APPLICATIONS FOR UNIVERSITY HALLS OF RESIDENCE
RETURNING POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS - SESSION 2016-17
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS: It is important that you take the time to read
this information carefully and contact Student Accommodation Services if you have any queries, in
advance of making an application. The following procedure sets out information regarding: the
application timetable, liability if you accept an offer and fail to take up your place in residences,
definitions for priority groups, rental prices and bedding packs.
Please Note: Unfortunately Student Accommodation Services cannot guaranteed
University accommodation for returning students nor can we guarantee to meet any
applicant’s preference for a specific room, apartment or flat, but these will be considered
wherever possible.
Fig.1
01/02/16-08/02/16
22/02/16
22/02/16 – 03/03/16
03/03/16 – 10/03/16
Application Time Table
Application:
The online application form is made available for returning Postgraduate
and undergraduates to complete.
Allocation:
Student Accommodation Services allocate rooms and send out an
automated email with an offer to successful applicants. Those who do
not receive and offer will receive an email with further information.
Acceptance:
Applicants have 10 days to accept their offer, prior to it being
withdrawn.
Rejection:
Once an offer has been accepted applicants have 7 days to change their
mind and reject it without incurring financial liability. You will need to
email student Accommodation Services to reject the offer after
accepting it.
1. Completing the Application Form
Returning students apply for one specific residence; a table containing the 2016/17 rents and
residence availability can be found at the end of the document. Please use the online form to state
any health and dietary needs and preferences regarding house, flat, apartment or room allocation. It
is important to complete these at the time of application as it will not be possible to review
applications later. If you have not previously uploaded a photo on the application you will be
prompted to do this before you can proceed.
With reference to section 5 of this document you will note that there is a phased move to a more
developed Accommodation Award to increase the range of accommodation available to students
experiencing financial hardship. This change will see the phasing out of subsidised accommodation
over three years and its replacement with an equivalently expanded Accommodation Award. In
addition to any application you may make to this fund it would be helpful to staff allocating
accommodation if you would write “financial” in the free text of the accommodation application form
if you wish to be considered for lower cost accommodation on financial grounds. Whilst there is no
guarantee that in doing so your preference can be met, such information is helpful in the assessment
and allocation process when capacity is so finite.
Due to the rolling redecoration programme students may have to transfer rooms during
their tenancy in Deanscourt, Albany Park, Angus and Stanley Smith House and David
Russell Apartments.
Group applications: Available at DRA, Albany Park, Fife Park and Managed Accommodation only.
Where a group of students are applying to live together, they will need to agree a group leader who
applies first and generates the group code. The group leader can invite up to four members to join
the group by entering each students ID number first name, surname and email address. The group
leader is responsible for the accommodation preference for the group. Each student on this list will
receive an email with the names of the other group members and the group code. Each subsequent
application by the other members of the group should use that identifying code. Each applicant in
the group must submit a separate application using the group code issued by the group leader.
Applications are accepted by groups of up to 5 students.
David Russell Studio and Fife Park Apartments Studio – Applicants are accepted from a single
student or a student couple; price quoted is the full studio rent. Each studio contains its own ensuite
and kitchen area and one double bed.
2. Allocation Policy (Returning Students)
The following criteria are considered when allocating accommodation to returning students:
Priority Groups:
1. Students for who specialised facilities have to be arranged e.g. Disabled Students
2. Students who are in receipt of the accommodation award for 2016-2017 are guaranteed
accommodation but must apply for accommodation online and note “Accommodation
Award” in the special requirements section. The accommodation award is only applicable
for Deanscourt, David Russell Apartments and Fife Park.
Excluded Groups:
1. Students who have been evicted from any University accommodation or have received a
written warning that has stated that they will not be eligible to reapply for University
accommodation.
2. Students with long standing arrears of residence fees.
3. MLitt students continuing on to a new course who should apply as a new student.
4. Postgraduate students who require accommodation other than the standard contract of
one semester or 38/50 weeks.
The number of places available for returning students is determined by the target figures provided by
Admissions for the number of single entrant undergraduates who are guaranteed accommodation.
The anticipated places are reserved for entrant students and the balance let to returning students.
Student Accommodation Services will prioritise/exclude the groups defined above. Thereafter priority
will be given to students who are currently resident within University owned or managed
accommodation and in the event that applications exceed room availability, a ballot of all remaining
students will be undertaken.
3. Rental Liability (Please read T & C’s the cancellation policy)
It is important that applicants are aware that an application and subsequent acceptance of an
accommodation offer, forms a legally binding contract between the student and the University.
Students who accept an offer can only cancel if they notify Student
Accommodation Services in writing by either a signed letter or an email from their
University email account within seven days of the date the offer was accepted
after this period they will be fully liable for the rent during the entire contract
period.
Students who have accepted a place and take a leave of absence, or who formally withdraw from the
University, or who have a semester abroad, can provide Faculty Notification in order to have the
liability removed.
4. Bedding and Linen Service
Bedding is not provided in the residences: bedding packs are available for you to purchase in advance
via www.unikitout.com/collections/st-andrews. The pack will be available in your residence for your
arrival. Alternatively, students have the option of bringing their own bedding.
5. Rents
The University’s Planning and Resources Committee approved the agreed rental proposal presented
jointly by the President of the Students Association and the Director of Residential and Business
Services.
The rents for most properties will be increased to meet the projected increase in operating costs for
the year of 2.5%. A more fundamental change has been agreed which will transfer the value of
subsidised rents applied to entire residences to an Accommodation Award fund which will be available
to students who qualify according to financial circumstances. Effectively it allows qualifying students
the freedom to select any accommodation rather than being limited to the small number of subsidised
ones operated at present. To apply for an Accommodation Award, students will need to complete an
online application form, which will be available on e-vision from 28 March 2016 with a deadline of 25
April 2016. You can find further information on the web:
http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/students/money/financialsupport/accommodationawards/.
To reduce the year on year rental adjustments to the subsidised properties the change is being
phased in over three years, but will see the rental increases for subsidised properties increasing more
than the standard ones until parity is achieved. Effectively the residences affected will have a
diminishing subsidy on their rents until 2017.
We appreciate that this year’s rental agreement is more complex than normal but it has attracted
universal support and is intended to provide maximum flexibility for students who would otherwise be
consigned to certain residences purely on financial grounds.
Returning Postgraduate Students Available Accommodation
Residence
Deans Court
Deans Court
Type
Standard
Catered
Ensuite
Catered
Group
apps
Catered
No
Single
apps
Student
Type
Contract
length
Yes
PG only
Yes
PG only
50 weeks
PG only
50 weeks
PG only
Self Catered
No
Yes
UG & PG
No
Fees
Hall
subs
38
n/a
50
£8099
n/a
£9003
£9727
£60
50 weeks
n/a
£5056
£80
£60
Albany Park 6
person
Standard
Self-catered
Albany Park 4
person
Standard
Self-catered
No
Yes
PG only
50 weeks
PG only
n/a
£5217
£80
Angus/Stanley
No
Yes
PG only
£5079
£30
Couples
Yes
UG & PG
50 weeks
PG only
50 weeks
n/a
David Russell
Studio
Standard
Self-catered
Ensuite
self-catered
n/a
£10451
£50
David Russell
Apartments
Ensuite
Self-catered
Yes
Yes
UG & PG
50 weeks
n/a
£8361
£50
Fife Park
Standard
Self-catered
No
Yes
PG only
50 weeks
PG only
n/a
£6029
£50
Managed
Properties
University
Managed
Yes
No
UG and
PG
38 and
50 weeks
£88 £121
weekly
rate
£88 £121
weekly
rate
n/a
St Gregory’s
Standard
self-catered
No
Yes
PG only
50 weeks
n/a
£5943
n/a
(excludes
utilities)