Accommodation

I live two hours away from College

Askham Bryan College provides residential accommodation for students attending the York campus. The accommodation is intended to ease the travel burden on students whose home address is beyond a reasonable daily commute from the College. By this, we mean that your home address is usually at least one hour away from College by public or College transport.

I want to live in accommodation but can’t afford to pay the fees

The College seeks to make accommodation available to a broad range of students and financial support may be available through means-tested bursaries and various scholarships. Information on financial assistance is available on the College website or through Student Services.

When can I apply for accommodation?

A provisional booking for accommodation may be made once you have received a conditional offer of a place on a course of study at College.

How do I apply?

You can apply via the College website from the Spring of the year of your application. After application a security deposit of £300 must be paid.

Do I need to pay anything else?

Your accommodation fee will be split into nine equal instalments; the first instalment will be due on or before 18 August 2023, keys will not be released unless payment has been made. The remaining eight instalments can then be paid by recurring card payments from October to May.

We ask that students pay a refundable Security Deposit of £300 in addition to the accommodation fee. If you choose not to move into accommodation this bond is fully refundable. The College shall hold the security deposit as security against dilapidations, breakages and unpaid fees for which the student is liable under their accommodation agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, the Security Deposit is not a Holding Deposit as defined by section 3, Schedule 1 of the Tenant Fees Act 2019. If there are no unpaid fees the full amount will be refunded to you at the end of your time in accommodation.

What happens if I don’t pay the bond and pre-payment?

Payment of the security deposit and the first instalment must be made in full before you can be given access to a room.

Room bookings are for term time only. The accommodation contract clearly states that you will not have access to your room during holiday periods.

What happens if I need to be in College during the holidays?

Higher Education students are able to stay in their room over the half term breaks as their contract covers these weeks. The only time as a Higher education you will be asked to leave your accommodation will be over the Christmas break. You do not need to remove your belongings.

Can I request a specific room?

The College is unable to accept requests for specific rooms. You can express a preference for a type of room and we will endeavour to meet your preference but rooms will be allocated on a first come first served basis.

Accommodation is allocated on a first come, first served basis, however if accommodation becomes full, priority will be given to students whose home address is most distant from the College.

If I have a room in the first year does this mean I am guaranteed one for every year I am at College?

No student can be guaranteed accommodation for the duration of their course. You must re-apply for accommodation every year but providing your bond has not been used to pay any unpaid fees, it can be transferred from one year to the next.

I have applied for a course, why do I need to apply again for accommodation?

The process of application for accommodation is separate from the application for a course; therefore an offer of a place on a course does not guarantee a place in accommodation. You need to apply separately for accommodation.

What happens if I break the rules at College?

Accommodation or the offer of accommodation may be withdrawn with immediate effect should you fail to comply with the student code of conduct and / or residential rules.

Can I stay in accommodation after my course has finished?

No, accommodation is only available to students enrolled on a course at the College.

No, residence in College accommodation is conditional on you meeting certain criteria.

• If you are under 18 on 18 August 2024 you must provide details of a responsible adult (normally your parent or guardian) who is contactable at all times when you are resident at the College. This adult must agree to be available at all times to remove (within four hours) you from site should you be ill, be found to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol or be in breach of any elements of the student code of conduct or residential rules. This adult agrees to be contacted at any time and you give authority for the College to contact this adult.
• You will not be offered accommodation if you are considered to pose a risk to the College community.
• You will not be offered accommodation if you have been previously excluded from any educational institution for behavioural or criminal reasons OR been placed in specialist behaviour management units (e.g. a Pupil Referral Unit) within the last three years.
• You must have the ability to live independently including the ability to self-manage and the capability to comply with the student code of conduct and residential rules.
• If you are a returning student and have a history of poor behaviour at College resulting in a stage 3 or stage 4 disciplinary during the last three years, your application will be referred to the Admissions Panel and you are unlikely to be granted accommodation. If permitted accommodation you will be placed on a behaviour contract.
• You must be able to demonstrate an ability to fund your accommodation.
• You must complete an online application and pay the required deposit and pre-payment.
• You must have no outstanding debts with the College.
• There must be acceptable arrangements for the payment for accommodation in place with the College Finance Department prior to the start of the academic year.
• You are required to complete a medical declaration before moving into accommodation and to disclose any information of a sensitive nature. The College will request that you vacate accommodation if the declaration is incorrect or if your safety or that of others may be at risk.

If you have a criminal record you may be refused accommodation:

• If you have minor offences you may be permitted accommodation at the College but in all cases a student with a criminal record will be referred to the Admissions Panel.
• If you have previously been convicted of any unspent criminal offence leading to a custodial sentence you will be strictly prohibited from accommodation.
• If you have an unspent offence relating to any of the following you will not be permitted accommodation at the college: Physical violence, stalking / harassment, offences leading to being placed on the sex offenders register, and supply or conspiracy to supply or trafficking of drugs.

What happens if I can’t pay for my accommodation?

If you are struggling to pay then speak to Student Support Services and Finance as soon as possible.

What happens if I stop paying for my accommodation?

If you default on payments or fail to comply with any arrangements made for paying your accommodation fees, we may bar access to your accommodation until either payment is received in full, or an acceptable alternative payment schedule is agreed with the Finance department.

What happens if I damage College property?

Any damage caused will be charged to the individual responsible, or group of individuals in the case of communal areas. The College can use the security deposit you have paid to cover any unpaid debts that exist at the end of the academic year.

What if I want to move room?

If you wish to move room you must first discuss this with the Head of Accommodation who will consult with the Residential Support Manager and a decision will be made at their discretion. If the new room costs more, a revised invoice will be raised and the extra amount of money due will be requested to be added to any existing payment agreement. If the new room costs less, a credit for the difference will be paid back to you.

Who can come in my room?

Accommodation staff may enter your room to carry out inspections for damage, repairs and general cleanliness. Student Services staff responsible for residential accommodation may enter your room if they have reasonable cause for concern. Student Services staff responsible for residential accommodation and any other staff are, with the express permission of the Principal, permitted to carry out a search of your room if they have reasonable suspicion that stolen property, illegal substances or materials are being stored or consumed contrary to the law or College procedures.

Other designated College staff are permitted to undertake routine checks of students’ rooms for the purpose of monitoring damage and any necessary repairs as well as general hygiene.

Cleaners will enter your room on a daily basis to empty your bin and once a week to clean your room.

Can I have visitors stay in my room?

You MUST seek permission from the Residential Support Manager before anyone visits your room.

If my contract is for catered accommodation and I don’t spend all the money I have been allocated can I claim it back?

If you have signed a contract which includes catering and you do not use the full allowance allocated to you, no refund will be paid back for meals you do not take.

I have chosen to live in a self-catered room, can I still use the Dining Room?

Yes, of course you can.

What catering is provided?

The College will provide such catering provision as required to meet the minimum standards required by the Social Care Common Inspection Framework. During term time breakfast, lunch and dinner is served Monday to Friday and Brunch at the weekends. Opening times are advertised on site.

Over 18 Accommodation – It is the responsibility of the student to keep their own room clean and tidy throughout the term. The communal areas, including stairs, kitchens and bathrooms, will be cleaned cleaned daily by the cleaning team.

Loo roll is provided in all bathrooms including the en-suites. Students are responsible for their own washing up and cleaners will not clean a room if it is too untidy to do so. There are laundry facilities on site which all students have access to.

Those students bringing cars, motorbikes or mopeds on campus may do so free of charge but will need to register their vehicle with the College to receive a parking permit. Cars which do not display a permit cannot park on site. There is a car park on campus available for residential students to use. You can apply for a permit here.

Everyone with a vehicle on site is required to comply with the car parking and safe driving regulations. Any student found to be breaching these regulations will be informed that they can no longer bring their car on campus.

If you have any further queries please contact our Accommodation Office on 01904 772246 or by email.

Remember, if you bring a TV you will need a TV Licence which you can apply for once your hall name and number has been confirmed to you at the start of the year.

There is a strict no smoking or vaping policy at College buildings. Students must not smoke or vape in College buildings and must use the designated smoking areas within the College grounds.

There are two launderettes on campus with self-service commercial washing machines and dryers for use by the students.

Pillows, duvets, bed linen, towels, crockery, cutlery and pans are not provided in student accommodation. The student needs to bring these items with them and provide their own bedding which must meet fire retardant standards (most modern duvets and pillows will meet these standards, please check the care label for this information).