Which unis are first come first served for accommodation?

[Uniaccommodation]

My friend’s DC firmed Nottingham last year before they got all of their offers - purely because Notts open accommodation around Easter time and it is first come, first served (my friend said).

i don’t want my DD to be in this position when she applies next year. Are there any unis (other than Nottingham) to avoid because they do this? Is it best to apply to unis that only open accommodation after May (when all UCAS decisions are in)?

All advice and insight valued as we are new to this!

Depends also on allocation process too. Edinburgh opens before UCAS deadline but only allocates when you are unconditional firm but does so based on the date you firmed them (so a student who firmed earlier would be allocated before someone who firmed later or who only became firm because it was an insurance offer). Also allocation is proportional to the unconditional firm offers overall. So in theory even if you are in the last 10% there should be 10% of spaces over all accommodation options and you should get one of your picks.

Not sure how well that works in practice as you always hear of a few where Edinburgh was insurance and whose 1st choice is taking time to decide, ending up not getting exactly what they wanted. Although usually you can get a move after a few weeks.

@SandyIrvin - I don't think Edinburgh's a good option for insurance any more.

After last year's press coverage about common rooms being used for bunk bed accommodation, they've been quite upfront on their website for this year's entrants, stating that if you select them as insurance, you may be hosted in shared accommodation using bunk beds

DS1 is at Notts. Yes it's fcfs.
Uni of Liverpool allocate on fcfs order, although you only need to have an offer to apply.
Uni of York allocate on fcfs order too.
I only know because DS2 firm is York and both had Liverpool as their insurance! Not sure about any others.

I think the repurposed common rooms were returning students. You used to be able to get accommodation after the festival to save paying over summer but last year was difficult.

Shared accommodation has always been a possibility for insurance students but not that common (most that DD knows of were those who had appealed to their first choice and almost all switch to single after a few weeks).

If accommodation make or break for your DC then you might be better with private halls.

Shared accommodation is fine and to be expected at a lot of universities.

But bunk beds are for 8 year olds, not 18 year olds

UEA don't allocate until after results day unless students have grades in hand. As long as an application is received by end of July, first years are guaranteed accommodation, and all applications are treated equally.

Newcastle is definitely not FCFS. Accommodation isn't allocated until after results day.

will definitely take a look at UEA and Newcastle then, thank you

Lancaster is the same, not FCFS, that was made clear at open days that you don't have a better chance if you apply early. When DS went there, they guaranteed campus accommodation to everyone who accepted an offer before results day. But, then again, they have loads of Uni accommodation on campus and also some in the City too!

Bath definitely not fcfs.

It is really annoying that some universities do fcfs, but I'd also try not to put too much weight on that in terms of decision making. Dd got her last choice of accommodation (because she faffed for so long before applying) but it all worked out fine and she really loves where she ended up.

York! Accomm booking opened last week and is first come first served. Bloody crazy.

Nottingham are one of the first to offer, fcfs, so easy. I don't know any others to suggest sorry.

LSE is first come first served. This is a nightmare if you don't get your offer until April!

It's so unfair. We're still waiting to hear from Edinburgh despite UCAS going in in November. Other offers all in long ago, including some of those listed above as FCFS. Will there be accommodation left at these if she eventually gets declined from Edinburgh?

Warwick are not FCFS - they guarantee accommodation for freshers, ask you to nominate a range of choices and try to get you in to at least one of your preferences. Allocation is after results day

Loughborough, where DS2 is, is not FCFS. The accom was a bit of a mare tho as when it opened, you had to be really quick to put preferences in. DS did it wrong in some way and was allocated a very expensive room. But tbf we flagged it as unsuitable, and he was given a cheaper one; then in a formal swapping period that they run he was able to switch to his first choice, a much cheaper hall costing about £4k. So that all ended well.

Be aware - at Lboro a good number of halls are catered which can cost as much as £8k or so - basically pretty much all your loan. But there are some self-catered and (see above) a couple of very cheap ones.

At Nottingham btw ALL the on-campus halls are catered and cost £££ - like, £210 pw upwards (and that price is for a shared bathroom fwiw) - so again, well over £8k, which I think is so discriminatory against those whose parents cannot pay for their accomm upfront.

Meant to say that Lboro accom opened after results day! And tbf DS2's year was a very oversubscribed one (2021) so it may normally be a bit more relaxed.

Aberystwyth is FCFS, opens end of March/ beginning of April. However, it does offer accommodation for all 3 years if required.

Leicester is not first come first served.
DS went through clearing and got his first choice there.

Worth noting that Brighton, does not offer student accommodation if you have it as your insurance choice.

Cardiff will guarantee 1st year accommodation for both 1st choice and insurance choice students

I’m furious about this – we’re also waiting on Edinburgh, application in October. Now it’s all going to be a crazy rush IF DD gets an offer, which I understand could happen when she will be right in the middle of A-levels. Meanwhile she can’t firm anywhere else

Advice from an old hand would be to not stress too much, and be prepared to make the best of whatever you get offered. Probably fair to say that most people don't get their first choice.

One of mine is a first year at York, firmed at the last minute and got 2nd choice accommodation.
At Bristol, DC got first choice. A friend got a shared, catered room but managed to move after a couple of weeks.
At Leeds DC got something they didn't even put down, in fact they never met anyone that chose it, but it worked out just fine as there was a collective intent to make it work.
Friend's DC swapped to Nottingham through clearing and got decent accommodation.

I was extremely happy with Nottingham. £6.3k for 31 weeks. Rutland. Catered. £203 p/w. I thought that was a good deal. Was all easy because ds1 had firmed, was his 1st choice.

The best uni for their course is more important long term. Though I can understand the worry. Dd got accommodation that hadn’t been on her list at Newcastle but it was fine.