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Living in Aberdeen

The University provides accommodation for single students; international students are guaranteed a place in a hall of residence. Unfortunately there is currently no accommodation for couples or families, but we can help you to find a place to live.

If you will be coming here unaccompanied:

• You can apply for a place in a postgraduate flat: see www.abdn.ac.uk/accommodation/applying.shtml#pgrad . We strongly recommend that you ask to share with other postgraduate or mature students. You need to complete acceptance of your offer and apply for this accommodation by early summer if possible.
• If you do not wish to live in shared university accommodation, you will need to find your own flat – see below.

If you will be coming here accompanied:

• You will need to find a flat (apartment): use the Aberdeen Solicitors’ Property Centre database or a Letting Agent’s web-site to look for a furnished flat. You need to be here to see the property before you sign a lease; you are advised to use the web to see what is available and then come here to view properties.
• You can email h.m.thomas@abdn.ac.uk to ask if there any suitable properties rented by current postgraduates which are about to be vacated – sometimes churches lease properties to Divinity postgraduates

If you intend to come here to look for suitable accommodation:

• You can arrange a few nights ‘Bed & Breakfast’ for your arrival (about £25 per night single, £35 per night double) and come here to find what you want - have your luggage sent on later. We can send a list of local B & B’s.
• if you have family, you could consider arriving without your spouse and children to find what you want - we can help you to find temporary single accommodation for a few days. Temporary accommodation for a family can be very expensive!
• The Students Association has a small service for Landlords to advertise properties. They cannot advise over the telephone as the properties are all advertised in folders which the student would need to access here on campus at The Hub first floor or on the web at  www.ausa.org.uk   (click on Accommodation).  The office is open between the hours of 9.30 am - 4.30 pm Monday to Friday.

If you wish to look for property to rent, you should not do so several months in advance. Properties available change all the time and you have to pay rent and a deposit to make a contract, so you probably need to look for properties in September. Registered students are exempt from Council Tax - but you cannot register until your programme start date, so you probably should not take a lease too early. If you do, you may have to pay Council Tax for the months preceding the start date.

If you search online, please contact the School if you need advice on the area where you propose to live, with regard to transport, accessibility to campus and shops, schools etc. If you have been offered a place, we can usually find a current postgraduate who is willing to contact you by email to help with advice.

Health care

Students who are studying on full-time courses of any duration in Scotland - and their dependents – are eligible for medical treatment under the National Health Service (NHS). They are advised to register with a NHS medical practice as soon as possible. Charges are made for prescribed medication, dental and optical treatment.

Daily travel

If you do not live on campus, you are advised to consider either living close enough to walk; or use a bicycle; or use the bus services. Car ownership is very expensive: Road Tax, Insurance, M.O.T Testing annually make it expensive before you drive the car anywhere, and our petrol (gasoline) is very expensive. If you need a car because of work commitment or family, you will find that there are several Park and Ride bus services into the city. Only very limited parking is available for students on campus.

Schools

Information on local schools in Aberdeen for dependents of postgraduate students can be found on the Aberdeen City Council website under Education service at www.aberdeencity.gov.uk Your address decides your children’s school, so please consider the area in which you will live with this in mind.

This page was last modified on: Tuesday, 15-May-2007 10:25:34 BST

School of Divinity, History and Philosophy
King's College · University of Aberdeen · Aberdeen AB24 3UB
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