International students from London Southbank University (LSBU) have had mixed reviews on their transitions from their countries to here in London.
LSBU has hundreds of international students studying on their campuses working hard. Their journeys to get into LSBU has been even harder for some, from trying to achieve their home status to trying to find different payment plans for their accommodations.
If you’re not from the EU then good luck getting a quick response from most 
London universities. A resident from Hong Kong who is living in David Bomberg House, Borough Road, has said “It’s not fair, it’s like they push the international student to the back because we are harder to deal with”. They had to keep bugging universities for a response to if they were able to study there and it was just luck that they were able to go into LSBU. They have said “They really just want your money, I still haven’t been able to get a student finance and I have to keep asking my parents for money. They aren’t considering my family and how I am meant to keep myself stable to student finance”
Listen to Alice from McLaren house on her transfer to LSBU
Another student, Lisa from McLaren House, St George’s Circus, was able to move swiftly with a Swedish company called blueberry who help students from the EU transfer swiftly to the UK to study. When applying for a student finance there were complications as she had to have on paper she was receiving the payments and making a payment plan with the university as she could only pay monthly unlike the UK students who pay termly. She said “it was quite easy, a few bumps in the road but I think it’s because I am from the EU so it should have been quite straightforward.”
What do I think so far?
Here is my intake of living in student accommodation as a first year so far…
I’m living in McLaren house which is part of the 4 accommodations that London Southbank University has to offer. It’s one of the biggest having almost 600 student flats. The place is full of life with students from all over the globe studying many different courses. Well of course it’s literally the ‘party central’.
My time here so far hasn’t been too bad. I’ve met amazing people within the accommodation. Not a far walk from my classes. It’s a nice place. However, where there is an up, there is also a down. This is for people thinking about moving into student accommodation
It’s crazily lively here, but maybe too lively. It is nice to see people having a good time but if you want to study or do some work maybe do it during the day? You will hear the craziest singing, arguments and just bizarre comments from other students. Sometimes they don’t stay quiet. On top of that, living next to a A&E dept AND a police station you will constantly hear sirens but they come and go.
Another thing is guest passes. Story time. So my boyfriend wanted to come over and spend the night. Very convenient because I live so close to where I work compared to him. The problem is I can’t just sign him in. I have to wait two days to see if the accommodation can approve him coming over. A simple thing that takes two whole days to approve…In good news, we’ve learnt to overcome that obstacle.
Alice from McLaren has said: “the atmosphere is so good. Everyone has a good vibe.” She’s right but she’s also said: “facilities are not as good as they could be. It’s very strict with the rules. If you don’t have a guest pass, you will be kicked out even in the middle of the night.” That’s the down side of it all.
Student accommodation has its moments. If you’re in for a right laugh I would say go for it otherwise, think about flat sharing. I’ll be making another post for students who want to flat share as a first year.
London based developer Nativeland are going to making this new development open up a new path along the river as they start building their first development called the Arbor which will be an office based building. With the help from their international business partners, the company is getting the backing of international companies meaning an increase of international influence and confidence within London.
Alasdair Nicholls, Chief Executive of Native Land, mentioned: ‘Bankside Yards will draw together Bankside’s established cultural, commercial, retail and residential worlds around a new neighbourhood where people will work and live, visit or just spend time by the riverside. We are opening up an important piece of London with amazing transport connections and, as locally-based developers, we are keen to contribute to the rich mix of the area by creating a place that’s accessible, enjoyable and productive.’