Picking student accommodation is, unfortunately, one of the hardest decisions you will make throughout university.
There are resources available to make this decision easier, such as YouTube videos, TikToks, reviews, tours, etc. However, at the end of the day, student accommodation is just one big black hole of uncertainty. Although, something many do not consider is will the accommodation be “fit for purpose.” But what does purpose mean?
Second year student Emma described her experience in accommodation as “I made better friends with the mice in my room than my actual flatmates.” She explained that she physically could not be in her room for up to three weeks, due to the state it was in after Christmas. “It was covered in mice droppings,” after coming back to her room like this, she had to go home for a prolonged period of time, leaving her feeling detached from student life, and that she was wasting money on rent. Throughout this time, she received no compensation, or even help in response to this issue.
Edinburgh student accommodation is notorious for mice problems, online one can find many accounts just like Emma’s. You would think that if your room was covered in mice droppings and there were visible mouse holes in your room, you would receive help from maintenance. But this is not the case, and instead people are left to “deal” with it, alone.
Windows are nice, right? To be able to look onto the outside world, let light in, and maybe not feel like you’re living in a jail cell? Well for second year student Zoe, this was unfortunately her reality, with her “window” having a permanent frosted film. She felt she “lived in a coffin,” waking up in a dim room with sunlight struggling to get in. This was an issue that most people living on the bottom floor of student accommodation in Edinburgh faced. Grounding oneself in nature improves mental health and reduces chances of depression. So, the fact that student accommodation in many cases is not providing this, contradicts its purpose of providing a safe space for students.
The variety of accommodation at the University of Edinburgh both has its advantages and its limitations. However, making friends is greatly dependent on where you stay in first year, and the fact that the majority of Edinburgh accommodation, apart from Pollock, are limited to 3-5 person flats, puts you at a disadvantage.
Zoe stated that “this made making friends extremely difficult.” This situation is made worse through the issue of social divides between Pollock and other accommodations. This accommodation is undeniably a much more expensive option compared to others in Edinburgh, however, the difference in price should not disadvantage students’ opportunity to socialise. Mixing between those at Pollock and others rarely occurs, and this creates a toxic and unfriendly environment across the student cohort.
So, is Edinburgh student accommodation fit for purpose? Indisputably, no, it is not. When you compare the prices that people pay, for even the most expensive option, to the conditions and experiences they will face when there, it is hard to argue that they meet even the most basic of student needs. Yes, you have somewhere to sleep, cook or, even be provided with food, but for peoples mental and physical wellbeing, student accommodation in Edinburgh is significantly lacking.
Illustration by Luspaints
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Student Accommodation Isn’t Fit for Purpose
Picking student accommodation is, unfortunately, one of the hardest decisions you will make throughout university.
There are resources available to make this decision easier, such as YouTube videos, TikToks, reviews, tours, etc. However, at the end of the day, student accommodation is just one big black hole of uncertainty. Although, something many do not consider is will the accommodation be “fit for purpose.” But what does purpose mean?
Second year student Emma described her experience in accommodation as “I made better friends with the mice in my room than my actual flatmates.” She explained that she physically could not be in her room for up to three weeks, due to the state it was in after Christmas. “It was covered in mice droppings,” after coming back to her room like this, she had to go home for a prolonged period of time, leaving her feeling detached from student life, and that she was wasting money on rent. Throughout this time, she received no compensation, or even help in response to this issue.
Edinburgh student accommodation is notorious for mice problems, online one can find many accounts just like Emma’s. You would think that if your room was covered in mice droppings and there were visible mouse holes in your room, you would receive help from maintenance. But this is not the case, and instead people are left to “deal” with it, alone.
Windows are nice, right? To be able to look onto the outside world, let light in, and maybe not feel like you’re living in a jail cell? Well for second year student Zoe, this was unfortunately her reality, with her “window” having a permanent frosted film. She felt she “lived in a coffin,” waking up in a dim room with sunlight struggling to get in. This was an issue that most people living on the bottom floor of student accommodation in Edinburgh faced. Grounding oneself in nature improves mental health and reduces chances of depression. So, the fact that student accommodation in many cases is not providing this, contradicts its purpose of providing a safe space for students.
The variety of accommodation at the University of Edinburgh both has its advantages and its limitations. However, making friends is greatly dependent on where you stay in first year, and the fact that the majority of Edinburgh accommodation, apart from Pollock, are limited to 3-5 person flats, puts you at a disadvantage.
Zoe stated that “this made making friends extremely difficult.” This situation is made worse through the issue of social divides between Pollock and other accommodations. This accommodation is undeniably a much more expensive option compared to others in Edinburgh, however, the difference in price should not disadvantage students’ opportunity to socialise. Mixing between those at Pollock and others rarely occurs, and this creates a toxic and unfriendly environment across the student cohort.
So, is Edinburgh student accommodation fit for purpose? Indisputably, no, it is not. When you compare the prices that people pay, for even the most expensive option, to the conditions and experiences they will face when there, it is hard to argue that they meet even the most basic of student needs. Yes, you have somewhere to sleep, cook or, even be provided with food, but for peoples mental and physical wellbeing, student accommodation in Edinburgh is significantly lacking.
Illustration by Luspaints
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