Your student life starts here which is very exciting and we are ready to give you a warm welcome. This section is about settling in, feeling at home and living in Leeds as a student.
Settling in to a new environment
At Leeds Conservatoire, we welcome hundreds of new students each year and we take immense pride in being friendly and approachable. It’s one of the things that makes our conservatoire feel so special when you walk through the door or contact us online.
Moving to a new place can feel a bit daunting but you should not worry. This is a normal human response, often called culture shock. It may take a little while to get used to everything but stick with it and you will soon adapt. If there is something you need us to explain, or you feel that you need pointing in the right direction we will all be really happy to help you.
If you are moving into accommodation, you will find that your provider will have staff to support you, and there will be activities organised to help you make friends. Our own accommodation staff, and our Students’ Union will also guide you with a friendly face, and help you settle in.
Our Student Services department provides all kinds of wellbeing and personal support; you will also be allocated a personal tutor who is there to support you.
How to Live in the Local Community
Leeds is a busy city with lots of people living alongside each other. It is well known for its shopping and a vibrant food and drink scene, as well as a world class cultural offer and one of the largest student populations in Britain.
Students are welcome visitors and play an important role in the life of the city. However, poor behaviour from students can easily damage the reputation of everyone studying here. You should be mindful of the people who live around you, and act as a friendly and responsible member of the local community.
If you are practising at home, think about what time you are making music. If you are on a night out or you have friends over, consider whether your fun is disturbing someone else’s sleep.
This doesn’t mean you have to be boring, and it doesn’t mean you can’t have a good time.
Living in purpose–built student accommodation or ‘halls’
Most new students have chosen to live in purpose-built student accommodation. This is a great way to meet new friends and experience independent living, knowing staff are on hand to help if needed. Each building will have rules and guidelines that you must stick to, such as if you can have visitors to stay or what times you can make noise. The staff in your accommodation will give you information about these. Make sure you know what these rules are and help make your building a happy and safe place for everyone.
This may be the first time you have lived with people who have different backgrounds and expectations from yours. This is enriching and many students start friendships which last a lifetime. Occasionally, it can cause a few disagreements on issues such as cleaning and lifestyle. Take the time to get to know each other and listen to each other’s points of view. As soon as your new flat-mates have moved in, jointly set ground rules and make a cleaning rota. This can really help to keep things running smoothly. If things don’t go as expected, contact the Accommodation Advisor for some tips on how to get back on track. accommodation@leedsconservatoire.ac.uk
Making life choices
Moving away from home and making your own choices can be exciting and liberating. You will meet new people and explore new places. However, putting yourself in vulnerable situations could affect you emotionally, mentally and physically.
Depending on what risks you take, you could find it impacts on your reputation, your ability to study and your future career. If you are worried about your own behaviour or someone else’s, please get in touch with the Health and Wellbeing Team by email healthandwellbeing@leedsconservatoire.ac.uk
Feeling at Home
If you are moving to Leeds to study, its important to make your living space feel like home. Here are some tips to make your room into a cosy retreat for relaxation and private study:
- Unpack and sort your clothes when you first move in, so you are not living out of a suitcase
- Have a few familiar objects that make you smile, or print some photographs which have good memories.
- If you have a desk, keep it tidy and organised. This will help you focus when your studies begin.
- Make your bed when you get up so it feels inviting at the end of a long day.
- Use a laundry basket to organise the clothes you have worn and schedule washing time so you always have a fresh outfit when you need it.
- Buy a house plant. Having a bit of greenery in your living space is great for your mood, and they can help to keep the air clean and healthy.
Council Tax
Full time students are exempt from paying Council Tax. If you live in halls of residence such as Joseph Stones House or One Mill Street, Leeds City Council will have been informed that you are living there. If you live in a different property, for example a privately rented house, you will need to complete the declaration form and send it back to Leeds City Council. More information about Council Tax can be found on the Leeds City Council website.
If you need a certificate to confirm your student status, you can obtain this from HEAdmin@lcm.ac.uk
Photo credit: Dan Taylor-Watt
TV Licensing
You must have a TV Licence to watch or record television programmes as they're being shown on TV. This applies to you no matter what you use to watch TV programmes (laptop, PC, mobile phone, games console, etc). It's the law.
You will also need to be covered by a TV Licence to download or watch BBC programmes on demand, including catch up TV, on BBC iPlayer. This applies to any device and provider you use.
If you don’t watch or record television programmes (and don't watch or stream BBC programmes), or you only stream TV programmes online after they’ve been broadcast – through other on-demand services like YouTube and 4oD – you don’t need to be covered by a TV Licence.
This applies to students living in purpose-built student accommodation or private shared accommodation. If you live in a shared house with a joint tenancy agreement for the whole house, you may only need one licence between all residents. Find out more on the TV licensing website.
Accommodation FAQs
If you have a specific question about accommodation which is not covered here, check out our frequently asked questions.
