If you’re working on your UCAS application or thinking about universities for next year, you might also be wondering where you’ll live if you choose to move away from home for your studies.
When and how should I apply for uni accommodation?
It’s a good idea to check how to apply for accommodation at the university or universities you’re interested in. Once your UCAS application for a course is accepted, you’d then apply to the university for a place in their student accommodation. You will often apply for your university or college accommodation directly, and each will have a different process. You will usually need to make a shortlist of preferred accommodation - be it location, or room type - and you will be assigned a room.
It’s too early to apply for accommodation before you choose your course, but universities will have information about what kinds of rooms, flats or houses you could be living in – as well as the costs of rent and a rough idea of when to apply.
Here are a few things to consider.
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Think about the kind of place you'd like to live in
Do you want to live in halls, or share with friends? Do you want to go self-catered or catered? It's important to consider how you envisage your life and what sort of accommodation fits into this vision.
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Think about what your budget might be
Student accommodation varies in shapes and sizes – and of course, cost.
Rent varies depending on where it is and what amenities are nearby or on site. Some accommodation includes more bills than others too, so it’s worth thinking about what your budget might be and what you can afford.
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Take a look around
Visiting uni campuses and accommodation is by far the best way to see where you could live – to really get a feel for what it’s like.
- Go to an open day and get a tour of the university and their accommodation options
- Arrange your own visit and tour on a quieter or more convenient day
- Look at virtual tours to explore uni facilities and accommodation online
Applying for accommodation FAQs
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Is student accommodation first-come, first-served?
You can usually apply for accommodation once you’ve accepted an offer to study. Accommodation isn't allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, but it's good to apply as soon as you can.
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When do I apply?
You can usually apply after you’ve accepted an offer to study, but some universities and colleges don’t accept accommodation applications until after a specific date.
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Are there any deadlines?
Check this with your uni and college choices so you don’t miss out.
They’ll often say on their websites that you’ll be guaranteed a place to live if you apply by their accommodation deadline – which (as an example) could be sometime in summer for courses starting in September.
Apply soon as you can and before the deadline. But, if you’re late, get in touch with your uni or college – they may still have availability, or they can often recommend private accommodation as an alternative.
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What if my offer is conditional on school results – will I be too late to get accommodation?
Don’t worry, you can still apply for accommodation once you’ve accepted your offer but before you get your results. A lot of post-16 applicants are waiting on their results, so you’ll all be in the same situation.
Universities and colleges have an idea of how many students join them each year, so they’ll know roughly how much accommodation they need. There’s usually plenty available.
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Can I live in halls in my second or third year?
Contrary to popular belief, you can stay in uni halls of residence beyond your first year, and many students continue to live in halls for their second and third years.
There are many reasons why you might want to stay in halls. Maybe you haven’t found people you want to live with for the rest of your time at university. Maybe you like being close to campus and having everything you need on-hand.
At some universities, second or third year students who choose to stay in halls also have the option of becoming a ‘senior resident’. This means you’ll get a discount on your rent in return for being on-call if any issues come up with first-year residents.
It’s not always possible to continue living in halls – some universities simply don’t have enough halls of residence to accommodate first years and older years, so they only reserve spaces in halls for freshers. Check this with your university.
