Key Summary
FAQs
What should I do if I didn’t get university accommodation?
Contact your university’s accommodation office straight away, since spaces often free up as other students drop out or change plans. At the same time, start looking at private student accommodation providers and student-specific room-share platforms like SpareRoom, so you’re not relying on one option alone.
Why do some students miss out on university halls?
Most universities allocate halls on a first come, first served basis, so late applicants and students who accepted their place through Clearing are the most likely to miss out. It’s rarely about anything you’ve done wrong, there simply aren’t always enough rooms for everyone who wants one.
Should I contact my university if I don’t have anywhere to live?
Yes, immediately. Ask to be added to the accommodation waiting list, and ask directly how often rooms become available, since some students drop out or change their minds before term starts. Even if they can’t offer anything right away, they can point you toward university-approved private housing.
What private accommodation options are there if I miss out on halls?
Private student accommodation providers like Unite Students, Student Roost and iQ often have availability even after university halls have filled up, especially in bigger cities with more purpose-built student housing. These come with similar amenities to university halls, just run by a private company instead.
How can I find other students to live with at short notice?
SpareRoom lets you search specifically for student flatshares and filter by city, and most universities also have a dedicated Facebook group for incoming students where people advertise spare rooms. Word of mouth counts too, ask your course group chat or any societies you’ve joined.
Can I get on a waiting list for university halls?
Yes, most universities operate one. Being on the list costs you nothing and puts you first in line if a room becomes free, which happens more often than you’d expect once term gets closer and some offer-holders don’t show up.
Is commuting from home an option if I can’t find accommodation in time?
Yes, if your university is within a reasonable commute. It buys you more time to find the right accommodation without pressure to take the first room you’re offered, though you’ll want to weigh that against missing some of the social side of living close to campus.
Will missing out on halls affect my uni experience?
No. Plenty of students who don’t get their first-choice halls end up in private accommodation, house shares, or even commuting, and still make friends through course, societies and freshers’ events. Where you live matters less than how much you put yourself out there once you arrive.
If you’ve applied to university this year, you’ll know that the ever-terrifying A-Level results day is fast approaching. If, on that day, you end up using clearing (for whatever reason that may be), you might find yourself stressing out about how to look for accommodation in clearing. We’re here to help! Here’s how to apply for clearing accommodation.
Wait until you’ve got a confirmed place
You don’t need to run around like a headless chicken whilst you contact and apply for new courses. Do that first, then worry about the accommodation. Most universities keep a select number of accommodation rooms available for clearing students. You will get given the information from your university of choice once you’ve got a confirmed place.
Time is of the essence
Since you’re not the only person dashing to the clearing portal on results day, it’s important to get a place on a course relatively fast. Not only to ensure you get the course you want, but the sooner you’ve got that confirmed, the sooner you can sort your accommodation.
Universities usually have a portal for their accommodation, wherein they’ll ask students to list their top 3 choices. So the sooner you have a place and get access to this portal, the more likely you’ll be able to secure a spot in your top choice.
Don’t panic
Results day is manic. It feels like pure chaos, and university admin teams know this. There will be people on hand to help you with everything from getting on the course and accessing the accommodation portal, to joining the fresher’s Facebook groups.
If you’ve got any concerns, or you’re struggling, reach out to your universities accommodation team.
Decisions, decisions, decisions
Whilst time is against you, you’ve still got to make sure you choose somewhere that you’ll be happy to live in for the next year. That means doing some research and considering the location, the cost, any access requirements, what the rent covers, and taking a look at the terms and conditions.
It may also be worth considering how many people you want to live with, whether you want a private bathroom, how important all-inclusive is to you, do you want an on-site security team? What about social spaces? These are all things that can drastically affect your experience in accommodation and are worth taking a moment to think on.
Are you guaranteed accommodation?
Universities such as Aberystwyth, Cardiff, De Montfort and Northumbria guarantee accommodation to all their clearing students. Other universities will help you to either apply to their own accommodation or through private halls, or perhaps through systems like UniLets.