A former Derby council office block is being transformed into a residential development that will become the city’s most luxurious student accommodation as part of an exciting new regeneration scheme.

Roman House, situated on Friar Gate in the heart of Derby, has previously been home to the city council but will soon become home to a new generation of students studying at the University of Derby.

Fitting into a wider regeneration programme of the Cathedral Quarter, the change of use of the property has been granted following an alteration in the Permitted Development Rights (PDR) that allows former office buildings to be turned into residential dwellings.

Roman House will be managed by the leading provider of luxury student accommodation in the UK, Collegiate AC, and is part of a much-anticipated expansion by the company that sees them launch 11 new projects this year.

Whilst Collegiate AC are prevalent in many of the top university cities throughout the UK, this will be the first Collegiate AC site in Derby. The scheme, exclusively available for 126 residents, will provide a new standard of student accommodation in the city, offering a wide range of luxurious facilities. These will include an on-site cinema, private gym, social hub and seminar rooms, alongside high-speed broadband and Wi-Fi to ease every aspect of student life.

The newly developed Roman House will also place student security as a key priority, with features that include electronic door entry, an out-of-hours service, an on-site manager and CCTV to provide peace of mind round the clock. All of these features are central to the Collegiate AC ethos of providing ‘Student living. Just better’.

Heriberto Cuanalo, CEO of Collegiate AC, explains how much they are looking forward to launching in Derby,

“We are proud to be able to now offer students at the University of Derby the option of a luxurious student living experience, and see Roman House transformed into a desirable and sought-after city centre residential scheme. We are very much looking forward to welcoming the first residents to Roman House and hope they will love their new surroundings as much as we do.”

A range of accommodation will be available at the newly launched Roman House, with 72 studios and 54 twodios to suit individual preferences, with double beds, en-suite bathrooms and fully equipped kitchens offered as standard.

Currently under refurbishment, with new windows being installed to add a sleek finish to the red brick façade and interiors redesigned to create the feeling of space and luxury synonymous with the Collegiate AC brand, Roman House is breathing new life into the city centre and is set to welcome its first student residents in September.

For more information, visit www.collegiate-ac.com or contact Collegiate AC on 01235 250 140.

• Number of EU students applying to study in the UK increases 6%; non-EU student figures increase 1% (UCAS)
• Overseas students’ demands supported by growing luxury student accommodation market (Collegiate AC)
• Chinese students largest non-UK demographic at UK universities (UCAS)
• Greatest increase in number of students from Ecuador, increasing 130% (UCAS)

With the passing of the annual January deadline for university applications, UCAS has released statistics that not only reveal the numbers of students applying for the 2016/17 academic year but also, interestingly, where they are coming from. The new figures show that once again, for the fourth year in a row, the number of students looking to study in the UK have risen, this year by 0.2%, taking 2016/17 figures to 593,720.

However, whilst the numbers of UK students applying to study at a higher education institution in their home country has decreased slightly year-on-year (down by 0.3%), the number of EU applicants (excluding UK) has risen by 6% on 2015/16 figures to today’s 45,220. Alongside this, non-EU applicant levels have risen by 1%, taking figures to 52,560.

Such students have their own particular demands when it comes to studying in the UK, many of which extend into the type of accommodation that they are searching for. Heriberto Cuanalo, CEO of Collegiate AC, the leading provider of luxury student accommodation in the UK, explains more,

“Making the move to study in the UK can be daunting for international students and this is where accommodation that provides additional facilities comes in to ease the transition. The shared social spaces of on-site cinemas, luxury lounges or private gyms encourages the making of new friends from the off. The support of an on-site concierge and electronic door entry systems, for example, can also be just what is needed to provide a sense of security and reassurance for those students arriving in the UK and their families at home.”

As current UCAS figures reveal, Chinese students make up the largest non-UK demographic studying at higher education institutions in the United Kingdom, with 9,000 students from China applying for the 2016/17 academic year. This is followed by students from Hong Kong (5,180) in second place, students from Ireland in third (4,750), and those from France and Italy making up the remainder of the top five, with 4,650 and 4,270 students applying respectively.

Yet this is not all the new figures show. They also unveil which nations have seen the largest growth in the numbers of students applying to study in the UK. Within Europe, Croatia takes the lead, with an impressive 45% increase year-on-year in students submitting an application to study at a UK university. This is followed by Slovakia (with a 39% increase) and the Czech Republic (with a 34% increase).

Lebanon is the Asian country with the largest year-on-year growth in students looking to study in the UK, with 41% more applying for 2016/17 compared to 2015/16. Turkish students take second place in terms of percentage growth in Asia, with 25%, and students from Qatar in third, with a 17% increase. Uganda and Egypt share the top spot for African nations applying through UCAS to study on UK soil, both nations having witnessed a 14% increase from last year’s figures. Second place is taken by South Africa with 11% and third place by Zimbabwe with 7% growth.

In North America, the Cayman Islands take the lead, with 20% more of its students applying to UK universities for the coming year, according to UCAS, with Mexico (at an 18% increase) and Bermuda (seeing a 17% increase) following close behind. The only growth in Oceania is seen from New Zealand, wherein 12% more students are applying to study in UK universities this September. South America’s top spot is taken by Ecuador from where a huge 130% more students have put in applications for UK study in the 2016/17 academic year.

As Cuanalo has indicated, these increasing figures of overseas students looking to study in the UK from later this year, is set to have a knock-on effect on the student property market, with a growing interest in luxurious student properties that offer the extra touches that make studying in a foreign country easier and hassle-free. He says,

“In line with the new UCAS figures, we have also noticed the same growing demand from overseas students, with over half of our properties for 2016/17 being taken by non-EU students and 0.4% more EU students signing up for our luxury student accommodation this year compared to last. In line with this, we are launching eleven new properties to fulfil the growing need and are already seeing great interest from overseas students, both from the EU and beyond.”

Collegiate AC properties are situated throughout the UK in some of the very best university cities, from Edinburgh to Exeter, Southampton to Birmingham, Newcastle to Reading, and many more. Properties boast beautifully-designed interiors alongside excellent additional facilities that include games rooms, on-site gyms, dinner party rooms, in-house cinemas, study rooms and luxury lounges, as well as inclusive billing, free Wi-Fi and high-speed broadband.

For more information, visit www.collegiate-ac.com or contact Collegiate AC on 01235 250 140.

• UK offers a more satisfying university experience than anywhere else in the world – 91% of students overall satisfied (UK Higher Education International Unit)
• Quality of student accommodation in the UK rated better than anywhere else (UK Higher Education International Unit)
• Annie McConnell, University of Reading student, discovered Collegiate AC accommodation far exceeded expectations with additional facilities

The UK university experience has undeniably huge appeal, seen in the growing numbers of students studying in the country with each passing year, but whilst it is easy to look at the figures of those choosing a UK study set-up, once here, does the experience meet their great expectations?

A new study commissioned by the UK Higher Education International Unit using data from i-graduate’s International Student Barometer (ISB), has revealed that satisfaction with the UK study experience has in fact improved in recent years, with latest statistics from 2014 showing that 91% are satisfied overall, compared to 90% in 2008.

Alongside this, the UK university experience comes highly recommended: the number of those who would recommend the experience to someone else has grown by 2% in the last six years, placing the UK – the country with the greatest international student intake – firmly on the world stage as the leading higher education destination for student satisfaction.

An important aspect of this appeal is the living experience provided by student accommodation, the quality of which has been shown by the study to have improved by a percentage point to a level of 84% of students satisfied today. This places the quality of UK student properties ahead of its rivals around the world when students were asked to rate out of 4, with the UK’s satisfaction score of 3.07 ahead of Australia at 3.05 and Canada, New Zealand and the US all rating 3.01.

Heriberto Cuanalo, CEO of the leading provider of luxury student accommodation in the UK, Collegiate AC, comments on the findings,

“We are very proud to be at the leading edge of the excellent, and internationally recognised, student accommodation sector in the UK and it is fantastic to see that students are overall extremely satisfied with their university living experience. At Collegiate AC we strive to be the very best we can be and our motto ‘Student living. Just better’ is at the core of everything we do. It is heartening that this is recognised in our consistently high levels of student satisfaction both those overseas students arriving in the UK to study and with our home-grown students that choose to live at a Collegiate AC property.”

One such happy student is Annie McConnell, 18 from Glastonbury, a first-year student at the University of Reading and a resident of Collegiate AC’s Saxon Court. Annie explains how her living experience compares to her previous expectations,

“When choosing my university accommodation, I knew that I wanted to be in a halls environment so that I could make new friends, but also have my own privacy and space, and this is exactly what the individual studio setup at Saxon Court seemed to provide. After looking at the website and visiting the showroom I had an idea of what the rooms looked like, but didn’t think that my studio would be the same. I assumed that the company would have made some things look better than they are in reality – I genuinely thought what I’d seen was far too good to be true – but it turned out that this wasn’t the case at all!

“Saxon Court has exceeded my expectations, when I saw my room I was so happy. I would have just been happy with my studio let alone the gym, cinema room and dinner party room! I also didn’t expect the lounge to be so nice, it really does look like something off of a movie set, it’s incredible!”

Interestingly, although the cost of living in the UK for students has increased in recent years, student satisfaction has also increased over and above this. Further revealed by the ‘International Undergraduate Students: The UK’s Competitive Advantage’ report, the most significant study of undergraduate experience ever undertaken, there has been an increase of 7% in living cost satisfaction levels from 2008 to 2014.

As the report indicates, the ‘key here is ‘positive expectation management’’ and this is where inclusive billing by companies like Collegiate AC comes in. The leading provider ensures that energy and internet bills, for example, are part of the single fee charged, ensuring that student budgeting for cost of living is made simple and painless. Not only this but the on-site facilities offered by Collegiate AC properties, such as on-site gyms and private cinemas at no extra cost, means that, again, budgets are far more manageable.

For more information, visit www.collegiate-ac.com or contact Collegiate AC on 01235 250 140.

• Changing student accommodation market sees growing demand for luxury properties
• Leading provider, Collegiate AC, to launch 11 new projects in 2016 to existing and new cities
• New facilities to include ‘VIP Bars’ and ‘Sky Lounges’

With the world of higher education changing, so too are the needs of the student demographic, and a major part of this is the sector’s housing landscape. Whilst university ‘digs’ were once the epitome of the dank and dilapidated, today’s birth of the modern student marks a new era that demands a very different property solution.

As the leading provider of luxury student properties in the UK, Collegiate AC boasts the greatest number of well-appointed student properties in the country, and the company’s announcement of a huge expansion to their offering marks a turning point for the industry.

The sizable addition of ten new properties to its already ample portfolio for 2016 reveals a growing demand for high-end student rental properties, expected to continue on an upward trajectory in the New Year.

Indicative of an evolving student accommodation market that is moving more and more towards properties that provide not simply a place to call home, but moreover an enhanced lifestyle, facilities in this new breed of student property support a well-rounded student experience. This extends to study, extra-curricular activities and downtime in equal measures, alongside the addition of ergonomic interiors and beautiful surrounds, making these student properties homes to be proud of.

Collegiate AC are expanding their offering in some of the major university cities that they are already prevalent in – Cardiff, Exeter, Reading, Plymouth, London, Southampton, Leeds, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh and Glasgow – with new projects launched to answer the impressive demand for their properties that provide ‘Student living. Just better.’ Alongside this, Collegiate AC projects will also be launching for September 2016 in new university cities: Newcastle, Derby, Lincoln and Dundee.

All properties will provide Collegiate AC’s signature blend of excellent facilities and stunning interiors, from on-site gyms to private cinemas, luxury lounges to work rooms, private dining rooms to concierge services, with certain properties even boasting new additions not seen before in Collegiate AC properties. These include the inclusion of a ‘VIP Bar’ in Windsor House in Cardiff and Plummer House in Newcastle, the ‘Sky Lounge’ in Woodside House, Glasgow, and the flexible ‘Social Hub’ space offered by Roman House in Derby.

Heriberto Cuanalo, CEO of Collegiate AC, expresses their excitement about the year ahead,

“Following on from a tremendous 2015 in which we welcomed more students than ever before to our luxury properties, we are anticipating a successful 2016 with the launch of our new sites. As we welcome in the New Year, we are proud to be at the leading edge of the shake up in the student accommodation market and will continue to aim for the very best with our innovative approach to the sector.”

With demand for the company’s particular brand of student accommodation never higher, Collegiate AC has also opened a new regional office in Bristol which, when combined with a base in Edinburgh and its HQ in Oxfordshire, ensures that they have a practical structure from which to pursue their growth strategy throughout the UK in coming years.

For more information, visit www.collegiate-ac.com or contact Collegiate AC on 01235 250 140.

Christmas can be a difficult time for overseas students who are studying in the UK whilst their families and loved ones are at home. For those unable to travel back to be with them over the festive period, both in the UK and overseas, there are certain ways that today’s students can ensure that they still feel truly Christmassy this year.

The leading provider of luxurious student accommodation in the UK, Collegiate AC, allows their student residents who would like to, the opportunity to stay in their property over Christmas. To help them make the very most of this joyous time of year, CEO of Collegiate AC, Heriberto Cuanalo, gives his five top tips on how to bring Christmas cheer to a student home:

1) Deck the Halls!

With crafting and vintage styles increasingly popular, this year is set to see a resurgence of the traditional Christmas decoration. One of the most traditional and easiest to create decoration that is making an elegant comeback is the paper chain. Full of charm and cheap as chips to create, yet able to be customised to your very own style, paper chains can be strung up throughout a student apartment to create an instant Christmassy feel. Use coloured or metallic paper, left-over wrapping paper, sprinkle with glitter or even glue on sequins, paper chains will make sure your home is merry and bright this wintertime.

Alternatively, gather some of nature’s natural treasures. Pine cones, ferns, holly and ivy make beautiful Christmas decorations when dabbed with glitter or tied with red ribbon to create a bespoke decoration that brings a natural festive charm to any student property.

2) Christmas Jumpers!

Once thought of as tacky and untasteful (think Bridget Jones’ Mark Darcy!), the Christmas jumper has taken on a life of its own in recent years and is now an annual style icon. Where this trend is concerned, the cheesier the better so think snowmen, 3D santas, reindeer and sparkle – some even light up or play a festive tune – all of which are guaranteed to make you feel in the Christmas spirit.

Ensure that your housemates also don their own this year by taking part in the official ‘Christmas Jumper Day’ on 18^th December and raise money for charity Save the Children or hold your very own Christmas jumper competition with a prize for the most outrageous!

3) Have a Movie Marathon!

‘Elf’, ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’, ‘Love Actually’, The Snowman’, ‘The Holiday’, ‘Home Alone’… there are so many fantastic Christmas films so why not line them up and plan a movie marathon? The weather outside may be frightful but watching a whole host of classic movies will warm up a frosty day, whether on your TV or in a Collegiate AC on-site cinema room. Grab your friends, some festive treats, stay in the warm and add a sprinkling of fairy lights and you’re ready for a Christmas Movie Marathon like no other!

4) Secret Santa!

With many people complaining that Christmas is becoming over-commercialised, remembering that the festive period should be about giving is guaranteed to provide a heartwarming glow. Why not organise for those within your student property to take part in a Secret Santa? Setting a low budget not only means that presents won’t break the bank but also that you and your fellow housemates will have to get creative with the gift buying, adding far more fun to proceedings!

Place all your names in a Santa hat and pick one out at random, keep the name of who you’ve chosen secret, buy a gift for within your agreed budget and then, once bought, place all the gifts in a sack for people to find the one with their name on. The element of surprise will add to the festive fun and is sure to generate much discussion and laughter.

5) Host a Carol Concert!

Whether traditional carols (think ‘Silent Night’, ‘Ding Dong Merrily on High’, ‘Away in a Manger’, and ‘Deck the Halls’) or modern Christmas tunes (such as ‘Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree’, ‘Santa Baby’, ‘Last Christmas’, and ‘All I Want for Christmas is You’), everyone loves singing at Christmas! Get all your housemates together, invite the neighbours, and organise your very own Carol Concert.

Buy a Christmas karaoke CD or print song sheets, or just Google the lyrics, what’s important is that you simply have fun, belt out the songs and share the Christmas cheer. Merry Christmas everyone!

For more information on luxury student accommodation, visit  www.collegiate-ac.com or contact Collegiate AC on 01235 250 140.

• 846 successful UK Erasmus applications in September 2015 (Erasmus+)
• Erasmus students look for “greater feeling of security” from accommodation and inclusive billing (Collegiate AC)
• Collegiate AC extends luxury offering to Erasmus students

28 years on from the establishment of the Erasmus scheme in 1987, and today the programme that organises and funds European Union student exchanges is going strong. Now including education, training, youth and sports elements, the scheme that is today known as Erasmus+ registered an impressive 846 successful UK applications in September 2015, with these students travelling far and wide throughout the EU in order to enhance their study experience.

For those that are exchanging to come to the UK as part of their university career, many will be looking for their accommodation to provide the answer to their specialist set of requirements. Visiting the UK for a length of time that can extend to either a term, six months or even a year, accommodation needs to address this somewhat flexible time-need, yet this is not the only necessary element.

Heriberto Cuanalo, CEO of leading provider of luxury student accommodation, Collegiate AC, explains more about what Erasmus students are looking for in their UK accommodation,

“Students arriving in the UK to study, especially those as part of Erasmus, often bring with them a specific set of requirements that standard university accommodation cannot always answer. These requirements can include a need for a greater feeling of security in order to reassure parents and families at home and inclusive billing to ensure the transition to overseas study is as easy as possible. And these are the kind of aspects that special luxury accommodation can provide.”

Previously a major provider of accommodation to the overseas student market, the 2015/16 academic year has seen Collegiate AC extend their already impressive reach to students from the Erasmus scheme. With high-end properties in some of the top university cities throughout the UK, this significant expansion by the company means that Erasmus students will now have the chance to experience first-hand the high quality of the living experience offered by Collegiate AC.

Properties on offer provide first-class security aspects such as electronic door entry and CCTV in communal areas, as well as on-site management and concierge teams to ensure that there is always someone on hand to reassure students and deal with any problems that may arise.

Alongside these aspects, Collegiate AC properties also offer a range of additional facilities to enhance the Erasmus experience. These include free Wi-Fi, high-speed broadband and inclusive billing which means that with the limited time they have, Erasmus students will not have to worry about organising their own energy or internet bills. The plethora of tempting features also on offer in Collegiate AC properties – such as games rooms, on-site gyms and in-house cinemas – also further entices those looking for the very best accommodation when arriving to study in the UK.

Cuanalo concludes,

“All in all, we are very excited to be able to welcome Erasmus students over the coming months to some of the most stylish and well thought out student accommodation in the UK. Our ethos is to provide ‘Student living. Just better’ and we really do feel that in going the extra mile our properties will very much appeal to these new overseas students.”

For more information, visit www.collegiate-ac.com or contact Collegiate AC on 01235 250 140.

• One in five students fall victim to crime whilst studying at college or university (NUS)
• Business Secretary Sajid Javid orders inquiry to ensure universities provide a safe environment for all students
• Collegiate AC properties offer inclusive security features to enhance residents’ safety

Channel 4’s latest social experiment ‘Hunted’ premiered last week, exploring the power of surveillance in today’s society. With the programme highlighting the increasing importance now placed on this essential technology, for university students about to move into their accommodation for the start of term, the inclusion of such features in their new home may offer just the peace of mind they need.

Statistics released by the National Union of Students (NUS) show that one in five students today fall victim to crime whilst studying at college or university. With more university places confirmed this year than ever before, security necessities including CCTV are high on the priority list for both new and returning students as well as their families.

Collegiate AC, the leading provider of luxury student accommodation in the UK, places the safety of their residents as central to their offering and utilises specific features and the latest technology in order to ensure that this is facilitated.

CEO of Collegiate AC, Heriberto Cuanalo explains,

“When moving into your student accommodation, you want to trust in the security of your possessions as well as your own personal safety. At Collegiate AC, our residents’ safety is our main priority and we provide a selection of additional facilities in order to ensure this. From CCTV and onsite management teams to secure electronic access and a student helpline, our properties provide the necessary security features so that all residents can feel comfortable and relaxed in their new home away from home.”

And student safety is today a hot topic. The subject has been in the spotlight this week with Business Secretary Sajid Javid ordering an inquiry into sexist behaviour at British universities. With UCAS figures showing that 57,000 more women than men are about to start university this term, the significance of all students’ safekeeping has to be addressed and Javid explained that this would be the focus of the inquiry. He announced that the government will “ensure that universities have a plan to stamp out violence against women and provide a safe environment for all their students”.

With the majority of students spending most of their time either on campus or in their accommodation, the new inquiry will highlight the importance of safety precautions in these areas. Cuanalo goes on to further explain how Collegiate AC properties are themselves addressing this,

“For students’ own peace of mind, as well as for the reassurance of their families, contents insurance is provided by Endsleigh as part of the inclusive room rate that is standard in our properties, just another of our safety features. With more and more students attending university, it is important that each individual still feels comfortable and safe in their new environment and we will do all we can to make sure this is the case for all our residents.”

One such Collegiate AC property that offers an array of safety features is St Augustine’s House. Plymouth’s luxury student residence not only boasts CCTV but also features a private bike storage unit so that those with two wheels can rest easy knowing their ride is secure. The property also offers students a 24-hour helpline and the services of an on-site management team.

Knowing who to contact if ever an issue arises can be a comfort to many students throughout the academic year and at many Collegiate AC properties residents have the choice of face-to-face communication or help via the phone. Glasgow’s beautiful Claremont House has a building manager on-site during the day who can help residents with any queries or concerns they may have, as well as an emergency out-of-hours service that provides students with 24 hour support and advice and CCTV in the communal areas.

For more information, visit www.collegiate-ac.com or contact Collegiate AC on 01235 250 140.

• 40% of long-distance relationships do not last (IVillage)
• Growing number of applications for joint student accommodation from couples (Collegiate AC)
• Eirini and Rizos make Edinburgh’s Gateway Apartments student property their first married home

For those who are already in a relationship, moving away to university can spell make or break time. With thoughts of Freshers’ wild nights, making new friends, the pressures of study, not to mention the hardships that come with sustaining a long-distance relationship, this already difficult time can be made even harder for those with a boyfriend or girlfriend left behind.

Recent research released by IVillage has revealed that 40% of long-distance relationships do not last, and for those that will break up, 4.5 months in is the time that the split is likely to occur. The pressure that comes with making a relationship with a partner who stayed at home work can cause additional stress for new students, make them feel homesick far more readily, and mean that they return more often than they would have done otherwise – all of which can be detrimental to studies and newly formed university friendships.

Whilst the choice has always seemed to be to either break up pre-uni or attempt to navigate the relationship from afar, often unsuccessfully, there is now a third option. Made viable thanks to the evolution in the UK student accommodation market, many couples are bridging the divide that distance can bring by living together whilst one or both parties undertakes their degree.

Collegiate AC, the leading provider of luxury student accommodation in some of the UK’s finest university cities, has certainly noticed this as a growing trend. Heriberto Cuanalo, CEO, explains more,

“In the past year we have seen applications for accommodation from growing numbers of couples, some of whom are both studying and some where one of the partners is and the other is in full-time employment. Our spacious accommodation suits the requirements of couples, allowing them to cohabit successfully, with the space needed to provide a stress-free environment that will be to the benefit, rather than the detriment, of their relationship.

“Feedback we have received from couples who have lived together in Collegiate AC accommodation has also revealed that they find the additional facilities on offer a great bonus too. Luxury lounges, games rooms or a private cinema room ensures that not only can couples enjoy their time together, they can also have their own space and pursue their own interests whilst living together – vital in any healthy relationship!”

Eirini and Rizos, from Edinburgh, are one couple who came to recognise the benefits of being able to live together whilst studying. The pair, originally from Greece, married in the July before they moved to the Scottish city to attend Heriot-Watt University where they were both studying for an MSc Petroleum Engineering, meaning that their first married home together was in fact a student property!

With 3.75 million marriages long-distance in the US alone (according to IVillage), the pair moved together into Gateway Apartments from Collegiate AC, with Eirini explaining how this worked for them as a couple,

“Since we were married it wasn’t an option not to stay together and Gateway Apartments provided us with a really nice and cosy first home together. The gym was really good and easy to use and the large study room that every block had with a big desk proved mandatory for assignments.

“One of the other things that our accommodation provided that ended up being very important for me especially was the fact that everything was inclusive, so I did not had to worry about gas, electricity and internet, for example. I did not have the time to deal with that and therefore that helped to make for a stress-free newly married life, even whilst studying!”

Gateway Apartments, that Eirini and husband Rizos made home for the first year of their married life, offers a range of premier studios and rooms for discerning students in Edinburgh. The winner of the prestigious RICS Scotland Residential Award in 2014, the project presents a cutting-edge, design-led student experience, suitable for both couples and individuals alike.

Set in a peaceful and elegant enclave, within walking distance of all the main colleges and university campuses, Gateway Apartments are well served with a variety of retail outlets creating an almost ‘village’ feel about the area, whilst offering easy access to transport links and central Edinburgh.

The high-specification and beautifully-designed student apartments are equipped with contemporary high-gloss kitchens, individual en-suite facilities, flat-screen TVs, double beds and ample study and storage space. The development also offers a private cinema, gym, common room and reading rooms, high-speed broadband and Wi-Fi, CCTV, an electronic entry system and 24-hour on-call support.

Studio, one, two and three bedroom apartments are available, with prices from £158.50 per week.

For more information, visit www.collegiate-ac.com or contact Collegiate AC on 01235 250 140.

• 79% of students make an effort to eat healthily (2014 Sodexo University Lifestyle Survey)
• Time spent socialising is beneficial to students (NUS)
• Additional lifestyle facilities offered by Collegiate AC properties help students keep a balanced lifestyle

Today’s students are viewed through a kaleidoscope of stereotypes with the entire university population often being generalised to fit the typical student cliché. One of the most common images portrayed is that students are reckless young adults who live on a diet of fast food and cheap alcohol. With the latest freshers ready to take their place at university next month, it seems that in reality students now see the importance of a healthier lifestyle and are ready to rebuke the stereotype as just a myth.

The university lifestyle is one that is continually in the spotlight, with terms such as ‘Fresher’s Flu’ becoming increasingly common when highlighting the unhealthy side of student life. However, Sodexo’s 2014 University Lifestyle Survey suggests that a majority of students are conscious of this, with 79% making an effort to eat healthily.

The study goes on to highlight that 74% cook a meal from scratch using only raw ingredients at least once a week, with this figure rising to 83% for students living in private accommodation. A reason for this could be the amenities available to students who rent in private residences, including state of the art kitchen facilities with the space to host a dinner party for fellow students.

Collegiate AC, leading provider of luxury student accommodation in the UK, provides high-tech kitchen appliances to give students the opportunity to cook meals from scratch, with their 333 Bath Street property in Glasgow also benefitting from an exclusive dinner party room to host friends and provide the chance to enjoy good food together.

Heriberto Cuanalo, CEO of Collegiate AC, explains the advantages of having additional facilities available within a student property that enhance a balanced lifestyle,

“Many of our residents have said that the range of additional facilities available in each of our properties enhances their student experience and provides them with the tools they need to lead a healthy lifestyle. Whether it is using the space to experiment in the kitchen, working up a sweat in the gym or letting off steam by exchanging stories in the club lounge, we believe that these aspects are of key importance when managing what is often a stressful time for students.

“This is especially important for today’s freshers, new students who are leaving home for the very first time. Collegiate AC residents can benefit from a Lifestyle Pack which is comprised of products designed to help adjust to student living, including useful kitchen and bathroom utensils. Additional facilities within a property can allow students to create balance in their new university lives, making the transition as easy as possible and setting up for a healthy lifestyle that they will be able to maintain.”

With their strikingly contemporary design, Southampton’s Brunswick Apartments are ideal for today’s modern student lifestyle. The on-site private gym is easily accessible and stocked with the most recent exercise apparatus, available exclusively to residents, offering them the opportunity to use it as often as they would like.

As well as healthy eating and regular exercise, it is important for students to find a balance and allow time for socialising. The National Union of Students advices that socialising is beneficial and can have a positive impact on mental health and overall happiness, however they suggest that it doesn’t always have to involve alcohol, another misconception of student life. The 2014 Sodexo survey highlights that students are listening, with 50% staying in or visiting friend’s accommodation to socialise.

Exeter’s premium student residences, Picture House Apartments, also houses an array of excellent inclusive facilities, including common rooms, an on-site cinema, a private gym and a games room, as well as on-site study and reading rooms. . Whether it’s chatting in the common room or playing pool in the games room, these specifically designated areas are communal spaces in which to see friends and socialise in a relaxed environment.

For more information, visit www.collegiate-ac.com or contact Collegiate AC on 01235 250 140.