Getting on... student life Things to consider now about student life In the past, ‘student life’ has had its own unique traditions, stereotypes and rights of passage. However, with the increase in the number of students and the diversity of their backgrounds, there is now more choice than ever about the kind of ‘student life’ you might want to live. Given that you may have some particular preferences, it is important to consider life outside your studies when choosing which universities to apply to. Today, around 80% of students move away from home to study at university, with 20% choosing to remain at their family home. Wherever you choose to live, your university is where you will study, and it is likely to be the centre of your social life too. For many, this is where you participate in arts, culture and sport; where you go for entertainment and nightlife; and where you do part-time work or volunteering. To help you consider your options, here we are profiling two counties in the North West of England, Cumbria and Lancashire. These two counties are home to three universities: Cumbria University, based in Carlisle University of Central Lancashire, based in Preston University of Lancaster, based in Lancaster Social Life Cumbria University has an active social life that includes... 10 sports teams competing in British Universities and Colleges Sport A ranking of 134/153 universities nationally for competitive sport 30 on-campus societies, you can see the full list here. The city of Carlisle, home to Cumbria University, has... 20 licensed clubs, ranking 17/20 nationally 70 licensed restaurants, ranking 43/55 nationally The University of Central Lancashire has an active social life that includes... 37 sports teams, you can see the full list here. A ranking of 69/153 universities nationally for competitive sport 160 on-campus societies, you can see the full list here. The city of Preston, home to the University of Central Lancashire, has... 20 licensed clubs, ranking 17/20 nationally 35 licensed restaurants, ranking 50/55 nationally The University of Lancaster has an active social life that includes... 41 sports teams, you can see the full list here. A ranking of 45/153 universities nationally for competitive sport 187 on-campus societies, you can see the full list here. The city of Lancaster, home to the University of Lancaster, has... 15 licensed clubs, ranking 18/20 nationally 50 licensed restaurants, ranking 47/55 nationally Accommodation If you choose to live at university, in your first year you will probably live in student accommodation on campus, which will be arranged through the university. For further information about campus accommodation options, you should look at a university’s own website. Cumbria University Accommodation UCLAN Accommodation University of Lancaster Accommodation In the following years you may be able to continue living on campus, but most people choose to live in private accommodation nearby. You can find out more through any normal lettings agents, or there are websites that focus specifically on accommodation for university students. Uni Lodgers Sanctuary Students Part-time jobs Although your student loan will help to cover the costs of your accommodation and keep you fed, in order to make the most of student life you may need to work to earn some extra money while you are studying. When looking for a part-time job, a good place to start is by getting in touch with your university’s student union. As well as advertising jobs on the university campus, they will also provide information about other opportunities in your local area. Cumbria University part-time jobs UCLAN part-time jobs University of Lancaster part-time jobs Another popular choice among students is to look for part-time work in local bars, restaurants or shops nearby where you are living whilst away. There will be a lot of students who are interested in these jobs, so it is worth getting in touch with employers early. More information For more information about the universities, visit: The Guardian Guide Cumbria University The Guardian Guide UCLAN The Guardian Guide University of Lancaster We have build a unique data set that has been collated from public sources. Click here to find out more about the data used.