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Student Life in Bristol
How much does it cost?
A guide to accommodation costs for the 2003-2004
session is listed below, these costs will be subject to
revision.
University Accommodation
Catering residences
single room 38 weeks £3,010-£3,349
shared room 38 weeks £2,505-£2,650
(costs include heating, lighting, electricity, hot water
and meals provided in term-time)
Self-catering residences
single room 38 weeks £2,102-£2,951
shared room 38 weeks from £1,424
(costs include heating, lighting, electricity and hot
water)
Private sector
single room 52 weeks £2,860-3,380
(average £8 additional weekly cost for heating, lighting,
electricity, hot water and water rates)
single room 38 weeks £1,738-£2,890
shared room 38 weeks from £1,191
Overall costs of living in Bristol vary as much as student
lifestyles. In a typical weekly budget it is usually
accommodation that is the single highest amount. During
the first year, when the majority of new students will be
in University accommodation, residence fees will include
heating, insurance and, for students in catered
residences, the cost of meals provided. In second and
subsequent years most students will need to secure private
accommodation, usually with a 52 week let and costs of
bills to be added to the rent.
Most students rely on support from parents, savings or
part-time employment to supplement the student loan.
For more information on tuition fees, student loans,
hardship funds and other sources of financial support
please see Financial Matters.
Getting around
The University area and the parts of the city where
students tend to live are linked by a comprehensive
daytime bus service, and most are within easy walking
distance of each other. Car
parking is difficult and students are advised not to bring
a car to Bristol. Despite the hills, many students find a
bicycle the best way of getting about.
The Union organises a bus shuttle service that runs
throughout the evening between the Union building, the
precinct, the city centre and the Stoke Bishop residential
site. There is a free late-night bus service for women
students from the Library and the Union to their homes.
Accommodation
Details of the University's Accommodation Guarantee
and University residence costs for 2004 will be given in
the 2004 Accommodation Prospectus. The Accommodation
Prospectus will be sent, together with an application
form, to all candidates who firmly accept a place of study
at the University in the May of the year of entry.
For 2003 the University guaranteed to provide
accommodation for new full-time students studying in
Bristol for a full academic year who fell into the
following categories:
new unaccompanied students on undergraduate degree
programmes who live outside the Bristol area (the Bristol
area is defined as all BS postcodes excluding BS22-28 and
BS39-40) and apply to the Accommodation Office by 12 July
new unaccompanied postgraduates studying for a full
academic year in Bristol who pay fees at the overseas rate
who apply to the Accommodation Office by 15 August
The Accommodation Office offers advice to all students
falling outside these categories and will assist them in
finding accommodation within the University where there
are appropriate places, or in the private sector.
Students living locally in the BS postcode areas,
excluding BS22-28 and BS39-40, are not guaranteed
accommodation for the start of term. Local students are
encouraged to apply and it would hope to be able to make
an offer of accommodation as soon as possible in the first
term. Local students under 21 and living at home can
affiliate to a hall.
It is regretted that no guarantee of a place in University
accommodation can be given to students who are accepted
through clearing, or who take up insurance offers. Some
students may be found late places in University
accommodation, but others will be helped to find
accommodation in the private sector.
University accommodation
Accommodation for first-year undergraduates is
provided in halls of residence and student houses. When
students apply for University accommodation they are able
to give five preferences but the University cannot
guarantee to meet individual preferences. The University
has a residential computer network with a data point in
all study bedrooms.
Halls of Residence
The main residence complex is located at Stoke Bishop
where there are two self-catering Halls arranged as flats
for five to seven students and four catering halls. There
are three halls in Clifton, two are self-catering (one
arranged as flats, one as a hall) and one is a catering
hall. Students in halls have access to social and sporting
facilities such as TV room, bar, launderette, squash and
tennis courts. The halls provide friendly, caring
environments where students can learn from others with
different outlooks and backgrounds, pursue sporting and
cultural interests and develop social and managerial
skills. Some of the halls have rooms with en-suite
facilities. The Union provides a shop at the Stoke Bishop
site.
Student Houses
The University's student houses provide one third of
the self-catering places available for new first year
undergraduates. There are four larger houses accommodating
390 students, one house is all ensuite. All houses are
close to departments, the Computer Centre, the new Indoor
Sports Centre and the Union. Whiteladies Road, Park Street
and the city centre with their shops, cafes, bars and
clubs are all nearby. Friendships and a strong house
identity develop from the first day. The houses field
sports teams in the intramural competitions and have busy
and varied social lives. Each house has a team of Senior
Residents providing support and guidance.
Couple and family accommodation
The University has a small number of flats for couples
and families with up to two small children. Priority is
given to new international postgraduate students. Most
students will need to look for private accommodation with
the help of the Accommodation Office. It is essential to
secure accommodation before bringing your family to
Bristol.
Private sector accommodation
Nearly all students will need to secure private
accommodation for their second and subsequent years of
study. Over 8,500 Bristol students live in private
accommodation. A wide range of options is available,
including Unite House. Advice, support and a range of
resources to assist students in securing private
accommodation are provided by the Accommodation Office
with a Housing Fair for current first-year students early
in the second term. Prices vary depending on location and
the type of accommodation. A broad range for 2003 would be
£55 to £65 per week for a single room not including bills.
Private sector tenancies are usually of 52 weeks' duration
to 30 June. A deposit is usually part of the first
payment.
The Accommodation Office
The Accommodation Office provides a service throughout
the year for all of the University's full-time students,
helping to find accommodation in both the University and
the private sector, and advises on all accommodation
matters. |
