Generally students who are new to the University live in halls in the first year for their degree and then live in the private sector in their second and subsequent years. For some students this arrangement is not suitable, students who have a disability may need to be in accommodation that has been specially adapted, or students with health conditions may need to be near campus so they are not walking far each day. If this is the case with your son or daughter you may like to encourage them to discuss their needs with the Accommodation Office and Disability Services.
University accommodation at York is managed by the Accommodation Office and they have their own web site that you may like to look at. This page will offer you some general information, what you as a parent can do to help your son or daughter to settle into their new accommodation; and help them in their first year at university.
Students who are coming to York are contacted by Addmissions and Schools Liason Office: your son or daughter will be asked if they want to apply for accommodation on campus, York has a wide variety of accommodation and they should return the forms even if they are not proposing to live on campus. The University will only be able to make one offer of accommodation and your son or daughter will have to sign a contract for the accommodation for the academic year .There are University pages specially aimed at giving students the information they need when they are coming to university and you might like to prompt your son or daughterto look at them.
The Accommodation Office gives information on exactly what is available, generally rooms are en suite with shared kitchen facilities, and have internet access which is something more and more students are finding essential.
To help your son or daughter in making choices later on encourage them to find out exactly what is available and if possible visit the different types of accommodation .
You can get information on what the accommodation provides from the Accommodation Office: Students will need cutlery,crockery and cooking utensils; the study bedrooms have a bed, desk and chair and storage space. Anything your son or daughter does not need or cannot afford to lose should be left at home.We do appreciate that your son or daughter will be new to this and the staff who administer the systems for registration and accommodation are very experienced, the process will run smoothly if students follow the instructions they are sent.
Generally students can't choose who they live with in the first year: for some students this can be a steep lesson in tolerating differences and learning to give and take; also, your son or daughter will need to think carefully what they bring to university that may be left in a kitchen shared with other students who may not be careful with other people's property.
Petty things can grow into huge issues when a small group is living together: for instance, when someone uses all the milk and doesn't replace it, or doesn't do their share of the washing up they will soon become unpopular. If you can remind your son or daughter that they are joining a community of equals where everyone should expect to do everything they will get on well.Also, if they confide in you about problems with another student the best approach is to advise them to come and see a Welfare Adviser or someone from their college welfare team
Students who have been given some responsibility at home will be better quipped to cope in these situations. Some students mature through this process very fast and others not so fast.
Students have easy access to laundry facilities: so it is not necessary to take enough clothes to last the whole term! It is a great help if students have had some experience using washing machines, tumble dryers and possibly an iron, if you have been able to give them some life skills they will find looking after themselves much easier. Also remember they will be going away in September/October and possibly not coming home until December, as the weather changes they will need a range of clothes, and the weather in Aberdeen or London is not the same as that in York.
TV Licence: Students who have a television in their room will need a license there is more information on television licenses on the Student Support Office web pages
Insurance: it is advisable to have the students property insured, it may be covered on your household contents insurance or there are individual companies who offer specific student cover.
Cycles: there are many places around campus where students can lock cycles, it is important that they have a strong lock and always lock the cycle to an unmovable object.
Page last updated July 2008 sm49 Legal statement