Ultimate St Andrews Accommodation Thread

Reply 1980

I applied for:
1. Standard Catered
2. Standard Self-Catered
3. En-suite Self-Catered
4. En-suite Catered

Hopefully I don’t get En-suite catered, because there’s no way I could afford it!

Why not Andrew Melville? That is the best value.

Reply 1981

A Rolling Stone

20

Original post by Anonymous

Why not Andrew Melville? That is the best value.

you're unlikely to get it if your parents are well off

Reply 1982

username4867806

21

Original post by A Rolling Stone

you're unlikely to get it if your parents are well off

How do they know if your parents are well off?

Reply 1983

username4867806

21

I applied for:

1. Self-catered Standard
2. Self-catered ensuite
3. Andrew Melville
4. Catered standard

Reply 1984

DizZzZy

6

Original post by Treetop321

How do they know if your parents are well off?

I always assumed you had to fill out some income stuff to apply there? If not maybe through SAAS or SLC

Reply 1985

Anonymous #7

Original post by DizZzZy

I always assumed you had to fill out some income stuff to apply there? If not maybe through SAAS or SLC

Probably more likely that people who are not bothered about the high cost of other places don't apply there as it is not pretty or high spec, but is good value.

Reply 1986

username4867806

21

Original post by DizZzZy

I always assumed you had to fill out some income stuff to apply there? If not maybe through SAAS or SLC

I didn't have to fill anything out and you don't have to apply for student loans for ages.

Reply 1987

StAMed2019

6

You don't have to fill in anything and I'm not sure if student loans companies are allowed to give out information about your parents' financial status but also, if you're parents can afford the more expensive halls then leave the cheaper ones for the people that can't afford the expensive ones. There are less well off people at St Andrews, albeit few, and lack of affordable housing is a much bigger problem for them

Reply 1988

Mumrah

10

What happens if you can't afford the hall you are allocated? Can you appeal?

Reply 1989

Mumrah

10

Having been there a year. Where would you now pick for Hall? Would you recommend staying in halls for year 2?

Reply 1990

StAMed2019

6

Original post by Mumrah

What happens if you can't afford the hall you are allocated? Can you appeal?

I'm really not sure. Maybe if you email them explaining your circumstances, they might but the cheaper halls are also the smaller ones so there usually aren't any free rooms in those once everyone is allocated. You might be able to apply for a bursary otherwise but I really don't know, it's something you're going to have to look into yourself. Sorry!

Reply 1991

StAMed2019

6

Original post by Mumrah

Having been there a year. Where would you now pick for Hall? Would you recommend staying in halls for year 2?

I was in Andrew Melville in 1st year and I'm going back there again for my second year. I can't speak for other halls but Melville is great. Because it's a smaller hall, it's so easy to socialise and make friends, plenty of events (free bars, balls, fancy dinners etc), close to the Science buildings and the sports centre, good study spaces, overall, has a great vibe.
As for staying in halls in 2nd year, it comes down to personal preference. Some people prefer the independence they get by moving out (not that halls are strict in any way) but just with meal times, if you move out, you can eat whenever you want, you can wake up late because there's no "fear" of missing breakfast etc. Some people really don't like hall food so that's why they move out, or move into self-catered halls. In most halls (except DRA), there's no guarantee you and your friends' rooms will be near each other, you can ask and I got very lucky that I am on the same floor as all my friends next year. I guess, halls is just less responsibility and people might move out because they wanna learn how to adult. Some people just don't like the vibe of halls. Many people move out for 2nd year and 3rd and try to come back for their dissertation year but it's a lot easier to get back in if you're already living there
Other people love halls, they like how social halls are and that they don't have to worry about bills and internet and food (if you're catered), some people just aren't ready to move out and halls gives them both freedom and security.
I'm moving back in because I'm a medic and I just don't think I can manage living out of halls and have time to socialise etc. Everything is taken care of in halls, I don't have to worry about food etc. I just either have to study or go out and enjoy myself. And after I leave St Andrews for the next 3 years of my course, I will probably have to live in private accommodation anyway, so I'm making the most out of living in halls and having everything taken care of because I've got plenty of time afterwards to learn how to adult.
But it all comes down to personal preference. You can only really make that decision once you're there and you've experienced it.

Reply 1992

username3157724

10

I'm trying to log in to apply for accommodation for the first time. I've done the first bit, putting in my Student ID and DoB, but the CAS Single Sign-On keeps saying I have 'Invalid Credentials' (using the My Application e:Vision username and password). Any advice on what I'm doing wrong? Thanks!
(PSA I have emailed the uni central accommodation, its just they won't get back to me for another three days which is after the deadline)

Reply 1993

Cuckcoo

11

Original post by beatriceaj71

I'm trying to log in to apply for accommodation for the first time. I've done the first bit, putting in my Student ID and DoB, but the CAS Single Sign-On keeps saying I have 'Invalid Credentials' (using the My Application e:Vision username and password). Any advice on what I'm doing wrong? Thanks!
(PSA I have emailed the uni central accommodation, its just they won't get back to me for another three days which is after the deadline)

If you are an unconditional offer holder and have set up your MySaint account, it might be that you need to login into the accommodation with those details instead of the Student ID. If not I think the only other options would be to try again at a later time or to phone the uni up on Monday and see if anyone can help you. I hope you manage to sort it out, good luck!

Reply 1994

username3157724

10

Original post by Cuckcoo

If you are an unconditional offer holder and have set up your MySaint account, it might be that you need to login into the accommodation with those details instead of the Student ID. If not I think the only other options would be to try again at a later time or to phone the uni up on Monday and see if anyone can help you. I hope you manage to sort it out, good luck!

Thank you! I have an unconditional offer but haven't set up My Saint yet (also haven't had any emails about My Saint either). Should I just go ahead and set up an account?

Reply 1995

username5243714

15

Original post by beatriceaj71

Thank you! I have an unconditional offer but haven't set up My Saint yet (also haven't had any emails about My Saint either). Should I just go ahead and set up an account?

You have to create a separate accommodation account. On the login page, you should be able to scroll down below the login bit to create an account.

Reply 1996

Cuckcoo

11

Original post by beatriceaj71

Thank you! I have an unconditional offer but haven't set up My Saint yet (also haven't had any emails about My Saint either). Should I just go ahead and set up an account?

When did you firm your offer? The entrant email, which contains the information about MySaint, start to be sent out at the end of May. But if you firmed recently then that might not be the case.

Have you tried this?

Original post by Lightning720

You have to create a separate accommodation account. On the login page, you should be able to scroll down below the login bit to create an account.

Reply 1997

username3157724

10

Original post by Cuckcoo

When did you firm your offer? The entrant email, which contains the information about MySaint, start to be sent out at the end of May. But if you firmed recently then that might not be the case.

Have you tried this?

I only firmed last week, so I am just sending pictures of my GCSE certificates and so on. So that may be why?