Hey Brits!

I'm an american who will be attending graduate school in Manchester starting in August. I'll be attending the Royal Northern College of Music, i'm a tuba player!!

I'm wondering about the typical LC way of life over there. Are eggs and meats and veggies relatively affordable or should I give up hopes of being a poor, LC-ing grad student?

Also, is anyone familiar with rent costs and job availability in the vicinity of the RNCM? (Honestly, I'm not exactly sure where it is! ha...). I'd love to know how much a little tiny 1-bedroom efficiency apartment (little kitchen and bathroom) might go for. Any ideas? Feel free to stop by my journal or PM me, I'd love to meet a few friends over there, Especially someone in my age group!

Hi Roze

So you are coming over to the UK next August. I am sure you will enjoy your time with us.

Can't help on the rental front, but Manchester is a big place and there are at least two universities there so it is very orientated to students with good meal deals in the area.

It is easy to pick up meat, eggs etc. Don't know the prices for that area, but you should be able to get some good deals. From where I am in London it always seems cheap to me.

Often people will share houses with others and this is a great way to meet people of your own age. Does the RNCM have a list of people who rent out to their students. It is worth emailing them on this as they can often get good deals that way.

Any other questions, just ask.

I hope you will enjoy your stay in manchester, and that you manage to stick to low carbing but the student life is fast paced and and rich on socialising, in pubs with cheep beer!! lol good luck

Hi Roze

This is the Royal Northern College of Music website, the link below is the Students accomodation page.

http://www.rncm.ac.uk/student/stu_accom.asp


You could also try ther Manchester Website

http://www.manchester.com/

There is a special Students section

http://www.manchester.com/ad/html/student/



Hope this helps you,


Steve

Thanks everybody!

Hey Steve - I had found those pages, but was looking for a little insider information, just incase anybody had a deal for me...

Lynda - yeah the cheap beer thing will definately be a problem. I want to stick with it though, wish me luck! Fortunately, I Have another good 9 months before I need to face all these challenges. I'm sure I'll be maintaining at that point, and the occasional cheap beer won't completely kill me, we'll see, we'll see!

Anne, thanks for the advice. I have heard that london is expensive, and I'm glad to know that Manchester may be a bit less so. Always good for a poor student like myself, haha. I was thrilled to learn that with a student visa to the UK I can work up to 20 hours a week! That should really help cut down on some of the loans I"ll indefinately be taking out. At least I can pay for my food and maybe a good portion of my rent on that, provided that someone will hire me. I've heard that there are a good number of american companies in manchester, and they might be happy to give a poor girl a job typing or something, who knows! I can always be a pub wench right? There goes LC, I can see it now... . I'll actually be moving there with my boyfriend, also a tuba player going to RNCM, so we can split a flat and save some money that way, should help out alot. Also, it's easier to cook real food for two, and he's interested in low carbing with me (not that he needs it, skinny boy!

See you all around the boards, thanks for gettin back to me!

Welcome to Manchester, theer are 5 universities in manchester by the way.
Anyway, meat is a lot more expensive than in the US. Eggs are a bit more expensive and there are few specialist low carb products in the UK, but it is gettin better