So, you’ve chosen the University of Stirling as your firm choice.  The next task is sorting out your student accommodation. I’m here to help! In this blog I’ll walk you through the entire process of applying for University of Stirling’s Student Accommodation.

I lived in the University of Stirling’s Student Accommodation for a year and a half. When I came here for my study abroad, I lived in Alexander Court for four months. I then came back to do my Masters degree and lived in Beech Court.

Let’s get started…

Make a list of your preferences

When it comes to searching for the perfect home away from home, it’s good to be organised. Take some time to make a list of what you would like to get out of your student experience. Here are some things to consider:

Cost

• For undergraduate students, student accommodation ranges from £86.18 per week to £182.45 per week for 2022/23 – it really depends on the kind of facilities you’re looking for! Consider what is realistically affordable for you and find out what is included in the price. For example, utilities, Wi-Fi, room and contents insurance, bedding and bed linen, housekeeping assistance and 24/7 staff assistance are included in the rent for all University of Stirling Accommodation.

Facilities

• As I mentioned above, what facilities you’re looking for may affect the price of your accommodation. However, it’s still extremely important to consider this before making your choice! For example, would you mind sharing your bathroom with your flatmates or would you prefer to have an ensuite?
• University of Stirling Accommodation have laundrettes. Although all accommodation is self-catered, on campus there is Refresh Bistro for breakfast, lunch or dinner, as well as other catering outlets across campus. All kitchens have a cooker, fridge, freezer, microwave and kettle, so you only need to bring some cutlery, crockery, pots and pans.

The University accommodation team are also on hand to help. They have training in mental health and first aid, look after the welfare of all students staying on campus, as well as the safety and maintenance of the buildings. They are the first point of contact in your accommodation and are there for you, so don’t be shy! You can find them at the reception of your accommodation.

Rooms

There are various types of rooms available:
Standard room: includes a bed, desk, chair, lamp, wardrobe and drawers;
Ensuite room: includes everything from the standard room as well as your own shower room (toilet, sink and shower).
Studio room: this is basically a mini apartment and means you’ll have the entire place to yourself. Includes everything from a living space with a kitchen and sleeping area, as well as a shower room.

Having stayed in both a standard and ensuite room, I wouldn’t worry too much about having to share a shower room with your flatmates. Although having your own shower room is lovely and very convenient, having to share your shower room actually makes your flat into a more social space as you’ll bump into people in the corridor more often. If I ever go back to university I would most likely choose not to have an ensuite room!

Lifestyle

• It’s also quite important to consider what kind of lifestyle you’d like to have. During the application process, you will be asked if you prefer a single or mixed gender flat, whether you’d prefer to live in a quiet flat, and whether you’d prefer to live in an alcohol-free flat.

Special requirements

• At the time of applying, please inform the accommodation team if you have any health conditions that mean you require a particular type of accommodation.

Your application

So, you’ve made a list of your preferences for your student accommodation and you’ve had a look at the website to make a top six list of which accommodation you’d like to stay in.  Now it’s on to the nitty gritty – the application!

The University of Stirling Student Accommodation is allocated based on preferences and availability. This means that it is not always possible to get your first choice, but the Accommodation Team will try their best to match students to suitable flats.

The application is made online via the student portal and the accommodation dashboard. The student portal login details will be sent to your email. If you’ve prepared your list of preferences, this process will be straightforward. The Accommodation Team can be reached on +44(0)1786 467060 (Monday to Friday 9am-5pm) in case you have any questions.

Once you submit your online application, you’ll receive an automated email confirmation.

Your offer of accommodation

You won’t receive any offer of accommodation until after exam results are published in August. However, the Accommodation Team will keep in touch with you throughout the summer with useful information and updates.

Once you receive your offer of accommodation in August, you can view it, read all of the terms and conditions (called the Occupancy Agreement) and accept the offer online (or decline it if you’ve changed your mind). There is no deposit or pre-payment for undergraduate students. Please do make sure you read all the information very carefully when accepting the offer, as you will be entering into a legally binding contract and won’t be released if you change your mind at a later date.