Student hall Edinburgh

[TravellingFrom]

Does anyone know how the system works re halls with Edinburgh university?

Do you need to register some interest now or just wait until you have the A level results?
Dc1 is looking at other universities too, some of which already have open the registration for student accommodation. But he doesn’t seem to be able to find info for Edinburgh

www.accom.ed.ac.uk/applying/

You can apply as soon as you've accepted an offer (either firm or insurance). They allocate in batches once you are unconditional firm so someone applying now but who doesn't become unconditional firm until August will be allocated before someone who doesn't apply until July but whose offer becomes firm on same day in August.

Applications open around April after the offer holder days. You can list up to six iirc but not any preference order. Not cheap though.

Thank you! That’s very helpful.

No offers yet. They’ve been sending emails saying they are late and offers will be at the end of April….

I was getting worried Dc1 was missing some key dates. Need to get on and look at the insurance.

If I remember correctly, Edinburgh prompted DD to consider booking accommodation a couple of days after she accepted her offer. You can browse the different options on the accommodation website. There are quite a few Edinburgh parents on here who can give specific advice (eg DD has stayed in 3 different Edinburgh halls as she has a uni job - self-catered shared bathroom, catered shared bathroom and currently self-catered ensuite).

@SandyIrvine did your dd have any preference re en suite or not?
Not going for the catered option but I’ve heard horror stories about the shared bathrooms….

Good choice. Food is a bit rank too. Too be fair might be okay for meat eaters. DD found shared bathroom in 1st year fine. However she might have been lucky (all girl flat with 2 bathrooms plus with covid only 2 in the flat after beginning of December). Loves her ensuite this term but it is pricey and location of halls not so great as her 1st year one. Next year she has applied to go back to either the ensuite or non-ensuite halls so her 1st year experience hasn't put her off.

DS applied for an en suite in Deaconess and found on arrival he’d been allocated an accessible wet room (it was huge). We booked it in June but as a Scottish student a few years ago it may have been different process.

Info for 2022/23 year here:

www.accom.ed.ac.uk/applying/ready-to-apply/

DD was at Riego - brilliant location.

She had a shared bathroom and shared toilet (2 toilets in total). Cleaners came in to do the common areas a couple of times a week.

Found this thread from a year ago and curious for any more updates/opinions as we're looking into accommodation in UoE for my DS for September 2023.

There is increasingly a shortage even for freshers.

You just have to apply on the accommodation site. You don't really have a lot of control over the allocation.

Not sure what your questions are. I think the key thing is catered vs self-catered. Then you have ensuite vs shared facilities. Then you have proximity to George Square or King's Buildings. Other factors are quiet vs party locations.

Thanks @CraftyGin - I'm not sure what my questions are either 😁I'm just starting to look into it that's all.... So any advice is welcome.

And they sometimes allocate out to halls run by private companies like Unite which are not listed as choices. In theory the tram to Leith might be running by the autumn but the Princes Street stops are still a good walk from main teaching buildings.

@LIZS is this from actual personal experience or newspapers and friends of friends?

Experience of dd and her friends

Thanks