Accommodation offers explained

Updated on: 28 January 2026

Understand how and when the University makes accommodation offers.

You can apply for accommodation as soon as you have accepted an offer of study, whether St Andrews is your first or insurance choice university.

When you submit an accommodation application, the University will work on allocating accommodation to you as soon as possible, based on various factors, including the options you chose when you applied.

Undergraduate accommodation offers

The University will only send an offer of accommodation once your offer to study is unconditional firm, and you have completed all additional steps in MySaint. After your status has been confirmed, it can take up to four weeks to receive an offer of accommodation.

Your offer will arrive by email 

The University sends offers of accommodation to new undergraduate students, in email batches, from the beginning of May until late August. 

Remember to activate your University computer account

During the spring and summer, you will receive instructions to activate your University computer account and University email address. After activating your University account, all information about your accommodation offer will be sent to your University email address. You should check your University email at least once a week during the summer.

Please do not worry if your offer is conditional on exam results or if we are your insurance choice university. Provided you have applied before the guarantee deadline and you meet the criteria, you will be offered accommodation after your offer of study is confirmed.

Undergraduate accommodation allocation

Undergraduate accommodation is not offered on a first come, first served basis. Instead, the University uses a ballot system to help guide allocations. This ensures that all applicants have the same chance of receiving their top preferences regardless of when their offer of study is confirmed. Using a ballot system means that the University cannot offer everyone their first choice, but most applicants receive one of their top two preferences.

You should consider your order of preferences carefully, as these will guide the University on the type of accommodation that will be offered to you.

Although the University can’t guarantee to meet all your preferences, it will always make you the best available offer, based on:

  • your preferred room types
  • your preference for self-catered or catered options
  • whether you are happy to share a bedroom
  • your medical or dietary requirements
  • your preference for a single-sex, alcohol-free, or quiet preferred area
  • your age

If the University can't offer you one of your top preferences, the information you provided in your accommodation application will be used as a guide. The University will examine your preferences in the order you chose them and will use all the factors above to decide on the best fit for you. Sometimes an option that was not your first choice may be a better match.  

To better understand your offer of accommodation, you should read the accommodation options guide.

Postgraduate accommodation offers

The University will only send an offer of accommodation after your offer to study is unconditional firm, and you have completed all additional steps in MySaint, including any necessary tuition fee deposit payments.

As long as you meet the criteria and apply within the guarantee deadline, you will be guaranteed one offer of accommodation.

If you do not meet the guarantee criteria, you can still apply. The University will contact you once a month with updates about available options and assistance.

Postgraduate accommodation allocation

Accommodation is allocated based on the date your offer to study becomes fully unconditional – not the date you applied for accommodation.  

Some postgraduate accommodation buildings only have up to 20 rooms. This means we cannot always offer one of your top choices. If your top preferences are fully allocated, the University will use all of the information you provided in your accommodation application to find you the best available accommodation. 

The University will always allocate you the best available room, based on:

  • your preferred room types 
  • your preference for self-catered or catered options
  • any medical or dietary requirements
  • your preference for a single-gender, alcohol-free, or quiet preferred area
  • your age

As many postgraduate accommodation options are in small buildings, postgraduate accommodation is allocated on a first come, first served basis. To decide which is the best fit for you, the University will:

  • use the information you provided in your accommodation application as a guide
  • examine your preferences
  • consider all the factors listed above 

Sometimes, an option that was not your first choice may be a better match based on allocations that have already been made.

To better understand your offer of accommodation, you should read the accommodation options guide.