Finding accommodation is a crucial and somewhat intimidating step in the journey to attending university. My accommodation goals fluctuated a bit as I figured out if my partner was able to move to Glasgow with me or not. I was lucky to have the luxury of fluctuating as I had an accommodation guarantee through the university as an international student. Your accomomdation journey will look different from mine if you are an undergraduate student, are not an international student, or if you seek a private let. Regardless, the accommodation website contains helpful information and the accommodation team is very supportive if you need to reach out.

I started looking into accommodation options shortly after I accepted my offer of admission and paid my deposit in February 2024. I reached out to the accommodation team via email to discuss options for family accommodation as well as available options under my accommodation guarantee. I also registered my interest on the accommodation webpage to be notified when accommodation applications opened.

Accommodation applications opened in late February 2024. In early March 2024, when I confirmed that I would be pursuing my accommodation guarantee and not family accommodation, I began looking into options available for postgraduate students. When submitting my accommodation application, I was able to rank my top five choices. I prioritized proximity to the university, cost, and length of contract when ranking my preferences in accommodation. I really wanted an accommodation contract that covered the entire duration of my programme so I didn't have to try and extend the contract or move. I submitted my accommodation application in late March 2024 and received an accommodation offer about a week later.

I received an accommodation offer for my first choice residence - Kelvinhaugh Street. Kelvinhaugh Street is a 15-20 minute walk from the main campus and houses postgraduate students. As an added bonus, the walk from to the main campus takes me through Kelvingrove Park and is right next to the Kelvingrove Museum. My flat has five bedrooms and a shared kitchen, shower room, and toilet. The contract I was offered was from September 2024 - September 2025, which was exactly what I had hoped for. Despite not knowing what flat I was allocated or who my flatmates were prior to moving in, I lucked out by not having too many stairs and four lovely flatmates.

I reviewed the contract and accepted my offer in late March 2024. My accommodation journey was then on hold until my move-in date in September 2024. I arrived in Glasgow the day before my accomodation contract began and stayed with my partner in a hotel that night. I was able up to pikc up my key and fob from the Cairncross reception the next day. Once I received my key and fob, I located my flat and began moving in my things. I also met two of my four flatmates that day. My other two flatmates moved in over the next week.

After dropping my things off in my new room, I headed out to TK Maxx and Primark to find some household items. I only travelled with school supplies and clothes, so I needed to find kitchen items, bedding, and towels desparately. It took me the weekend to get my suitcases unpacked and figure out what else I needed. The flat did include some basic household items such as a vaccum, mop, and ironing broad. Laundry facilities are in a nearbly building with 24-hour access via key. It took a little trial and error to figure out the appropriate stores to find specific items. In addition to household items, I also did my first food shop. My flatmates and I share a fridge and freezer and allocated a shelf / drawer for each of us. We also discussed shared-use items like hand soap, dish soap, and toilet paper and found a system that worked for us. Communication upfront regarding allocating space and use of communal items was incredibly helpful.

I have lived at Kelvinhaugh Street residences for a little over six months now and it has been smooth sailining. My block even has a WhatsApp group and is very helpful in coordinating package deliveries. There is no doubt that my accommodation process was exponentially aided by the fact that I had an accommodation guarantee as an international postgraduate student. If you are looking to live in student accommodation dueing your programme, I recommend:

  • Registering your interest to be notified when applications open
  • Confirming your eligibility for an accommodation guarantee
  • Reflecting on what your priorities are in reviewing and ranking your preferences

I hope this has provided helpful insight into what the accommodation process could look like. Good luck, and remember there are numerous resources on the accommodation webpage and you can always reach out to the accommodation team!

First published: 28 April 2025

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