Bristol University Student Halls

[RoseMarigoldViolet]

Hi,

A-Level results day and my child has got their insurance option which is Bristol University. Very happy but now found that there is is no guarantee of student accommodation and will probably have to rent privately. Apparently the Uni only guarantees to provide accommodation if it was your first choice Uni!

Does anyone know about the situation at Bristol Uni? Do you think that my child would eventually get into the Halls?

By the way, I am in the UK but come from another country so feel out of my depth with the whole process! Thank you.

Am in same position, so watching with interest.

Often first years drop out in the first few weeks and so places free up in halls, though I appreciate that's not much use if you have already agreed to rent a place in private accommodation.

Most universities only guarantee accommodation if it is your firm choice. DD was in a private halls in Bristol so something may come up there, but I know Bristol is really difficult.

DS went to Bristol a few years back (not his first choice either). He didn't get into halls and ended up in a house share.

This is pretty standard: universities could not build the capacity to offer guaranteed accommodation to first choice applicants AND insurance choice applicants!

But it's quite likely that just as your DC missed their first choice, but got into their insurance choice, so there will be applicants who had Bristol as 1st choice & missed their offer.

So hang in there and get in touch with the University's accommodation office - have a look at their website first up. Your DC won't be the first or the only student in this situation.

And there are an increasing number of private providers who build big blocks of student accommodation across UK cities. They're likely to have vacancies. This is are not like renting a flat from a private landlord. Have a look at companies such as Unite STudents.

YANBU. DD pulled out of Bristol in 2021 due to lack of accommodation, it was her firm and still not provided for, she was put on a waiting list.

We tried to go private but having limited visiting time as we live hours away, we kept missing out so she gave up and went to her back up choice as they emailed her to say they had halls places.

Loads of student flat/house shares around Clifton, Redland and Cotham (all walking or a short bus ride from uni). Register on the Bristol uni accommodation portal.

Are you able to log into the accommodation portal yet?

Yes, we got into the accommodation portal but then couldn’t fill out the application form yet.

Same.

Have you heard from Bristol Uni direct?

My child hasn't - she can just see confirmed place on UCAS

Sorry for questions... appreciate support!

No problem. My son got a detailed email from the University confirming his place and other information about dates etc.

Ooh, thanks. My daughter hasn't had that yet.

We are in same boat with DS. Bristol is insurance. Already registered on the accommodation site.

I have checked website for EVERY private hall listed on the accommodation site. Everything was sold out except for one studio available for around £500 a week for 52 week lease. Some were listed as being reserved by the university - so here is hoping some of these will be allocated. Many of the ones that were all sold out were all really expensive as well - £250 to £500 a week!

We live really far away plus we are also travelling end of August for a family wedding - so we can't even go to Bristol to look for accommodation in person. I am just praying we will be blessed with a place.

BTW DS got the confirmation of the place and there is a webinar next week for new starters.

Also in same boat, DD submitted her form and called the accommodation office today, they were not as bleak in the conversation as the picture painted on their website but I think it will be very much luck of the draw or for us we may defer as last resort. Tricky…

The uni have some accommodation at Newport and students get the train in.
Private accommodation in Bristol is very expensive.

Hello - can I ask what "not so bleak" means? Did they say what the probability of getting offered uni accommodation was?

I don't know what to do! It seems like we can't really organise private accommodation until we hear from them, but that's getting reeeally close to term starting!

I think Bristol is well known for being one of the most difficult Unis for accommodation so wish you good luck .. my DS's friends (graduates in their first jobs) are also trying to rent privately in Bristol and it's a nightmare ....

Thanks!

Bleak = they said they “had availability” and would prioritise new undergrads with rooms but no indication of how much they had. They didn’t mention getting on with private housing in the call but DD may not have explicitly asked. Newport is not a great option for us, she would rather wait a year and defer than live in Newport and commute. May suit some but not the student life she really wants. We have signed up to the facebook page which advertises rooms - seems to be mostly 2nd/3rd years and postgrads at the moment and lots of UWE students who have already been told they don’t have accommodation.

Thanks, appreciate it! Yes we have also done the sign ups.

Hope you get something sorted. As has been said there's a really big problem with student accommodation in Bristol- there isn't enough of it. Many have to commute to and from Newport.

3 bedroom ground floor flat for rent in Kensington Place,Clifton,Bristol,BS8 (rightmove.co.uk) This looks good value (£600 a month per person is the going rate for private accommodation usually) Maybe the 3 dcs on this thread could get together and rent it, it is all just luck of the draw who you end up with anyway, stranger things have happened!

Rightmove you can search for student accom.
Student Accommodation - Find Student Flats & Houses across the UK (rightmove.co.uk)
A lot of them seem to have jacked up the prices presumably as they know people will be scrabbling for places, so the one above seems good value!

Thank you for suggesting that, it does look good value and a great location. Looks like it’s been snapped up already. I think it will need to be very quick decisions next week before 8th September registration if not successful in this next round….not ideal….

Anyone else had an email from the accommodation team today? We’ve had an email saying nothing available yet, we’ll hear again Friday 1 September….

My daughter if in the same position maybe they could look together? Anyone else?