Not making the most of what is on offer will almost inevitably result in disappointing grades, so make sure you are fully aware of what will be at your disposal.To sum up Your university or college years will be unique; a time in your life that will have no precedent, nor repeat. I therefore strongly urge you to make the most of them, to take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way because, believe me, if you actively go out looking for them, there are plenty to be found. Phone lines are open daily from 9 August to 28 AugustUCAS helpline: 0870 112 2211; opening times: Monday 15 August to Friday 2 September 8am to 6pm; 18-19 August 8am to 8pm; Saturday 20 August 9am to 5pm; Saturday 27 August 9am to noon; Monday 29 August 9am to noonRichard Wallis works in the customer services unit at UCAS. You’ve chosen your subject and university or college, and that was testing enough But it’s not over yet. The next big decision, deciding where and how you live, can make or break your student years.

Is it cosy halls of residence with all food provided or cooking for yourself? Can you afford large and expensive, or will you share a room with a complete stranger? Do you want an en-suite bathroom and to live near your friends?

University or college accommodation offices are your first port of call for finding a place to live, whether on-campus or in private residences. The majority have comprehensive websites but can also help out by phone.Most institutions provide accommodation for all first-year students, but get your applications in early as rooms are allocated mostly on a first-come-first-served basis. Universities such as Nottingham, will guarantee a room to all students who apply before 1 August – either online or by hard copy – and who receive a firm offer. If you apply through Clearing, you are still likely to get accommodation, but with less choice about certain things.You can of course opt for private accommodation. Colleges and universities will provide a list of registered landlords, but generally this route costs more and you must be unusually independent. Stephen Kay, head of residential catering services at South Bank University in London, says: “College-owned properties are by far the most popular – only the more mature students tend to opt for private.”While nationally there is a shift towards self-catering accommodation, Nottingham’s halls of residence are the most popular choice among undergraduates, and you can see why. From £2,620 per academic year (31 weeks) for the most basic, to £4,294 for a large en-suite, students receive three meals a day, seven days a week, plus cleaning and clean bed linen.However, if corridor-living, and the inevitable communal flavour that it brings, isn’t for you, consider the benefits of self-catered rooms.

At some universities, such as South Bank, this is all that is on offer, and even traditional campus universities are beginning to provide more of these – shared student flats, sometimes in student “villages”, with communal kitchens, and options to share or have your own bathroom. Many have perks such as student bars, TV and common rooms on site. Costs at Nottingham are similar – £2,546 for a standard room to £4,136 for a large en-suite – although prices are for 44 weeks a year rather than 31, as self-catered students, unlike those in halls, don’t have to clear out their rooms during the Christmas and Easter holidays.Check how close self-catering rooms are to your campus. For example, how will you get to lectures and libraries? The benefits of being on the doorstep are obvious. Most purpose-built flats are close – those of South Bank University are a 10-minute walk from its main building and cost between £73 and £92 a week, but other London universities and colleges which are located centrally may provide rooms further afield.London costs more, but outside of the capital prices are all fairly similar at around £70 a week with food, and somewhere around £50 for self-catering, though this depends on what luxuries you choose. For a quick reference look the UCAS institution guide on their website .Clich?about student cleanliness aside, think long and hard about whether you are prepared to keep your own room clean.

You can also check this information in Track on the UCAS website.These are life decisions you are making, so it’s important to check places out before accepting: visit, look at websites, and check important details such as what accommodation is available.Extra help or adviceOnelife: 0808 100 8000; a results advice and guidance helpline. You need to decide whether to look for another course or consider reapplying in 2006.If you have a confirmed place and are not going into Clearing, UCAS sends you an AS12 confirmation letter. A wide range of institutions and courses go into Clearing, but some hard-to-get-into universities or colleges, or oversubscribed courses such as medicine, might not appear in the vacancies. If a university or college is pretty sure it wants to offer you a place, it will ask for your CEF. Send it in only if you want to accept that place, and tell any other institution you’ve been talking to about your decision.If accepted, UCAS will write to you and you’ll see the acceptance in the Track page of the UCAS website.RememberYou are being asked to make quick decisions, so knowing what you want will help. You can also get this number from the “Track” section on the UCAS website.Approach as many institutions as interest you Take time to think any offers over.

These are published on the UCAS website ( ) and in The Independent newspaper from 18 August to 8 September. In Scotland the listings are published in The Scotsman and The Independent newspapers from 9 August.Contact universities and colleges directly, usually by phone, though some take e-mail or online applications Have your Clearing Entry number available. Who is eligible?

Clearing is for people who have applied for a higher education place through UCAS and:

* Were turned down by all the universities and colleges they applied to* Declined all the offers they were made* Applied too late to take part in the main UCAS scheme (after 30 June)* Missed their grades for a conditional offerWhat happens?UCAS automatically sends you a Clearing Entry Form (CEF) and instructions, straight after your results are released, if:* You are holding no offers* You miss your grades and are turned down by the universities or colleges that had accepted you conditionallyWhat happens next?Look for vacancies on other courses. I put my questions and concerns to the admissions tutor and he told me exactly what was involved and reassured me about the course. I never would have known about this course, and I probably wouldn’t have applied for anything, if it were not for the UCAS listings.