Which universities decide accommodation after results

[BillyBobbie]

My ds is keen put Cambridge as his firm choice if he receives an offer. His course is very popular though so he needs to have a good insurance.
He is keen on Warwick, Bristol, Manchester, Bath, Birmingham, Exeter and other good universities in that general area.
So my questIon is which of these don’t allocate accommodation on a first come first served basis and wait instead until after results day, when everyone knows where they are going?
Money is not unlimited, hence London universities not being on the list but hope to able to afford the cheaper options at the places listed above. If lumbered with the most expensive Bristol accommodation we would struggle.

@Piggywaspushed - it's the reason DC is probably putting Sheffield as insurance! I hope they don't change their rules this year.../

No need to firm and insure until all the the info is available, for the current round of applications. Don’t rely on processes and criteria being the same as in previous years, but wait until the info is out there.

In recent years, York has gone from first-come, first-served (which advantaged those who firmed very early…and often before some of the more competitive unis had offered) to a system where people can apply early, but are randomly selected by a computer programme after results day. They have also gone from guaranteeing insurance to not doing so. So you have to check as little details can easily change in different places.

It’s also worth bearing in mind that some places that don’t guarantee insurance/clearing candidates will be able to guarantee them once results day arrives, as they know they have enough available….and it’s a good way to attract insurance/clearing candidates to choose them.

Read all the terms and conditions about guarantees and check dates any forms have to be submitted by. Some places are v tight for uni accommodation, and missing a deadline for form submission can mean even firm students miss out.

The DC should be doing all this themselves, but if anyone has a rather disorganised DC, as parents it might be worth diarising important deadlines. Every year there are parents on MN bewailing the fact their DC didn’t get uni accommodation due to admin issues and missed deadlines. Ensure private (not school/college) email addresses are used and checked, including junk.

From that list I'd say Exeter, Warwick and Birmingham are least problematic with regards accommodation if poor as an insurance option. They have plenty.

Liverpool do, my niece started there in September and it was an absolute ball ache sorting accommodation!

TBH when my DC applied for university two years ago I was far more anxious about them getting decent accommodation than I was about getting a decent place on a course. Universities are very unethical about accommodation allocation and change the rules after the UCAS application deadline.

I would also recommend Lancaster for accommodation (and of course being a top ten ranked Uni). Accommodation allocated after results and seems plentiful. Also accommodation available if second and third years wish to stay on campus. Quality and price of accommodation is very good too.

I'll third Lancaster. DS went this academic year via clearing as he just missed his firm but didn't want to go to his insurance.

Accommodation was offered in tranches after results day. He was guaranteed accommodation as a clearing student and even got his first choice of college and room type. His experience there has been wonderful so far and we've been very impressed (STEM degree).

Leeds - I had two go as firm choice and one as insurance. In both instances, nothing was allocated until after results, though the tranches gave priority to those with firm choice. No issue getting university accommodation for either.

Another recommendation for Lancaster. Accommodation is very well organised. Birmingham has been an absolute shit show for the last two years. They have plenty of accommodation but the way they allocate it is dreadful.

York don't allocate accommodation until results day though. So a student meeting their insurance grades would most likely get accommodation.
(DD started at York in September. She has friends who got in through Clearing and were able to get accommodation with no problems).