Accommodation at Staffordshire University

AT STAFFORDSHIRE UNIVERSITY

2013/2014

ACCOMMODATION

Living in halls of residence is a great step towards living on your own. It gives you independence, plus it’s ever so reasonably priced. As for making friends, it’s a perfect way to meet people.

Thomas Hutchinson, BSc(Hons) Computer Science

2

Accommodation 2013/2014

WE’LL MAKE YOU

YOU FEEL AT HOME

One of the biggest decisions you will need to make about your life as a student at Staffordshire University is where you want to live.

Whether you decide that halls of residence, flat, bedsit or shared house is the right choice for you, both Stoke and Stafford offer a wide range of options.

In this brochure, you will find details of the accommodation provided by the University as well as how we can help you find safe and secure accommodation in the private sector.

If you need any further information, please don’t hesitate to contact our accommodation office.

Stoke: 01782 294217 Stafford: 01785 353563

Accommodation 2013/2014

3

HALLS OF

RESIDENCE Stoke

Stafford

On campus First year students and some postgraduate students live on campus at Stoke. The Leek Road campus offers en-suite accommodation and two types of standard accommodation; traditional corridor based Halls of Residence and student houses.

On campus Stafford Court has 264 en-suite single study bedrooms and 290 single study bedrooms with shared kitchen facilities. Grouped in flats of between three and seven study bedrooms, sharing kitchen facilities, the accommodation includes 19 specially adapted rooms for disabled students.

Just across the River Trent, opposite the Leek Road campus, there is en-suite accommodation at Clarice Cliff Court. Here, everyone has their own shower and WC. Grouped in flats of between four and seven study bedrooms, sharing kitchen facilities. This accommodation includes 15 specifically adapted rooms for disabled students.

There are 556 single study bedrooms on the main campus in Leek Road Halls, where students share kitchen and bathroom facilities in flats of 12-14 students.

There are another 187 single study bedrooms in Leek Road Houses where 6 students share kitchen and bathroom facilities. This accommodation includes 6 specifically adapted rooms for disabled students.

All on campus study bedrooms have internet access via the University’s residential network StudentNet. (For full details see page 8).

4

Accommodation 2013/2014

Another 51 single study bedrooms are provided in Yarlet, a traditional Hall of Residence on three floors, each accommodating 17 students who share a kitchen, dining room and 4 shower rooms. Each room has ResNet facilities.

In addition, the Aston Common Room has a communal social space and the opportunity to arrange more formal social events.

Stoke campus

Stafford campus

Accommodation 2013/2014

5

2013/2014 Accommodation

Campus Applicants

How to apply for University Managed Accommodation ONE: You may submit an online application for accommodation if you have

been offered a full time unconditional or conditional course at

Staffordshire University that you have accepted. Applications can be

made via the Accommodation website from Spring 2013.

TWO: Applicants who make this their first and submit their

accommodation application by 30 June 2013 have a strong

likelihood of securing University managed accommodation.

THREE: Applications will be processed in date order of receipt of

application. Applicants who make this their first choice University

will be prioritised. Applicants who make Staffordshire University

their insurance offer will be offered any available Halls of Residence

or will be given help in securing accommodation locally.

Stafford Accommodation Costs 2013/14 Halls of Residence

En-suite

Stafford Court

Y

Shared facilities

Weekly Licence Fee

Annual Licence Fee

£108.00

£3,888

Stafford Court

Y

£80.00

£2,880

Yarlet

Y

£80.00

£2,880

Weekly Licence Fee

Annual Licence Fee

£108.00

£3,888

Stoke Accommodation Costs 2013/14 Halls of Residence

En-suite

Clarice Cliff Court

Y

Shared facilities

Leek Road Halls

Y

£80.00

£2,880

Leek Road Houses

Y

£80.00

£2,880

When do you pay?

When accepting an offer of accommodation students will be asked to make a pre-payment of £250 in order to secure their room. University Financial Services offer students, parents or any third party the following payment options: • Pay full amount in advance of arrival or • Termly instalments via recurring card payments using debit/credit card.

6

Accommodation 2013/2014

What do you get for your money?

Our rooms are costed on the basis of a 36 week licence agreement.

All accommodation is fully inclusive of utility bills e.g. heating, lighting etc.

Free access to the internet is available in all on-campus accommodation via StudentNet. Students also receive Personal Possessions Insurance up to £3,500.

What about special accommodation requirements?

If you are a student who has a physical disability, a sensory impairment or a medical condition, which you think might affect your accommodation needs, you must, in the first instance, contact the Student Enabling Centre to assess and agree your specific accommodation needs.

Disability Services – t: 01782 294977 Information for Care Leavers As a care leaver, we will provide you with University managed accommodation for the duration of the period that you remain enrolled at the University, including holidays. Please contact us for further details.

Private Landlord Accommodation If you prefer to live in private sector accommodation, the Accommodation office keeps a list of landlords who can provide you with a house or a room in a house. Only properties that are registered with the University are advertised on this list. We strongly recommend that you only view properties from this list. You can search the database at: www.staffordshirestudentpad.co.uk International and EU Students International and EU students should submit their accommodation application forms by 1 September 2013. All international and EU students will be supplied with a bedding pack on arrival in their University accommodation.

Catering Meals Package A meal package is available for the first term. For further details please go to www.staffs.ac.uk/courses_and_study/student_services/catering/advance/ Further Information For further information please don’t hesitate to contact us: Stafford Accommodation Office Estates Staffordshire University Beaconside Stafford ST18 0AB t: 01785 353563 f: 01785 353407 e: accommodation_stafford@staffs.ac.uk

Stoke Accommodation Office Estates Staffordshire University College Road Stoke-on-Trent ST4 2DE t: 01782 294217/8/9 f: 01782 294220 e: accommodation_stoke@staffs.ac.uk

Accommodation 2013/2014

7

How do you pay?

University Financial Services offer two methods of payment.

• All students will be required to pay an Advanced Licence Fee of £250 at the point when you receive your accommodation offer. Payment details will be included in your accommodation offer.

• Pay the full amount when you are made your offer of accommodation. This method will attract a 5% discount • Pay by three recurring debit or credit card payments in October, January and April.

Smoking Policy The University operates a no smoking policy in all buildings including accommodation. Students found smoking in University managed accommodation will face disciplinary action.

Code of Practice The University is committed to ensuring that you enjoy your accommodation experience and is registered with the University UK Code of Practice which ensures compliance with the requirements of the Housing Act 2004. For further details refer to the website www.universitiesuk.ac.uk

Students who are applying for courses that have a duration of less than 2 semesters will have separate payment options. More information will be detailed in your accommodation offer.

Tenure of Accommodation Licence Agreement All accommodation is offered for the full academic year and you will be expected to sign a licence agreement for this period on collection of your keys. Our rooms are costed on the basis of a 36 week occupancy: it is therefore not possible to reduce minimum lengths of stay in accordance with each individual’s circumstances.

However, specific contracts for postgraduate students and students on single semester courses are available.

The accommodation fees are fully inclusive of utility bills eg heating, lighting etc.

Insurance Personal Possesions Insurance up to £3,500 is included in the licence fee. Details of cover will be available closer to arrival.

Bedding and Crockery Bed linen and crockery are not provided in our accommodation.

IPTV, Telephony, Wi-Fi and StudentNet The above is available from all study bedrooms in Halls of Residence. This service is included in the accommodation licence fee.

TV Licence Your student accommodation is not exempt and a TV Licence is required for all study bedrooms.

8

Accommodation 2013/2014

Council Tax Full time students living in University owned or managed accommodations are exempt from Council Tax Sports Facilities Both campuses offer quality sports facilities which include state of the art gyms, sports halls and pitches.

As part of ‘Team Staffs©’ they promote the health and wellbeing of all students by providing a wide range physical activities to suit all levels of fitness.

For more information look at our web site – www.staffs.ac.uk/bsc or www.staffs.ac.uk/ssmsc or contact the sports centres.

Welfare The Residences Team are available throughout the day to help you with any problems that you may have. There are security officers available throughout the night and at weekends.

Additionally, there are a number of resident Student Wardens in the Halls of Residence. These are students who have previously lived in Halls and are there to help you with any problems that arise.

UNIVERSITY ACCOMMODATION

FROM ONLY

ÂŁ80 A WEEK

Staffordshire University undertakes to use all reasonable steps to provide halls of residence in the manner set out in this brochure.

Should industrial action or other circumstances beyond the control of the University interfere with its ability to provide such services, the University undertakes to use all reasonable steps to minimise the resultant disruption to halls of residence. The University does not undertake any absolute obligation whatsoever to provide halls of residence in the manner specified in this brochure or in any other document, nor does it undertake any other obligation in respect of the provision of halls of residence which is more onerous than the obligations set out herein.

Should you become a student of Staffordshire University you will be expected to comply with the General Regulations for Students. These can be found on the University’s website at www.staffs.ac.uk/assets/general_student_regs_ tcm44-26816.pdf. In particular, students living in University managed, or private rented accommodation should take particular notice of the following Appendices to the General Regulations.

Appendix 5: Students residing in University Controlled Accommodation Appendix 6: Licence Agreement Halls of Residence However, only those students who are allocated to University managed accommodation will be expected to complete the University’s Licence Agreement.

All details regarding payment (average rents in the private sector, weekly licence fees applicable to the University-managed accommodation) are correct at the time of going to print, subject to change.

Accommodation 2013/2014

13 9

PRIVATE

LANDLORD ACCOMMODATION If you prefer to live in private sector accommodation, the Accommodation Office has contacts with a network of local landlords, who can provide you with a house, or a room in a shared house.

The University operates a Registration Scheme in conjunction with Stoke-on-Trent City Council and Stafford Borough Council for private sector landlords. This scheme aims to ensure that local landlords comply with certain legal standards and other requirements deemed necessary by the University.

The Registration Scheme offers landlords an advisory handbook but, the issuing of the handbook or membership of the Scheme, should not be treated by a student as a guarantee of the accommodation.

Only properties registered with the University are advertised to students through the Landlord Register and we strongly recommend that you only view properties on this list. You can search the database online at www.staffordshirestudentpad.co.uk Accommodation advertised by the University includes shared student houses or flats and rooms in an owner’s home which can be either self-catered or catered.

If you require accommodation for you and your family, we suggest that you search for a property online through local estate agents or the local newspapers.

Further contacts can be found on the Accommodation Office website.

Whatever form of accommodation you take up, the University is not able to guarantee, and has no control over the actual condition of any private sector accommodation. You should therefore, inspect the property carefully before signing up to a contract because if there are any problems you will need to take these up with the landlord in the first instance.

Average rents change over time but for a registered shared house in the private sector for three to four students the average weekly rent in April 2012 was £55.00 per person in Stoke and £67.00 per person in Stafford. This does not include gas and electric bills, although landlords will often pay the water rates for the property. Under current laws, full time students living in private sector accommodation are exempt from paying Council Tax. Tenancies are usually let on a 52 week contract. Some landlords let for a shorter term and charge a summer retainer.

Most landlords want to provide good quality accommodation to students who respect their property. Should you experience any problems with your property, report them to your landlord, in writing if practicable, as soon as possible.

If you require further assistance the University and the Students’ Union Advice and Information Services may be able to help you.

10

Accommodation 2013/2014

It was a big step moving from Halls to a private house. I found the Staffordshire Studentpad website easy to use and navigate. It gave me plenty of choice of landlords and lots of useful house hunting information. This gave me the confidence to find a house that is safe and secure with a registered landlord. I’m having a great time enjoying my new independence with my friends.

Kudzanai Huni Bsc(Hons) Aeronautical Technology

Accommodation 2013/2014

11

Useful contact numbers Stoke Stafford Accommodation Office Accommodation Office Staffordshire University Staffordshire University College Road Beaconside Stoke-on-Trent Stafford Staffordshire Staffordshire ST4 2DE ST18 0AD t: 01782 294217/8/9 t: 01785 353592/353563 f: 01782 294220 f: 01785 353407 e: accommodation_stoke@staffs.ac.uk e: accommodation_stafford@staffs.ac.uk Citizens Advice Bureau Citizens Advice Bureau 13 Cheapside 131 North Walls Hanley Stafford Stoke-on-Trent Staffordshire t: 01782 219427 t: 01785 258673 Stoke-on-Trent City Council Stafford Borough Council Civic Offices Civic Offices Glebe Street Riverside Stoke-on-Trent Stafford Staffordshire Staffordshire ST4 1RJ ST16 3AQ t: 01782 234567 t: 01785 619000

Staffordshire University Students’ Union Staffordshire University Students’ Union College Road Beaconside Stoke-on-Trent Stafford ST4 2DE ST18 0AD t: 01782 294629 t: 01785 353311 Sir Stanley Matthews Sports Centre Beaconside Sports Centre Staffordshire University Staffordshire University Leek Road Weston Road Stoke-on-Trent Stafford Staffordshire ST18 0AD ST4 2DF t: 01785 353286 t: 01782 294124 f: 01785 353569 f: 01782 294924

Find us on:

M4166 RAL 11.12