University of Exeter accommodation guide

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Your guide to university accommodation

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universitY

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Your guide to university accommodation

At Exeter we offer a wide range of accommodation, from traditional catered halls to contemporary purpose-built self-catered residences, giving you different options to suit your budget.

Welcome

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Our guarantee

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The benefits

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Our accommodation

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Support information

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How to apply

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Contact us

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www.exeter.ac.uk/accommodation 2

Welcome Starting at university is an exciting time and we realise the importance of finding the right place to live. There are new friends to be made, new places to discover and the chance to develop many new interests.

Located in a historic

Being in university residences enables you to meet a diverse range

and vibrant city,

of people from different backgrounds and cultures, on a variety of

Exeter is regarded as

programmes and you can make friends straight away.

Everyone has different requirements and the University is able to offer a wide range of accommodation to suit all tastes. In recent years there has been a multi-million pound investment in the building of new bright, modern, safe and secure accommodation which is designed to the highest standard to complement

a leading University for research and teaching both nationally and

our existing residences.

internationally. It is

Each residence is a vibrant community with its own distinctive character

currently listed among

offering you a safe and secure environment in which to socialise, study and relax. Residences vary in style and size with many being on campus; others are

the top 10 universities

conveniently situated close to the city centre.

in the UK in national

This guide will give you all the essential information, looking at the benefits of living

league tables and top

in university accommodation, the range of accommodation types on offer and how to apply for them. We hope this gives you all the information you need but if you have any further queries, our friendly and experienced team are happy to assist.

Please see page 12 for our contact details.

200 universities in the world.

The information in this guide is correct at the time of going to press (February 2012). However, service levels may be subject to change.

Final details will be given in your contract for accommodation. Please ensure you check this contract before accepting your accommodation offer.

The University of Exeter has signed the Student Accommodation Code and has been audited to assess its compliance with this code. It is an accreditation awarded to the University which protects students’ right to safe, good quality accommodation, ensuring that they get the best out of living in university accommodation.

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Your guide to university accommodation

Our guarantee New students

“I was impressed by the staff and their knowledge and attitude with me over the phone, very helpful.”

Birks Grange Village resident

With over 5,500 bed spaces we are able to offer accommodation to many of our students. Whether you are new to the University or continuing your studies, we have a whole range of accommodation styles, standards and budgets to suit the different needs of our diverse student community at both undergraduate and postgraduate level.

We welcome applications from all students; in particular we guarantee to offer you accommodation if you are: • An unaccompanied UK, EU or international undergraduate entering into Year 1 of an undergraduate programme who has firmly accepted the offer of a place at the University of Exeter.

• An unaccompanied international postgraduate from outside of the EU in your first year of study. Note: You are defined as an ‘international’ student if you pay international fees.

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• An unaccompanied incoming Study Abroad or Erasmus student at Exeter for the full academic year.

We would advise you to make your application by the 31 July.

Should your preferred choice not be available, we will provide assistance in finding alternative accommodation in our residences and/or the private sector.

For further information please visit our website.

Returning students Due to the recent expansion of our accommodation, there are more rooms available and we are able to offer rooms to returning students, i.e. students in their second or third years or postgraduates.

This means you are able to continue to enjoy the benefits and convenience that living in university accommodation provides throughout your academic career.

www.exeter.ac.uk/accommodation

The benefits Why choose university accommodation?

There’s more to university than education and the residential experience is one not be missed. There are many advantages to living in residences; here are just some of them: • The student experience: our residences give you the opportunity to mix with people from diverse social and cultural backgrounds.

• Our residences are conveniently located, being close to academic and campus facilities as well as being only a short walk from the city centre. A bus service also runs regularly between campus and the city centre, train and coach stations.

• All inclusive fees – your accommodation fees include utility costs and internet connection for the

duration of your stay, so there are no bills or hidden costs to worry about. * • All students benefit from support services, such as maintenance, welfare support, cleaning service** and 24/7 security from Estate Patrol, so you can have the peace of mind that help is at hand. *

At Northfield there is a charge for internet connection.

** Service level varies depending on the type of accommodation

What’s right for me?

There is a wide range of accommodation on offer. Before you decide where you want to live it’s a good idea to ask yourself the following questions. This will help you narrow down your options and make the choice that’s right for you.

• Do you want catered or self-catered accommodation?

• Do you want a standard, en-suite, or studio room?

• How much do you want to spend?

• Do you require a room during the vacation period?

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Our accommodation “At exeter there is a massive range in the quality and type of accommodation that is offered, enabling you to choose how much you want to spend on your accommodation and therefore the quality too.”

Holland Hall resident

Self-catered residences Flats and houses are shared between 3 and 12 students who have their own study bedroom and share communal facilities (bathroom/shower and toilet facilities depend on whether the room is en-suite or not). Each flat has a kitchen and some have a communal dining area or lounge.

Townhouses are similar to flats, but provide split-level living, with study bedrooms over several floors and shared

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communal facilities including bathrooms/ showers, toilets and kitchens.

Studios consist of one room which provides open-plan living space including small kitchenette and en-suite facilities.

Accommodation for families or couples includes separate bedroom(s), bathroom, kitchen and lounge. Dining facilities vary between flats and are either in the lounge or kitchen area.

www.exeter.ac.uk/accommodation

Allocation of rooms We normally allocate a mix of male and female students to each flat. If you would like to request that you are placed in a male or female only flat or corridor, please indicate this on your application.

We cannot guarantee to place everyone who requests it in a single-sex flat.

Catered residences In catered halls you are provided with breakfast and an evening meal, Monday to Friday; and continental breakfast, brunch and dinner on Saturday and Sunday. Weekday lunches may be purchased from a number of outlets on both the Streatham and St Luke’s campuses. Catered accommodation offers a well-balanced range of meals including a vegetarian option at every meal and can make it easier to budget your money.

Please note that there are some twin (shared) rooms in some of the residences, therefore we cannot guarantee that you will be given a single room. Many students enjoy the company of another student as well as the economic benefit.

We normally allocate separate blocks of residences to undergraduates (including Study Abroad or Erasmus students) and postgraduates. However, this may not always be possible especially if the number of one group is higher than anticipated.

Letting period Catered accommodation is let for 32 weeks – based around our term dates while self-catered accommodation is let for 40, 42, 44 or 51 weeks per year. All contracts include Welcome Week.

You will be expected to remain in university accommodation for the full period as stated in your contract (see our website for detailed information on contract lengths).

Standard rooms include a washbasin in the room, with bathroom facilities being shared with other residents. We offer a range of standard accommodation with some located in more traditional residences and others in more modern buildings. Prices vary accordingly.

En-suite rooms have a shower, washbasin and toilet in the room.

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Support information Students with a disability

“i asked to move accommodation due to a disability and the staff were fantastic and professional, seeking to find a good solution. i was really impressed and most importantly felt comfortable asking them.�

James Owen Court resident

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We are committed to promoting equality of opportunity and have adapted accommodation in most of our residences.

We are happy to discuss individual requirements with students who have disabilities and we encourage you to contact the Accommodation Office and AccessAbility via sid@exeter.ac.uk at an early stage so that we can do all that we reasonably can to find or adapt accommodation that will be suitable for you. Although you do not have to do so, it will help us to help you if you mention your requirements in your application.

Even though you may have told others in the University, we would strongly advise that you make us fully aware of your requirements for accommodation separately so that we can support you during your stay.

The adapted rooms have single beds and usually have a larger bathroom than other rooms. Rooms with special facilities, such as fire alarms for those with impaired hearing, will be issued to residents who

require them for health and safety reasons.

Once we have allocated all students with special requirements, any remaining adapted rooms are allocated to the next student wanting accommodation.

Students with families International students intending to bring their family to Exeter with them are advised to contact the International Office via intoff@exeter.ac.uk for further advice and to make sure they have a contract for suitable family accommodation before bringing their family to the UK. For Home and EU students please contact the Accommodation Office for assistance; our contact details can be found on page 12.

Cost and Services Accommodation fees are payable in instalments at the start of each term.

Full details of term dates can be found at www.exeter.ac.uk/about/facts/termdates

www.exeter.ac.uk/accommodation

Want to know more?

Virtual tours of some of our residences are available on our website at www.exeter.ac.uk/ accommodation

Where is the accommodation located?

The maps on our website show where the on-campus accommodation is in relation to other university buildings and the location of off-campus sites. The approximate walking times can also be found on the individual residences website under the Key Facts section.

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Your guide to university accommodation

“The accommodation staff were highly professional and very efficient. I had a problem and it was resolved the same day. Wonderful service.”

Holland Hall resident

How to apply You can apply for accommodation when you firmly accept an academic place and when applications for the next academic year are open – visit our website for details.

If you are eligible for the University’s accommodation guarantee, and wish to take advantage of this, you are advised to apply online by 31 July.

Please read through all the information carefully as once you accept the offer, it creates a legally binding contract. You will need to accept the offer and pay a deposit to secure the accommodation.

If you do not accept your offer of accommodation by the reply date you will be informed that your room has been re-allocated.

Allocation takes place for undergraduate students when the conditions of their academic offer have been met and for postgraduate students once they have paid their tuition fee deposit.

We make every effort to allocate accommodation according to your preferred choices. When this is not possible we use your stated preferences as a guide to the type of accommodation you would prefer and offer you alternative accommodation. There are a number of twin rooms in the catered halls of residence; therefore we cannot guarantee that you will be given a single room in this type of accommodation.

If you are allocated accommodation, one of the following will happen: University owned or managed accommodation you will receive an email asking you to log back onto the website to review the offer made to you online.

Nominated accommodation you will receive information to confirm that you have been nominated to a residence and you will then be contacted by the provider of this accommodation with regards to the contract and deposit.

If you reject an offer of accommodation, we will be unable to make you another offer unless there are special circumstances of which we were unaware of at the time of allocation.

At the start of Welcome Week pick up your key from the office/residence as advised in your documents.

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Unless you have agreed a late arrival date with us in advance, we will re-allocate your room from 12 noon on the first Wednesday after the start of term. If you agree a late arrival date with us and do not arrive on that date, we may also reserve the right to re-allocate your room. If you arrive late you will be liable for the accommodation charges from the start of the contract.

www.exeter.ac.uk/accommodation

Notes: First year undergraduates • If you are a student who has deferred their place, an early application is advisable and an offer of accommodation will be made around June/July.

• If you are taking a gap year please apply for accommodation in your year of entry.

• If you have Exeter as your insurance or clearing choice you will only be able to apply for accommodation when your university offer is confirmed. Once it is, please apply as soon as possible.

One term Study Abroad and Erasmus students • If you are coming for the first term, you will be able to apply online from mid April.

• If you are coming for the second term, you will be able to apply online from November onwards.

New postgraduate students • If you are a postgraduate taught student you will have had to pay a tuition fee deposit to the University for your accommodation offer to become firm.

Apply online You can complete an application form online at www.exeter.ac.uk/accommodation Please ensure that you will be able to access the email account you advise us of over the summer.

Key Dates • April: Online application form is available on our website.

• July: All students who have met their conditions of study and made an early application should receive a formal offer of accommodation.

• 31 July: All students who meet the guarantee criteria are advised to submit an online application for accommodation.

• Early September: All students who have met the guarantee criteria should have received a formal offer of accommodation. Arrival information is provided when you accept an offer of accommodation.

• Welcome Weekend: All rooms will be ready for students to occupy.

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Your guide to university accommodation

Will you be studying at our Cornwall Campus?

If so, please contact the Cornwall Campus Accommodation Office for further information Tel: +44 (0) 1326 253639 Email: accommodation@tremoughservices.com Web: www.exeter.ac.uk/cornwall/facilities/accommodation

We hope this guide gives you all the information you need but please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any queries.

Tel: 08444 724724 (calls from the UK) +44 1392 724724 (International calls) Email: sid@exeter.ac.uk

For information regarding data protection and discrimination, Consumer Protection (Distance Selling) Regulations 2000 and the accommodation deposit please visit our website.

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www.exeter.ac.uk/accommodation