Accommodation Guide - UCS

Applying for Accommodation

1

www.ucshrewsbury.ac.uk

Applications Now Open We’re really pleased you have selected Shrewsbury as one of your choices. If you’re looking for student accommodation, we wanted to let you know that you can now apply for a room in our partnership accommodation in Shrewsbury.

Our accommodation is owned and managed by Shropshire Council but your application for a room is made to the University.

You can complete your application by logging on to:

pass.chester.ac.uk Further details of how to log on to PASS can be found on page 20.

enquiries@ucshrewsbury.ac.uk

2

3

www.ucshrewsbury.ac.uk

Key Dates There are a couple of key dates you’ll need to bear in mind when applying for accommodation:

10th August 2020

Deadline for priority online applications for accommodation close. Applications after this point will be processed; however priority will be given to those applications we receive before the deadline

Remember there is no ‘first come, first served’ policy at Shrewsbury, so as long as you submit your application before 10th August 2020 it will be considered fairly. If we receive your application after this date we will endeavour to process your application, but those received before the deadline will take priority. *Shropshire Council (our accommodation partner) will endeavour to notify all applicants of room allocation as soon as possible, post results day. Your room allocation will be sent with your accommodation agreement and handbook.

enquiries@ucshrewsbury.ac.uk

4

5

www.ucshrewsbury.ac.uk

Living in Shrewsbury The accommodation at Shrewsbury is situated over two conveniently located town centre sites - The Tannery and Mardol House. Comprising of a mix of self catered en-suite cluster flats or self contained studio apartments, the accommodation at Shrewsbury has an option for everyone. Both halls of residence also provide laundrette facilities and CCTV monitored outdoor bike racks.

All accommodation is self-catered and your rent includes all utility bills, maintenance and WiFi access. The accommodation is safe and secure with a 24-hour concierge service covering both sites – plus if you need any help, there’s also an Assistant Residential Tutor on hand to talk to.

enquiries@ucshrewsbury.ac.uk

6

Quarry Park

River Severn Market Hall

Shrewsbury Library Fish Street

7

www.ucshrewsbury.ac.uk

At the Heart of it All The accommodation is in a prime location in Shrewsbury town centre and really puts you at the heart of the town and the community. It’s just a short walk from the lecture halls, library and social spaces at Guildhall.

There are also popular high street stores on your doorstep, plus the Market Hall sells fresh and locally made produce. To top it all off, there’s a cinema, museum and public park all just around the corner.

Costa, Shrewsbury

Roushill Shrewsbury Castle

enquiries@ucshrewsbury.ac.uk

8

Tannery Accommodation

Mardol House

Tannery Accommodation

Tannery Accommodation

Mardol House

9

St Alkmonds Place

www.ucshrewsbury.ac.uk

Tannery Accommodation

Your Choice Mardol House

Mardol House

All accommodation at Shrewsbury is self-catered and has a contract length of 41 weeks, which means you don’t have to Quarrythe Parkholidays. However, when it comes vacate your room during to applying for accommodation there are options you need to consider.

There are two different room types to choose from, so it’s important you tell us which one you would prefer!

Here’s a run through of the options available to you...

Mardol House

Mardol House

Costa, Shrewsbury

enquiries@ucshrewsbury.ac.uk

Roushill

10

Studio Apartment • En-suite • Kitchenette containing a fridge and freezer compartment, microwave, kettle and toaster • Wardrobe, bedside cabinet, study desk and bookcase • Access to a fully fitted kitchen/dining area, shared with all Studio Apartments, with a fridge, freezer, oven, hob, microwave, kettle and toaster

11

www.ucshrewsbury.ac.uk

enquiries@ucshrewsbury.ac.uk

12

13

www.ucshrewsbury.ac.uk

Single Room • En-suite • Fully fitted kitchen, shared with five other residents, with a fridge, freezer, oven, hob, microwave, kettle and toaster • Shared dining area • Wardrobe, bedside cabinet, study desk and bookcase

enquiries@ucshrewsbury.ac.uk

14

Life in Mardol House Shrewsbury Students’ Union Vice President Courteney shares her experience of living in Mardol House - our student accommodation here at University Centre Shrewsbury. ”Having made the long move to Shrewsbury from the North East, it felt like a no-brainer for me to spend at least my first year at UCS living in the student accommodation at Mardol House. I decided on Shrewsbury, rather than perhaps a bigger city, because I was drawn to the beauty of the town and the friendliness of the locals. This, plus the welcoming atmosphere of UCS, made it very easy to make my final decision. Living at Mardol House was definitely a comforting factor for me as I knew I would be living with people who had also moved quite far away from home, and I definitely made the right decision.

Before the move I felt more nervous than I ever have before. Not only was I going to be living on my own for the first time in my life, but I was essentially up-heaving everything and moving it hundreds of miles away to start again in a relatively unfamiliar area. The night before moving day I was a bag of nerves with a million questions running through my mind. The most common worries I had; ‘what if something goes wrong and I can’t move in?’, ‘what if I don’t like my neighbours?’ and ‘what if I’m not strong enough to do this?.’ But I stayed at Mardol House throughout my first year- so it’s pretty safe to say that none of my worries came true! The process of moving went smoother than I could have possibly hoped, with an amazing concierge team providing as much or as little help as you want.

15

I quickly became friends with not only those in my cluster but throughout the rest of Mardol house too and I’m loving all aspects of student life at UCS! The nerves are natural but you can rest assured that an amazing team is on-hand during moving day to make sure you have as much of a stress-free transition as possible. If you’re thinking of moving away but are worried about living by yourself, I can’t recommend student accommodation enough - whether that be at UCS or elsewhere, you will become part of a united community with support from so many amazing people.

When I first moved into Mardol House I chose a single room (also known as a cluster room), where the room has an en-suite and hard furnishings, and you share a kitchen with five other residents. Once I unpacked I found it quite easy to make my room homelike and I settled in a lot quicker than I had expected to! All you need to bring is soft furnishings (e.g. bedding etc.) and any other decorations you like (nothing to go on walls though!). The bed, desk, shelves, drawers and wardrobe come with the room. I spent my first term living in the cluster room but once I had found my feet I decided I wanted a little extra independence, so I moved into a studio room. It’s pretty similar to the cluster I was in before, except the room itself is a lot bigger and there is a mini kitchen area with a kettle, toaster, microwave, fridge and sink. We have a shared kitchen with a freezer and ovens for the www.ucshrewsbury.ac.uk

use of those living in studios, but if you want a quick meal you can usually cook it in the comfort of your own room! I found myself more comfortable in the studio, but for those who prefer to be a little bit more sociable than me, the cluster is definitely more than enough!

Plus, bills and Wi-Fi are included in the cost of rent so that’s one less thing to worry about!

So far I’ve loved living in accommodation and I’ve made a lot of friends that I wouldn’t have if I had chosen to live elsewhere! I have met amazing people who do other courses within UCS, and if not for living in Mardol, I probably wouldn’t have talked to them much – if at all – as they have lectures elsewhere within the university. There have been countless times where I’ve ended up crying with laughter with these people, especially on Karaoke nights every Thursday, and I think we’ve all helped each other to feel comfortable living away from home. I know it sounds cheesy but we really are a small, slightly dysfunctional family! The friends I have made have been there for me when I have needed them most, and we also have a residential tutor to provide that extra bit of help should we need it.

I guess what I’m trying to say in the most long-winded way possible is: if you’re moving away but are a bit hesitant to live by yourself, student accommodation is almost like a stepping stone that can gently ease you into independent living. For University Centre Shrewsbury and the accommodation in particular, you are never left without support; simply ask and somebody will always be there for you. I was terrified about moving, and I can honestly say I am so glad I did!”

16

Getting to know Lea Michael Accommodation Concierge Team One of our top priorities for students staying in the accommodation is their safety and security. Whatever the time of day, you can always call upon the Concierge team in our student accommodation. Here, we get to know a little more about Lea Michael, one of the friendly faces in the Concierge team.

What is a typical day at work for you?

“A typical day at work for me consists of 12 hours spent between Mardol House and The Tannery. Our job consists of wellbeing, maintenance and repairs, security, administration and other roles. There is always something to do and there is always somebody to talk to.”

What is your favourite thing about your job?

“My favourite part of the job is the social side of things and the friendly little communities that develop within our buildings. The Concierge team as a whole work hard to ensure that all student-staff relations are always perfectly balanced, so we are always approachable and efficient in solving any problems that may arise.”

What has been your proudest moment whilst working in this role?

“Personally, my proudest moment to date was the first graduation ceremony. Watching our students collecting their degrees after all their hard work since moving in makes us all very proud of each student.”

17

What advice would you give to someone moving into student accommodation for the first time?

“My advice would be that as scary and daunting as it may be to take the big step in moving into student accommodation, it soon becomes home and you will make the best of friends for life.”

Have you seen anything funny or surprising while working as part of the Concierge?

“The Concierge team encounter many funny and surprising things over the duration of the academic year, with most of these occurring during the evenings of freshers’ week!”

If you could have a superpower what would you choose?

“I would personally choose time travel, win the lottery and invest heavily into Shrewsbury Town F.C.”

Choose a movie title for the story of your life.

“The Never-ending Story.”

What might people not know about you?

“I used to live in Germany, when serving as a soldier in The British Army.”

What makes being a student in Shrewsbury unique?

“The accommodation situation is unlike most others, because of the smaller size everybody gets to know everybody. Also, having a Concierge team in the building 24 hours of every day is a big help for the students.” www.ucshrewsbury.ac.uk

18

19

www.ucshrewsbury.ac.uk

How to Apply We know the thought of moving away from home can be a daunting one, so we’ve tried to make the application process as fast and as simple as possible. When you are ready to begin your application you should log in to PASS, our Pre-Arrival Student Site. pass.chester.ac.uk

Your Application Confirmation Once you’ve submitted your application, you will receive a confirmation email.

Remember, we won’t confirm your accommodation offer until after we’ve received your academic results. However, if you have any queries, please feel free to contact us.

Your username for PASS is your student number, which can be found on the letter sent with this mailing. Your password is your date of birth in the format: CheYYYYMMDD There is also a University of Chester app available in the App Store for iOS devices, Google Play for Android devices and Windows Store for Windows Phone 8, so applications can also be made via your mobile phone.

Your Application The application will ask you to tell us more about yourself, your preferences and whether you have any specific needs you’d like us to consider when we allocate the accommodation.

enquiries@ucshrewsbury.ac.uk

20

21

www.ucshrewsbury.ac.uk

What You Should Bring Your checklist: Pillows Duvet, sheets and cover Towels Coat hangers Cutlery Crockery Cooking utensils and saucepans Tea towels Any personal belongings that make you feel at home The great thing about Shrewsbury is that the majority of shops are within walking distance of the accommodation, so it’s not a problem if you happen to forget anything!

enquiries@ucshrewsbury.ac.uk

22

ucshrewsbury.ac.uk/accommodation For opportunities to visit and see all that we offer for yourself, please visit: ucshrewsbury.ac.uk/visit-us

+44 1743 297185