance/fees2014-2015/

Campus can be good because it's a set amount to be paid and then all your utilities are taken care of for the year. It's also an excellent way to make friends.

Otherwise, you'll want to start checking out Daft, etc next year after you get your results. There's a specific "colleges" search engine on Daft, so look at areas around UCD now if you like to scout things out. www.hittheroad.ie is a great site for working out travel options.

Realistically, you're looking at anywhere from €400 - €600 a month rent, probably before utilities. I've heard of people paying less than €400, but they're the ones who get lucky. It's really a hard market to find accommodation in Dublin at the moment, especially for students as landlords just don't want them.

Don't forget to budget your bills - electricity, gas, water, internet, food, socialising. There's really not much you can do now other than plan a vague enough budget.

bled

Thanks a lot for the response it's provided me with the insight I needed. I don't know if I'll be able to afford it but I have an idea now and I can see what's what.
Thanks again!

mhangasor

I lived on campus for first and second year and although it was handy, the negatives outweighed the positives for me. If you're tight for money it's not the best option. It's significantly more expensive than most places. Unless you were up for taking Blackrock (which is the easest to get and the cheapest) and then cycle from there (it's quite far away but a fine cycle). I never really liked campus myself but that was mainly due to not having control with the people who lived with me and the strict security.

You're doing the right thing trying to sort this out now, so many people only realise last minute how difficult it is to find accommodation near UCD. It's honestly SO hard to find anywhere and all summer I looked on daft every single day and never found anywhere. The only way people seem to find anywhere is by getting in through friends who might be leaving the house or maybe there's a room free.

If I were you now, I'd try find people you know already in UCD or in the area who might be able to help you. Try find someone who will be leaving a house or room for next year.

The cheapest you'll get is about 400 a month, and that's pushing it. Unless you share a room which will make it way cheaper. Are you eligable for a grant or anything? If so I'd recommend looking into it because rent in the area is so expensive.

UCDCritic

I always see notices left on the notice boards around the Arts block of people offering accommodation.

I had to move during the summer and found it easy enough, maybe I was just lucky.

Maybe next year you should find and move in somewhere at the beginning of the summer when ever one is leaving instead of leaving it until the end of the summer like most people seem to do and then start crying they've nowhere to live.

mhangasor

During the summer is a very different story. A lot of students go home and want to sublet their rooms so they don't have to pay for the months they're not in Dublin. I also moved during the summer and had people literally begging me to take their rooms.

I was looking for accommodation on daft every day from about May and only got somewhere last minute through a friend a few days before term. Having said that, I was very picky and only wanted walking distance. If you're okay with a cycle or bus trip then you should find it slightly easier.

hdowney

You really do have to look hard at your budget when considering whether to move to college accom/rental in Dublin or commute. I live 11/2 hours away from the college, but at the moment the cost of living in town vs commuting is such a big difference for the amount of income I have that commuting is what I have to do.