This article introduces typical university accommodation options available and provides some tips for making the right choice for you.

Once you have an offer of a place at university you will need to think about where you would like to live. If you decide that you want to live away from home, your chosen university typically offers a variety of accommodation options suited to different budget, group sizes and lifestyle preferences.

As you will spend a lot of time in your accommodation, it is important that you make the right choice for you. You may be sharing facilities such as kitchen and social spaces with your flatmates. Everybody has their own way of living, socialising and thresholds for cleanliness and noise levels.

During our research, autistic students have told us things they liked and didn’t like about their accommodation. These were related to the size of rooms, noise levels, distance to shops, availability of quiet spaces, the study choices and maturity of fellow tenants, and more.

Think about:

• Whether you want to live in lively student accommodation, in the city centre, or if you would prefer a quieter location?
• Do you need an en-suite room?
• Do you need catered or self-catered accommodation?
• Do you need to have your own kitchen and bathroom (studio accommodation)?
• Do you want to live close to the University and department buildings that you’ll be using most often?
• Think about how you will travel to your academic department buildings? Will you walk, cycle, travel by public transport?
• How many people you would be comfortable sharing accommodation with?

For applicants to The University of Sheffield, there is lots more information on our accommodation website.  You can view virtual tours of the accommodation.  There is also a lot of information on the ‘Literature Library‘ page.  If you have any questions about University accommodation or would like to discuss your requirements in more detail, contact ACS.

You can also attend tours of our accommodation at all Open Days and Applicant Days. There is also the option for you to stay overnight during your visit to an Applicant Open Day so that you can experience University accommodation.

Once you have accepted an offer to study at the University of Sheffield, you will then be able to apply for accommodation.  On your application, it is important that you make the Accommodation Team aware of any specific requirements you have which relate to your autism.  The Accommodation Team will need written evidence of your autism so that reasonable adjustments can be considered.  Depending on how soon you apply for your accommodation, you might be able to self-select the accommodation that you would like to live in – further information about the self-select process can be found on the accommodation website.

Accommodation is allocated following acceptance on an academic place of study and the course confirming the student has met the required conditions of study.  Allocation of accommodation is not made based on application date.

Students who have declared a disability to the University have the option to remain in University accommodation for the duration of their studies. Whilst every attempt is made to enable students to remain in the same room each year, this cannot be guaranteed and you would need to apply for your accommodation each year.  Further information about living in university accommodation as a returning student can be found here.

All of the University accommodation offers its own social calendar and you can choose whether to take part in events and activities.

Before they arrive at university, some students find it useful to have contact with other students who will be living in the same accommodation block through the Facebook accommodation block groups.

Support in University accommodation

The Residence Life team are there to help you with your residential experience in University accommodation.  You will be assigned a Residence Life Mentor (RLM).  A RLM is a current student who also lives in University Accommodation and they are there to support students during their time living in University Accommodation.  They can help with emotional issues, academic worries, disagreements among flatmates, or if you just need someone to talk to. Your RLM is a really good person to ask any queries or discuss concerns with.  If they can’t help or don’t know the answer, they’ll signpost you to someone who can.

RLMs hold a Drop-In session every evening during term time. Your assigned RLM will contact you via email and will visit your flat/room approximately once every two weeks.  Please discuss any communication preferences with your RLM when they first introduce themselves.

If you have any concerns about living in university accommodation prior to your arrival or after moving in, Residence Life can be contacted on residentsupport@sheffield.ac.uk.  Further information about Residence Life support can be found here.

Disability support which is not put in place by the university

If due to your disability you have specific accommodation requirements and/or will require assistance with day-to-day living tasks such as washing, getting dressed, shopping or cooking, please refer to our guidance page on personal care support.