THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

Accommodation

Learn more about the student halls provided by the university

University student halls

Learn more about student halls provided by private entities

Private student halls

Learn more about the options on the private housing market

Private housing

Download the Undergraduate Accommodation Guide (PDF)

Get the official Undergraduate Accommodation Guide 2017

Download the Postgraduate Accommodation Guide (PDF)

Get the official Postgraduate Accommodation Guide 2017

Find useful links and answers to some of the most frequently asked questions

Useful links & FAQ

University Student Halls

University halls are owned, operated and offered to students by the university.

Quick navigation: Undergrad locations | Postgraduate students | Postgrad locations

Advantages

Many options and locations to choose from
Guaranteed for all* freshers and international postgrads *conditions apply
Typically cheaper than private housing and private student halls
UoE guarantees a high quality and organisational standard
Ideal for students who want to live with other like-minded individuals
Application uses a preference system

You have to make a selection of options and rank them by top 5
You are not guaranteed to receive your top choice

Timeline

Apply from February 2017 (whether unconditional, conditional or insurance offer)
Apply before 16 August 2017 in order to meet the conditions of the accommodation guarantee
Students studying in Semester 2 only (commencing in January 2018) should only apply after 1 October 2017

How to apply

For postgraduate and undergraduate students, you can find out how to apply on the Ready to Apply section on UoE's accommodation website.

Undergraduate students

The University of Edinburgh offers a variety of halls for undergraduate students. Read undergraduate accommodation guide.

Accommodation guarantee

Freshers with UoE as first choice

Application received by 16 August
Unconditional Firm on UCAS by 30 August
You normally reside outside of Edinburgh
Studying at UoE for the whole academic year
Not applying on a Conditional Insurance basis

Visiting undergraduates

Application is received by 16 August
Accepted by 30 August an unconditional offer

Conditional Insurance students without UoE as first choice

Only for shared accommodation (often bunk beds)
Must still apply for accommodation

Couples and families: Details on UoE website

Limited supply of suitable accommodation
First-come first-served basis

Estimated rent

Catered

Single: £690 to £900 per month (37 weeks / 8.5 months)
Shared: £520 to £590 per month (37 weeks / 8.5 months)

Self-catered

Single: £375 to £650 per month (38 weeks / 8.75 months)
Twin rooms: £250 to £300 pp per month (38 weeks / 8.75 months)

Includes

Utility bills
Internet facilities
Cleaning and housekeeping
Personal contents insurance
Facilities and support from Residence Life team

Locations of halls for undergraduates

The University of Edinburgh currently manages over 20 student accommodation halls for undergraduates.

1
Blackfriars Street
2
College Wynd
3
Darroch Court
4
David Horn
5
Deaconess House
6
East Newington Place
7
Fraser Court
8
Hermit’s Croft
9
Kincaid’s Court
10
Kitchener
11
Murano Place
12
New Arthur Place
13
Pollock Halls
14
Riego
15
Robertson’s Close
16
Sciennes
17
Shrubhill
18
South Clerk Street
19
Warrender Park Crescent
20
Warrender Park Road

Hover with mouse over map to show enlarged area here.

icon View all locations and details on the Undergraduate Student Halls section of UoE's website.

Postgraduate students

The University of Edinburgh offers a variety of halls for postgraduate students. Read postgraduate accommodation guide.

Accommodation guarantee

All new postgraduate research students

Whether from the UK, EU or International
Application received by 31 July 2017
Accepted unconditional offer
Studying at UoE for the whole academic year

All new postgraduate taught students from outside the EU

Application received by 31 July 2017
Accepted unconditional offer
Studying at UoE for the whole academic year

Taught postgrads within the EU (including UK)

Not currently guaranteed
Encouraged to apply anyway

Couples and families: Details on UoE website

Limited supply of suitable accommodation
First-come first-served basis

Estimated rent

Self-catered only

Single: £350 to £675 per month (51 weeks / 12 months)
No shared or twin rooms

Includes

Utility bills
Internet facilities
Cleaning and housekeeping
Personal contents insurance
Facilities and support from Residence Life team

Applications and offers

Applications expected to open from early February
Offers normally made from May

Locations of halls for postgraduates

The University of Edinburgh currently manages over 11 student accommodation halls for postgraduates.

1
Ascham Court
2
Blackwood Crescent
3
Holland Annexe
4
Holyrood
5
Morgan Court
6
Mylnes Court
7
Ratcliffe Terrace
8
Richmond Place
9
Riego Street
10
Roxburgh Place
11
West Mains Road

Hover with mouse over map to show enlarged area here.

icon View all locations and details on the Postgraduate Student Halls section of UoE's website.

FAQ

Read our Frequently Asked Questions for University Student Halls.

Private Student Halls

Private student halls are owned, operated and offered to students by private entities.

Advantages

More options and often easier to get into than university halls
No "preference" system: get what you apply for
More trustworthy than private housing from individual landlords
Rent a place with friends and share utility costs
No viewing necessary, so a popular choice for internationals

Disadvantages

Not affiliated with the university, so no room or quality guarantee
Often more expensive than university halls and private housing

Estimated Rent

£530 to £900 per month
Usually 6, 9 or 12 month leases

Finding a private hall

There are many private hall letting companies. It's very important to do your research on their authenticity. Here are some well-known ones:

Timeline

This is different for every letting company. Usually, you should apply 1-3 months before the start of the academic year or semester.

Stay safe!

IMPORTANT: Read this section about avoiding scams and other unexpected surprises.

FAQ

Read our Frequently Asked Questions for Private Halls.

Private Housing

Private housing refers to places owned by private individuals or entities. They range from single rooms to complete apartments.

Quick navigation: Locations | Finding a place, Staying Safe, Your rights as a tenant

Advantages

Many options and price ranges
Typically cheaper than private student halls
Sharing a flat with others can greatly reduce individual rent
Ideal if you want independence, flexibility, a quieter living environment, and/or want to live with friends
Be wary of scammers; read our safety tips

Good to know

There is a very high demand for the number of available places

Especially true in desirable (e.g. central) areas
This means that flats pop up and go, so be fast!

Always view the property and verify legitimacy before wiring any deposit
Most private housing is arranged through agencies
You may require a guarantor to prove that you can pay your rent

Alternatively, you can often pay 6 months in advance

Timeline

ASAP (2-3 months before uni start): Find potential accommodations
Arrange viewings with landlords and/or agencies
After viewings, select fovourites and apply
If accepted, you will usually be asked to pay a deposit
Read contract carefully and sign it to complete application

Estimated Rent

Varies greatly, typically cheaper the further from center
Single room (with shared area): £300-500 pm
One-bedroom flat: £500-700 pm
Shared flat: £350-500 pp pm
Utility and other bills: £40-80 pm
Contracts are usually 6 months, after which the lease is extended every month

Locations for private housing

You can interact with the map below (drag, zoom, click) to find out about some of the typical neighbourhoods for students in Edinburgh. It includes markers for different student accommodations to give you a better idea of the scene. Click on a zone or marker to read more details.

Popular student areas

Marchmont
Bruntsfield
Tollcross
Fountainbridge
Easter Road & Abbeyhill
Leith
Central campus
New Town
Gorgie & Dalry
Morningside
Southside
Kings Building Campus
Little France

The above map is provided by the University of Edinburgh and can be found here.

Finding a place

It is a good idea to regularly check letting websites, such as the following:

You can also find a place by paying attention to "For Rent" signs on buildings. Facebook pages such as EdinRoom can also prove useful in your search.

Staying safe

Private halls: Look up authenticiy of letting company here, here, or here
Private housing: Verify authenticity of landlord/agent here and always view a place before wiring a deposit
If you are the victim of a scam, contact the University Police team

Your rights as a tenant

Terms, conditions and guides to renting: www.rentingscotland.org
Students are generally exempt from paying Council Tax, provided that you study for more than 21 hours per week for more than 24 weeks per year.
Read your lease carefully before signing, photograph the flat when you first move in. Request a receipt for your deposit.

FAQ

Read our Frequently Asked Questions for Private Housing.

Links & FAQ

The most important links are found below as well as the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions.

Quick navigation: University student halls FAQ | Private student halls FAQ | Private housing FAQ

Useful links

Official UoE Accommodation website for all accommodation info
UoE Living Facebook page for all updates related to accommodation
UoE Accommodation YouTube channel for videos of accommodation options
Important contacts for any additional info and/or enquiries

Frequently asked questions

University student halls

How do I apply for accommodation?

Must be made separately from any application to study at the University of Edinburgh.

Will I be offered my first preference?

Only students who require a particular type of accommodation due to special needs are guaranteed to be offered first preference.

When will I get the result of my application?

We will acknowledge all applications on receipt.
Offers of accommodation made from June 2017.
If you are worried about your application or have not heard back, email accom.allocations@ed.ac.uk.

How will I pay for my accommodation?

Rents are typically payable via a range of flexible options which are set up at the point you accept your offer.
Options: payment in full or by semester/monthly instalment plans using either direct debit or recurring credit card payments.
If you require further information, send an email to accom.rentenquiries@ed.ac.uk.

If I reject my offer of accommodation, will I get another?

Unless there are special circumstances, we will be unable to make you another offer.

What if I don’t qualify for an offer?

Unfortunately, we are not able to guarantee accommodation to those students who do not meet the criteria.
However, you can still apply online and be placed on the waiting list.

I live in Edinburgh, can I still apply to move into Halls?

University accommodation is not guaranteed if you already live in Edinburgh or close to it.
You can still apply though and might be offered University accommodation if there are spaces.

Private student halls

How do I book my student accommodation?

You can visit the website of one of the private halls presented in the private halls section. Search through their listings and choose your desired property. Fill in all the required information and confirm the booking.

Can I cancel my booking?

Yes, most providers allow cancellation. Please read the cancellation policies of the property and the provider for precise information.

Can I get refund?

Yes, most providers allow cancellation. Please read the cancellation policies of the property and the provider for precise information.

Do I need a guarantor?

This depends on the provider but in most cases the properties require a guarantor. The guarantor is the responsible person if you have any financial issues with the property.

Can I visit the room before booking it?

Yes. Most of the properties can be visited beforehand.

Can I pay the rent in instalments?

This depends on the property but in most cases paying in installments is an option. Please check the different policies for further information.

Does the rent include service bills?

Yes, most properties include all service bills. Please check the different policies for further information.

Credit: Livety FAQ

Private housing

How do I search for a room?

Visit the homepages of the sites in the private housing section. Fill in the information and check the different options available. Alternatively, contact a housing agency in Edinburgh but be aware of the fees that apply for agents. Whichever option you choose, check for new ads daily and contact the landlord as fast as possible. The renting market in Edinburgh is very competitive and you have to be fast.

Should I visit the property before renting it?

Yes. To find a room or a flat you should come to Edinburgh and arrange visits. Serious landlords and agencies will not rent out a property without having met you in person.

Do I have to sign a contract?

Absolutely, yes. The contract ensures that you are the legal tenant of the property. It protects both parties, you and the landlord. Meet the landlord in person to sign the contract.

Do I have to pay a deposit?

Yes, in most cases the landlord wants the tenant to pay a deposit to ensure that any damages can be taken care of. Usually, the deposit is a one or two months’ rent. If no damages were done, you get the full amount back at the end of your tenancy.

Should I pay the deposit before signing in contract?

No. Never pay anything in advance before seeing the place and signing a contract. This is definitely a scam; serious landlords never require a deposit before signing a contract and seeing you in person.

Do I need a guarantor?

In most cases and with all agencies you require a guarantor based in the UK. The guarantor is the responsible person if you have any financial issues with the property.

Back to: Home | University Halls | Private Halls | Private Housing | Links & FAQ