Guidelines for international student UK university accommodation

UK University student accommodation advice

The most important question is "When can I book my accommodation?"

As soon as you have accepted your course of study offer, it's recommended that you start looking at your university's website under "student accommodation". Here is an example from the University of Aberystwyth, Wales. You will be able to see what accommodation is available and the costs.

Choosing where you live during your time at university can be a big decision; you should consider several vital factors before completing your accommodation application form.

For example:

• Cost - What can you afford? Most UK universities have a range of accommodation types to suit different budgets, from standard single rooms to luxury Studio Apartments.

• Location - An important consideration is how far your accommodation is from the university. Travel time to your university and travel costs are essential considerations. On-campus housing is highly recommended for first-year undergraduate students to help them settle into a new experience and be away from home for the first time.
  
  
• Facilities - What facilities are important to you?

• En-suite - Enjoy living in your self-catered room with a private bathroom.

• Standard - OnCampus accommodation offers excellent value for money, where you will live with a community of students, making it even easier to make new friends. The bathrooms and kitchens will be shared.
  
  
• Studio – Your studio accommodation will offer private self-contained living with your own kitchen and bathroom facilities.
  
  
• Length of contract - Do you need a room for the term or over the summer? If you are a postgraduate student, your course may run into the summer (July-August), when the undergraduates end their year in June.
   
• Meal options - Most university OnCampus accommodations are self-catered, providing only accommodation. Shared kitchens are the norm.

WHEN CAN I BOOK MY ACCOMMODATION?

Each university has its system.

• All UK universities will require an unconditional offer before you can reserve accommodation.
• To fully book accommodation, you may need a *CAS issued. (see footnote if you are not sure what a CAS is)
• Some may insist that you have a Tier 4 Visa.
• All will require an accommodation deposit fully paid.

Summary

• When you have your conditional offer, look at your university accommodation page on their website. Know what accommodation is available and the prices. Look at the accommodation contract's length concerning the size of your course's study time.
• Find out when you can provisionally reserve accommodation and the conditions you must meet before fully booking your accommodation. Each university has its system of requirements.
• If you look at accommodation from your university’s point of view, it would be unwise to allocate their accommodation to students who do not have an unconditional offer. This is also why it makes sense from their perspective to allow accommodation booking once the student has their CAS and has paid an accommodation deposit. 
• Try to avoid thinking that your university is being mean by setting pre-requirements. They need to allocate accommodation to students who meet all the requirements. If you understand your university’s requirements to book accommodation fully, you are prepared and able to find and book the best accommodation that suits you.

World Student Advisors prides itself on excellent customer service. Please ask your Application Manager if you are still figuring out what to do. They can not book accommodation for you. However, your Application Manager has experience supporting international students with their accommodation requirements. Your Application Manager will be willing and able to offer advice and explain things you are probably doing for the first time. Please always ask a question. There is no such thing as a "silly question" apart from the one you never asked,

Good luck with your accommodation and your UK university experience. 

You make friends for life at World Student Advisors, and we are here for you.

*What’s a CAS?

• A Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) is an electronic document issued to students needing to apply for a Student Visa. Your CAS number, which is required on your visa application, will be found on the CAS statement email you receive from the University.
• When the CAS has been prepared, you will receive an email asking you to check the details of your CAS.
• If the CAS is correct, follow the instructions to verify the information.
• If the CAS is incorrect, follow the instructions to report any errors.
• Once you have verified that your CAS details are correct, you will receive your CAS within five working days.
• Accommodation fees on the CAS will always show as 0.00. You should book your accommodation immediately after you get your CAS. 
• Most universities ask for an accommodation deposit of about £250, sometimes more.
• Any tuition fees paid, including deposits and University scholarships, should show in your CAS. Please take a look at this carefully; any outstanding funds need to be shown in your financial evidence with your visa application.
• Suppose you receive a University scholarship after receiving your CAS number. In that case, you will receive a separate notification informing you that your CAS has been updated with new financial information.