Halls of residence which Unis guarantee of for insurance places or have lots of space for insurance applicants?

[Tree543]

Hi. Starting to look at halls of residence at different Unis with my year12 ds.
Trawling through the websites and see that most guarantee a place in halls but only if you put Uni as firm. There seem to be a few where they guarantee for insurance e.g Southampton/Cardiff but not that many.
Are there any Unis that still have lots of accommodation remaining for the insurance/clearing applicants or do they have to look at private rentals?

Southampton was the only one we came across when DD was applying a few years ago. It would have been her insurance anyway but it was definitely a plus to have that safety net.

Kent guaranteed clearing applicants accommodation last year. They're not this year, although that may change. It suggests they have plenty going round though.

This was one of the reasons I put Southampton as my insurance in 1997!

I'm sure I read that York guarantee halls for insurance places.

Haven't checked for this year, but I believe the University of Edinburgh accommodation guarantee covered insurance places last year.

One of DS's friends (now third year) was able to stay in halls for the second year of his degree at University of Manchester. That suggests to me that there wasn't a desperate shortage of university accommodation.

Royal Holloway

Agree Edinburgh guarantee covers insurance places but you have to have confirmed them by a certain date. So can't be hanging on for your firm to accept you after end of August.

UEA usually find space for insurance place holders, I think. They presumably had some spare accommodation this year; DS says some of the other Ziggs residents are being moved elsewhere as emergency work is required on their flats.
Sussex (which was DS2's insurance) asks both firm and insurance offer holders to apply for accommodation, but I can't remember whether it was actually guaranteed if the applicant went there as their insurance choice.

Lancaster University guarantee accommodation for both firm and insurance for first year students.

Accommodation is on campus and the vast majority is en-suite.

Most move out in year 2 to rent with friends and there's lots on offer at various price points.

Third years are also prioritised for on campus accommodation.

Leeds guarantees accommodation for all first years. They may not get their first choice but will get somewhere.

Sorry, I was wrong, it looks like York have changed this year and now it's only Firm that are guaranteed accommodation.

I think you need to check current
Offers! I would have said York did and Lancaster and Royal Holloway didn't, from my own DC's applications, but the reverse is being said here.

How do I find out this info? DS has just received an offer for Cardiff, he's very keen but worried about firming it as it's the highest grade offer he's received and quite a bit above his predicted grades.

Warwick doesn't close accommodation applications until after results day, so everyone is in exactly the same position regardless of whether they firmed Warwick, had it as an insurance or applied through clearing.

Sheffield also guarantees accommodation to all 1st years, or they said they did last year at least. I think they do have a first come first served system though, so I guess you won't have the same choice if it's your insurance.

Lincoln had accommodation for one of my son's friends who ended up going there as his insurance choice; I don't know if it's guaranteed.

Leeds also allocates after results day and I think makes accommodation offers to all freshers, though they don't guarantee 1st choice to anyone.

@sofakingcool

How do I find out this info? DS has just received an offer for Cardiff, he's very keen but worried about firming it as it's the highest grade offer he's received and quite a bit above his predicted grades.

Universities' websites should detail their accommodation offer.

Cardiff:

www.cardiff.ac.uk/study/accommodation/apply-for-accommodation/undergraduates

www.cardiff.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/156455/Cardiff-University-Residences-Guide-English.pdf

A single occupancy place in University accommodation with other first year undergraduates is guaranteed to all firm and insurance students provided they meet certain deadlines.*

The deadlines are given in the first link.

DD got a clearing place at Uni of Leicester (in 2019) and they guaranteed a halls place if she accepted it by the following day (which she had to do anyway). There wasn't a lot of choice and I guess it wasn't the hall she would have chosen (nor the people!) but it was OK. Nice room, not en suite (we didn't want that due to £££) so not too expensive. En-suite rooms are more popular OP so be aware of that if that's what you are looking for.