The last time I wrote in here - I was finishing up a Master's Degree, well into an internship I was hoping would take me somewhere, and still in that anxious uncertainty of wondering where I would be in 4 months time.

So - what happened? 

It was a few jobs through, a few more internships after that, one hell of a final paper, and a rejection or two from the UK government, but to be able to say this makes me prouder than anything I've ever done in my life.

WE DID IT.

Two crazy Americans with even crazier dreams, moved across the world together to accomplish something that not many folks can pull off. And not even one of us managed it - but we both did.

I've been with my company since July, and got my work visa in January. We're in a new flat in Fulham. We started a music events company and have put on some pretty wild gigs. I work 5 days a week and complain about how busy the tube is at rush hour. I grab a few pints at the local bars around for post-work happy hour. We spend weekends at the parks, or wandering around a market. Life is so normal - and I couldn't be happier.

I've always said I felt like I belonged here. But now, it's a reality. London is my home.

Damn that sounds good to say.

It's been almost a year since we've moved to London.

Wait .. a year??

Whoever said time flies, THEY MEANT IT.

As we're finishing up our degrees and things,

the real grit of why we moved here is surfacing more and more.

And that reason is to stay here for good.

It may be needless to say, but as an immigrant, it's pretty difficult to secure yourself here.

The next four months are crucial, and also completely up in the air.

I've had a plan and process of how I was to go about this,

and if anyone else is in, or will be in, the same situation in the future,

I'm hoping this may help a bit.

Finding Work - Any Work

With the visa that I am under right now, which is a Tier 4 Student,

there are guidelines about work.

You are allowed to work a certain amount of hours a week for a certain amount of pay.

It's not much, but it's enough to keep you afloat finance-wise.

In order to maintain a steady income, finding the right job that could be flexible around my studies was key.

I did a pretty big search for job vacancies on multiple different sites.

There are multiple different outlets you can use, and a great example to take a look at is City Calling.

This is one of my favorite, as it's both easy and convenient, and they are really great about matching you with the jobs that fit what you are looking for - check them out here!

Internships - Experience - ANYTHING

This has been the most important part of my time here.

Finding internships is incredible and beneficial for so many reasons.

Work experience builds up your CV, shows you've got some time in the UK business world behind you,

and on top of this, it's connections - and we all know the only thing that matters these days are who you know...

I've been doing this for both pay and voluntary - it's crucial to get out there and work around the areas that you want your career in.

And if you can make this happen interlinked with the first step of getting an income - GO YOU!

Two birds with one stone, more time for one job rather than less time balancing two.

There's not much more you can ask for.

Apply Apply Apply

This is where I am now.

I'm still working towards internships and work experience,

but I'm moving into needing to look and apply for full-time, salaried positions - which is both exciting and absolutely terrifying.

My advice - attack everything and everyone.

I know myself and what I'm capable of, and the confidence I have in what I can do is great.

In order to secure a job here as an expat, one guideline with a visa is that you have to be a better worker than a UK citizen.

And I am 110% percent sure that I would be the best addition to any company here - and I make that known.

It's tough, but knowing what you are working toward makes it more motivating than ever. 

Talk to everyone you meet, every company you find, every job you see open.

For the 250 ignored emails, rejected applications, and failed interviews,

you may just get 1 offer.

But that one job offer - that's exactly what I came for.

Moving abroad, getting your dream career, backpacking the world, whatever it may be;

ultimately doing what you want - it's hard work

It will be the hardest thing you ever do in your life.

But it's those things that seem near impossible that become not only a literal dream come true,

but the most amazing, thrilling, insane and unpredictable ride you could EVER imagine.

I've been very much in 'London-mode,' as I've been living here for almost ten months now.

But I wanted to back to the expat-topic a bit and talk about my time being here in regards to working.

While I'm still in London for university, it's been much different than my last time here.

I'm able to work now - let me rephrase that;

I NEED to work here now because I need to pay rent - also different from my previous stay.

I've had a few jobs here now; which I think has been good. I can broaden where my experiences lay and get more of a feel for what it is like to work in the city.

If you aren't going into university like I did,
there are still different ways you can still make these dreams happen.

Before I decided on getting my degree, I had looked into a program called BUNAC.

This company assists in finding internships and work in the UK & Ireland for a set period of time.

It's a great way to get over into the country, make some money while you are there, and connect with people that may be the ones to help you with your career in the long run.

From my experience and sharing it with local friends and others who want to go out and explore the world,
The US is a great place to work as well.  As an born and raised American, I know the benefits and impacts working within the country can have on students from outside countries.
And luckily, there are outlets that offer assistance for that too.

The International Student Company (The ISC) specializes in assisting qualified students & young professionals

from all over the world in finding work in the United States.

All of these positions are either paid internships or entry-level work, so no worries about making an income; you will be paid.
BREATHE!

Similar to the programs I considered, The ISC they help with visa paperwork, pre-departure & arrival orientations, as well as on-going support throughout your stay.

On top of this, they offer guidance and advice in your CV & resumes to make sure you land that dream role.

I can't tell you how grateful I was to have someone there for me on my first time abroad

when I had, to put it lightly, absolutely no idea what in the hell was going on.

I still had the freedom of feeling independent in the city, but if there was ever a problem

or something that I needed, I always had that there for me.

On top of it all, these programs are just a fantastic way to get abroad.

If you have never studied or traveled like I have, and found that love for exploring the world,

The ISC is a way to give you that insight and let you experience something that you never have before.

Get a taste of someone else's world, understand culture outside your own.

It's necessary. Believe me.

Check out The International Student Company on Facebook here, or at their website here!

*This post was sponsored by The International Student Company,

but I wouldn't write about anything I didn't feel dearly about.

And exploring the world is definitely something that I do! :D 

crisp, ripe, fruity, aromatic, even dessert!

A simple insert of your card and you're on to tasting whatever you'd like.

There was also a champagne bar, as well as a spirits lounge to taste liquors.

We stuck to wine and champagne.

"Yeah, yeah yeah. That's really cool and all, but you said FREE STUFF HERE"

OKAY OKAY.
On to the free things!

It's actually even better than just free stuff - it's CATH KIDSTON.
Social moguls such as baby Prince George have been recently photographed wearing this,
so you're only one of the cool kids if you're wearing it too.
 

That's right - another giveaway!
I told you this was the greatest post ever...

All your Christmas/Hanukkah shopping is done and you're ready to relax for the rest of the holidays. But how would you like to win one more present for yourself? 

I've teamed up with some fabulous bloggers to give away a fabulous Cath Kidston tote. You can choose either one, or any item on the Cath Kidston website of equal or lesser value (or any combination of items totally to £45).

 Get to know your hosts and how to enter after the jump!

December already?

I'm HALFWAY FINISHED with a Master's degree!
For how much of a school person I'm not, I should be proud enough to have gotten this far..

Anyways,
I've spent the last weekend wandering around London,
trying to make sense that I actually live here.
I was in Trafalgar Square yesterday texting Heather pictures with
"Just in case you forgot, we live here. Like I can look at this every day because we live here.
How cool is that?"

If you've read this blog before, you pretty much know the story.

Blah blah, study abroad, blah blah, life changed,

blah blah, work work work, blah blah moved back to London.

Moving back here though, I did it knowing that it was for and unforeseeable future.

And as much as I absolutely hate not knowing the outcome - with a passion.
A serious hate, I'll tell ya.
There is also something so thrilling about it too.

I'm making all of my dreams come true, but have no idea what's to come next.

Isn't that the beauty of it all though?
Four years ago, I didn't even know what London would mean to me,
Four years before that I didn't know how theatre would change me.
Who knows what the next four are going to show me...

I was actually asked this other week in an interview,

"Where do you see yourself in 5 years?"

To which I gave the absolute worst answer for - 

not only was I completely taken back with the realization that I had NO idea where I would be in 5 years,

I then had to mumble up some type of an answer that would sound like I had a plan.
 Which I do - but the plan I had 5 years ago is no where near where I am now.

So I couldn't be anything but honest.

Never could I have predicted where I have been in these past years,

how do you expect me to know where I'll be in the next?

Life has taken so many twists and turns,

and I've learned more about myself and what I'm capable of - 

which is more than I could ever imagine.

So while I am completely and utterly terrified of the future,

I couldn't be more excited.

Because so far, life has been everything I've ever wanted.

 

1) As I'm writing this, I'm realizing how big of a week this was - so many great things have happened,
and I'm so excited about it.
The adjustment of being here was a lot more difficult than the last time I moved here,
and it was absolutely unexpected.
I don't know why I imaged rainbows and butterflies, but I thought it was going to be all hoity-toity dandy as everything.
This week finally gave me that turning point into 'this is really good,'
and I'm finally getting to the conclusion that in fact, this WAS everything I have ever wanted.

2) I started my university orientation this past Thursday,
met the group of students in my course, and everyone was so incredibly nice.
I am absolutely an 'I hate, HATE school' type of person.
As in, the day I graduated college was top greatest days of my life.
Being back, it's still unreal that I made the voluntary choice to do it,
but after this week, I really think it's a great thing, and I'm so excited for the year.

3) I finally moved into my official home on Friday!
Heather and I didn't live together in our short-term accommodation, and it sucked.
Our mile walk to the tube, stranger roommates, and no space has been upgraded to an incredible view of the Tower Bridge, Tower of London, and the Shard, a spacious living room, our own bathrooms, and being roommates again,
and I'm still pinching myself that we actually found this place.
Seriously too good to be true.
I wish this photo did the view justice, but it is so much better.

4) I have finally stopped topping my ego and came to terms that I am the worst packer ever.
 I can't do it.
Moving to London - terrible. I left so many things at home that I wanted because I couldn't find a way to fit it.
Moving to our new place on Friday - TERRIBLE.
I mean, it's probably a terrible choice to have waited to pack the morning that we moved,
but besides the fact - I just can't do it. And I don't think I'll ever learn.
But I've passed my denial, have let my anger go and accepted the fact.
I will never win.
So while I know I'll never stop traveling, I've decided to let Heather take care of the packing, and I take care of the planning.
The perfect team we are.

5) Trying to blog as much as I did in Florida is so damn difficult.
I want to visit places and take photographs and just show everyone the LIFE IN LONDON IS AMAZING part,
but time is so slim right now - how are there so many things to do!?
Don't worry, I've got plenty of things up my sleeve to come,
so don't go running just yet.

And let me reassure you, life in London IS in fact, AMAZING.


So to round it out, some links I've been lovin' this week - for your reading pleasure:
- Sara's celebrating her one year expativersary over in Bristol!
- Sammy is (hypothetically) opening up a hostel - free breakfast? I'M THERE.
- This new mini-series about Cilla Black's life growing up in Liverpool - no explanation needed for why I love this.
- Courtney's life in Madrid. Plain and simple - who doesn't want to live in Spain?
- And this article - Staying is Settling - because life isn't about being comfortable;

"You must never settle, never give in to the idea that you can’t have another one. Because the world is full of things to throw your heart into, things to make you weep and realize (yet again) why you’re alive."

... Well, only for today.

I've had some amazing bloggers taking over my page for the past week,

and I've got a few more coming this next one as well.

London has been amazing, but London has been stressful.

I actually thought the workload would have lightened once I actually got here.

Cute. I know.
So I'm off doing that for the next week as well, while you get some more amazing things to read about - England bucket lists, Arctic adventures, Paris, Scotland - it's all too much. Enjoy!

So anyways, quick update:

I'M IN LONDON!

The flight was long - you'd think I was used to it with traveling, but I couldn't sleep at all.

Not because I was excited, but because it was so. damn. small.

I'm not very jet-lagged though - I feel I've mastered that art, which I'm probably overly-proud of.

We've been exploring and re-exploring the places we miss and love, while also situating our lives.

So for you, I have pictures!

Will be back after this week with more regularly scheduled posts, but enjoy my guests these next few days - they are a great bunch! 

And while you're here, why not check out the amazing expats I've had guest posting this past week?

Taylor from Due East on Extended Layovers

Sammy from To The Days Like This on Why Moving to London is a Good Idea

Anna from Anna in Wonderland on English Expectations vs. Reality

and Darci from Freedom of Excess on East London Fun


Thanks again girls!

For this month's giveaway, not only are we giving away $100 cash, but these gracious ladies also contributed other items to giveaway. The best part is that there will be 12 separate winners, so you have 12 chances to win one of these great prizes! Some of the ladies have also included discount codes for their sponsorships that you can use so be sure to enter below and take a look!

Living Lavender // The So-Called Homemaker // Everyday Thoughts // A Sorta Fairytale // Marry Mint Sarah Christine Style // Where The Heart Is A Pinch of Jasmine // A Faithful Passion All That's Glittered // Dream Big & Buy The Shoes All My Love For All My Days // Becoming Adorrable // A Time For Seasons // The Jessa Olson Blog

OTHER PRIZES:

PROMO CODES:

Living Lavender: use code "LAVENDER30" FOR 30% off all sponsorships Marry Mint: use code "AUGUST" FOR 50% off all sponsorships A Sorta Fairytale: use code "FAIRYTALE40" for 40% off all sponsorships A Time For Seasons: use code "lavender" for 50% off all sponsorships

Re-reading that title, it's hard to keep a smile off my face.

I know it's pretty clear on my site to see the excitement and passion I have for what's to come in my life,

but I don't think I have ever been able to fully put into words what tomorrow means to me.

And I'm not sure if I ever will.

Over two years ago, when I came home from London, my world was changed.

I found a place where I felt so connected to, and I just couldn't let go of those feelings.

And I didn't.

I had a dream, I went for it,

and I've never felt prouder or more accomplished.

I've learned so much about myself and my life through this process - the most important thing being that there is no reason not to live your life.

I mean really live.

I don't let things pass me by for any reason - if I want to do it, I make it happen.

You may call me silly, unpractical, ridiculous, stupid even.

But in a year from now, I'm not going to be saying,

"Ugh, I really wish I just didn't do that - I could have used that money for this."

I'm probably going to be saying

"Remember last year when I did that? DAMN THAT WAS AWESOME."

Because of that, I've been able to experience so many things I would have never thought were possible,

and I've found a level happiness that I never knew was reachable.

So now, I take these thoughts, these dreams,

and I bring them with me tomorrow to London to see what I can make of myself over there.

It's been a crazy adventure so far.

And honestly,

I can only see it getting better.

Getting an actual visa to enter a country is much different than a simple visitor's visa.
It's a lot more than just landing in a country and explaining to immigration your plans.
Unfortunately, they care a little more about their country to just let it be that easy.

There are a few steps to this, and it is a few week process,
but if you have your details organized and all together, it'll be smooth sailing ... or flying.


The first thing you'll have to do is receive your CAS. This is a 'Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies,' and comes in a long number that will be required on your visa application.

As an international, one of two things must be done:

1) Pay your student deposit, which will be anywhere from £1000+.

This is apart of your tuition, so freak out and think that your £4000 deposit is an additional converted mess to run you broke with your school fees (like I did).

2) You are exempt from paying your deposit if you are getting some type of financial aid.

I'm assuming most everyone reading this will be receiving FAFSA or some type of student loan,

so you will likely fall into this category.

Because you are able to pass through the required payment, all you need to do is email your student admissions and request the form to fill out for your CAS number.

This process took me about a week - you'll need to receive the form to apply for the CAS, apply - which takes no time at all, and once finished, the application goes out to the school to process.

After your CAS is administered to you, you're ready to go - time for the application!

For the application, you'll need a few things:

Passport - duh

Information on any previous visas you have received

Where you have travelled to in the past 10 year - even just for a vacation

I know .. a little unnecessary, yea?

Parent details (DOB, place of birth, etc.)

Your course tuition fees

How much money you have to cover yourself (seen as Maintenance Charges)

University information (don't feel lost on these - they should all be listed together either emailed to you with your CAS or on your applicant portal):

University sponsor license number - a number that the University is identified with

CAS number - the number you applied for

Course title - whatever degree you are receiving

Course level - I don't understand these UK levels much, but as an example for you, my course level is "QCF / NQF 7"

Start/End date - official dates of your course beginning and ending - on the website or given to you

And your university's address

At the end of this, you will have to fill in the points-based-system that the UK follows.

For a student visa, the total will be 40 points - made up of:

CAS number = 30 points

Maintenance = 10 points

Total = 40 points

If some of this sounds foreign to you, well, that's because it actually is.

I don't quite understand it all either, but this is more of a guideline on how to fill it out, not why you're filling these things out - ask a Brit for those answers when you arrive.

Those are the major items you will need for your application - if you have all of those together before you begin, the process will be easy.

Heather and I dealt with impulsive applying and having to figure out what everything means/search for whatever we didn't know we had to find. And trust me - not fun.

Don't worry, the fun isn't over yet! That's just the first part.

After you finish your application, you'll need to submit and pay.

Applying for the visa outside of the UK is the 'cheapest' option,

but don't feel so lucky - it's still £310.

Convert that and you'll see you're paying over $500.

I recommend filling your mind with the excitement of your adventures starting a life abroad,

and overpower your exchange rate rage.

Once you submit and make the payment, you're on to the NEXT step.

Nope, we're not done just yet!

After this, you'll need to make an appointment at your local immigration office.

You'll need to bring:

a printout of your visa application (signed)

A printout of your immigration appointment confirmation email

A printout of your visa payment receipt

Your passport

That was all that I was asked for, but the requirements ask for any other supporting documents, so to be safe I also brought:

My university acceptance letter

My acceptance of enrollment letter

My loans acceptance letter

etc. etc. etc.

 The appointment is not as extravagant as you may think.

Basically, they put a stamp on your appointment confirmation email,

take a photograph of you,

and fingerprint you over and over again.

Then you're done!

Oh, not with the visa process. Is that what you thought I meant?

No no, you're done with the immigration appointment.

There is still another step.

Lastly, you'll need to send in all of these documents with your passport.

Yes, physically mail your passport - I mailed mine through DHL, in which I've got a shipping number and details to know where my passport is at all times.

The visa office also sends a confirmation email once they have received your package.

So once it's in the mail, then you're on the waiting game.

Let the UK do the work, and sit and wait for your passport to come back.

And not just your passport,

your passport with a new shiny visa stamp inside of it!

More of a tedious process than a complicated one, if you have all the details organized.

And if you're looking for something much more in depth regarding this process, check out the UK government's visa guideline HERE

Good luck!

 And, we're back!

If you're just stumbling on this post, find the first two parts below:

{Part 1}

{Part 2}

So we've listed what we are looking for in and around our future home,

made a search for the places that will offer us what we want,

and narrowed it down to a few certain areas in London that are top living preferences.

With all this done, you can get into the 'hunting' part of this flat-hunting process.

Of course, there is a process to this, but I'll make it easy for you.

In order to get your flat, you need to find it.  There are tons of websites that give cheap accommodation - StudentAccomodation, Gumtree, Craigslist, etc.

I find these a bit sketchy, especially as an international, and I'm not trying to be taken advantage of in any way.

I prefer to go directly through agencies.

There are hundreds and hundreds of agencies around London, so I've found a few ways to navigate through them.

- Simple Google searches can help you find the most popular ones

'London estate agents' is an easy search and will bring up plenty of results

then it's up to you to research and find which ones offer the properties you like most.

- Rightmove and Zoopla are two online real estate portals that list the majority of properties that are for rent in London.  I was a little cautious to use this at first, because I wanted to go to an agent myself, but these websites direct you straight to the websites and negotiators to discuss property details.

Normally I do a search with my preferences, and with the properties I am interested in, I will either find the agency that is letting, and go straight to their site to contact them, or request details through the portals, and your request form will be sent to the agents who will get back to you.

It seems that this would be pretty straight-forward,

estimate monthly bills, see rent price, and add together.

In London, this is wrong. And I've recently found out that this is VERY wrong.

- Agencies have administration fees, VAT fees, additional charges, etc.

These are extra fees on top of the rent that you will pay when you secure the property.

Administration/VAT charges are (one-time) payments that go straight to the agency if you choose one of their properties to lease.

This can be anywhere from from £150 - £300.

- The actual price of the flat, may not be what is advertised.

I know - as if anything could be more frustrating.

The way that London normally advertises their properties are X-amount per week, rather than per month.

Because some months have more days than other months, and letting agencies will take cheaper weekly prices to catch your eye on their property.

I've just recently learned the way to calculate the actual price of a flat.

For example:

Say a flat is £300 pw

300(rent) x 52(weeks in a year) = £15,600 (yearly rent)

15,00(yearly rent) / 12 (months in a year) = £1,300 (monthly rent)

1,300 (monthly rent) / 4 (weeks in a month) = £325 (weekly rent)

So really, the property you are looking at is £325 per week, rather than the £300 that was advertised.

I know. Your head probably wants to explode right now.

I don't understand why this is necessary either.

Knowing all of this though, you will have a much better estimate of how much you'll be spending.

It's annoying, but better to do the work than be screwed by not knowing all the details.

This is the tough part as an international.

But even so, do not sign a flat unless it's been viewed by you or someone you trust.

London is a huge city, full of people to scam - don't be one of them.

DO NOT pay any amount of money before the property has been seen, and if someone writes to you asking that you do transfer money, forget that property and that person.

There are really only four options in viewing flats when you are searching from the other side of the world:

1 - If you have friends in the area, let them view on your behalf.

Heather and I are very lucky to have two friends who have been through the rental process, and have more experience than us in this.  They currently live in London and because we 100% trust them and their judgment, they are walking through a few properties for us.

We discussed everything we were looking for in a property with them, sent them our requests, and notified the agents of who will be viewing for us.

This is the easiest and most convenient way to find a property.

2 - Not everyone has people in a place that they are moving to.  While unfortunate, there are still ways to figure things out.  If Heather and I didn't have friends in the area, we would have booked our flights a week earlier, stay in a hostel, and set up our viewings within that week. It would be a quick and stressful process, but much better than blindly going into anything.

3 - If you are able to pull it, make a visit a month or so before you officially arrive.  This gives you the leisure to view properties and not feel like you are rushed in needing to find a place to live.  

4 - I don't have the experience in doing this, but I do know a few people who have done flat shares. They have spoke with (through video chat) tenants of a property who are looking for roommates, and if they feel comfortable, have secured their accommodation.  It's basically like going through a random roommate assignment like you did in college, so while you can't always be absolutely sure someone is the best option, follow your gut feeling.

Spare Room is the most heard about website I've seen for this option.

This is it, and what I am most looking forward to.

Once you've found the place you're set on, all that is left is making it officially yours.

London is a hub of diversity, so most agencies have dealt with international rentals before, but it's always good to make sure that they are able to do an online leasing process. 

This is so that you can get all the details together and officiated through an online process so that the flat will be there for you to move straight into when you arrive.  

This process will involve signing some papers, paying the deposit and whatever rent is required.

Because you are not a UK resident, you have the option of paying the rent in 6-month chunks, one at the beginning of the rent, and one in the middle (assuming you are signing for a years lease).

The other option is to sign a UK guarantor, which is a UK resident who co-signs on your lease agreement - basically stating if you cannot for any reason pay the monthly rent, then the bill falls on them.

We don't have anyone to sign this for us, so we will be choosing the 6-month payments, which actually makes things a little easier for us when we arrive, not having to worry about meeting rent each month.

Once this goes through - you have officially signed, sealed, and secured your home!

Is it exciting? I wouldn't know yet. I'm still in part three.

Right now, Heather and I are right in the mix of viewings, and I'm hoping that within the next few weeks, I'll have really EXCITED AND SCREAMING POST about how we've finally found our home.

Happy flat hunting!

And then you can see what Heather and I are working with...

Welcome to Part 2 of the Flat Hunting Saga.

Find the first part to this guide here --> {Part 1}

After laying down the foundation for what we wanted in and around us,

we began the next step, finding the places in London that would offer these needs&wants.

1) The first thing we did was look for areas that cater to people like us
This involved a lot of Google searches for area guides, etc.,
but I'll make it easy for you and list the ones I found most helpful:

- London Rentonomy is an interactive area guide map, where it provides you with the type of area, largest age group, most common nationalities, rent average, transportation, etc.
The site goes into detail for each one of these points listed above - it's a great tool full of information!

- Stuck in London doesn't have as large of a list as the others named here, but they list everything that these other sites do, as well as the good and the bad to living in each place. I've used Stuck in London quite a bit, because it's not too often you find sites that list the downsides to each area, which is something that I like to be aware of.

- Kinleigh, Folkard, & Hayward is an estate agency, but they've got a great section on their website that provides the top five features of each area, what parks and transport is around, and the best things about living in each place!

- TimeOut London lists things to do in each area; popular bars, clubs, restaurants, etc., as well as the areas that neighbor.

- And if you're looking for student accommodation, your university will have housing options for you on their website.
There are also plenty of student accommodation buildings that aren't affiliated to any particular university. The best way to find these are going on Accommodation for Students and looking to the right sidebar, that lists afs partners.
I haven't used the actual Accommodation for Students website search, but use it for their partners (oops)
These are all student living estate agents, that mostly offer studio flats.
This is a great option if you are moving by yourself and are looking to be surrounded by other students.

There are PLENTY of other sites with area guides similar to this, so feel free to do your own searches as well.  These few sites are just the ones that I stuck with the most.


2) After looking at all of this information
along with the previous notes regarding transport links, distance from school/work, etc.
we narrowed it down to around 5 areas that were the best in distance/qualities, as well as environment.

This will give you your list of areas that suite you best.

Once you have this list, you're ready for the FINAL stage before you start viewing to find your property.

View the last stage - part 3 --> HERE!