The Student Room Group

Thread for accommodation questions for 09/10 entry - READ & POST HERE FIRST :o)

Scroll to see replies

Reply 40

If I apply for accommodation, and get an offer (which I should do, according to their guaranteed eligibility criteria, even if it's not what I requested), am I able to turn that offer down?

I realize that this is a really stupid question, particularly given the word 'offer' and the fact that it may not be what you asked for, but it obviously has fairly serious financial implications, so I want to make quite sure.

Reply 41

TheUnbeliever
If I apply for accommodation, and get an offer (which I should do, according to their guaranteed eligibility criteria, even if it's not what I requested), am I able to turn that offer down?

I realize that this is a really stupid question, particularly given the word 'offer' and the fact that it may not be what you asked for, but it obviously has fairly serious financial implications, so I want to make quite sure.


I would contact the accommodation services for sure, as I don't know. I've just had a look online but I can't find anything.

When you apply online you don't commit anything financially to the university, as in, you don't pay your deposit until after you've accepted the offer. Then you get into a contract with them, and at that stage you couldn't decline it. But when you apply, you just apply and then they get back to you with an offer which you can choose to accept (which obviously the majority of people do, as they've applied for a room!) by signing the contract and paying the deposit.

I got mine sent via email (in the first year the university did applications online, they messed it up and loads of people didn't recieve the emails so lost their rooms) which said if you didn't accept it within X amount of time you would forfeit the place and your room wouldn't be guarenteed, which implies that when you're given an offer you're not commited to taking it.

Reply 42

TheUnbeliever
If I apply for accommodation, and get an offer (which I should do, according to their guaranteed eligibility criteria, even if it's not what I requested), am I able to turn that offer down?

You can turn it down but accommodation services aren't obliged to make you another offer (when I was applying they said that they would not make a second offer - and I don't think the wording has changed)

Reply 43

artorscience?
You can turn it down but accommodation services aren't obliged to make you another offer (when I was applying they said that they would not make a second offer - and I don't think the wording has changed)


That's fine - if I want accommodation, I'll accept it, but I'm not sure yet and they claimed you'd have to apply early if you wanted a chance of getting an offer.

Thanks, both.

Reply 44

Are they all definitely non smoking, or can you get away with it?

Reply 45

arpeggiarpeggi
Are they all definitely non smoking, or can you get away with it?


They're all non smoking yes, but whether or not you can get away with it by hanging out the window is another matter. In Pollock I'd say no because you have a cleaner in your room so the smell of smoke would be obvious, but in flats the cleaner isn't in your room to smell or know that you've covered up the smoke detector with tape. You'd have to cover it up as they are really really sensitive - as in, people set them off by standing directly under neath them when they were using hair dryers/straighteners and the heat set them off. Insense sticks also set them off. If you set the fire alarms off everyone in your halls/neighbours will hate you.

Also, your flatmates/friends aren't gonna be too impressed if your room stinks when you could just go and stand outside like everyone else!

Reply 46

oxymoronic
Also, your flatmates/friends aren't gonna be too impressed if your room stinks when you could just go and stand outside like everyone else!


It won't just their room; it'll be the whole flat. One of my flatmates insisted on smoking indoors and the smell was everywhere. We hated him. Do you want to be hated arpeggiarpeggi?

Reply 47

nearlyheadlessian
It won't just their room; it'll be the whole flat. One of my flatmates insisted on smoking indoors and the smell was everywhere. We hated him. Do you want to be hated arpeggiarpeggi?


Mate, it's university. Doesn't everyone take up smoking at university?

Reply 48

arpeggiarpeggi
Mate, it's university. Doesn't everyone take up smoking at university?


No. Some people do, some people don't. If you're aged 13 and doing it because all of the cool kids do it, then yes, probably everyone does start smoking at university. The majority of people however grew up at some point between the ages of 13 and getting to this stage of their lives.

However, it is against the university rules to smoke in your accommodation because it is a) illegal to smoke in public spaces in Scotland anyway and b) why should your flatmates have to live with all of your smell?

We're giving you advice as current students - you ask a question and we have given you answers. Do with it what you will - we're not going to be the ones who live with you after all.

Reply 49

Following Ed Uni website applications for accommodations 2009 can start 16 February not 1st as is says on the first post.

I'm going to Edinburgh for a second visit late march so I'll be applying after that, good thing it's not first come first serve :smile:.

Reply 50

Nelien
I'm going to Edinburgh for a second visit late march so I'll be applying after that, good thing it's not first come first serve :smile:.


So... how do they assign rooms to people? :confused:

Reply 51

mtghent1
So... how do they assign rooms to people? :confused:

They put applications in groups and open up the accommodation in groups. Then they fit the group of applicants to the group of accommodation.

We try to offer students the accommodation they have requested, and to this end places are filled proportionately - everyone has the same chance of being offered their first choice, regardless of when we deal with their application. However, because of fluctuations in supply and demand, first choice accommodation can never be guaranteed.

Source. This seems to be all they say on the matter.

Reply 52

Nelien
Following Ed Uni website applications for accommodations 2009 can start 16 February not 1st as is says on the first post.

I'm going to Edinburgh for a second visit late march so I'll be applying after that, good thing it's not first come first serve :smile:.


Cheers for that, they must have changed it then as it was certainly the 1st Feb when I checked it out about a week and a half ago because I was like wow, thats in 2 weeks! I'll change it on the first post.

mtghent1
So... how do they assign rooms to people?


Randomly by taking into account your preferences and anything else relevant such as age (so a mature student aged 25 wouldn't be with a load of 17 year olds) and probably where you're coming from (as in if you're an international student or not) so that there aren't 5 exchange students in one flat.

People with unconditional offers get given rooms in July time as they are definitley coming, and then everyone else is dealt with at the end of August after the SQA and A level results days when numbers are confirmed.

Reply 53

oxymoronic
Randomly by taking into account your preferences and anything else relevant such as age (so a mature student aged 25 wouldn't be with a load of 17 year olds) and probably where you're coming from (as in if you're an international student or not) so that there aren't 5 exchange students in one flat.

People with unconditional offers get given rooms in July time as they are definitley coming, and then everyone else is dealt with at the end of August after the SQA and A level results days when numbers are confirmed.


Two question pop up in my head following this. How big is the usual range of age that they take into consideration? I'll be 23 in September but I wouldn't want to live only with people my age or older, I don't mind a few 17-18 years old, the more variation the better :smile:.

Also, if you, as me, will be able to receive an unconditional earlier, will I also get accommodation replies earlier? My only condition for my offer is an EOTFL test score and I'll be taking the test in a few of weeks so I'm guessing I'll be sitting with a Firm Unconditional in March already.

Reply 54

Nelien
Two question pop up in my head following this. How big is the usual range of age that they take into consideration? I'll be 23 in September but I wouldn't want to live only with people my age or older, I don't mind a few 17-18 years old, the more variation the better :smile:.

Also, if you, as me, will be able to receive an unconditional earlier, will I also get accommodation replies earlier? My only condition for my offer is an EOTFL test score and I'll be taking the test in a few of weeks so I'm guessing I'll be sitting with a Firm Unconditional in March already.


If you're happy living with the 'younger' students then its fine, but sometimes people want to contact the university and request NOT to live with 17 year olds and then if they're cool with that, then they don't do anything. I'd assume. As you're older they might put you with gap year students, or people coming on exchange from abroad who tend to be older (21-23 sort of age) than the British students who are coming straight out of school. Remember that if you go for self catering flats (which I'm assuming you will) you will get all of the 'older' seeming people anyway. This is obviously a huge generalisation but I found the younger seeming people with little life experience went for Pollock where it was catered and safe. The people in flats were more independent so it didn't matter how old they were.

With regards to your status, I would assume you would do yes as they deal with the people whos offers are unconditional in July (or early August as they tend to be really slow!) as it makes sense to get everyone out of the way before all of the exam results days. You would be treated the same as all of the other unconditional offer holders. They won't even have finished giving out offers by March anyway.

Reply 55

oxymoronic
If you're happy living with the 'younger' students then its fine, but sometimes people want to contact the university and request NOT to live with 17 year olds and then if they're cool with that, then they don't do anything. I'd assume. As you're older they might put you with gap year students, or people coming on exchange from abroad who tend to be older (21-23 sort of age) than the British students who are coming straight out of school. Remember that if you go for self catering flats (which I'm assuming you will) you will get all of the 'older' seeming people anyway. This is obviously a huge generalisation but I found the younger seeming people with little life experience went for Pollock where it was catered and safe. The people in flats were more independent so it didn't matter how old they were.

With regards to your status, I would assume you would do yes as they deal with the people whos offers are unconditional in July (or early August as they tend to be really slow!) as it makes sense to get everyone out of the way before all of the exam results days. You would be treated the same as all of the other unconditional offer holders. They won't even have finished giving out offers by March anyway.


Ah that makes sense, on both points. In other words, when it comes to handing out accommodation they basically do it in two batches, one in July (or early August) with all Unconditionals and gap-years applications and one after Results Day whenever that is (late August isn't it?). I would be in the first batch. That's nice :biggrin:.

Reply 56

Nelien
In other words, when it comes to handing out accommodation they basically do it in two batches, one in July (or early August) with all Unconditionals and gap-years applications and one after Results Day whenever that is (late August isn't it?).

They do lots of small batches starting in June and going through to the beginning of September. You would hope to be offered something before the August results days, but that wouldn't necessarily be the case - 2 of my flatmates in first year didn't get accommodation offers until the couple of weeks before coming despite having been on unconditional offers, and they aren't alone in the experience. The important thing is that the university will offer you something before you arrive.

Reply 57

arpeggiarpeggi
Mate, it's university. Doesn't everyone take up smoking at university?


for a start, students on the whole cant afford to pay £10 a week for 40 cigarettes, the money would be better spent on drink.

secondly, you have to go outside to smoke in scotland and this means it is freezing if you fancy a smoke at 11pm and i would hope that would put people off starting to smoke

thirdly, we're not 12 anymore, smoking isn't seen as 'cool' or 'rebellious'

Reply 58

TheUnbeliever
If I apply for accommodation, and get an offer (which I should do, according to their guaranteed eligibility criteria, even if it's not what I requested), am I able to turn that offer down?

I realize that this is a really stupid question, particularly given the word 'offer' and the fact that it may not be what you asked for, but it obviously has fairly serious financial implications, so I want to make quite sure.


just to second what oxymoronic said, when i got my offer last year they said i had 7 days to reply to it. i got it 4 days in because i had been on holiday so i was quite lucky they hadnt sent it 3 days earlier or i would have lost my accommodation!

Reply 59

artorscience?
They do lots of small batches starting in June and going through to the beginning of September. You would hope to be offered something before the August results days, but that wouldn't necessarily be the case - 2 of my flatmates in first year didn't get accommodation offers until the couple of weeks before coming despite having been on unconditional offers, and they aren't alone in the experience. The important thing is that the university will offer you something before you arrive.


All right, I'll leave it at that :smile:. I'm not that concerned on where I will live it's just that it would be nice to know some time before the final weeks and so I'm hoping it can be done as soon as possible. I just feel more comfortable knowing.. Still, a guarantee is a guarantee :smile:.

FTC199
for a start, students on the whole cant afford to pay £10 a week for 40 cigarettes, the money would be better spent on drink.

secondly, you have to go outside to smoke in scotland and this means it is freezing if you fancy a smoke at 11pm and i would hope that would put people off starting to smoke

thirdly, we're not 12 anymore, smoking isn't seen as 'cool' or 'rebellious'


I would say, fourth, smoking is lately being frowned upon much more in general society with the environmental and ethical issues growing more and more important. I wishfully believe smoking is becoming a vice of the past. Wishfully :smile:.