Cost of books in university.

R

Rujib

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Hi,

Our first just off to UCC next month. Accomodation all sorted. We have no idea on likely cost for books and materials required for the year. She is doing environment and earth system science.
Would appreciate some informed input.

Rgds
 
University texts are usually much expensive than secondary school, though they should be available in the library for loan. The only times while at college that I bought texts were when after a couple of weeks of in and out of the library I got fed up and bought them.

So basically, if you dont mind loaning regularly from the library, 3rd level texts can be free.
 
I think some of the larger, better second hand bookshops should have at least some 3rd level texts (particularly in University areas) but don't delay as they can be like gold dust and you might need some patience when looking in some of the badly organised shops.
 
In 4 years of uni I only ever bought 1 book. The library usually has most of what you need, maybe one edition out of date. Or some students pool together and get one copy of a book and share/photocopy what they need. I started 14 years ago and books could cost around £80 each.
 
I'd agree with this. University is not like school: although there may well be lists of books handed out, it's not expected that you actually buy all or indeed any of them.

As others have suggested, it's more usual to use library copies. There are various options for sharing/purchasuing second hand etc.

There are probably at most one or two key texts that are even worth considering purchasing. However, it mightn't be obvious which ones these are until you're a few weeks into a particular course.

Basically, I wouldn't worry too much: and in particular don't rush into purchasing loads of expensive new text books. Leave it a few weeks and then decide if any are worth getting.
 
Don't forget the student union will also have a second hand bookshop, which will have many of the same books, since the booklists tend not to change that much.
 
I did a 4 year degree and didnt buy one book the whole time (not what the da was told :p )! Once u get goin go straight to your main lecturer/course administrator and ask for a book list..generally the books stay the same for 4-5 years before theyre updated. Check out student noticeboards, students are always selling previous years books cheaply and quickly. Get chattin to someone in the year ahead of u, easy to do, just hang around the lecture room of that year and...simply ask! Some will have books sittin at home doin nothin and will gladly sell/give them to u! Get used to the library system asap...i didnt for ages and u soon learn the main books are gone and booked pretty quickly!! Dont buy unless you reeeeally have to!
 
Ooops just realised ur a parent and not a student! Everythin my dad forked out for was duly accounted for hehe.:p *well 7 yrs after graduating im deffo payin him back with lifts to the pub and great birthday pressies due to gettin a great job after college :D
 
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Check this site out [broken link removed]

i heard it mentioned i think it was on a radio programme last week

it has other users - selling books second hand and there seems to be an exchange site of course it helps when u have the book titles

but u would normaly get the list of books with the course

when i did my BA course i got a list of the book titles which i needed for the year to be honest i'd say i bought about 5 during my 4 years at Uni and went to the library for the rest

though its hard to get the books coming up to exam time

In our Uni the common thing was people hiding books or stashes so there were frequent hiding places for some of the popular books
 
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