Details of Comparable University Charges

Oxford University

Prospectus:

The Oxford prospectus contains very little information on rent and charges, presumable due to the differences between colleges. In the Appendixes it does state however that that the average charge for 98/99 was £785 per term, including meals, room, heat and linen/laundry.

Oxford University Students Union (OUSU) is currently conducting a survey of rents and charges in all the colleges and expects to have some comprehensive data by February.
 

Warwick University

Warwick offers on-campus accommodation to all first year students who apply for it, with the average 98/99 self-catered rent of £44.87 normally paid for 30 weeks of the year. An accommodation office assists second and third year students with finding private provision which, although less expensive than university accommodation, tends to be further away. For those living not within walking distance and wishing to use public transport (rather than private vehicles) a bus pass is available covering the whole of Coventry, Warwick and Leamington at £55 per term.

Prospectus and website:

In 1998/9 typical rents for on campus accommodation ranged from £38.55 to £42.10 per week in campus flats, and from £41.20 to £55.90 per week for a single room in hall of residence. The average self catered rent was £44.87. Details of rents for each hall and exactly what is provided are available on the Warwick website. Rent in hall is paid for 30 weeks of the year, although 39 week lets are available for those who want it. Typical rents in off-campus accommodation were £37 per week, exclusive of running costs.

All halls are self-catering except for Westwood where a termly rent of £671 (single) or £574 (twin) provides a dining card with £250 of credit per term in the canteen, as well as a 10% discount on cash prices.
 

Edinburgh University

All first year students from outside the Edinburgh area are guaranteed a place in University accommodation which is divided between full-board, self-catering and approved lodgings. College accommodation tends to be slightly more expensive than private provision.

Prospectus:

"The University offers a good range of excellent accommodation, to suit most needs. Around 5,700 students live in halls, smaller student houses or self contained flats; and the Allocations Office also keeps a register of approved board lodgings and self-catering bedsits."

Costs of accommodation (prospectus):
All prices are for typical single rooms with central heating and phone rental. Twin (shared) rooms are up to 35% cheaper per person.

University full board	standard; 30wk contract: £81-87 per week
	ensuite; 30wk contract: £93 per week
	Fraser court (catering/non); £79 per week
University self-catering	standard; 38wk contract: £50-53 per week
	Morgan court; 38wk contract: £56 per week
	Richmond place, Mylne's court 50wk contract: £65 per week
Approved lodgings	self-catering; 30/38wk contract: £51per week

Bristol

First year accommodation tends to be in the halls (both catering and self-catering) located at Stoke Bishop (2 miles north of University precincts) and Clifton (2/3 mile west). Students in Halls have access to social and sporting facilities such as TV room, bar, launderette, squash and tennis courts. An Accommodation Service offers assistance in finding accommodation within the city.

Prospectus:

Typical accommodation costs [per week for reference]

Catering halls
Single room	30 weeks	£2,236 - 2,528	[£75-84 p/w]
Shared room	30 weeks	£1,781 - 2,026	[£59-68 p/w]
Self-catering halls
Single room	30 weeks	£1,453	[£48 p/w]
Single room	38 weeks	£1,387 - 1,982	[£37-52 p/w]
Shared room	30 weeks	£951	[£32 p/w]
Student Houses
Single room	38 weeks	from £1,514	[£40 p/w]
Shared room	38 weeks	from £1,010	[£27 p/w]

Lodgings (includes heating and other costs) £80-90 per week
Bed sitting rooms (excludes heating and other costs) £45-55 per week.
 

St. Andrews

Two thirds of students are provided with university accommodation, the majority of provision being in halls of residence. The fees for all accommodation include heating, hot water, telephone line rental, and the provision and laundering of linen.

Prospectus:

A standard single room in 1998-99 cost £1108.48 [£36.95 p/w] self catered, and £2026.50 [£67.55 p/w] catered. Catering covers 19 meals per week (i.e. not Saturday and Sunday evenings). First years tend to be in cheaper, shared accommodation: in the second and third year the option of living in more expensive en-suite rooms is available (to a minority).
 

Nottingham

The University has 14 halls of residence housing approximately 3,600 students. Most hall spaces are in single study bedrooms or in dual suites for two students, who have their own bedroom but share a study. The majority of university provided accommodation is catered with students receiving three meals a day throughout the week during term time; contracts are for 31 weeks a year. Approximately 1,100 self-catering places in purpose built flats are also available. The majority of students at Nottingham live in private accommodation.

Prospectus:

Accommodation Fees (98/99)

Single study bedroom in a hall* (full board)	£2,289	[£74 p/w]
Single room in self-catering flats	£1,608	[£37 p/w]

   [*some hall rooms are shared and have a lower rent]
 

University of York

York is a collegiate university, with each of the 7 colleges having approximately 800 undergraduates and providing residential, social and catering facilities (there is no Kitchen Fixed Charge or Fixed Meal Charge for use of the canteen). The majority of college-provided accommodation is in single-study bedrooms with wash basins and shared bathrooms, and with access to a shared kitchen/amenity area. Most students live in college accommodation for two years. A single college room with access to the canteen costs £42.63 per week and is available on a 30 or 38 week contract. Less expensive shared rooms are available (£34.16 p/w).

University of York: Undergraduate Accommodation 1999/2000 (leaflet)

College (term time only)

Single	£1260.63 per year	[£42.63 p/w]
Shared double	£1010.16 per year	[£34.16 p/w]

 

Sheffield

Sheffield guarantees all first years university provided accommodation, with the majority of this being in fully catered halls of residence (on average £76.50 p/w with a 31 week contract). Fees at halls include breakfast and dinner throughout the week and all meals at weekends. Self-catering properties vary, with most students being housed in self-catering flats (on average £42.54 p/w with a 38 week contract). A majority of students live out in privately owned accommodation, with private flats costing between £36 and £45 per week. The furthest distance from any university owned accommodation to the main campus is approximately 1.8 km (Riverdale Flats in Endcliff).

Prospectus and "Home from home" (accommodation guide booklet) 98/99:

Halls of residence fees cover breakfast and evening meal on weekdays and all meals at weekends. The average rent for this was £74.63 p/w for a 31 wk contract (98/99). No average is available for the self-catered accommodation (range £36.38-46.62 p/w), however the mean price is £41.50 p/w.
 

Lancaster

Lancaster is a collegiate university, with each of the eight colleges having about eight or nine hundred members. Most colleges have a bar, T.V. room, Coffee/snack bar, Games room, Snooker/pool table, Computer room and quiet study area as well as an elected JCR. Most undergraduate accommodation consists of standard single study-bedrooms with shared kitchen, toilets, showers and laundry facilities. All heating costs are covered by the room rent.

Prospectus:

"On-campus rents are currently about £41 per week or from £55 for a room with ensuite facilities".
(About 11% of rooms are ensuite; the average campus rent is thus £42.54 p/w)

"All residences have kitchen facilities for self-catering. Each kitchen contains a cooker and refrigerator (you will have to bring your own saucepans, crockery and cutlery) plus a dining area and will serve, normally, six to twelve students."
 

University of Bath

The University offers self-catering accommodation to all first year students, with most second and third years living out. There are no catered halls, although there are several on-site refectories.

Prospectus:

"Basic furniture and cooking equipment are provided, and heating, lighting, and the laundry of bed-linen are all included in the residential fee. Current fees for a single standard room are £1,586 for 37 weeks [£42.86 p/w] or £1,368 for 32 weeks [£42.75 p/w]. En-suite facilities cost approximately 20% more."
 

University of Birmingham

Prospectus:

All first years who wish to live in university accommodation are guaranteed a place, with a choice of catered Halls of Residence or self-catering flats.

A single study bedroom in a Hall of Residence in 99/00 is likely to be £2,275-£2,750 [£76-92 p/w]; this fee includes breakfast and dinner Monday to Friday, and Breakfast and Lunch on Sunday. Students can opt to choose a less expensive shared study-bedroom, or pay more and have ensuite facilities. A room in a standard self-catering flat in 99/00 is likely to be £1,560-1,875 [£39-47 p/w] exclusive of electricity and gas. A minority of more expensive ensuite rooms are available for those who want them.

For those living out the typical cost of a single room (flat share) would be £32-40 per week (bills extra). A University Housing Service offers assistance to students looking in the private sector. Birmingham has "a plentiful supply of rented accommodation within walking distance of the University in Selly Oak or Bournebrook".
 

Durham University

Durham has 12 colleges which each providing a range of services: JCR, bars, Porters, Libraries, Games Rooms, Tennis Courts etc. Accommodation is guaranteed for those that want it for at least two years on a full board basis (three meals a day, every day) with the annual rent covering all other costs as well (heating, lighting etc.). Some Colleges also offer self catered accommodation.

Prospectus:

The annual charge for 97-98 for 28 weeks full board is £2075, an average cost of £74.10 per week. This includes three meals a day, 7 days a week during term time as well as heating, lighting, water charges, cleaning and 24hr portering.
 

Newcastle

All first years are guaranteed a place in University accommodation, of which approximately 40% is in catered halls of residence.

Prospectus:

Cost of University accommodation 98-99

Type	No of students (approx)	Cost per week (approx)
Hall of Residence	1,500	£65.00 (£79.50 en suite)
Self-catering	2,070	£41.50 (£55 en suite)
Student House	331	£39.00 (£55 en suite)

All halls provide breakfast and evening meals during the week, with most dietary requirements catered for. Normal contracts are for 38 weeks, however, some rooms can be vacated for vacation periods to provide conference accommodation (no rent is paid for this period).

Private rents range from £25 to £50 per person per week.
 

Manchester

Manchester co-operates with UMIST in providing much accommodation. Nearly all residences are situated in four main locations all within walking distance: the University campus, UMIST campus, Victoria park and the Fallowfield campus.

Prospectus and "Student Accommodation" (booklet):

Manchester guarantees accommodation to all first year students. Costs for 98/99 were £41.50 per week for a single self-catering room with shared facilities; £57.50 per week for a single room with ensuite facilities; £74 per week for a single room in a Hall of Residence with meals provided. A variety of contracts were available for both catered and self-catered rooms; 31, 38 or 51 weeks.

The university also leases houses to students. Student groups sharing a property (in 98/99) paid between £33 -39 per week.
 

Southampton

Prospectus:

First years are guaranteed accommodation (as long as Southampton is nominated as first choice).

A standard self-catered room cost £37.20-42.90 per week in '98/99. Rooms with full ensuite facilities were significantly more expensive (approx £59 p/w). A subscription to the JCR contributes to the provision of events and social facilities.

A standard catered room cost £73.60-76.20 per week in '98/99. Fees cover breakfast and evening meals on weekdays and some meals at weekends.
 

Glasgow

Prospectus:

Neither Glasgow prospectus nor the web site provide information on rent levels in university accommodation, despite much detail on each of the halls of residence (on the web). The prospectus does however advise international students to budget £155 per month for rent in self-catered accommodation (£44 p/w), although this may be predicated on a twelve month contract (the norm for international students). Given that PUSH indicates a range of £45-47 p/w for self-catering, an average of £46 p/w with a minimum contract of 38 weeks has been assumed in the absence of more detailed information.
 

Leeds

Prospectus:

The University has over 6,500 places in halls of residence, flats and small houses. All first year students (who apply by 1 June) are offered a place in University accommodation. Three of the seven halls are actually on campus with the other four being 1, 2.5, 3.5 and 4 miles away.

Estimated cost of accommodation September 1999-June 2000

Halls (charged for 31 weeks).	Single	Sharing
Off precinct, no mid-week lunches	£1,900-2,850 [£61-92 p/w]	£1,580-2,375 [£51-77p/w]
On precinct, with mid-week lunches	£2,165-2,900 [£70-94 p/w]	£1,900-2,375 [£61-77p/w]
University controlled flats and smaller houses (40wks) Excluding heat, hot water and light	£1,250-2,410 [£31-60 p/w]	£1,035-1,610 [£26-40p/w]
Private flats Exclusive of energy costs	£40-50 per person per week.

UMIST

All first years are guaranteed accommodation in halls. The University pools its accommodation with the University of Manchester with about half of the rooms offered to first years being self-catering.

Prospectus:

"Costs vary with the type of accommodation, but as a guide, for a traditional style hall with most meals provided you could expect to pay approximately £2150 for the 31week session and £1300 for a self-catering flat (costs as Jan 1998)" [£69 p/w catered, £42 p/w self-catering]
 

Reading University

Prospectus and "Halls of residence 2000-2001" (booklet)

Charges across all halls are centrally fixed by the university. "Charges include the provision and laundering of bed-linen, regular room cleaning and portering services, all heating, lighting and power for computers, hi-fi etc. Most hall rooms have a telephone with a link to e-mail and the internet. All Halls have a Warden or Manager and resident staff to ensure the safe and smooth running of all buildings." All Hall fees (except two) also include free telephone connection.

Charges are based on the type of room available with a reduction available to those who pay promptly. The overwhelming majority of rooms are single occupancy with single wash basin. In a fully catered hall (three meals a day during the week, two at weekends) this would cost £2,428 per year [£80.93 p/w]. A similar self-catered place would cost £1,433 per year [£47.76 p/w]. Cheaper rooms are also available for those prepared to share, as are a minority of more expensive ones for those wishing private facilities (own bathroom etc.).
 

Loughborough

University provided accommodation is situated on the main campus, which is one mile from the town centre. In addition there is a Private Rented Office which registers and inspects over 3,000 rooms in external properties. Students usually live out for one year only.

Prospectus:

"Most undergraduates can look forward to university accommodation for at least two years."

Guide to approximate accommodation costs per week:

Halls of residence	(full catering)	£53-79
Halls of residence	(self-catering)	£31.50 - 46.50
Single room in owner's house	(self-catering)	£30-40
Single room in owner's house	(bed and breakfast)	£49
Single room in shared house	(self-catering)	£30-40
Single furnished flat	(self-catering)	£73
Self-contained family house	(2 or more bedrooms)	£90