Well, the first move usually begins with moving away from home for the first time!
Moving away from home to go to university is a big step in many young people’s lives. It marks the beginning of a new chapter, full of opportunities and challenges.
However, one of the most practical challenges that many students face is how to move their belongings from home to university and back again at the end of the academic year. And, of course, when storage is needed.
How many university students are there in Sheffield, and what is the attraction?
Sheffield is the UK’s fifth largest city and is in the north of England. Over 60,000 students live in Sheffield, making it a true student city.
Besides academic excellence at its universities, Sheffield is known as being a cultural hub, with a mix of industrial heritage and architecture, modern spaces and natural landscapes forming the city’s identity.
A third of Sheffield lies within the Peak District National Park. This, along with the UK Peace Index finding Sheffield to be the UK’s safest major city, contributes to Sheffield being such a popular student destination. Over 60,000 students live in Sheffield.
What are the sizes of the universities?
The University of Sheffield teaches over 30,000 students from 140 different countries.
Sheffield Hallam has over 25,000 students, plus 3,000 staff.
What is the typical accommodation for students?
Both the University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam guarantee accommodation for first-year students that accept an offer of study. They have a choice of student halls, with most offering different rooms for different budgets. Perks of halls include 24/7 support, on-site security, communal spaces to socialise in and access to facilities such as gyms.
Private Accommodation for Students
From second year onwards students live in private accommodation. University of Sheffield students often live in Crookes, Crookesmoor, or Broomhill, while Sheffield Hallam students live in Shallow or Broomhill too.
Most private accommodation in Sheffield is at a reasonable price. Sheffield was rated as the UK’s most affordable student city in the Royal Bank of Scotland’s 2021 Student Living Index.
However, the big question that many students consider each year is what to do with their belongings in between academic years.
What is a typical university academic year?
University summer holidays usually are from mid-June to late September. This means that they last approximately 2-3 months, depending on each university’s timetable.
And this also means that students on a tight budget will certainly be considering their options on whether to pay for accommodation during the holidays, or not.
Making a move
A lot of this would depend on living arrangements: will a student return to the family home for a few months? In which case, packing up their belongings and putting them in temporary storage is likely the best option.
Or, it could be a student’s first – or last – move to and from university, at the beginning and at the end of their studies respectively. This is usually when an affordable and professional smaller moves service comes in handy. At Bennetts, we specialise in all types and sizes of moving and storage. We have a large fleet of vehicles to choose from, depending on the move itself.
So, for a student on a budget, a trusted ‘man in a van’ scenario is what is needed. With nearly fifty years of experience at moving our customers, and providing storage – short or long-term – it takes the stress out of decisions on what to do.
What type of belongings are needing to either be stored or transported?
Most students will have a significant amount of belongings that they need to transport to university. These may include clothes, bedding, books, kitchen equipment, and other personal items.
For many students, the easiest way to transport these belongings is by car. However, this is not always possible, especially if the student is moving a long distance from home or if they do not have access to a car.
In these cases, students may need to consider other options, such as hiring a small removals van – preferably from a reputable company.
And at the end of the final academic year in particular, most students will have accumulated a lot of possessions during their time at university. In this instance, both a moving service and storage facilities may come in handy! Especially if the parents have not planned for a load of extra stuff! Or they may have downshifted themselves in these years.
Overall, university students have a range of options when it comes to transporting their belongings to and from university. Hiring a small removals van can be an affordable and convenient option for many.
At the end of the academic year, students may also need to consider options such as storage to keep their belongings safe until the next academic year.
By planning ahead and exploring all of the available options, students can make the moving process as smooth and stress-free as possible.
Relocating to Sheffield? Or within the area?
Bennett’s Removals specialise in removals and moving services in Sheffield and South Yorkshire surrounding areas.
It is our wholehearted aim to make your move a pleasant experience.
No two moves are the same!
We’re here to make your move from one place to another as stress-free as possible – with as many of our services as you need for your unique move.
Bennett’s Removals
Your South Yorkshire Removals & Storage Company
You’re right at home with people who know just what you need when moving house and home – and office too.
Full moving service to best suit your individual needs.
Making your move easier and stress-free.