Choosing the Right Accommodation
'Living at John Lester has made my life so much easier. It's close to the shopping centre, short walking distance to campus and has its own gym! Plus all the staff are friendly and throw brilliant events for us to take part in! It's because of this I'm staying here next year!'
Jessica Edmonson
How to choose the right accommodation – your preferences and requirements
Your accommodation and living experience is a crucial part of your University experience and we want you to have the best time possible. The majority of students will stay with us for at least nine months of the year and many students choose to stay with us for the whole time they are studying at University. To make the most of your accommodation experience it is really important for you to make the right choice when you apply.
Undergraduates
The majority of our residents are new and returning undergraduates. Undergraduate accommodation is available at Castle Irwell, Constantine Court, Horlock Court, Bramall Court, John Lester Court, and Eddie Colman Court. All undergraduate contracts are for 42 weeks. All of our new first students are placed with other first years so you will meet lots of friends in the same situation.
Postgraduate Accommodation
Postgraduate accommodation is available at Castle Irwell, John Lester, Eddie Colman and Bramall Courts; contract lengths vary at the different sites, check with the provider for confirmation of this, or check the dates on the offer that is sent to you before you accept the accommodation terms and conditions.
The postgraduate taught courses are 52 weeks long – many students find the 52 week contract is perfectly adequate but some students may require an accommodation extension. This may be an extension for two or three weeks, or it may be that you are taking an academic extension to complete your dissertation and require either a four or six month accommodation extension.
If you apply to Castle Irwell we will guarantee accommodation for the 52 weeks of your course and one academic extension (either 4 or 6 months depending on your course). This guarantee can only be given provided you confirm your requirement for an accommodation extension at least eight weeks before your contract is due to end.
We will try to meet requests for shorter extensions wherever possible but cannot guarantee this.
The extension will be charged at the same rent as your initial contract.
We will contact you for confirmation of your possible extension requirements approximately three months before your contract ends, but it is your responsibility to confirm any extension, in writing, and by the deadline. Unfortunately if you do not let us know that you need to stay in the accommodation by the deadline, we cannot guarantee that this will be possible.
In other accommodation we are unable to guarantee an extension, and so if you think that you may need to stay longer than 52 weeks, please choose Castle Irwell.
Nurses
We place nursing students together as study and work patterns usually involve shifts and longer contracts. Most nursing students require a 52 week contract. There are a small number of courses starting in March – if we have rooms available at that time we will be pleased to offer you accommodation.
Returning Students
There are a limited number of rooms for returning students. You are welcome to apply for accommodation and many students choose to stay with us throughout their time at University.
Group Applications
We can accept group applications at all of the accommodation choices – please submit your applications together and include the names of the other students you wish to share with. All students in a group application must have the same contract period. It would be helpful if you all provide your student ID numbers when applying.
Mature Students
If you are a new student but will be older when you start University and would prefer to live with returning or postgraduate students when you arrive, please indicate this on your online application form.
Erasmus and Exchange Accommodation
The University of Salford works with many international partners and we are delighted to welcome students who are studying or working at the University at different times of the year and often for shorter periods. The houses which are especially for Erasmus and Exchange students are based at Castle Irwell which also has BBQ areas and sports facilities on site.
Our houses at Castle Irwell have eleven bedrooms and you will share bathroom and kitchen facilities with other Erasmus students. Erasmus and Exchange students will be given contracts based on the period of the exchange programme they have accepted. We will do our best to offer short term accommodation to all incoming Erasmus and Exchange students; however rooms are limited so please apply as soon as you receive confirmation of your place at Salford.
University of Salford Students – Applying for International Placements and Exchanges
If there is a possibility of an exchange programme on your course but you will not receive confirmation until later in the academic year (usually second and third semester placements) you can still apply for accommodation at Castle Irwell. Bramall, John Lester and Eddie Colman Courts all offer short term contracts (21 weeks) to accommodate students applying for an exchange programme.
If you have already booked accommodation or are already in residence please do not worry that you will not be able to take part in the Erasmus programme (or other exchange scheme) if an opportunity becomes available later in the academic year. We will need to receive either an email or letter from your tutor confirming that you are taking part and the date it will start. We will then release you from your contract the weekend before the placement starts. Please note this only applies to students in University owned accommodation – Castle Irwell, Constantine and Horlock Court.
Care Leavers
On the accommodation online application form there is a question for students who may have spent time in foster care, semi independent living or residential care homes. If you tick this box we will contact you to discuss whether you may benefit from any further support the University can offer and if you require accommodation on a 52 week basis. Please note; we will treat this information in the strictest confidence.
The Care Leaver Co-ordinator can help you find solutions with finance worries, study skills, welfare issues, careers, part time work, counselling and many other areas. You may not need access to all of the support available to you, or any at all, but we can help you to make the right choices – from application to graduation. To talk to the specialist Care Leaver Support Co-ordinator you can call Student Life on 0161 295 0023 or email the Care Leaver Co-ordinator, Alex Camm at
StudentLife-Careleaver@salford.ac.uk. Alternatively you can visit the web pages for care leaver support at www.advice.salford.ac.uk and click on 'Personal Wellbeing.' We recommend that you arrange an initial meeting with the Care Leaver Co-ordinator even before you have applied to the university and to discuss the best accommodation for you.
The University is proud to hold the Buttle UK Quality Mark and as such we can offer care leavers guaranteed 52 week accommodation for the duration of your degree if required. We can also supply kitchen equipment and bedding for you free of charge if you need it. When you fill in the online accommodation form you will be asked if you are a care leaver. We recommend that you tell us, so we can ensure you can access all support offered. This information is confidential and will be only passed to the Care Leaver Co-ordinator.
Quieter Accommodation
If you are an individual that prefers a more peaceful atmosphere, or someone who is easily distracted by the noise of others, then you may wish to request to be allocated within our designated ‘quieter area’ at the Castle Irwell, Horlock Court, Constantine Court and John Lester residences.
Students living in quieter accommodation are asked to adhere to certain conditions, which are slightly different from those operating at the rest of the accommodation areas, these include:
- Any noise from TVs/computers, or music that is played in bedrooms should be kept to a low level at all times in the day and night (‘low level’ is categorised as being not significantly audible from outside of the bedroom)
- No music systems can be set up or played in the communal dining area
- Residents should not entertain large numbers of guests/visitors at any one time.
Whilst we cannot guarantee noise will always be kept to a minimum, it is the intention that the ‘Quieter Area’ will be an opportunity for us to place like minded people together, and try to create a more harmonious living environment for our residents.
The success of this option is dependent upon the consideration and co-operation of other residents.
Adapted Accommodation
Accommodation adapted for wheelchair users is available at Constantine Court, John Lester Court and Eddie Colman Court.
Accommodation with a fully DDA compliant kitchen is available at Constantine Court. This kitchen includes adjustable cupboards, sink and worktops plus fridges and freezers which are can be easily accessed by wheelchair users.
Deaf Alerter provision is available at all accommodation choices. Please advise us of your requirements on your application and we can advise you of the most suitable accommodation.
On the accommodation application form there is a detailed section for you to tell us about your requirements – a member of our team will contact you to discuss the most suitable accommodation. We also work closely with Student Life’s Disability and Learner Support Service to ensure our residents have access to other support available. Other reasonable adjustments or extra provision can be made as long as we know what you need. If you would like to speak to a member of our Disability Service Team to find out more about the support available please telephone +44 (0) 161 295 0023.
Other considerations :
Some of the things you also need to consider before you apply are :
En suite - is this essential ? Ensuite is the most expensive accommodation – you could save money by choosing standard accommodation.
Contract length – how long is your course ? Make sure you choose the right contract as you will have to pay your rent for the full accommodation period.
Making friends – do you want to meet lots of friends and live in a large group or would you prefer a smaller group while you find your feet in your first year?
Quieter accommodation
In our Undergraduate accommodation the majority of our residents are 18 or 19 years old and living independently for the first time. Residences can be noisy and exciting and we know this doesn’t suit everyone. Students looking for a quieter lifestyle and environment can apply for quiet accommodation - available at Horlock Court, Constantine Court, Castle Irwell and John Lester Court.
Bringing a car – If you want to use the University car parks there is a daily charge so think carefully about whether you need to bring your car with you. Remember there is free bus available Monday to Friday and this stops at all the accommodation choices.
Budget – can you afford it ? Before you apply look carefully at our fees table so you understand your commitment. Our rents are some of the cheapest in the country but it is important to look at your budget first.
Local students are very welcome to apply for accommodation. We ask students who could commute to ensure they are fully committed to living with us for the full year before making an application. By accepting a contract you are committing to paying the full rent for the whole contract period.
Single Sex Accommodation
All of our accommodation is offered on a mixed sex basis. If you would prefer single sex accommodation please indicate this on your application form, we will try our very best to allocate you to this type of accommodation providing there are rooms available. However this may not be possible for late entrants if we have allocated all of the rooms. If you are offered mixed sex accommodation and would like to change this please email accommodation@salford.ac.uk.
Catering
All of our accommodation is offered on a self catering basis and a microwave, electric oven, fridge and freezer are provided in all of the accommodation choices. There are lots of places to eat on campus or local cafes/sandwich shops close to all of the accommodation choices.
Resident Life Support Officers
Resident Life Support Officers provide additional support at Castle Irwell, Horlock and Constantine Courts. They provide a warm welcome to all new residents through a range of welcome and induction programmes to help students settle into their accommodation. Sometimes problems, large or small, arising during the first few weeks of a new term can easily be blown out of proportion. New students can feel overwhelmed by the many new experiences they have to deal with. This can particularly be the case for international students. The Resident Life Support Officers play a vital role during out of hours when they will provide support if you have worries or problems. They will arrange and promote social activities and encourage all students to live together, thus promoting a harmonious living environment. Resident Life Support Officers work out of office hours during the evenings and weekends on a rota basis.
The v plus team at John Lester, Eddie Colman and Bramall Court
The v plus team, together with the accommodation team and Student Life, will assist you in many ways, from greeting you and making you feel welcome, to planning social events and activities throughout the year. Being part of the v plus team means making a difference, working with an exciting and energetic group of people.
No matter what your interests there's always something to do and plenty of ways to meet new people. To make the most of all the events that the village has to offer become a member of v plus, our exclusive membership package and take part in these activities either for free or with huge discounts!
Smoking
All accommodation is non smoking and smoking is not allowed in any part of the accommodation.
Choice of room sizes
We offer students choosing Bramall the opportunity to choose a standard, large or extra large room. This can be beneficial if you are bringing lots of possessions with you or if you are studying on a course and have a lot of materials and equipment.
Useful Information
- Standard accommodation provides shared bathroom facilities (showers, toilets and washbasins).
- Ensuite accommodation provides a toilet, washbasin and shower facility within a study bedroom.
- All bedrooms are for single occupancy with the exception of couple and family accommodation
- All accommodation (with the exception of couple and family accommodation) has a kitchen and dining facilities which students will share
- All kitchens have microwave, electric oven and grill, fridge, freezer, table and chairs or breakfast bar and stools
- All accommodation locations have laundry facilities (washing and drying machines) and outside drying facilities are available at some locations
- All locations have a reception service, maintenance and security support
- All accommodation is allocated as mixed sex unless you request single sex accommodation on your application.