http://www.accommodationforstudents.com/

http://www.homesforstudents.co.uk/

A couple of websites that advertise student housing...no idea what you might find, but these might be helpful. Rents for a single room in Coventry look like they are in the 50 pound per week range, which actually is pretty cheap...so, don't know what that means for family accomodation, but the websites let you look by city and by university, so that might help you. Sometimes there are housing associations that have special housing for students and might have something that is suitable for families.

Food costs a lot more than in the US--unless you shop smart, and then its less, at least for most items. Look for outdoor markets, and get fresh fruit and veg ( and trout) there. Shop at Aldis. Look for shops that have the best prices...they are there, often, somehow, the small corner shop rather than the giant supermarket. A lot of universities have a bus service that takes you to the larger supermarkets, and that makes shopping easier.

Coventry actually is not a bad place--I have been through it and to it a few times...its got an old cathedral that survived World War II bombing damage (or was redone, I forget the story...but its worth a look) and its got trains to nearly everywhere. The plus of being in the Midlands is you are half way to everywhere! And its just a few minutes from Kenilworth, and Kenilworth Castle, and if you have never been, or even if you have, oh that is SUCH A MAGNIFICENT place!!!! I love visiting it, and its got some child friendly bits of the walkabout tour ( hint, Join English Heritage, you can get some marvelous discounts to some incredible places in England!!!! Kenilworth Castle is an English heritage site! Join there!!! Says Olivia, an enthusiastic English heritage member. They even have this great student rate which really, it is soooooooo affordable, you just have to go and SEE things to make it worthwhile.

Travel costs vary on whether you are getting about by car--very expensive! train, bus, etc...Trains go about everywhere you could want to get in the Midlands, and costs vary by the kind of ticket you get, whether you are eligible for any discounts on tickets, perhaps the time of day you are travelling, etc. You can check out various websites to get information on train fares in the UK. Your university ought to be able to give a rough guide on housing costs in the area, if you are to live off campus ( which is likely with a family).

Hope this helps.

Housing in the UK, whether student or not, is generally different than that in the US. Everything is smaller, more dense, and may not include a lot of green space ( yard--in UK lexicon garden is what you would call a yard in the US), etc. TVs require a license. Will you have to pay council tax for your other family members? Are you exempt from council tax as a student? Those sorts of costs could add on to the basic cost of housing. Will you have a car? A bike? How close do you need to be to the university, to schools, to transportation?

Your university ought to be able to provide you with information on the housing options that are available. Student housing in the UK tends to be purpose built, and is sometimes offered by private companies or owners rather than owned by the university. The purpose build housing is fairily standard, with a bed, a desk, a kitchen of some sort, bathroom, etc. Sometimes utilities are included in the cost, sometimes with internet, sometimes not.

"As we are coming from overseas, I'd like to know how much it costs roughly for a month, renting on campus, travel etc in the midlands..thanks very much!!"

Do you know whether your campus has family housing available? Do you know if there is any wait period or system of allocation for any kind of housing, if available? I am going to make the assumption you are American...campus housing in the UK is not necessarily the same as in the US.

and it could be fixed with soya bacon and soya fennel!!

http://www.waitrose.com/recipe/Soy-Basted_Trout_with_Crispy_Bacon_and_Fennel.aspx

Whaddayaknow? SOY TROUT! The best of all possible worlds!

sillybilly--

try soya bacon ( even in a bacon butty!) and then see if if you like real bacon better still. Soya bacon is the best stuff I have ever eaten, bacon, or otherwise, for food. Its great. I am not that wild about all soya products, but the bacon! That is great stuff.

I have a horrible condition in my right foot and ankle, not sure if its a form of tendonititis or plantar faciitis...either way, its painful, I hobble first thing in the morning and sometimes through out the day....is it stress related? Ultimately, probably yes, though I blame it more immediately on walking over the picturesque cobblestone lanes of Bleakton...and its horrible when even walking is hard. =( I am going to see about getting some treatment for it, as my home cures and hoping time and common sense would help it along are not doing the job, though, I have also read that this can take up to 18 months or more to heal...

http://www.britishtrout.co.uk/Recipes/highlandberrykebabs.htm

Highland Berry Trout Kebabs--magic!

http://www.britishtrout.co.uk/Recipes/Trout%20burgers.htm

Trout Burgers! British Trout Burgers at that! ;P

There is of course the perfect budget protein, and its healthy besides! TROUT!!!!!!!!! Another healthy meat is bison--very very low fat and very healthy. Too much red meat is bad for us in all sorts of ways, apparently! Protein can be found in plant products, and in nuts, and in soya products. Soya bacon is better than the real stuff ( though its not cheap, and not really part of a student's budget). Eggs are a good protein, though too many apparently cause other health problems...eat low on the food chain, its best for everyone!

Other people's work habits and the effect on them may vary, but the point being, I think its hard to do PhD studies more than 8 hours a day... if you are applying yourself and not wasting time. So a PhD is no more than a job in terms of the time it takes up, and it certainly has the benefit of a flexible schedule. There may be less income from a student grant or whatever, but its possible to cut way back on things and still have a decent life style. TV could be the first to go! When I got my JD, the student population with the highest marks were expectant and new mums. Having children seemed to enhance their legal studies, not hinder them!