Benefit from guaranteed University accommodation

First-year undergraduate students 

The University of St Andrews guarantees accommodation to all UK, EU and overseas first-year undergraduate students when they: 

• are coming to the University alone 
• are studying for the full academic year 
• are studying full time 
• applied for accommodation on or before 30 June in their year of entry 
• have met all the offer conditions and accepted an unconditional offer from the University or UCAS by 31 August in their year of entry 
• have accepted an offer of accommodation within seven days of the offer being sent to their email address

In years of very high demand, students who live within a reasonable commuting distance of the University will not be offered accommodation until a room becomes available. This may be after the start of the semester. 

The University also guarantees accommodation to the following students, provided they apply within the required timescales:

Care-experienced and estranged students

Guaranteed accommodation for the duration of their course.

Where care-experienced and estranged students apply for accommodation which does not include the vacation periods (Christmas and Summer) they should apply for vacation accommodation and will be guaranteed a place. It is unlikely that students will be able to stay in the same room for the duration of their course. 

Sanctuary students

Guaranteed accommodation for the duration of their course.

BA International Honours students

Guaranteed accommodation for the 2 years they are based in St Andrews.

Supported pathway programmes

Guaranteed term-time University accommodation only, for the full duration of their studies, provided they are living in University accommodation when they apply.

Accommodation does not include vacation periods or family accommodation. Programmes include:

• Gateway to Arts
• Gateway to Science
• Gateway to Medicine
• FE-HE Pathway to Arts
• FE-HE Pathway to Science

Postgraduate students

The University of St Andrews offers accommodation specifically for postgraduate students. This includes catered and self-catered accommodation in halls of residence as well as rooms in shared apartments or houses in St Andrews, Fife and Dundee.

The majority of the accommodation is available for single occupancy only. Where family accommodation is available it is not included in any of the accommodation guarantees.  

A significant number of our postgraduate students stay in private accommodation.

Overseas postgraduate taught students 

Accommodation is guaranteed for postgraduate taught students with an overseas fee status. To be eligible for the guarantee you must:

• accept your offer to study at the University
• pay any deposit required
• apply for accommodation by 31 May 2025
• have an overseas fee status
• be coming to the University alone
• be studying full time
• accept your accommodation offer within 7 days of receipt
• have met all the offer conditions and accepted your unconditional offer by 31 July 2025

The guarantee may include accommodation in St Andrews, Leuchars and Dundee. 

Your accommodation contract may be terminated if you haven't met your offer conditions by 31 July 2025. Please email admissions@st-andrews.ac.uk if you think you won't meet your conditions in time.

Home postgraduate taught and research students

While postgraduate taught and research students with a home fee status are not guaranteed accommodation, the University expects to be able to offer accommodation to many of them.

After receiving your accommodation application, we will contact you every month to update you on the current accommodation availability and give you advice on securing private accommodation.

A significant number of University postgraduate students live in private accommodation.

Global Merit Award 

Students also have guaranteed accommodation when they:

• have received and accepted the University's Global Merit Award
• have accepted their University offer within the timescales stated in their offer letter
• are coming to the University alone

After accepting your University offer, you will be sent an offer of accommodation and will have 7 days to accept or decline the offer.

Your accommodation contract may be terminated if you haven't met your offer conditions by 31 July 2025.

Some other scholarships include an accommodation guarantee. See the scholarships webpage for full details and conditions.

International Foundation students 

University accommodation is guaranteed for International Foundation students who: 

• are coming to the University alone 
• are studying an International Foundation programme full time  
• have applied by their accommodation deadline: 
  • 30 June for students starting in September 
  • 30 November for students starting in January 

Summer school students 

University accommodation is guaranteed for students who are coming to the University alone and are studying full time on the following summer schools: 

• Summer Academic Experience 
• St Andrews Summer Study. 

Summer school students do not have to apply for University accommodation. University staff arrange this for them.