Applying for Accommodation

How do I decide which type of room I'd like?

Look at your budget, you will see that there are a variety of room types available at the RAC at different costs; you will need to choose a room that is affordable for you. Have a think about whether you would be happy sharing your toilet and showering facilities or whether you would prefer your own en-suite bathroom. If you would like to share a bedroom with another student, we do have a limited number of twin rooms available. Have a look at the Accommodation Guide for more details about each of the Halls of Residence and the accommodation each of them has to offer.

Am I guaranteed accommodation?

We endeavour to offer all first year undergraduate students accommodation on campus, however we cannot guarantee this. Accommodation applications are dealt with on a first come, first served basis so it is vital that you return your completed form (with a £500 deposit) at the earliest possible opportunity.

We have a limited number of dedicated postgraduate rooms on campus and, whilst there is not such strong demand for these, they are also dealt with on a first come, first served basis.

If you are not allocated accommodation on campus, the Accommodation Office will support you in finding alternative accommodation in Cirencester or the surrounding villages.

Will I get my first choice of room?

The application form asks to you list the room types on offer in order of your preference, you then have the opportunity to name your first and second choice of Hall of Residence (it is best to make this compatible with your first choice of room type). Every effort is made to allocate you your first choice of room type (taking into consideration your preferred Halls of Residence), however as the forms are dealt with on a first come first served basis, if all of the rooms are allocated you will be allocated your second choice and so on. You will see from the Accommodation Guide, hope many rooms of each type are available in each hall.

As the rooms are allocated to all student who are offered a place to study at the RAC, as the forms are received, it is likely that when A-level results are released some students who have conditional offers for the RAC may not get the grades required. In this case the rooms are allocated in accordance with the waiting list for that room type and so the allocation process continues.

When will I find out if I have been allocated accommodation?

Obviously we will need to have a final list of all those applicants who will be coming to study at the RAC in October, so (for those with conditional offers) we need to wait until the A-level results are released, then do the final amendments to the room allocation before printing the Residence Contracts. As this is a lengthy process you will not receive notification until late August / early September. Please be assured that if there is a problem with you application I will contact you.

Paying for Accommodation

How much do I have to pay to secure a room in Halls of Residence?

The deposit payable is £500 to secure a room; these are then held for the academic year against damages.

Will I lose my deposit if I decide not to come to the RAC?

The deposit will be non-refundable in the event of withdrawal from a place at the College. However if the place is still conditional and conditions of offer are not met, the deposit will be refunded.

How much will it cost to live in Halls of Residence?

Please have a look at the accommodation charges. Most of our accommodation is fully catered so the outgoings you will need to budget for will include payment of the termly electricity bill, toiletries, travel, clothes laundering, etc.

When do I have to pay for my accommodation?

An invoice for the accommodation premium will be sent out in late August / early September. UK and EU students can pay this in instalments of termly in advance, overseas students will be requirement to make payment upfront and it is advised that this payment is made prior to their travel to the Royal Agricultural College.

How many weeks of the academic year will I have to pay for?

Students at the RAC have the room allocated to them at their disposal for 39 weeks (the entire academic year). The catered accommodation charges are based on a weekly tariff; this is charged over a 37 week term, allowing for a 2 week period during the Christmas vacation when the catering facilities associated with residency are not functioning.

Living in College Accommodation

How will my room be furnished?

All bedrooms are fully decorated and furnished to include a single bed (although some rooms do have a second bed which some students use to create a double), desk, chair, bedside table, wardrobe with some coat hangers, notice board, lamp, kettle, duvets, sheets, pillows and covers, network connections for PC/laptop (you will need to register all computers at the Porters Lodge upon arrival before you can access the internet).

What do I need to bring?

Please view the list of basics that you will need to provide for yourself.

Can I bring my car?

Yes, cars must be registered with the College and parked only in the area designated by your parking permit. Failure to abide by the College Parking Rules and Conditions may result in your consent to bring a car on to campus being revoked. Parking is limited and will be allocated on a first come first serve basis. A parking permit is an entitlement to park only is a space is available. There may be occasion when no parking spaces are available and you have to find an alternative means of accessing the campus.

Will I have the internet in my room?

Yes, you may access the internet from your computer / laptop with a network cable, or by connecting to the College’s Wi-Fi network (providing your anti-virus software is up-to-date). If you’d like to access the Wi-Fi through your smartphone or tablet, you will first need to register the device with IT Services.

Do I need a TV licence?

Yes, if you bring a TV or laptop which you can use to watch TV programmes you must purchase a TV licence (the easiest way being through the TV Licensing website).

Can I smoke in my room in Halls of Residence?

No, the College has chosen to extend the smoking ban to all our buildings including the student residencies. Any student caught in the act or allowing others to smoke or evidence found that smoking has occurred within the building / bedroom, will receive a £100 fine and 3 penalty points on their student conduct record. Repeat and persistent offenders can ultimately expect to face a formal disciplinary which may result in eviction from halls of residence.

Can I have guests to stay?

Yes. The College has a duty, under fire regulations and for security reasons, to maintain an accurate register of all persons living in residential buildings. So, to allow the College to maintain accurate records please register all occasional / overnight guests at the Porters Lodge.

Where are the nearest shops to the Halls of Residence?

We have a shop on campus selling stationary, books, food and drink, toiletries, RAC clothing and gifts and it also has DVD rental. It is a 15 minute walk into Cirencester town centre which has a huge variety of shops.

Is there a launderette on campus?

Yes, located between Bledisloe Court and Coad Court. This is for use by resident and non-resident students.

Are there recycling facilities?

Yes, bins are available in each Hall of Residence and there are a variety of recycling bins on the campus.

Are College staff available 24 hours a day?

Yes, during the normal working week you will have the support of the Student Liaison Officer, Accommodation Officer, tutors and, on published days the College nurse. Out of hours the Porters Lodge and Security Staff are contactable.

What do I do if something in my room is broken?

All maintenance and damage issues need to be reported to Porters Lodge immediately. If an urgent / significant maintenance issue occurs out of Porters Lodge opening hours, please report the fault a member of Night Security Staff.

Do I have to move out of my room for the Christmas and Easter breaks?

No, you have access to your room for the full academic year. Whether you choose to stay during the

Christmas and Easter breaks, or just leave some of your belongings, is up to you.

Can I leave my accommodation if I find a house to live at off-campus?

If a resident chooses to terminate the contract prior to the contracted date of the agreement (to move to alternative residence, withdraw from studies, attend a sandwich placement or another reason) they shall remain liable for all charges associated with the accommodation. A refund of the remainder of the accommodation premium will only be made once a suitable replacement resident is found who meets with the approval of the Accommodation Office. The replacement must be a registered student of the College who is not already in College residence. Please be aware that the liability to cover the charge for the study bedroom will not cease until such point as a replacement resident is found for the room (this scenario may not be guaranteed).

Moving Off-Campus

Where do I live after my first year?

There is a wealth of privately owned accommodation in Cirencester and the surrounding villages.

How do I find private rented accommodation?

Please visit the RAC Student Lettings Website to have a look at the properties currently available. Also, talk to current students to find out where they are living and what are the best areas and most accessible to the College and town centre.

What if I do not have a car, how to I then get to College?

The campus is only a short walk from some of the residential areas of Cirencester. The College runs a shuttle bus service throughout the day running from areas of town to the College.