Guarantees
Source: https://www.accom.ed.ac.uk/applying/guarantees/ Parent: https://www.accom.ed.ac.uk/our-accommodation/
Applications for September 2026 entry are now open
Undergraduate Accommodation Guarantee
You are guaranteed an offer of University accommodation if:
- you are a new, single student at the University of Edinburgh; and
- your online accommodation application is received by 31 July in the year of entry to the University; and
- you are UF (Unconditional Firm) on UCAS by 31 August in the year of entry to the University; and
- you reside outside the City of Edinburgh; and
- you are studying at the University of Edinburgh for the whole academic year, starting in September.
Conditional Insurance students:
Those who have another university as their Number 1 choice, should note that their accommodation guarantee is only for shared, catered accommodation. These rooms will have sufficient additional storage and study space suitable for both students. Only if overall demand allows will other options be offered. Conditional Insurance students however must still apply for accommodation in the normal way.
Postgraduate Accommodation Guarantee
You are guaranteed an offer of University accommodation if:
- you are a new, single postgraduate research (typically PhD) student; or
- you are a new, single postgraduate taught (PGT) student, from outside the UK.
In all such cases, the guarantee applies as long as:
- your online accommodation application is received by 31 July; and
- you have accepted, by 31 July an unconditional firm (UF) offer to study at the University; and
- you will be studying in Edinburgh for the whole of the academic year starting in September.
While the University can only guarantee accommodation to students who meet the conditions and deadlines outlined above, we understand that some postgraduate applicants may apply later in the cycle. If you’re a new postgraduate student and don’t meet the guarantee criteria, please don’t worry — you are still highly likely to be offered a room, especially if you apply as soon as possible after receiving your offer. We allocate rooms throughout the summer based on availability, and in recent years we have successfully accommodated the vast majority of non-guaranteed postgraduate applicants.
Visiting Students Accommodation Guarantee
International (non-UK or non-EU) Visiting Undergraduates are guaranteed an offer of University accommodation if:
- you are a new, single International Visiting Undergraduate (whether studying for one semester only or a full academic year starting in September) and
- your online accommodation application is received by 31 July or 30 November for Semester 2 applicants; and
- you are UF on UCAS by 31 August in the year of entry to the University or, by the same date, you have accepted in writing an unconditional offer to study at the University
UK and EU Visiting Undergraduates are guaranteed an offer of University accommodation if:
- You are a new, single Undergraduate Visiting Student; and
- your online accommodation application is received by 31 July or 30 November for Semester 2 applicants; and
- you are UF on UCAS by 31 August in the year of entry to the University or, by the same date, you have accepted in writing an unconditional offer to study at the University; and
- you are studying at the University for the whole academic year starting in September
For all applicants, and given reasons of demand versus the available supply of accommodation, we cannot guarantee to provide you with precisely the type of accommodation you might prefer. But, given the great range of accommodation that we do have, we will always do our best to offer you something which most closely matches the preferences you express when applying