A to Z guide to accommodation

In order to protect the University’s buildings and respect the living environment of others, we would request that any ball games are played away from buildings. There are some great areas around the Loch or why not get a team together and book a pitch at the sports centre?

There are several designated barbeque sites around the on-campus residences, and you are welcome to make use of these. Use of barbeques is not allowed outside these sites.

You need to bring your own bed linen such as sheets, duvet covers, and pillowcases with you.

There are standard bike racks located near the residences, please make sure you have a means of securing your bike with a reputable bike lock. The University is not responsible for the safety or security of bicycles parked on campus. Bicycles are not permitted to be stored within buildings and must be taken home at the end of your contract period including over summer if you vacate your accommodation.

There are a limited number of secure individual bike sheds for student cycles located on campus. These are available on a first come first served basis and a £20 deposit is required upon handover of the keys. For details, contact estates by emailing safetyandenvironment@stir.ac.uk and requesting a lockable bike box.

The University believes that all students, regardless of their background and personal circumstances, should be treated with dignity, respect and fairness. See the Respect at work and study policy. If you have concerns about bullying and harassment please make contact with a member of staff.

The University of Stirling is served by excellent bus links from Stirling city centre. At peak times approximately 19 buses per hour run from Stirling to the main University campus. You can catch a bus at the bus stops located at the Cottrell building or at the main entrance. For details about buses, transport apps for your mobile phone, and other public transport – including free passes available to some students please see the relevant section of the website. More details about travelling to and from the campus. 

All portable electrical equipment that you bring with you (i.e. stereos, phone chargers, hairdryers etc.) must be Portable Appliance Tested (PAT) – ask staff at your residence about details on how to arrange a test. Test your items within 1 week of arriving at your accommodation and report this using our online form: Safety of student electrical equipment. Copies of testing certificates should be handed to the Operations Assistants in your allocated residence during your first week after arrival. Items less than one year old do not need to be tested but you may be asked to prove the date of purchase if concerns over the safety of an item are raised.

If you are coming from outside the UK you should ensure all electrical equipment is compatible with the British national standard of 240V. Where possible do not use extension leads with electrical items as these can become a fire hazard when overloaded.

See specific information about E-cigarette fire safety.

In all University properties, the costs of reasonable usage of heating, lighting and electricity are included in the rent. Heating is controlled via a centralised system and you should not, therefore, expect unlimited heating.

If we want to communicate with you this will always be done through your University email account, so please remember to check this on a regular basis.

Off-campus

In an emergency where an Ambulance, Police or Fire are required you should call 999 for emergency services.

On campus

In an emergency where an Ambulance is required, you should call 999 and then alert Security by calling x 7999 from an internal phone or 01786 467003 / 01786 467999 from a mobile phone.

In an emergency where Police, Fire or Security are required, you should call University Security on 7999 an internal phone or 01786 467003 / 01786 467999 from a mobile phone.

As soon as you can after contacting emergency services also inform your nearest Operations Assistant of your emergency so they can assist. There are a number of reception desks staffed 24 hours a day.

There is a taxi service which is available only to resident students for non-emergency situations which do not require an ambulance, but which may require hospital attention. This service can be accessed through the Operations Assistants. If you don’t have the money to pay for this service you will be recharged at a later date via a University invoice.

The University also operates a Safe Taxi Scheme which is designed to support students who find themselves in difficulty and who need to get home safely.

The University’s Campus Security Team operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Contact us by calling our emergency or non-emergency numbers:

Emergency: 01786 467999
Non-Emergency: 01786 467003

Your Occupancy Agreement outlines the date on which you must vacate your accommodation. In most cases, it is not possible to extend your occupancy agreement to cover a longer period. Any requests must be submitted to Accommodation Services in writing to accommodation@stir.ac.uk. Extensions may be granted to Postgraduate Students to allow them to complete coursework which extends beyond their Occupancy Agreement. We may also be able to accommodate students staying over the summer who are returning to us for another year. Any extended stay with us must be paid in full.

We cannot extend your stay in our accommodation to attend graduation ceremonies, to accommodate you after you are a registered student, or while you seek work, or onward accommodation.

Where we can offer you an extended stay, we cannot guarantee this will be in the same room.

See Repairs and Maintenence

One of the first things you should do once you have moved into your residence is familiarise yourself with the locations of the fire exits, the fire alarm call points (also known as break glass panels) and the fire extinguishers and fire blankets. You should also take time to read the Fire Action Notice, found in your bedroom and watch this fire safety induction video.

If you hear the fire alarm (it is unmistakable – the noise is deafening) you should immediately make your way to the nearest fire exit and leave the building. Following the green fire exit signs and fire notices posted around your residence will lead you to the nearest exit. For the safety of yourself and others, please do not carry any breakable items such as glasses or bottles, as this can be hazardous if broken underfoot.

You will not be able to return to your room until the alarm has stopped and the Fire Brigade and/or University staff have indicated that it is safe to do so.

Fire alarm tests are done on a regular basis and you should check with your Operations Assistant for the details for your residence.

Please remember, no matter how many times there is a ‘false alarm’, we ask that you treat every alarm as the real thing. Failure to observe the fire regulations can also result in disciplinary action being taken against you in line with the Code of Student Discipline.

Fire evacuation

Preservation of life is the primary consideration when the fire alarm is activated and there could be a fire.

This should be remembered at all times and in all circumstances.

Only tackle a fire with handheld extinguishers if you feel confident to do so and you must ensure that you have an adequate means of escape. Never put yourself in any danger.

Action on discovering a fire

• Activate the fire alarm system by operating the nearest call point or dialling 999.
• Only tackle a fire with handheld extinguishers if you feel confident to do so, you must ensure you have an adequate means of escape. Do not take risks, if the fire begins to get out of hand, leave it to the Fire Service.
• Leave the building by the nearest safe exit – do not stop to collect personal belongings or re-enter the building.
• Close any door you pass through to contain the spread of fire.
• Do not use lifts.
• Make your way to the nearest assembly point and await further instruction.
• Do not re-enter the building until you are instructed that it is safe to do so. This instruction will come from the Fire Service or a member of the University Security team (main buildings) or Accommodation Operations Assistant (University residences).

Avoiding false alarms

Common reasons for false alarms:

• Leaving the cooker unattended and your dinner getting burnt
• Leaving shower doors open and steam escaping to a detector
• Using aerosols underneath detectors
• Using kettles and self-heating food pots in rooms (the steam will set off the alarm and mean that everyone has to evacuate the building, these items should only be used in your kitchen)
• Smoking in the flat – it is a serious disciplinary matter if you or any of your guests are caught smoking
• Leaving kitchen doors open – the kitchen doors are fire doors and should never be left open

Never tamper with any fire safety equipment as this endangers others in the building and will lead to disciplinary action.

Some do's and don'ts of fire safety

Do:

1. Report immediately any faults with fire safety equipment
2. Make sure grill pans do not have a build-up of fat in the tray
3. Open windows when you are cooking and keep kitchen doors shut
4. Get your own electrical equipment tested (PAT tests)
5. Exit the building whenever you hear the fire alarm
6. Use a bar adapter and for international students, an appropriate international adapter
7. Recycle flammable items promptly e.g. papers, cardboard, bottles
8. Ensure fire exits and corridors are kept clear at all times
9. Keep any electrical cupboards clear – they are not to be used for storage

Don't: 

1. Tamper with fire safety equipment – it’s illegal and also a breach of your Occupancy Agreement
2. Don’t cover up smoke / heat or sprinkler devices
3. Smoke anywhere inside the residences
4. Leave cooking food unattended
5. Prop, wedge open or obstruct fire doors
6. Burn candles, incense or joss sticks or use any other flammable items e.g. paraffin lamps
7. Use fairy lights or other similar decorative lighting
8. Hang flammable materials (e.g. curtains, wall hangings) near heat / light sources
9. Ignore the fire alarm
10. Open fire doors to allow access to others – they are alarmed
11. Use cooking equipment (i.e. toasters, kettles, microwaves) in bedrooms
12. Access loft spaces or roofs
13. Use silver foil on cooking appliances to prevent spills or for room decoration
14. Dry clothes on top of the heaters
15. Don’t store your bikes inside of buildings – this may stop someone safely evacuating

The greatest danger from a fire is not the fire itself, but the smoke, which spreads with great speed. To prevent the spread of smoke, fire doors are installed. Please do not wedge these doors open and make sure that you keep all the corridors clear of obstructions.

For fire safety and insurance purposes, the following items are not allowed in or around the area of any University residence. If they are found, they will always be removed by staff and can only be claimed back on departure.

1. Candles and tea lights (lit or unlit)
2. Fireworks
3. Flammable liquids such as petrol or paraffin
4. Incense, joss sticks, oil lamps or aromatherapy oil burners
5. Laser pens
6. Sunbeds
7. Fondue sets or chip pans (either electrical or pans filled with oil)
8. Fairy lights or snake lights
9. Portable heaters

A number of residence staff are first aid trained and should you require help please contact your reception desk. If you are unable to reach a member of the Operations team please call security on 01786 467003. For more information, see Accident/Injury.

If you wish to bring any additional furniture or electrical goods into residences please contact us to request permission prior to arrival.

As a responsible landlord and for the safety of all residents, we need to ensure that any additional furniture complies with legislation – we will check the item to ensure it meets the necessary standards. We would ask that all additional furniture items are removed by you at the end of your occupancy period – a charge will be made if items remain in properties.

Every year we make a guarantee of accommodation for students who meet certain requirements based on their needs, their student type and our policy terms. Find out how we prioritise applications and the guarantees we offer in our Accommodation allocation policy. So that our policy is fair for all students exceptions are not made without approval of senior members of the department.

Heating in your room is controlled by a centralised system in most cases responding to seasonal weather and temperatures. If you have any concerns about the temperature of your room or your heating system speak to your Operations Assistant. Portable heating devices are not permitted within rooms see - Fire Safety.

For guidance around use and reasonable limits see – Electricity.

All University residences are licensed by Stirling Council under their Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMO) regulations. Copies of our licenses can be viewed by contacting Accommodation Services.

An HMO is a property which is the principal residence of 3 or more unrelated persons.

If you are planning to rent in the private sector, and the property falls into the category of an HMO (e.g. a shared flat), then the owner of the property must have a licence issued by the council.

This licence ensures that certain standards have been met – including fire safety. Ask to see a copy of the licence to help keep you and your fellow students safe.

Some general points to look out for:

• There must be a written Fire Risk assessment for the property
• Mains-powered interlinked smoke detection with battery backup must be fitted in all bedrooms, living rooms and circulation spaces.
• Mains powered heat detector with battery backup must be fitted in the kitchen
• All doors except bathrooms and small cupboards must be fire doors with 30-minute fire resistance, be self-closing and be fitted with intumescent strips and smoke seals.
• A fire blanket should be fixed to the wall in the kitchen
• One fire extinguisher per floor level

If you have any questions or concerns in your private accommodation please contact Stirling Fire Station on 01786 472223 and ask for Fire Safety.

To prevent humidity and mould forming in your room it is important to ensure that you keep your room ventilated using windows or other vents in your room where supplied. If you are unsure please ask your Accommodation Operations Assistant for advice. We ensure that adequate heating is supplied to prevent issues forming. We also ask that you do not try wet or damp clothes in your room.

If you are feeling ill and require guidance you can seek trusted health information from the National Health Service in Scotland on NHS Inform. Their information is available in a range of languages on request.

If you feel unwell or have a clinical question about your health, please contact your General Practitioner Doctor (GP) or phone 111. If you are not sure of the appropriate person to call information is available to help.

If you require emergency medical attention for life or limb-threatening emergencies where an Ambulance is required, you should call 999 and then alert Security by calling x 7999 from an internal phone or 01786 467003 / 01786 467999 from a mobile phone. There are a number of reception desks staffed 24 hours a day:

For other emergency guidance. See - Emergency

Meningitis

Meningitis can affect anyone of any age at any time and can strike quickly without warning, so it is important that medical attention is sought urgently. Young people and students can be at particular risk. Find out more about meningitis.

Mental health

Student Support Services offer a range of assistance to help with mental health and wellbeing. Their qualified counsellors and mental health professionals are here for you throughout your time at Stirling. See what support is available out of hours on campus and online. 

Bottling up problems is never helpful. Talk to someone: a friend, family member, a peer or one of the student support teams. You can also contact Counselling and Wellbeing through the Live Chat on the student portal, or you can email ask@stir.ac.uk.

The University of Stirling includes contents insurance for all the students who live with us, by partnering with Howden, the No.1 student insurance provider.

Should something happen to your most important possessions, you'll likely want them replaced - and as soon as possible. Howden can help with this.

Take time to check the Certificate of Insurance and ensure you fully understand the protection provided and whether it is sufficient for your needs. You can confirm your cover by registering with Howden to be able to fully view your cover and make other changes. You may wish to contact them to extend and personalise your cover to protect laptops, phones or other valuables.

See Network connections

When you arrive at your residence, you will receive your keys and an online inventory form for your bedroom in your welcome email from Accommodation Services you will receive when you arrive. Please complete this in your first week. If you are in a flat all residents of the flat will also receive a communal inventory which only needs to be submitted once though all students in the flat are equally responsible for completing this.

It is important that you remember to note any issues / problems, as the inventory is kept as an official record of the condition of the room/property when you moved in. The inventory is compared with the condition of the room/property when you leave and you may be charged for any missing items or damages to make sure the room is in a good condition for the next students to move into. Where an inventory form is not submitted Accommodation Services will assume the room to be in a condition with no missing items or damages.

You will be issued keys to your accommodation on arrival. The keys are your responsibility, and you should let your Operations Assistant know if you think you do not have a full set.

Our residences at Alexander Court (Townhouses), Willow Court and Beech Court have an electronic door entry system that uses cards for access.

The only piece of cooking equipment that is not allowed in any of the residences is a deep fat fryer.

All cooking equipment must be used only in the kitchens.

Our Landlord Registration Number is 98941/390/08560

Communal laundry facilities operated by card can be found at the following residences:

• Willow Court
• Alexander Court
• John Forty’s Court
• Union Street Development
• Spittal Hill.

You can operate these using a debit or credit card, or with Google Pay or Apple Pay on the washer itself. Costs range from £2.60 to £3.00 dependent on the setting selected. Drying costs £1.20.

Where these are card-operated, non-biological liquid detergent and fabric conditioner are provided within the machine and automatically replenished. Non-dispensing machines are available at Willow Court, Union Street, and John Forty’s Court which are £0.20 cheaper per wash. Students are required to add their own detergent.

If you have questions or come across issues with card-operated machines, please contact Washpoint directly. You can use Washpoint web chat, call on 08000 546 546 or email them at service@washco.co.uk. For non-card operated machines see - Repairs and maintenance

Laundry facilities designated for residents of the building are found in:

• Thistle Chambers
• Lyon Crescent
• Alangrange
• Friarscroft.

As these washing machines are not card operated detergent is required but washing fees are included in your rent.

Lifts are provided at Willow Court, Juniper Court and Beech Court. Please respect these lifts and remember they are used by students who may have difficulty using stairs or wheelchair users.

If you lose any items, contact your reception desk in the first instance – they may well have been handed in. If not, please contact the lost property office located at Cottrell Main Visitors Reception and can be contacted by phone on +44 (0) 1786 466999 or by email lostproperty@stir.ac.uk.

If you’re getting in touch, please provide as much detail as possible about the lost item(s) including:

• Make
• Model (where applicable)
• Colour
• Any unique or identifying features/content
• Location item(s) left (if known)
• Date and time item(s) left

If you lose your keys or card, please speak to your Operations Assistant immediately for the security for your room and to gain access. A payment is required for any replacements. No refunds can be given for any keys or cards that are subsequently found after a new issue is made.

When giving out your address please ensure to include your room number and the correct postcode. If you are new to the UK, the correct format of your address is found on our list of postal addresses.

When you sign for your keys you will also be asked to sign to say that you are happy for staff to sign for your mail as it arrives. We don’t accept any responsibility for mail and if you are not happy with this you should make alternative arrangements. You may for example have parcels left to be collected at a location provided by your courier company. The Cooperative shop provides this facility for Amazon, Evri and DPD and others.

If we receive your parcel for you - you will be sent an email letting you know you have a mail item to pick up. Staff won’t issue items to anyone other than the named recipient and ID will be required on collection.

Residences staff do not accept mail for anyone who is not a resident of a University residence and such items will be returned to the sender.

Orders of takeaway food or groceries from supermarkets will need to be met at the entrance to accommodation by students so please select a delivery time where you are able to receive this directly.

The University provides accommodation both on and off campus:

• Accommodation on campus
• Off-campus accommodation

The University of Stirling is unable to supply fridges for use by students in their bedroom. If you require a fridge prior permission from Accommodation Services is required in writing and these items must be PAT tested – see Electrical Equipment

If at any time you find yourself in financial difficulties and are unable to pay your rent, please come and speak to us here at Accommodation Services. Staff are experienced in assisting students in such circumstances and agreement for different repayment schedules to suit individual needs can be reached.

Our Student Support Services team can offer advice on money matters, and you may also be eligible for additional hardship funds and financial support. We can help signpost these for you or you can contact them directly.

Room transfers will only be considered when all students waiting for accommodation have been allocated unless a special case merits the consideration and approval of the Director of Accommodation Services. Any such case should be submitted in writing to Accommodation Services. Students with rent arrears will not be considered for room transfers and under no circumstances is a student permitted to move rooms without prior agreement from Accommodation Services.

A transfer fee of £25 per person is payable prior to any room transfer. Only once a request to transfer has been agreed, transfer fee payment made in full by both parties and new Occupancy Agreements signed will the University deem the transfer complete at which time students are eligible to move.

Accommodation in all properties is covered by Wi-Fi networks. There are no ethernet ports in residences.

Computers connected to the network from residences have access to all the computing resources on campus and restricted web browsing on the internet. There is no extra cost for this connection. Please contact Information Services if you experience any issues with your network connection.

Please bear in mind that you are living near lots of other students, and we would ask you to respect them by being considerate with noise levels. This allows everyone to enjoy their time in residences.

Accommodation Services has a zero-tolerance approach to noise during exam periods and in the event of noise coming your room / flat you will be asked to attend a meeting with a residences manager.

When you accepted your accommodation, you agreed to abide by the terms of our Occupancy Agreement - best be described as your terms and conditions. You can view this by accessing the online application system, choosing the contracts section and viewing your agreement. This has all your details (name, student number, room number, etc.) on it. You should print off a copy of this agreement and bring it with you when you come to pick up your keys.

A copy of the current general Accommodation occupancy agreement can also be viewed online.

Orders of takeaway food or groceries from supermarkets will need to be met at the entrance to accommodation by students, so please select a delivery time where you are able to receive this directly. A small Cooperative supermarket is also available in the centre of campus itself. Local Supermarkets which deliver to student accommodation include Sainsburys, ASDA, Tesco and Waitrose. Go to our contact information page to get your postal address.

We know that you may from time to time wish to hold a party in your accommodation. Please refer to your building Operations Assistants for further guidance. Our Residence Assistants will arrange social activities throughout the year including around Christmas and special holidays.

Pets are not permitted in any University of Stirling residence, except for assistance dogs. Prior permission is required for assistance dogs and medical documentation will be required.

There is a separate address for each residence, both on and off campus. See all accommodation postal addresses.

The University does not make recommendations of private accommodation. Students looking to enter into private accommodation should seek assistance from local estate agents, other accommodation providers and use common online property listing pages in the first instance. Read our full guidance for students seeking private accommodation.

If you have problems with your private accommodation and wish to move into University Accommodation you should contact us first and apply for accommodation. We cannot guarantee that space is available to accommodate you outside of our accommodation guarantee periods.

We hope that you get along with your flatmates and all other students but at the same time, we understand that clashes of personality do occur from time to time. If you are experiencing problems with other residents, please discuss this with the Accommodation Operations Assistant or your Residence Assistant in the first instance. Often, they will be able to help you resolve the issues. If a solution is not identified the option exists to escalate matters to the Operations Managers.

To obtain proof of your address for use with banks, immigration or other official purposes while you live with us you can use your Certificate of Enrolment. On your student portal, click the link that says ‘Request Certificate of Enrolment’ – to generate a certificate which proves both your status as a student and your address. If you have moved out we may be able to prepare a reference for you.

See Waste disposal

You do not require a reference to stay with us at University of Stirling Accommodation though as per our Accommodation allocation policy any student with a history of residential debt or who has a serious disciplinary record may not be offered accommodation.

When it comes time to move onto other accommodation, we are happy to provide references to students, but will not do so for those students with serious disciplinary records or those students who have regularly been in debt with rent payments. Note we do not respond to requests directly from third parties like estate agents or landlords so please make the request yourself. Please complete a Reference Request Form - note a reference can take up to 7 working days to complete so allow plenty of time.

For information on rent payment dates and amounts see How to Pay.

If you need to report a repair, please contact your Operations Assistant who will arrange to get the problem fixed in the most efficient manner. We ask that students do not attempt the repair themselves.

On campus, repairs are normally carried out by staff from the University’s Property Maintenance team – certain residences off campus have repairs carried out by private contractors. Vending machines and card-operated laundry facilities have numbers to call on the machine to report any issues. Please ensure if private contractors come to your door that you check their ID. Once a repair is reported we cannot guarantee an exact date or time that staff will be attending but make all efforts to repair this as quickly as possible.

Residence Assistants (RA) are students who are there for you or to talk to if you need advice or support. They are happy to listen and can point you in the right direction for additional help. They are there to help the department ensure we foster an enjoyable living environment for all.

Every night Residence Assistants participate in a duty rota and will assist with developing a range of social and academic events for those staying in accommodation.

The front doors to Andrew Stewart Hall are locked at 7.00pm each weeknight and all day over the weekend. However, your keys will gain you access at any time.

For your security and that of other residents, we strongly recommend that you keep your flat / house and bedroom doors always locked.

All areas of accommodation are non-smoking which means smoking, including the use of vapour and e-cigarettes, is prohibited throughout all University-managed accommodation, including individual study bedrooms and around all entrances and windows to the accommodation. Please dispose of your cigarette ends responsibly.

See specific information about E-cigarette fire safety.

The sports centre on campus provides an excellent opportunity to participate in sport for fun.  They have a range of classes available to members. If you have not already joined as part of your Occupancy Agreement, find out about membership.

Sub-letting your accommodation is strictly forbidden and any student caught doing so will be considered to be in breach of their Occupancy Agreement and may face misconduct proceedings. Sub-letting includes offering your room in our accommodation to others whether in exchange for money or not.

Accommodation services are always open to suggestions and ideas about how we can do better. If you would like to make a suggestion to us please get in contact with the Accommodation Office.

See our accommodation services contact information for telephone numbers.

TV Licensing

Willow Court, Beech Court, Juniper Court and Alexander Court (townhouse and family accommodation only) are supplied with a TV in the lounge area. The University has licensed this TV. If you wish to have a TV in your bedroom in Willow Court, Beech Court, Juniper Court or Alexander Court (townhouse and family accommodation) you are responsible for ensuring you purchase the correct licence.

All other properties: If you wish to have a TV in your bedroom or in the communal area of your flat you are responsible for ensuring you purchase the correct licence.

The TV Licencing Board have a support pack on their website with screensavers, letter templates and images for student TV Licensing information.

TV Licensing Information

You need to be covered by a TV Licence to watch or record live TV programmes on any channel, or download or watch BBC programmes on iPlayer.

This could be on any device, including a TV, desktop computer, laptop, mobile phone, tablet, games console, digital box or DVD/VHS recorder. If you do any of the above without a valid licence, you risk prosecution and a maximum fine of up to £1,000. You will also still have to buy a TV Licence if you need one.

To find out more, go to tvlicensing.co.uk/info or go to tvlicensing.co.uk/studentinfo.

How can I buy a TV Licence?

There are lots of different ways to buy a TV Licence. Whether that’s through weekly cash payments, using your nearest PayPoint outlet, spreading the cost with monthly, quarterly or yearly direct debit, credit/debit card or by post – just choose the one that suits you best.

For more information on the ways to pay, go to tvlicensing.co.uk/payinfo.

If I live in halls, won’t I already be covered by a TV Licence?

Your room needs to be covered by its own licence if you're plugged in to watch or record programmes as they're being shown on TV or live on an online TV service, or if you download or watch BBC programmes on iPlayer. If there are TVs in communal areas, check with your halls' manager to see if they’re covered by a halls' licence.

What if I live in a shared house?

You'll probably only need one licence between you if you have a joint tenancy agreement for the whole house – this is the most common type of shared house arrangement. You might need your own licence if your accommodation is self-contained. That means you have exclusive access to washing facilities or your own entrance to the property. You will also need your own licence if you have a separate tenancy agreement for your own room. If you're not sure, check our advice for tenants and lodgers.

Won't my parents' licence cover me?

Your parents' licence will not cover you while you're away at uni unless you only use a device that's powered solely by its own internal batteries and not connected to the mains.

What if I'm not at uni for the summer?

If you're leaving your halls or rented accommodation and moving back home for the summer, there's a good chance you won't need your TV Licence if there's one at home. You can see our policy and apply for a refund online.

What if I don’t need a licence?

If you don’t need a TV Licence, you still need to let TV Licensing know.

TV Rooms

Andrew Stewart Hall, John Forty's Court and Alangrange all have a communal TV lounge.

In certain cases, occupancy agreements are terminated early. For the conditions and charges relating to termination please refer to the appropriate section on your occupancy agreement. Read our information about leaving your accommodation.

See Moving rooms

Your Occupancy agreement outlines the date on which you must vacate your accommodation. More information and reminders of the end of your contract will be sent to you as this time approaches. The period for which you accepted accommodation is clearly noted and students are liable for the rent payment for the full period.

We expect that rooms are left in an appropriate state when students vacate their accommodation with all rent paid, and keys returned. Before you leave, please review our Departing from Residences guidelines as failure to adhere to these can result in charges, in post and parcels going to the wrong place, and excess waste. Your co-operation in these matters is greatly appreciated by all the accommodation staff and incoming students.

Please ensure you leave yourself enough time to find appropriate housing for yourself following your stay with us.

The university is unable to store belongings while you are not staying with us.

Drinks and confectionery vending machines are available in and around most residences. Please ask at your Operations Assistants desk for the location of your nearest machine. For faulty machines or any issues vending items please contact the number on the machine as residence staff are unable to assist.

Students can have one visitor of age 16 or over to stay overnight in their accommodation on the following conditions: You must notify fellow residents of your visitor and seek their approval. Visitors must be approved by all residents within the flat and if they reject take their feelings into consideration. Visitors are permitted to stay a maximum of 2 nights within your room in any 7 day period to avoid disruption to other residents. You are responsible for the behaviour of any person visiting your flat and you must ensure they do not breach the terms of your Occupancy Agreement. Visitors are not permitted in Accommodation during Freshers’ Week and during the exam periods in December and April/May. Accommodation Services can offer accommodation during summer vacation, information will be available from April onwards from Accommodation Services and communicated to students via email.

Rubbish bins in rooms and kitchens must be emptied every day. Everyone in the flat is responsible for this and everyone must take their turn in emptying the bins.

You must ensure your room and residence are kept clear of waste and that you dispose of waste in the appropriate bin and bag. The different categories for waste segregation are Food Waste, Glass, Dry Mixed Recycling and General Waste. When putting your waste into the external bins, please only use the appropriate bin.

General waste may be placed in any plastic bag in the appropriate bin. You must not put black bin bags, carrier bags, pizza boxes or takeaway containers in the Dry Mixed Recycling bins – these must go in the General Waste bins.

Recycling waste should be separated and placed in a clear bin bag in Dry Mixed Recycling. Take your time to separate this waste and consider the environmental impact of unseparated waste not being recycled.
Food waste should be disposed of in the provided bin in your kitchen as we recycle food waste separately. Use this bin to collect all food waste and then dispose in the external food waste bins. Green ‘caddy’ bin liners are biodegradable and used only for this type of waste. Once your original roll of bags are finished please replace these.

Look for these signs on campus which explain how to separate your waste. Disposing of your waste properly will help the University achieve its goals around Environment and sustainability.

Waste Disposal at Thistle Chambers

Two large grey coloured wheelie bins for the disposal of rubbish are in place for the use of the student residents of Thistle Chambers.

These bins are located outside the fire door at the bottom of the backfire escape staircase that leads to the small car park opposite the bus station. As you exit the staircase they are located on the right-hand side of the door and have a notice on them indicating ‘University of Stirling’.

Please do not use the bins at the front of Thistle Chambers next to the shops as they do not belong to the university. If you leave any bags of rubbish in this area, the local authority’s Environment Service department will go through them to identify who is responsible and will issue a fixed penalty fine for fly-tipping to identified individuals.

It is important that the university adheres to local waste disposal requirements, therefore any persistent failure to dispose of your rubbish correctly will result in an investigation under the Code of Student Discipline, in addition to any action that the local authority may also choose to take.

Your co-operation in maintaining a clean and safe environment for all is appreciated.

We want to make sure everyone settles in and enjoys their time in accommodation. Our team including your Residence Assistants care about your welfare while you stay with us. If you feel you need a bit of extra help or perhaps would like to speak to trained counsellors Student Support Services operates a Counselling, Mental Health and Wellbeing service.

See our information on What to bring with you. You will need to bring your own clothes, personal belongings, toiletries and towels for your room.

For your kitchen, you will need cutlery, crockery, pans and cooking utensils and clear and black bin bags. Your kitchen will be equipped with a standard electric hob. Please do not bring too many kitchen items with you as space is limited and students often find that other residents are bringing the same appliances – you can always add to your collection after you have arrived or agree with your new flatmates to share. The only item of kitchen equipment not permitted are deep fat fryers for fire safety reasons.

If you want to connect your personal computer to the internet in your room this should have wifi access.

For fridges see – Medical fridges

For PAT testing of electrical belongings see – Electrical Equipment