We'd like to dedicate this post to all the freshers out there considering Southampton for university this coming academic year 2016/17.
We are always very excited to meet new faces and welcome you guys into our society!
So here's some information to help you settle in well in Southampton.
Housing
Agents we've tried and recommend:
1. Tenant Direct
On average, room rent ranges from £300 pcm to £400 pcm.
List of good roads that are in close proximity to the Highfield campus:
- Blenheim Gardens
- Ripstone Gardens
- Granby Grove
- Kitchener Road
- Sirdar Road
- Broadlands Road
- Mayfield Road
Shopping Time
Need something? Not sure where to get it?
Grocery
You can find Sainsbury's, International Foods, Iceland and Waitrose in Portswood Road.
You can also go to Sainsbury's Local, Tesco and oriental shops in Burgess Road.
These two roads are walking distance to the Highfield Campus.
They also have other stores and eatery.
In the city centre, there are Asda and Tesco.
In Bevois Valley, you can find Aldi.
This is also walking distance but it's probably an extra 10mins walk.
Of course, there are other grocery stores in many parts of Southampton but these are the common ones.
Halal Meat
This is probably most Bruneian's main concern but don't worry, you can find halal meat in;
- Sainsbury's (Shazans brand)
- Asda (Shazans and Brunei Halal)
- International Foods (butcher section)
For your first few days in Southampton, you can find these common halal eatery that we usually go to:
- Texas Grill
- Unikebab
- Diego's
- Roosters Piri Piri
- Pepe's Piri Piri
- Starfried
- Coriander
- Kuti's
Furniture & Fittings
You can find furniture in most department stores but here are the common stores;
- Ikea
- Argos
Both of which you can find in the city centre or you can order online for delivery/pick up.
Stationery
You can get your stationery at the university shop.
Or if you want a bigger stationery shop, you can go to Staples in the city centre.
Travelling Tips
Wanderlust? Or just trying to get from Point A to Point B?
We understand that travelling info would be very important when you're out and about, so we've added these info under the FAQ tab of this blog for ease of access, incase this post is no longer the top post.
Within Southampton
- All U1/U2/U6 buses stop at the university (Highfield Interchange)
- So incase you got on the wrong bus, you can hop off the bus at the interchange and refigure out your journey.
- More info: unilinkbus.co.uk
- Single trip: £2, Day rider: £3.50
- Incase you need to get a taxi, the fare from the city centre to highfield area is approximately £10
- Commonly used taxi number;
- Radio Taxi: 02380 666 666
- Tk Taxi: 04477 3344 0463
Beyond Southampton
- If you are travelling by train:
- Tickets can be purchased from; nationalrail.co.uk, thetrainline.com, megabus.com or at the station itself.
- Recommended station: Southampton Central (more direct trains, city centre)
- Alternative station: Southampton Airport Parkway (closer to uni)
- Tip: get a railcard to get 1/3 off everytime you buy a train ticket. DON'T forget to bring it with you when travelling. £30 a year or £70 for 3 years.
- If you are travelling by coach:
- Tickets can be purchased from; nationalexpress.com
- Coach stops at the Highfield Interchange (University of Southampton) and at the Coach Station (city centre)
Miscellaneous
Once you arrive, DON'T forget your BRP & enrolment appointment!
Bank Account
Procedures to open up a bank account:
1. Make an appointment with the bank you want
- You will need:
- Passport and BRP
- Proof of enrolment (Justify the bank name and address)
- Proof of your UK address
2. Update your bank details with UPP
Proof of enrolment can be printed from the university website.
SUSSED > My Student Record > Student Services > Proof of Enrolment Letter > Fill the letter > Print
NHS
All Bruneian students are required to register with a GP at NHS.
NHS can be found within the university compound, near the Jubilee Gym.
Gym Pass (Optional)
We have included details about the gym pass because if you are a full time student, you can only get a one year subscription, nothing shorter. So it would be more beneficial to get it at the start of the academic year, so you can fully utilise your gym pass. It is £145 per year.
Gym pass is required to get access to the gym equipment (eg. treadmill, spinning, weights, etc)
BruSton usually organizes regular, if not weekly, sports meet such as badminton, netball, futsal, frisbee, basketball and swimming. To save money from paying entrance fee every time, it is advisable to get a gym pass. Especially if you are considerably active.
We hope these information has been helpful. If you still have unanswered questions or need further assistance, please feel free to contact us.
