chester accommodation guide 2015
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CHESTER STUDENT LIVINGThe Key to University Life
CHESTER LIFEThere are lots of things to think about when it comes to student accommodation. At the University of Chester
Parkgate Road Campus, we are dedicated to helping you fi nd accommodation from a range of our on and
off -campus properties.
At Chester we off er a range of accommodation each off ering a safe and secure environment for you to live and
study in.
Further details are outlined within this guide, but for a more comprehensive insight into the options available to you, please refer to our website. And if you have any questions about the application process we’re always happy to help, so please don’t hesitate to contact us.
• All accommodation is located on campus or
within a short walking distance
• All bills included
• Room insurance included
• University managed internet service
• Communal cleaning
• 24 Hour University security service
• Responsive maintenance service
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The majority of University accommodation is either
on the Parkgate Road Campus, on the border of
this campus or conveniently located in the centre
of Chester. This puts you right at the heart of the
University experience, so you’ll never have to worry
about missing a thing!
SELF-CATERED ACCOMMODATION
• Between £81.20 - £138.25 per week* (41 week
contract only)
• Single and twin rooms (en-suite facilities in some
properties)
• Fully fi tted kitchens and communal areas are
provided
SEMI-CATERED ACCOMMODATION
• Between £128.10 - £131.25* (41 week contract)
• Single and twin rooms
• Lunch and Evening meal are included from Monday
to Friday during term time
• Fully fi tted kitchens provided
FULL BOARD ACCOMMODATION
• Between £120.70 - £157.50* (Term time 35 week
contract)
• Single and twin rooms (en-suite facilities available
in most full board properties)
• Breakfast, lunch and evening meal included
Monday – Sunday during term time
• Small area provided which includes a kettle,
microwave and a sink to wash crockery
Full board residents are required to vacate during
Christmas and Easter holidays.
Another option is our Partnership Accommodation
Tramways. For further details see page 6-7.
*2015/16 prices
ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS
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The University of Chester is working in partnership
with Fresh Student Living - Tramways. This
partnership agreement will allow the University
Accommodation Team to nominate a further 398
students to accommodation in the heart of the
city centre.
Brand new for September 2015, Tramways off ers
stylish and modern accommodation in a great
location in the centre of Chester. You could choose
to share an apartment with other fi rst year students.
Each room includes a small comfy double bed,
spacious work areas, loads of storage, your very
own en-suite shower room and a shared kitchen/
living area. Alternatively, if you’d prefer to be more
independent, you could rent your very own en-suite
studio space with your own kitchen and dining area.
INTERESTED?
If you would like to be considered for a place at
Tramways, please ensure you complete the relevant
section on the online application form. If you
are off ered a place at Tramways, our partnership
accommodation, the room is allocated by the
University of Chester Accommodation Offi ce but
your contract will be with Fresh Student Living.
If you are interested in fi nding out more about the
facilities at Tramways, click onto:
PARTNERSHIPACCOMMODATION TRAMWAYS
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PRIVATE SECTOR
Priority for University owned and partnership accommodation
is given to all Firm choice applicants who live furthest afi eld,
as well as applicants with specifi c needs. Although we can’t
guarantee University owned or partnership accommodation to
all our applicants, you shouldn’t panic.
Moving into the private sector is another good option available
to you. We’ve got strong links with the private sector and can help
signpost and advise on applying for this accommodation also.
All available private sector properties listed on our website have
been accredited or ‘student stamped’ by the local council. This
means the property is approved by the council as meeting the
standards required for student accommodation.
If you are interested in fi nding out more about your options in
the private sector, click onto:
www.chesterstudentstamp.co.uk
MEAL SCHEMES
If you’re allocated self-catered accommodation, or are thinking
about living in the private sector or at home, then our meal
schemes would be ideal for you.
• Off ers substantial savings
• Help students budget
• Ensures regular and healthy meals
• Are available to purchase after allocation has been confi rmed
or after arrival.
Prices and further information can be found by searching for
Meal Schemes on our website:
www.chester.ac.uk
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NAME BOARD RENT GUIDECONTRACT LENGTH
HOW TO PAY
We have a range of accommodation to suit every budget.
The exact amount of rent you will have to pay depends
on the type of accommodation you are allocated, and
this will be outlined in your accommodation off er.
When you accept your off er of accommodation, you will
be asked to select which payment method you wish to
pay your rent by:
• Direct debit in three termly instalments
• In full at the start of the academic year
DEPOSIT
A £250 deposit is required to secure your accommodation
and will be deducted from the third term’s rent.
ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS
Whilst it is not possible to apply for individual residences,
the table on the following page will give an overview of
our rents per week.
PAYING FOR YOURACCOMMODATION
Self Catered (2015/16 prices)
Alexandra Flat Standard 41 Weeks £138.25
Ardern House Standard 41 Weeks £93.10 – £109.20
Bache Hall Standard 41 Weeks £96.25
Bridge St Row Standard 41 Weeks £96.25
Brook Lane Standard 41 Weeks £82.60 – £93.10
Cheyney Road Standard 41 Weeks £82.60 – £93.10
Church College Close Standard 41 Weeks £93.10
De Bunsen Hall Standard/En-suite 41 Weeks £93.10 – £109.20
Eversley House Standard/En-suite 41 Weeks £93.10 – £109.20
Grosvenor House Studio Flat 41 Weeks £138.25
Hayes Park Standard 41 Weeks £93.10
Hollybank Court En-suite 41 Weeks £109.20
John Douglas Court Standard 41 Weeks £93.10
John Milton Hall En-suite 41 Weeks £109.20
Kingsley Lodge Standard /En-suite 41 Weeks £90.65 – £104.30
37 Liverpool Road En-suite 41 Weeks £115.15
Margaret Flat Standard 41 Weeks £81.60 – £109.20
Parkgate Road Standard 41 Weeks £82.60 – £109.20
Powys Court Standard 41 Weeks £96.25
St Oswalds Mount Standard 41 Weeks £93.10
Semi-Catered (2015/16 prices)
2 Chichester Street Standard/En-suite 41 Weeks £128.10 – £131.25
51 and 53 Parkgate Road Standard/En-suite 41 Weeks £128.10 – £131.25
Full Board (2015/16 prices)
Alexandra House Standard 35 Weeks £120.70
Astbury House En-suite 35 Weeks £147.00
Catherine House Standard 35 Weeks £120.70
Fisher House En-suite 35 Weeks £147.00
Gladstone House En-suite 35 Weeks £147.00
Margaret House Standard 35 Weeks £120.70
Old College Standard 35 Weeks £129.50
Sumner House En-suite 35 Weeks £151.90 – £157.50
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Our aim at the University of Chester is to help all fi rst
year undergraduates fi nd suitable accommodation
either in University residences or in the private sector.
As the University is not able to accommodate all
fi rst year undergraduate students, we take into
account the following criteria:
• University of Chester as fi rst choice of study.
• Geographical location of the student’s home
base; places are allocated to those who live the
furthest away from the University.
• Special needs or circumstances e.g. medical
conditions; care leavers will be taken into
consideration, providing the information is listed
on the application form and Student Support
and Guidance have been contacted during the
accommodation application stage.
• Late Application – Students who gain entry
through an insurance choice or via clearing
are highly unlikely to be allocated university
accommodation.
The University of Chester guarantees students who
are studying a Science and Engineering course at
Thornton Science Park a place in accommodation
during their fi rst year of study, providing the
following criteria are met:
• You have met the conditions of your Firm off er
• You are starting your course in September 2015
and are studying a full time undergraduate
course at Thornton Science Park
• You submit an accommodation application form
by the advertised deadline
• You are unaccompanied (i.e. you do not bring any
dependants such as a partner and/or children)
Please note that whilst we will try to match students’
specifi c preferences it is not always possible. Many
of the options will be oversubscribed so it may be
necessary to off er you a type of accommodation that
is not your fi rst choice on your list of preferences.
ALLOCATION POLICY
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Remember, there is no ‘fi rst-come, fi rst served’ policy at Chester, so as long as you submit your application before
Friday 28th July 2016, your application will be considered fairly. If we receive your application after this date we
will endeavour to process your application, but applications received before the deadline will take priority.
*We will endeavour to notify all students the outcome of their application as soon as possible after A-Level results
day. However, if you are holding an Unconditional Off er we will process your application from July onwards and
we will contact you as quickly as possible.
We know the thought of moving away from home
can be a daunting one, so we’ve tried to make the
application process as easy as possible.
PASSWhen you are ready to begin your application, you
should login to PASS, our Pre-Arrival Student Site.
pass.chester.ac.uk
Your username for PASS is your student number.Your
student number can be found on the letter sent to you
by our Undergraduate Admissions team. Your Password
is your date of birth in the format CheYYYYMMDD
YOUR APPLICATIONThe application will ask you to tell us more about
yourself, your preferences and whether you have any
specifi c needs you’d like to consider when we allocate
the accommodation. The accommodation preferences
you must rank in order of preference are: Self Catered
Standard, Self-Catered En-suite, Studio Flat, Semi Catered
Standard, Full Board Standard, Full Board En-suite.
For further information about what the diff erent options
mean, visit the Accommodation Options and FAQ
sections of this booklet.
If you have a disability or medical condition that impacts
on your need for accommodation, you must ensure that
you contact our Disability Support Offi ce within Student
Support and Guidance without delay at the point of
your accommodation application. Applications must
be supported by sending the Disability SupportOffi ce
medical evidence such as a medical certifi cate or
doctor’s letter.
YOUR APPLICATION CONFIRMATIONOnce you’ve submitted your application, you will receive
a confi rmation email. We completely understand that it
can be stressful thinking about where you are going to
live, but please don’t panic. Remember, we don’t start
allocating accommodation until after A-level results
day. We will contact you as soon as we have news
about your accommodation using the email you have
provided on your UCAS form.
HOW TO APPLY
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Finally, here are the key dates you need to know when applying for University accommodation:
Remember, there is no ‘fi rst-come, fi rst served’ policy at Chester, so as long as you submit your application before
the 18th July 2016, your application will be considered fairly. If we receive your application after this date we
will endeavour to process your application, but applications received before the deadline will take priority.
*We will endeavour to notify all students the outcome of their application as soon as possible after A-Level results
day. However, if you are holding an Unconditional Off er we will process your application from July onwards and
we will contact you as quickly as possible.
28th MARCH 2016
ONLINE APPLICATIONS
OPEN
18th JULY 2016
ONLINE APPLICATIONS
CLOSE
18th AUGUST 2016
A-LEVEL RESULTS DAY
AND ALLOCATION OF
ACCOMMODATION*
KEY DATES
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FAQSQ: I’m not clear on the accommodation allocation
policy – help!
It’s important to us that you understand how we allocate
our accommodation. If your enquiry isn’t covered on
page 7, please contact the Accommodation Offi ce
before applying.
Q: How do I fi ll out the application?
We will send you information about the online
application process in March 2016. You have to fi ll in the
form with your accommodation preferences. We cannot
accept the names of the individual halls of residences.
Q: When will I fi nd out?
We will endeavour to notify all students the outcome of
their application as soon as possible after A-Level results
day. However, if you are holding an Unconditional Off er
we will process your application from July onwards and
we will contact you as quickly as possible.
Q: What is provided in the rooms?
Rooms vary depending on the style of accommodation
allocated. All rooms have a single bed (Grosvenor
and Sumner has small double sized beds), desk and
chair, desk lamp, notice board, wardrobe, shelving or
bookcase, waste bin, curtains or blinds. En-suite rooms
include a shower, washbasin and toilet.
Q: How about the kitchens?
Self-catered and semi catered residences have fully fi tted
kitchens. You will just need to bring kitchen utensils,
crockery and pans. A list of what electrical items are
permitted will be detailed in your residence handbook
which is sent to residential students once off ers of
accommodation have been accepted.
Q: What does standard accommodation mean?
Standard accommodation means you would share a
bathroom with a maximum of 6 students and kitchen
facilities. Please note that only self and semi catered
residences have kitchens.
Q: Do all rooms have en-suite facilities?
No, but the majority of our full board accommodation
has en-suite facilities. Check out the Accommodation
Options section on our website for more information.
Q: I’ve applied for accommodation, what do I need
to buy? What do I need to bring?
We wouldn’t recommend purchasing anything for
your accommodation until your allocation has been
confi rmed by the Accommodation Offi ce. You can
bring anything (within reason) that makes your room
feel like home. You’ll need a duvet, pillows and linen,
towels, coat hangers. If you’re allocated a room in self
or semi catered residence, then you’ll need cooking
utensils, tea towels and groceries to get you started!
Don’t worry though; the great thing about Chester is the
majority of shops are within walking distance. So it’s not
a problem if you happen to forget anything.
Q: What if I’m allocated a room that’s not my top
preference or too expensive?
Due to limited availability, it’s not always possible for us
to allocate your fi rst choice of accommodation and so
therefore we may have to off er you a diff erent type of
accommodation. There will be an opportunity to apply
to transfer accommodation after you arrive, although
places are subject to availability. If you are allocated
something you don’t want, we would recommend
fi nding accommodation in the private sector.
Q: Are there laundry facilities available?
Grosvenor House has a laundrette facility for all students
to use. Sumner House, Debunsen Hall, Powys Court and
Bridge St Row all have their own laundrette facility.
Q: Do you off er accommodation for families?
Unfortunately we don’t have accommodation
for families or postgraduate students. We would
recommend searching for accommodation in the
private sector – more details can be found on page 9.
Q: I have a question that is not answered in this
guide. Who can I ask?
You can contact the Accommodation Offi ce with any
queries.
Q: I have selected the University of Chester
as my insurance choice. Can I still apply for
Accommodation?
Whilst insurance applicants can apply, due to limited
availability it is unlikely we will be able to off er you a
place in university accommodation. However if this is
the case the Accommodation Offi ce will direct you to
an extensive list of private sector properties available for
students to rent, with the majority of accommodation
being very close to the main campus.
Any Questions?
If you have any further queries about our
accommodation, you might like to check our FAQS
online:
www.chester.ac.uk/accommodation/faq
Alternatively, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 01244 513000
www.chester.ac.uk/accommodation
The information contained in this guide is correct at the
time of publication. The University reserves the right to
amend any of the details contained in this guide.
The University of Chester are signed to the Universities
UK Code of Practice for University Managed Student
Accommodation. The code protects students’ right to
safe, good quality accommodation, wherever they are
studying, and makes sure students get the best out of
their time living in University residences
(see http://www.thesac.org.uk/)
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