The University of Southampton Accommodation Thread

Hi guys,

Can anyone recommend accommodations for a postgrad student?

I'm looking for somewhere with a good level of activity/community but nothing too party orientated because I'll be focusing on my PhD.

Any help is greatly appreciated!

when im accepting my my offer for accommodation im asked to put in my card details but i dont have a student account yet, is there a way i will be able to change it later when my student account has been made

I was given my third choice accommodation. I called up to see if I could be given my first choice. I mentioned I have a medical condition and I was told they would get back to me. I did not mention my medical condition in my application. Would they ask evidence for it? Do I also not reject or accept my accommodation offer as they’re now looking at it again?

Hi guys,
I have applied for accommodation and these are my choices. it is my fault that I did not consult you guys which is better.
Gower Standard studio
Highfield Hall Standard studio
Glen Eyre Quiet standard en-suite


Can I change my preferences after I have submitted the application. I am afraid that I can't socialize for choosing studio.

Hi,

I’ve been offered a Monte 3, standard En-suite room, which was my last choice, but I’m feeling okay about it. (I put the enhanced en-suite rooms at Glen Eyre and Wessex as my top choices). I can’t find much information specifically on monte 3 on the internet and so I was wondering if you had any insight into this? How big are the rooms? Are the en-suites wetrooms, or standard bathrooms? How is the noise? Is there anything else I should know before accepting the offer?



Thank you!

If an offer expires can I submit a new application

With regards to catered halls, what is the opening times for breakfast for Connaught if anyone knows? Thanks

In case of interest to anyone who've applied for catered:
I've been offered Wessex Halls, Montefiore 3, standard en-suite, quiet, part-catered room. I've had a look at the rooms and they seem a little dated.
I did ring accommodation to see if I could upgrade but was advised all the 'enhanced' (i.e. newer) rooms are not catered. So I either go modern and self-cater or go 'old' and get catered. Only Highfield and Wessex offered catered and apparently Highfield is even more dated and not best location for my course (medicine). As my course is likely to be quite intense I didn't want the bother of shopping/cooking and thought going catered would be a nice way to socialise/meet people through shared meals etc.
Have decided to stick with offer as was told, bluntly, that I won't get a second offer - if I don't accept I'd have to wait until results day/arrival to see if I could swap.
Just wondered if anyone has any experience of the quiet rooms in Montefiore 3 and also if catered is worth a less-modern room? I wouldn't have minded non-quiet but, as the course is likely to be busy, thought it might help with the studying etc but also now thinking I don't want to be in block where no-one socialises...

Just wondered if anyone has any experience of the quiet rooms in Montefiore 3 and also if catered is worth a less-modern room? I wouldn't have minded non-quiet but, as the course is likely to be busy, thought it might help with the studying etc but also now thinking I don't want to be in block where no-one socialises...

Hiya I am back now
So not sure if you saw my post earlier but Montefiore is a bit of a minefield, I'm not sure who knows what is defined as "montefiore 3" etc to be honest. There is a block system and so certain blocks get called Montefiore 3 so not sure which these correspond to.
I've only visited one particular block near the end of the student village part and I thought it was fine! The kitchens are quite nice too.

You're right that the catered options are not enhanced. I'm not sure why this is but maybe it's due to the fact that the catered halls are the older ones and these have the dining areas where you can sit and eat meals unlike other halls
Both highfield hall and Connaught are really lovely. Highfield I never visited but my friends went there and loved every second.
They may be slightly older but the rooms are often larger and you have this nice 'quad' green space infront of you which is likened to a Cambridge college or something. Really nice

So I have gone over this a few times but literally nowhere is inaccessible. Buses can be tracked on the UniLink app and are very frequent! You can get to the University Hospital or Highfield Campus readily from any University hall and you get a bus pass with your halls fees! I mentioned already in this thread about bus links you can get from Wessex Lane to the University Hospital, but I feel I should mention that Highfield Hall (whilst being old) is actually location-wise the closes to the University of Southampton's Highfield Campus (you also don't have to go/up or down any hills hahaha). So if you were super worried about getting around your best bet would be Highfield Hall because you just have a short walk to Highfield Interchange where you can get the U6H bus to the hospital or just walk to lectures

Yeah I definitely agree that being catered is super convenient I really enjoyed it for my course (Chemistry) which was also super demanding workload wise plus I made loads of friends and we would often go do things together after sharing a meal together in the dining hall

Wow that's a new accommodation policy haha You can't really get another offer unless there are extenuating circumstances but tbh you have a super nice deal because you get to be in the Wessex part but also get to be catered so you get a nice bit of space and also the added perk of meals It's super nice.

So when I was looking at accommodation back when I started uni in 2017, it was actually better value to get a catered room than to get an ensuite super enhanced room (or whatever they were called now haha). That meant that I could save some money and also get food which seemed like a better deal to me the rooms are also super nice so for me it worked out. It really depends on your preferences, what I would say is that I never knew anyone who regretted going to Wessex Lane, it's such a nice hall

All the 'quiet' option means is you have been allocated into a flat with other people who ticked 'quiet'. So the true definition of quiet and socialising is fully dependent on everyone's definition of quiet! Shouldn't be an issue for socialising since you will meet people in the dining hall and also through going to events. There are loads of common rooms at Wessex Lane and often events are held there so you can just pop along and have fun when you want

Hope this helps!

Thank you so much that really helps - I feel a lot better about it all now!

Can I just check how the catering system works - is there a card or app which debits allocations (breakfast & lunch/dinner)?
Also can non-catered students also use canteen, on a pay-as-they-go basis, or is this limited to ensure enough provision/meals for those on pre-paid catered accommodation?
Finally re:bus routes I’ve read it can get a bit rammed at certain stops/pick up points - does this affect Wessex lane or are we on an earlier stop? Thanks again

That's awesome, so glad I could help!!

So it's all done on your ID card if you are catered. The best part is you can check the menu online so if you had something on in the evening or didn't like the look of the weekday evening meal, you can just use your allocation to spend in the university eating outlets for lunch instead. When I was at uni the allocation was around £7.70 but I've seen that it tends to increase over time. It's really great but remember it only works in uni outlets and you can't sub out breakfast or weekends (but you can get takeaway). There are also no refunds or additional allocation days. E. G if you missed a day, that's it you just gotta deal with it type of thing

If non-catered want to have a meal, they just pay when they come via debit card or whatever as far as I am aware they are not limited but I think things changed during the pandemic so it's one you might need to check, sorry!!

So at typical morning lecture times it's busy sure, but there are literally 5-6 buses an hour so if you miss one, the next one is around the corner haha so it's literally so easy to get a bus around.
Also top tip if you're desperate for a seat, is to walk a bit further around wessex Lane /connaught Hall and there's a stop before the main wessex stop so you could just get on there before everyone else

If breakfast isn’t until 7.30 at Connaught, does that leave enough time to walk to the bus stop, catch the bus and get to the hospital in time for a 9am lecture? What time did you normally Catch the bus from Woodmill Lane? Or did you go to Highfield first?
In Connaught kitchens, do they have a job or just an oven and microwave?

Thanks!

I was given my 3rd choice accommodation, Glen Eyre En-suite, but I called to request my first choice, Wessex Lane En-suite catered, because of my medical condition, I require nutritional meals daily which is why I put down a part-catered room as my first choice. I received a new offer for Connaught Hall part-catered standard shared bathroom today. I don't want to come across as ungrateful, and I understand that people hardly ever have their accommodation offers reconsidered, but I specifically requested my first choice, and if I couldn't get it, I would stick with my original offer as it was after all one of my 5 choices. I called to see if it could be reconsidered again, but I was told it was final. Is there any way I can still somehow get it changed? Perhaps on results day, when some rooms may become available?

Short answer is no.
Also ensuite catered rooms are very limited so may not be any left

Room swaps are only done after you move in because of clearing so there is no way really unless you can prove with medical documentation that you need a specific room ?