How to apply for accommodation after Clearing

Applying for accommodation after Clearing? You need these tips

So, you've made it through Clearing and secured your place at uni. Congrats! Now that you know where you're headed in September, what's next? Great question!

The first thing to do is to sort out where you'll be living when you get there. Don't panic. Even though you've secured your uni spot a little later, you will still have plenty of accommodation options to choose from.

University halls

It's no secret, most first-year students want to dive straight into halls. You've heard so much about the flat parties, the shared kitchens, even the shared bathrooms - and now you want to experience it for yourself.
Luckily, applying for accommodation after Clearing doesn't mean you have to miss out on the halls experience. Most universities keep places in their halls open specifically for Clearing students. The best thing to do is to take a look at the university website as soon as your place is confirmed. Look at both the accommodation pages and the Clearing pages for advice.

Usually, universities will allow you to select your top three choices for housing through their online accommodation portal. Time is of the essence here, as accommodation is typically allocated on a first-come-first-served basis. You'll be asked to add preferences. Do you want a shared bathroom or an ensuite? Do you want to live in catered or self-catered halls? Do you want a shared flat or a studio? The quicker you confirm your preferences, the more chance you have of getting the housing you want. Bear in mind, though, that submitting preferences doesn't guarantee that you'll get what you want, particularly if you're applying for accommodation after Clearing.

If you're really struggling, you can speak to your university housing team who can provide up-to-date advice about what's available or point you in the direction of other options.

Private halls

Private halls are exactly what they sound like - student halls owned by private companies rather than a university. You've probably heard of Unite Students or CRM Students, right? Well, then you've heard of private halls.

If you can't get a place in any your uni halls, private halls offer you the opportunity to live with flatmates in a shared space for the first time and still get the full halls experience. They do tend to be a bit more expensive, but they usually have far more amenities than uni halls.

Private halls tend to be located close to the city centre. Make sure you check where you'll be studying and how far your halls will be from this before you confirm anything.

Shared housing

Living in a privately rented shared house is a very common situation for students at university, although typically most students spend a year in halls first. Living in a shared house can be a lot cheaper than living in halls or private halls, which is a big benefit.
If you decide to opt for shared housing in your first year, you can join Facebook groups to meet people in the same situation and find housemates. This is a good way to get to know each other before jumping into a house share. Your university housing advisors may also be able to connect you to other students looking to rent privately.

To find private accommodation, you need to search for student housing in areas close to your university. Using a dedicated student rental platform like StuRents.com will help you narrow down your search by browsing thousands of student-exclusive housing opportunities.

But won't my social life be over if I don't live in halls?

Short answer? No. University is packed with chances to meet people and make friends. You can talk to your coursemates, join societies to find people with mutual interests, and get involved in the many Freshers' events over the first few weeks. Not everyone even likes their flatmates, so living in privately rented accommodation shouldn't impact your ability to make friends. And hey, it all worked out ok in Fresh Meat, right?

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