University of Reading Accommodation 2017/18 - FAQ

Just been reading this document:-


https://www.reading.ac.uk/web/files/accommodation/Accommodation_Policy_2016-17.pdf

It states:-


Please note rooms are not prioritised for offers on a first come first serve basis due to matching student preferences and other considerations as outlined above.
Members of staff do not have influence over the method of prioritisation.

I read that as stating there is no advantage in applying for accommodation early. Is this correct?

Hi Valespark2,
You are correct providing you have applied for Accommodation by the deadline then there is no competitive advantage.
Particularly as we allocate blocks for 'Same Gender flats' and matching rooms for those who require an accessible room etc.

Hope this helps and if you have any questions please feel free to ask and we'll get the answers you need for you

Mark
Final Year Accounting and Management

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone could tell me a bit more about Windsor hall?

Thanks

I looked at it Friday on the open day , it's the catered halls isn't it ? The position was very nice, the room we saw had a wash basin in it , it was ok a little bit tired compared to the premium rooms I saw, the showers and loos etc were ok if you don't mind sharing , the kitchen was what I would say was the biggest draw back but if you really are looking for catered it would be fine, just a fridge, kettle and toaster (not sure if there was a microwave ) , presume ok if you just have cereal and milk , toast , pot noodles , sandwich etc but beyond that you don't have any options to cook if you ever wanted to, and it's not what I would call a social place where you can all meet up for a drink as it's quite a small area.

Thank you for the reply!!

If the rooms aren't allocated on a "first come first serve basis" then how are they allocated?

If the rooms aren't allocated on a "first come first serve basis" then how are they allocated?

I'd like to know this too as on open day they said it's first come first served

Please use this thread to ask any questions about Accommodation for the 2017/18 intake.

Hi there

A friend of mine and I have just applied for accommodation, and we have unconditional offers. Do we have to wait until Results day?
Or will we get an offer before then?

Hi guys, slight dilemma I need help with!

In regards to accommodation, I'm hoping to get a standard en-suite room but im worried that they are pretty far off campus, especially when compared to the premium en-suite rooms that a right on campus, like Stenton and Mackinder in the park group. I really didn't like the St Georges rooms and when i went to the applicant day there wasn't an opportunity to view the other standard en-suite rooms; any idea what they are like!? and how far away they are?? I'll be studying psychology which is building 62 and that's already pretty out of the way from the main part of campus; ie the library and union. I'm also a 2017 applicant - Also, at the applicant I was told that Mckinder is for postgrad ONLY and online it states this too, but when I phoned up they said it was for undergrads as well??

thanks in advance

Hello!

Firstly, glad you are choosing Reading!

I was worried about the distance of accommodation from campus when I applied, but actually all of our accommodation is very close. Two options for standard en-suite rooms are Benyon and Sherfield, which are off campus but only 10/15 minutes from the centre (and 5 minutes from the Sportspark if you like the gym!). I had friends living in Benyon and Sherfield last year in standard en-suite rooms and they had a great time!

As well as St George's there is also Greenow & McCombie in the park group area, but this is a smaller hall with limited rooms available - but you can still apply.

In all of the standard en-suite rooms, you share your corridor and kitchen with about 6-8 people, your room contains fitted furniture (desk, wardrobe, lots of storage space, chair, and often under bed storage too which is really useful!) and of course your en-suite toilet and shower.

Mackinder is a premium en-suite room - it is available for postgraduates, but also for undergraduates too as I had a friend in 1st year that lived there. Bridges also offers premium en-suite rooms, in very close proximity to the psychology building so you could always apply there - I lived here in first year and really enjoyed it.

For more information on the standard en-suite rooms, here is the accommodation page link: https://www.reading.ac.uk/ready-to-study/accommodation/university-accommodation/types-of-room/en-suite-room.aspx

One thing I didn't realise before being a student here is that even though you study a certain course, like Psychology, you aren't necessarily always going to be in that building. I study Food Science, but my lectures can be in the business school, agriculture or general lecture theatres in the centre of campus. So, I wouldn't worry too much about location! Even if you did have to get from Benyon or Sherfield to Psychology, with a bike this would be 5-10 minutes and walking around 25 mins.

Hope all this helps, and if you have any more questions feel free to ask!

Alice
2nd Year Food Science Student

Thank you so much for your reply!! I think that's my dilemma pretty much solved! So is Mcombie for undergrads? for some reason, i had this in my head that it was for postgrads. Do you have any idea when Mcombie was built?

Many thanks xx