Should we be applying for accommodation at both firm and insurance

[HelpAWelshie]

It looks like daughter will firm Birmingham and insure Southampton.

Southampton will guarantee accommodation for both firm and insurance students as long as you apply before 1st July. Does this mean we should apply for accommodation at both Uni’s? I’m still learning with daughter being my first to go so don’t fully know the process of applying for accommodation - is there any money involved in applying? Anything else I need to know/should be thinking of?

I believe it depends on the uni, so if Southampton allow you to apply with them as an insurance choice, I'd do that.

My dd did apply for both. The insurance choice of accommodation was offered 1st as it happens.

annoyingly nearly every uni seems to do things differently, so you have to read the guidance and sometimes even email accom team for clarification

No, there should be no financial commitment at this stage - once a place on course is confirmed on results day, the accom people will probably confirm the offer of a place in halls soon after. From memory most unis seem to bill for accom after arrival but may have to pay a deposit

Other things to consider?

Well, my eldest was adamant she couldn't share a bathroom so paid extra for ensuite. Then she found out the folks without ensuite had a cleaner who cleaned the shared spaces regularly and she could have saved some money - worth checking the small print

Also different halls (or contracts in same hall) can have different numbers of people in the flats / houses. My youngest is really sociable and wanted the highest number, others might prefer smaller numbers

And location, how close to campus or other amenities might be important. Example, my eldest moved away from campus in year 2 to be nearer the things she wanted, but has to commute

Assuming same as last year, Uni of Birmingham you need to apply for accommodation by the deadline and after results you get a time slot and choose your room. The deposit is paid at that stage so nothing to pay now. Don't know about Southampton.
Edited to add the deadline is 30 June.

Thanks for the replies, all helpful. Good to know there is no financial commitment just yet, so we’ll go ahead and apply for both.

You need to read on each uni accommodation page. Approaches differ and vary year-to-year.

Some allow all offer holders to rank accommodation choices (Durham asks all offer holders to rank colleges) and others allow those who have firmed or insured. I know York does this. Other places only let Firm candidates rank their choices.

Note some places, especially privately owned halls rather than uni owned might allocate specific accommodation as applications come in. Private halls often ask for immediate deposit. There seem to be more of these at post 92 unis.
Others will give an allocation before results and many only allocate once results are in.
I know Warwick asks students to express preferences by about 3 days after results which means firms, those who come as insurance or clearing all have same opportunities for accom.

Quite a few places won’t guarantee accom for the nsurance applicants but will for those in Clearing as a marketing technique to fill spaces.

It is difficult to have certainty about specific accommodation choices. It’s best for students to remain flexible in their thinking and not get too attached to any one accom.

Definitely mak sure deadlines are met and email in spam checked. One way unis manage accom over subscription is by having clauses that state those who miss deadlines aren’t guaranteed. They will try to give them uni accom but if there isn’t enough, those who missed deadlines miss out. Some people need to chase their rather laid back terms to ensure this doesn’t happen.

Check for later deadlines too. Durham has one date for ranking college preferences but another for requesting accommodation.

It’s all doable but requires a bit of attention to it.