'It's too noisy where I live'

• Do the people responsible for the noise know that you need quiet time for studying?

• If the noise is within your accommodation, talk to your housemates as soon as it's a problem. Leaving things a long time can make a situation more tense, and sometimes people are unaware that they're causing a problem.

  Explain what you're finding difficult and say what you'd like. Listen to the other point of view, and see if there's a compromise on which you can all agree.

  You might agree to maintain quiet at certain times of the day, or on certain days of the week. You might agree to work elsewhere (eg a local library) on occasions.

  Experiment with volume to find out what level is acceptable - sometimes people don't realise how far sound travels. Simply changing the position of hi fi speakers, for example, can improve things dramatically.

• Is the noise from outside your accommodation? The suggestions above are equally applicable. Bear in mind that it's helpful to approach neighbours at a time that's convenient for them.

  If this doesn't work, you could contact their warden, landlord or housing association.

• If these measures don't work, contact UWE's Students' Union where advisers can give guidance on dealing with accommodation problems such as noise.

A further step would be to contact an organisation such as Bristol Mediation (0117 904 3321), which specialises in mediating neighbourhood disputes.

In extreme cases, you could complain to the police.

• If all else fails, you may have to look for somewhere else to live. UWE's Accommodation Service has information about University accommodation and a register of private landlords.