Accommodation allocation policy

This is the accommodation allocations policy and process for session 2024/25.

The University of Stirling will guarantee an offer of University-managed accommodation in your first year of full time study, commencing in September 2024, if you meet the eligibility criteria and your application reaches us by the advised deadline. Deadline dates vary so please check the deadline information carefully.

The guarantee is subject to terms and conditions.

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible for a guaranteed offer of accommodation:

  • You must have accepted your offer to study at the University of Stirling, this offer can be conditional or unconditional.
  • You must live more than 20 miles from the University. If you live within 20 miles of the University and wish accommodation you should still apply, but you are not guaranteed an offer of accommodation. We recognise that within this boundary there are some areas not served well by public transport. If you face specific transport difficulties and live within 20 miles of the University please notify us during the application process as we may make exceptions in certain circumstances.
  • You must submit your online application by the following dates:
Student type Applications open Deadline for accommodation guarantee
New undergraduate students from Scotland 15 April 2024 30 June 2024
New undergraduate students from England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland and Overseas 15 April 2024 31 August 2024
New postgraduate taught and research students 15 April 2024 31 July 2024

Guarantee terms and conditions

  1. The University Accommodation Guarantee extends to one offer of accommodation only. The guarantee does not extend to couples or family accommodation.
  2. If you reject or fail to accept an offer by the expiry date there is no guarantee any further offer will be made.
  3. If you fail to apply for accommodation before the deadline date you are not guaranteed an offer of student accommodation.
  4. To be eligible for the guarantee postgraduate students must have paid their tuition fee deposit by 31 July 2024.
  5. Rooms are allocated on a first come, first served basis with priority given to students who:
    a. Are care experienced 
    b. Will be under 18 at the beginning of the academic year
    c. Have a medical condition that requires specific accommodation needs (supporting medical evidence will be required and possibly a pre-entry visit before an offer can be made) 
    d. Live in SIMD20 and SIMD40 areas
  6. There is no guarantee that you will be offered your preferred choice of accommodation. The allocations team take choices into account until such times as a property is full. If the allocations team is unable to offer accommodation in any of your chosen properties, and where there is other accommodation available, they will offer an alternative.
  7. Once you have accepted your offer to study at University of Stirling you will be sent details on how and when to apply for accommodation. Your application must be made online unless you are applying for family accommodation.
  8. Students should, wherever possible, make their own applications and accept their room offer.  
  9. Where a student gives a third party (e.g. an agent) permission to make the application or accept the room offer on their behalf, the student is bound by the offer and the terms of the Occupancy Agreement as if they themselves had made the application and accepted the room offer. 
  10. Groups are welcome to apply but each student must make an individual application. Please be aware that rooms will not be held for group members without an application.
  11. Where students have applied by the relevant guarantee deadline they will receive an offer of accommodation. No offer of accommodation will be made until after exam results are published in August 2024.
  12. Offers are made with an expiry date of seven days. If an offer is not accepted in this time the guarantee no longer applies.
  13. All communication will be via email.
  14. In the event that demand for accommodation exceeds supply, students who have adhered to the terms and conditions and applied before the deadline may be offered temporary accommodation on a short-term basis until an offer of permanent accommodation can be made.
  15. Accommodation Services reserve the right not to offer accommodation to an applicant.

Priority students

In addition to a guaranteed offer of accommodation to new students, the University prioritises accommodation for the following groups.

Student group Application information
Care experienced students in any academic year An application priority exists for returning students during the period between 10:00 on Monday 18 March 2024 and 16:00 on Thursday 21 March 2024. Applications will still be accepted after this date.
Students with a medical condition that requires specific accommodation needs (e.g. wheelchair requirement, physical and mobility difficulties, sensory impairments, mental health conditions) An application priority exists for returning students during the period between 10:00 on Monday 18 March 2024 and 16:00 on Thursday 21 March 2024. Applications will still be accepted after this date.
Students with a home residence in SIMD20 and SIMD40 postcodes in any academic year An application priority exists for returning students during the period between 10:00 on Monday 18 March 2024 and 16:00 on Thursday 21 March 2024. Applications will still be accepted after this date.
INTO University of Stirling students progressing to an undergraduate course

An application priority exists for returning students during the period between 10:00 on Monday 18 March 2024 and 16:00 on Thursday 21 March 2024. Applications will still be accepted after this date.

Progressing students must have accepted their degree offer from the University of Stirling before they apply for accommodation.

Undergraduate students who commenced their studies in January 2024 An application priority exists for returning students during the period between 10:00 on Monday 18 March 2024 and 16:00 on Thursday 21 March 2024. Applications will still be accepted after this date.
INTO Pathway students Applications are made through INTO University of Stirling.
Study Abroad students such as visitor exchange, API – Carolina Global

Online applications for full session and autumn only semester will open on 15 April 2024.

A limited number of rooms are available for both autumn and spring only semesters.

Students visiting from: 

  • Hebei Normal University;
  • BIG C University;
  • Pompeu Fabra University;
  • students participating in Stirling Management School's retail marketing (Singapore) course;
  • Dalian University.
Online applications will open on 15 April 2024.

Returning undergraduate students

We welcome applications for returning undergraduate students and online applications for full session and autumn semester only will open from 10:00 on Monday 25 March 2024. Spring semester applications will open in October/November 2024.

A limited number of rooms are available for a single semester (either Autumn or Spring) to support students taking part in study abroad programmes.

Please note that an application priority exists for returning students who are care experienced, have a home address in SIMD20 or SIMD40 postcodes or have specific medical requirements during the period between 10:00 on 18 March and 16:00 on 21 March 2024.

Your home address must be more than 20 miles from the University. If you live within 20 miles of the University and would like accommodation, you should still apply but you may not be given an offer of accommodation. We recognise that within this boundary there are some areas not served well by public transport.  If you face specific transport difficulties and live within 20 miles of the University please notify us during the application process as we may make exceptions in certain circumstances.

Returning undergraduates will be allocated on a first-come, first served basis once the priority groups and those living more than 20 miles away have been accommodated.

Once all returning undergraduate rooms have been allocated any remaining applications will be placed on a waiting list and should any additional rooms be made available we will contact students on the waiting list.

Family accommodation

We welcome applications from family groups and applications can be made online from 10:00 on Monday 15 April 2024. We are pleased to be able to offer 2 and 3-bedroom flats that are designated as family accommodation. Applications should be made directly to Accommodation Services and are allocated on a first come, first served basis.

General terms and conditions

  1. If you reject or fail to accept an offer by the expiry date there is no guarantee any further offer will be made.
  2. Rooms are allocated on a first come, first served basis with priority given to students who:
    a. Are care experienced
    b. Have a medical condition that requires specific accommodation needs (supporting medical       
          evidence will be required and possibly a pre-entry visit before an offer can be made) 
    c. Have a home address more than 20 miles away
  3. There is no guarantee that you will be offered your preferred choice of accommodation.  The allocations team take choices into account until such times as a property is full.  If the allocations team is unable to offer accommodation in any of your chosen properties, and where there is other accommodation available, they will offer an alternative.
  4. Offers are made with an expiry date of seven days.  If an offer is not accepted in this time the guarantee no longer applies.
  5. All communication will be via your University of Stirling email account.
  6. Accommodation Services reserve the right not to offer accommodation to an applicant.
  7. Any student with a history of residential debt or who has a serious disciplinary record may not be offered accommodation.
  8. Groups are welcome to apply – each student must make an individual application.  Please note that rooms will not be held for group members without an application.