I've recently been accepted by two universities in Britain for a MSc programme - one of them being Sheffield's, and the other Newcastle's. I originally applied for Newcastle in case my application for Sheffield didn't work out, but recently, I've begun to wonder which of these two was the better option. I'm not talking about the universities themselves so much as the social environment and the costs of living.

Though my family will pay for my tuition fees, I intend to take a part-time job to fully cover my material expenses - which I'll strive to keep down to a minimum. As I'll soon earn a BSc in biochemistry, it would help to know whether the clinical laboratories around Sheffield (or other relevant institutions) tend to take in students for part-time work, and whether they pay well enough to offset the costs of basic necessities and rent.

I also need to know some details about those expenses...
How much does rent tend to cost, in student housing and in the private sector? I'm afraid the university's website didn't mention this. Hopefully, there's housing available for around 50 pounds a week that's no more than an hour's walk away from the city centre.

How much does monthly membership cost for the cheapest gyms out there? Where I live, 8 pounds a month is a good price for hardcore gyms.

Are farmers' markets commonplace in Sheffield? What tend to be the lowest prices for locally-grown food?

Also, what's the community like? I'm told Sheffield is less of a haven for chavs than Newcastle, and very friendly overall. As I'm a practicing Buddhist, any information on the Buddhist communities in and around Sheffield (monasteries in particular) would be particularly welcome.

I'll give it a shot to help you.
You can rent a council flat for £50 a week roughly and you could find a room in a house for approximately that amount with bills on top.
A freind of mine was at Newcastle Uni whilst I was working at Hallam Uni so I got a good view of both ( I spent a fair bit of time up there dating someone and visiting her) and I preferred Sheffield but I suspect I'm biased anyway since I'm from Sheffield.
Gym membership - no idea. You can pay sessionally.
I do know of one in HIllsborough where the monthly fee is £14 to use it off peak and there are probably others.
Sheffield is known for being friendly and has been referred to as the biggest village in the world, despite being a city. People will talk to you at a bus stop or on the bus sometimes. Bus drivers call you 'love' and 'duck'. I find people to be less formal here. It's a fairly relaxed city.
I found that the nightlife was easier to handle in Sheffield too.
No idea about farmers markets, I never even thought about it.
There are plenty of chavtastic residents in Sheffield and it pays to be choosy about where you live, tragically that means you pay more money for the rent too.Heeley/Meersbrook is local to the Uni to walk, has a high level of owner occupants and also has a lot of rented accomodation (private sector). It makes a nice balance for students IMO. Crookes is pricey but similar IMO.
Highfields and SHoreham Street have lots of student places.
ANyway, I hope that's a start for you.
Good luck :)

The university has its own sports facilities, including gym, which students use free of charge. Why pay?

The university has its own sports facilities, including gym, which students use free of charge. Why pay?

I'm hoping that's a joke or I've been avoiding the gym for nothing!!

To the OP Sheffield's a great place to be a student. Is it Sheffield Uni or Hallam? If Hallam, cheaper accommodation is really located in places closest to that uni (eg Highfield/Sharrow) cheapest I've seen was £40 p/w. If it's Sheffield Uni, accommodation close by (eg Broomhill) tends to be more expensive, but still ok - cheapest £55-60. Although it's possible to get a shoebox in crookes for 45....Believe me, I have done my research!!

Seriously though, everywhere in Sheffield is linked well by bus/tram so you can live further away and still get there easily.

I've heard Newcastle is great too though :) You should visit both and see!

The university has its own sports facilities, including gym, which students use free of charge. Why pay?

Afraid you're mistaken. The uni facilities are not free to students unless you have a sports scholarship - ie compete at national/international level. All other students pay for membership.

<to add to the above advice which all is good>

Crookes would be a good place to live, lots of students live around there so loads of house sharing within that budget. And there is a buddhist centre (http://www.fwbosheffield.org/) 10 minutes walk away and the Uni a similar distance.

That saying we are a loyal bunch, if you post this question on a Sheffield Forum, we will be biased. I came here in the nineties and stayed. Its not perfect but it has everything.

Regarding Sheffield Uni's gym, the official site states that prices peak from £28 per month. Not my idea of "free". And the gym has tons of pointless equipment, such as treadmills and pec decks - I prefer old-fashioned free weights, squat/power racks and benches.

Ash, thanks for the advice; but the FWBO is an organization I specifically want to avoid.

I'm grateful for everyone's suggestions, by the way. It really is a nice community.

I agree, I think the gym prices are a rip-off for a student gym! They do have special offers at the beginning of semester though, where you pay a cheap price for the term.

Sheffield Uni also have some kind of Buddhist society.

Virgin Active have a cheaper student rate than the Student Gym, that's madness! Or at least the uni sounds more expensive than the rate I am paying for my daughter.

For just over £200, students can have a 9 months pass for 5 gyms, 6 pools, athletics, sauna's and steam rooms and loads more. Discount at various clubs, shops, golf, courts etc.
edit. link don't work but google: ponds forge sheffield

no, gym membership is not free lol...

I'll give it a shot to help you.
You can rent a council flat for £50

You'd probably need to find one first - they're rarer than rocking horse.........