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Accommodation
New Students
The Allocation Policy - Who is guaranteed a place in residences?

The University Allocation Policy for places in University Residences, with a list of priorities for each category of student, is set out below. The guarantee of accommodation is now extended to:

  • New Undergraduate students holding Aston as their firm choice i.e. Unconditional Firm (UF) or Conditional Firm (CF) for first year of study only. (Excludes Year 0 students going into first year of study)
  • New Postgraduate students
  • Exchange students at Aston for a full Academic year only
  • International fee-paying students for the duration of their course (excluding students on their placement year)
  • Final Year students, who return from placement abroad or study year abroad (from 2012/13)

Students holding Aston as their Firm Choice are guaranteed accommodation as long as applications are received by: 

New UK and EU (Non-British) Undergraduate 20 July 2012
International fee-paying and New Postgraduate 3 August 2012

We cannot guarantee a particular block or type of residence as places are subject to availability.

When allocating rooms, priority for stated choices is given to applicants converting Unconditional Firm Offers (Aston is first choice), followed by Conditional Firm applicants who convert to Unconditional Firm.

Insurance and
Clearing Applicants
We are unable to guarantee accommodation to new Undergraduate applicants if Aston is your Insurance choice or you are admitted through the Clearing scheme. Priority will be given to Insurance choice applicants.
International fee
paying students
International students wishing to take up the guarantee of remaining in Residences must make an application to the Accommodation Office by the closing date for Returning Student applications stated on the web site, to ensure that they are allocated a place
Returning Students

Returning students are not all guaranteed a place in residences. Closing date for applications is 10 February 2012.
The places will be allocated in the following order:

1. Final year students on placement abroad or study abroad (guaranteed from 2012/13)
2. Final year students on placement in the UK
3. Other final Year students
4. 'Middle year' students

Once the final numbers are decided according to the priorities outlined above, any remaining places will be decided by a ballot and we will inform unsuccessful applicants as soon as possible, (during Term 2) to allow them sufficient time to organise housing in the private sector. Successful candidates will be sent a formal offer before Easter.

Final Year students, who return from placement or study year abroad will be guaranteed a room on campus, provided they apply by the accommodation deadline in February. This guarantee applies for 2011 entry students, due to return to final year in 2014.

Allocation Policy

PRIORITY 1
•    All undergraduates holding Aston as their first choice, Conditional Firm (CF) or Unconditional Firm (UF) in their first year of study only. This is defined as: Home, EU & Franchise applicants, and includes 2nd year entrants but excludes "recycled" students and Year 0 going into first year of study
•    All new postgraduates for their first year
•    All non-EU (i.e. Internationals) fee paying undergraduates and postgraduates for all years of study (provided they apply by the deadline set each year)
•    All exchange students at Aston for a full academic year only

PRIORITY 2
•    New undergraduates holding Conditional Insurance offers

PRIORITY 3
•    Home undergraduates returning for their final year from sandwich/placement year abroad

PRIORITY 4
•    Home undergraduates returning for their final year from sandwich/placement year in the UK

PRIORITY 5
•    Other home undergraduates in their final year

PRIORITY 6
•    Home postgraduates in subsequent years

PRIORITY 7
•    New undergraduates coming to Aston through "clearing"

PRIORITY 8
•    "Recycled" undergraduates

PRIORITY 9
•    Home undergraduates in other years

We recognise that leaving home for the first time can be a stressful experience for all students and this may impact on you more if you have an impairment or disability which may be affected by the type of accommodation you live in. If you have a disability the University will make every effort to place you in accommodation that best suits your needs.

We guarantee that if you have a significant physical or sensory impairment or a medical condition which severely impairs your mobility you will offered accommodation for the duration of your course. It is therefore essential that you advise the Accommodation Officer of any disability so appropriate arrangements can be made for you.

If you have a Personal Carer we can also provide a room for them. Accommodation can also be adapted to meet your needs if you have a medical condition. Please ensure that you contact the Disability and Additional Needs Unit (DANU) in the Student Support Office on 0121 204 4711 at the earliest opportunity so that adaptations can be made before you commence your course.

If you would like to view the accommodation please contact Diane Lacey, Accommodation Officer, on 0121 204 4706 to arrange an appointment.

You will need to provide us with the following information, depending on your student status:

New applicants

  • Information about the specific adaptations or support that you will require (you may already have provided this information to the Disabilities and Additional Needs Unit (DANU) in which case, we will need your permission to talk to the Accommodation Office about your specific requirements)
  • A letter giving us permission to share information about your individual needs with other, appropriate, University staff to ensure that we can deal with your needs appropriately

Returning students

  • If you have not previously informed us of your disability or medical condition we will need a medical certificate from the Health Centre or your own Doctor. This must be on surgery headed note paper; or
  • A supporting letter from your counsellor or the Disabilities and Additional Needs Unit (DANU) explaining why you will need University accommodation and
  • You must also complete an on-line application form by the deadline date set for returning students, indicating that you have a disability and where you would like to be allocated if your application is successful.

Confidentiality

Any information you provide to the Accommodation Office about your requirements will be shared only with those people in Residential Services who have a responsibility for your welfare and the Disabilities and Additional Needs Unit (DANU). We undertake not to share this information with anyone else without your permission, as this would be in breach of your rights under the Data Protection Act. If you wish to keep your information confidential within the Accommodation Office only, please let us know.

Next Step

If you would like your requirements to be taken into account prior to the allocation of your accommodation, please write a letter (include the supporting documentation requested), marked “Private and Confidential”, as soon as possible to:

Diane Lacey
Accommodation Officer

The Accommodation Office
Aston University
Aston Triangle
Birmingham
B4 7ET

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