How to apply for accommodation

Applications are open for new undergraduate and postgraduate students for academic year 2020/21. Applications for returning students have now closed.

There are three steps to applying for student accommodation on the Edinburgh Campus: apply online, accept your contract online and pay your advance rent payment.

Apply online

All applications must be made online at the campus accommodation application portal.

We are accepting applications for the 2020/2021 academic year but due to the current pandemic, offers of accommodation will be will be delayed until the end of July 2020.

If you have any questions about this, please email halls@hw.ac.uk.

Accept your contract online

Once you have applied, we will email you to confirm that we have received your application. If you don’t receive this, please email halls@hw.ac.uk to let us know.

We will process your application and aim to email you an offer by mid to late June. If you are an A-level student we aim to email your contract at least 7 days before the start date of the contract.

You can accept or decline your offer online by following the instructions in your offer email. Your contract is not valid until you have accepted your offer online.

We can only make one offer of accommodation.

Pay your advance rent payment

You will need to pay a 4-week advance rent payment within 7 days of accepting your accommodation offer.

You must accept your offer of accommodation online before paying the advance rent payment. Simply paying the advance rent payment does not secure your offer.

You can pay your advance rent payment online. If you can’t pay online, you can contact the Student Service Centre.

If we don’t receive your advance rent payment within 7 days of sending you your offer, then your offer will be invalid and may be cancelled.

When you arrive

All contracts start on Saturday 5 September 2020. Please see the key collection page from August onwards for more information about where and when to pick up your keys.

Payment options

Once you have enrolled, you will receive an invoice for your accommodation. You can either settle your accommodation fees in full by credit card, cash or debit card or you can set up a payment plan called recurring card. Full details are on our payment pages.

This will allow you to split the cost over 8 monthly payments if you have a 40-week contract or 10 payments if you have a 50 week contract. The first payment is a double instalment. You must set up a recurring card plan by 15 October 2020. Read more about paying by instalments.

Cancelling your contract

The accommodation contract is a legally binding contract for the duration of the contract period (either 40 or 50 weeks). When you accept your contract online, you are accepting that you are liable for the rent for the duration of the contract and that you will abide by the terms and conditions. 

If your circumstances change and you no longer want to take up your place at the University, please let us know so that we can cancel your contract, otherwise you may not get your reservation fee back and you may be charged for the rent on the room. Please note:

• If you inform us that you wish to cancel your contract before the date of entry, your advance rent payment will be refunded.
• If you do not inform us that you wish to cancel your contract before the date of entry and you do not arrive, your advance rent payment will not be refunded.
• If you withdraw on or after the start date of the contract, your contract can only be cancelled if there is another student on our waiting list who wishes to take your room. A £75 administration charge will apply.

Insurance

Basic room contents insurance is included with your on campus accommodation.