22 METRO HERALD Monday, September 8, 2014
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How to beat the student Having trouble finding accommodation for college? Fear not, there are some great new schemes out there to help students struggling to put a roof over their heads, writes Christina Finn
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OU THINK everything is rosy – you did well in your Leaving Cert, you got the points and your first choice college course. However, now you find you have nowhere to live. The challenge students are facing to find accommodation has been particularly tough this year, with student unions reporting that students are being forced to either travel huge distances to get to college from their home town or are choosing to defer their college place altogether. So, what do you do if you can’t find any accommodation? The first thing to do is not to panic and make a snap decision to put off your college place. Speaking to Metro Herald, Brian Gormley from DIT Student Services said they are not hearing about any students defer-
ring from DIT, saying they have done a review and no student is stating that is the reason for deferring. However, he said they were very conscious that there is a shortage of accommodation and students are finding it difficult. Mr Gormley said that students need to look at all their options. He said there are many ‘digs’ available out there for students, which he said are a great option for first year students and can be a lot cheaper. Many universities list ‘digs’ accommodation on their websites, while there are also digs listings on Daft.ie as well as Getdigs.ie. ‘Digs were very popular in the ’80s and ’90s and the students that we have talked to that are in them this year are very happy, even more so than those that live on campus,’ he said. ‘There is a perception perhaps that
when you are in digs you live with a landlady and you have to say when you will be home and where you are going, etc, but it is not like that. It is more like a house share arrangement where you live with someone, perhaps a family or a young couple who want to make some extra cash on their spare room,’ he said. He urged students not to defer over a matter of where to live. ‘I think it would be shortsighted for a student to make such a decision. They need to look at all the options,’ he said. He said that the student accommodation situation could get even worse before it gets better, as we are entering a peak time when the Erasmus students come over to Ireland and look for somewhere to stay. ‘This is the group that could find it very difficult. Most students have been advised not to pay any deposits until they view a property, so they are literally going to be arriving soon and on the hunt,’ said Mr Gormley. With the talk of a resurgence with digs, a young Irish startup company offers online
Hitting the books: Getting into college isn’t always the hardest part for students, securing accommodation can be the biggest headache Picture: getty bookings for homestay accommoda- available all over Ireland, with plenty tion. Homestay accommodation has of supply in Dublin, close to all the long been popular in the education major colleges. OMESTAy chief executive travel sector, particularly among inAlan Clarke said they have ternational students, but they want homestays all over the Irish students to know that it is an opworld, with people aged tion open to them too. 18-30 availing of the opIt is also a great option for homeowners who portunity. He said while some people want to rent choose to stay long term with someone, out their spare others use it as a stop gap while they are room. A room looking for something more permanent, www.dorset-college.ie price, with perhaps people ‘who are finding their weekends in- feet in a new city’, he said. Your Career Starts Here … What about living with a senior citicluded, starts from around zen? Think it’s not for you? Well, you Business, Accounting & Legal Studies €450 per could be pleasantly surprised. Generation Accommodation is a month. HomeLegal Studies (Major Award) ACCA Diploma in Accounting & Business stays are social enterprise initiative that is helping
“Digs have become cool again’’
Dorset College
CIPD Certificate in HR Practice Diploma in Project Management Lean Six Sigma (Green Belt)
Computers & IT CompTIA A+/Cisco IT Essentials 5.0 CISCO-CCNA – Computer Network Associate (R&S) CISCO CCNP Professional MCSA - Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (Server 2012) JAVA Programmer Foundation & Professional Game Analysis Design 3D Modelling & Animation
Childcare Education (Major Awards) Early Childhood Care & Education Level 6 (ECCE & Montessori )
Healthcare Education (Major Awards Level 5) Healthcare & Childcare Education Healthcare Support Level 5 Nursing Studies Level 5 Montessori & ECCE Level 6 Special Needs Assisting Level 5 & 6 Counselling & Psychotherapy AN FORAS RIARACHÁIN
INSTITUTE OF PUBLIC A D M I N I S T R AT I O N
Diploma Counselling & Psychotherapy (Equivalent to first 2 Years of Degree)
Open Evenings: 10 & 17 September, between 4pm-7.30pm. Location: 8 Belvedere Place, D1
www.dorset-college.ie
Tel: 01 830 9677
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