Bristol Uni accommodation

[inappropriatelyemployed]

My son has been offered a place at Bristol and I wondered if anyone had any experience of the accommodation situation.

i had a look at the uni website and it has last year’s info on it but suggests that, if you didn’t put Bristol down as your first choice, you won’t get a guaranteed offer of uni accommodation in your first year.

is this right?

Thanks!

The website hasn’t been updated since last year it seems but the position will likely be the same this year. If BU is firmed you’ll get first year halls and if not there is no guarantee.

I can’t say from personal experience how it works in practice for those who insure as Dd firmed. The process was fairly straightforward for her and she ended up getting halls near the uni last year that she really enjoyed.

https://www.bristol.ac.uk/accommodation/apply/guarantee/

I think most universities will only guarantee you accommodation in your first year if you put it as your first choice. I’m no expert tho.

Thanks a lot. When you say “firmed” what do you mean? The list seems to suggest you have to have put Bristol as your first choice. Is this what you mean by “firmed”?

After you get all your offers you “firm” or select your first choice and “insure” or select your second choice.

Sorry no advice other than Bristol is such an amazing city he'll have a blast here!

https://www.ucas.com/undergraduate/after-you-apply/types-offer/replying-your-ucas-undergraduate-offers

Oh brilliant. Thanks. I thought it was the order they initially put them in on the UCAS form before offers. I think he has heard from everyone now and wants to choose Bristol so it looks like he can be guaranteed accommodation! Thank you so much.

Order of uni on the application is not important. Once students can research their offer unis, attend offer holder days, consider not just the courses but town/city, costs etc and weigh up everything then they can choose which suit them best and firm and insure.

Bristol is lovely! Hope he enjoys it there.

Thanks. I think things have changed! But then I went to uni in the 1980s! 🤣

@inappropriatelyemployed As explained, DS needs to “firm” Bristol snd apply for accommodation as soon as he can after that. They should let him know when accommodation applications open. In the meantime, read about what’s available and check prices!!! That’s vital. Decide on location. Stoke Bishop, City Centre or near uni in Clifton. Some halls are new and others have a more dated vibe! Does he want to be near the bars in the city or in the quieter area of Stoke Bidhop. Go and have a look around if you can.

DD went to Bristol after dropping a grade at A level for her “firm” choice and Bristol was her “insurance”. Accommodation is then hugely difficult! I don’t advise the stress!

He does not need to apply as soon as possible after accommodation portal opens but will be asked to list 9 preferences. They allocate accommodation around a week after results day once they know who has definitely got in. However there is no guarantee that they will get one of their higher preferences. If cost is a big factor it is better to ensure all the preferences are the lower costing ones than say putting 3 choices at one halls because you like that halls.

My son was allocated catered rather than self catered which was he put down but that ended up better for him as it was a very social way of eating together in groups.

Some halls are very popular too. Eg Goldney. I do think it’s best to research early though. Cost varies a lot. DD got catered in the end and was happy with that.

Thanks very much. How expensive on average is the accommodation? My eldest is at Oxford and that has been very straightforward!

@inappropriatelyemployed Look at their website. That’s a how long is a piece of string question! Catered, not catered, new, old, uni owned and run, private hall, city centre, Clifton or Stoke Bishop? There’s not really an average until you know what floats your boat. Wills is nearest to an Oxford Quad! They even have a few shared rooms. They share bathrooms (shock to some but ok for ex boarders!) .

Thanks appreciate your help.

I have Oxbridge and Bristol kids. Oxbridge feels like a bargain in comparison. My child got their first choice accommodation in Bristol last year. It was their firm choice. In fairly dire but costly housing next year. Loves Bristol though!!

My DD went to Bristol and it wasn't her first choice. Once she had accepted the offer she was able to apply for accomodation.

These days you have to firm the Bristol offer . My DD firmed elsewhere. @ApolloandDaphne Did your DD firm Bristol? I assume her preferred uni didn’t give her an offer.

By August when results came out, Bristol was my DDs insurance. She applied then for accommodation but there was no availability. You cannot apply when applications open if you haven’t firmed Bristol and have firmed elsewhere.

Yes she firmed Bristol. It was all a bit of a faff as Durham was her first choice but she missed it by one point (IB) but they wouldn't turn her down until Alevel results were out. By then she had changed her mind and wanted to go to Bristol and they had offered her a place and she knew she needed to get in quick for accommodation. She had to write formally to Durham to decline the place. It was almost as though they couldn't believe she didn't want to attend Durham. Anyway, off to Bristol she went and she had a blast.

Thanks! Love that so many young people enjoy Bristol. It’s only about an hour a way for us too so we know it’s a vibrant city.

I'm sure I've read somewhere that some of their accommodation is now in Newport?

He will love Bristol. Just don't get hopes up for a certain accommodation as we were told that one on five don't get any of their nine choices. As pp said, choose wisely on budget. There's a space to put your maximum budget down. I agree that catered is great for the social aspect and also cheaper in the long run.
However, take year one as a bargain year because after that, private accommodation is higher.

Yep, we’re paying about £2k more this year, DD’s second year, excluding bills!

Dd went self catered and I was amazed at how she worked that food budget, improved her cooking skills and learned so many hacks.

But think that Dd2 will go catered, otherwise is likely to go very hungry 😯