4. University accommodation and medical policy 2012/13
Brunel University:
• Operates a fair allocation policy that does not discriminate on grounds of race, colour, religion, ethnicity, sexuality, age, gender or disability.
• Ensures that students are offered accommodation in accordance with Distance Selling Regulations.
• Each year a number of rooms are set aside for returning students for the following session. The number of rooms set aside may vary each year depending on University target figures for new students. These rooms are allocated in accordance with guidelines to returning students who apply and pay the booking fee by the deadline date usually between January-February each year. Students who apply will be considered for allocation in order of policy priority and will be provisionally allocated before the end of session.
• If the demand from returning students for accommodation is greater than the supply of rooms, students who apply and pay the booking fee by the deadline date will be entered into a ballot for a place in halls in order of policy priority.
• Thereafter returning students who apply and pay the booking fee by the deadline date, but are unsuccessful in the ballot, may remain on the waiting list and will be prioritised for cancellations or for extra room availability should recruitment of new student targets not be reached in September.
The order of priority for the allocation of rooms in the residences is as follows:
1. Disabled Students (see section 1 notes below);
2. Main Scheme students in their first year of registration in full-time study and full-time postgraduate, research and Care Leaver students who apply by the deadline date (see section 2 notes below);
3. Students entering via the Clearing/Adjustment system in August (see section 3 notes below);
4. Undergraduate full-time final year students on sandwich courses (see section 4 notes below);
5. Undergraduate full-time students in final year of study - non-sandwich (see section 4 notes below);
6. Undergraduate full-time year three (see section 5 notes below);
7. Undergraduate full-time year two (see section 5 notes below);
8. Any other student (see section 6 notes below).
NB
- To help the Students Union Executive do their jobs more effectively, four sabbatical officers are allocated campus accommodation.
- To assist the Residences Management Team in providing out of office hours support to students living in Residences, Student Mentors will be eligible to apply for campus accommodation however they are not guaranteed a place.
UNDERGRADUATE AND POSTGRADUATE STUDENT POLICY NOTES
SECTION 1
The University recognises that in exceptional cases some students who have a permanent and substantial disability or have a medical condition requiring treatment by chemotherapy or dialysis could not attend the University unless they are accommodated on campus. First year students (UG and PG) need only complete the Disability Assessment Questionnaire (DAQ) that is distributed by Brunel Admissions Department. To be eligible, returning students must meet one of the eligibility criteria listed below:
a. The student has a permanent and substantial disability which means they are unable to walk or have very considerable difficulty in walking for a distance of more than 100 metres.
b. The student’s disability requires specialist adaptations or facilities not available in off-campus accommodation.
c. The student has a medical condition treated by chemotherapy or dialysis.
d. The student has a recognised disability under the Equality Act 2010 (not already covered above) which would cause substantial disadvantage to the student if he/she were not offered campus accommodation1
Consideration for accommodation on campus for such students will be given under the following process:
1. The student must meet one of the eligibility criteria.
2. The student must attend, in person, an assessment with a member of the Disability and Dyslexia Service (returning students).
3. Students must be assessed for accommodation before the end of the preceding academic year (returning students).
4. Exceptions will only be considered for students who have become disabled during the vacation period.
5. The student must produce medical evidence from a UK based medical practitioner stating specifically how they meet the relevant criteria.
6. The student must have applied for, or be in the process of applying for Disabled Students Allowances (unless ineligible due to Overseas funding status).
7. Students must in the first instance be in full-time study, paying full-fees and not in continuation during the academic session for the period of their Tenancy Agreement.
NB The existence or pre-existence of disorders that are well controlled and have responded to medical treatment, even though there is a continuation of medical treatment, does not necessarily constitute medical or disabled grounds for campus accommodation.
The Accommodation Office will consider such applicants recommended by the University Disability and Dyslexia Service and Medical Centre in accordance with the University's policies. Any offers are subject to suitable accommodation being available and subject to allocation policy conditions being met.
Personal Assistants (carers)
The University recognises that some students applying for campus accommodation may have a disability or medical condition that requires a resident personal assistant. In these cases the University can provide the option of a room on campus for the personal assistant under the same terms and conditions as the student. Home students may be able to reclaim personal assistant (carer) costs from their Social Services department (often via a Direct Payments Scheme).
Students requiring campus accommodation for their personal assistant must provide evidence that they have had a community assessment from Social Services which recommends the need for a personal assistant as part of the individual’s agreed Care Plan. Prospective students and returning students are responsible for making their own arrangements to be assessed and for ensuring the personal assistant assessment is completed in advance of the new session. This is to enable the Accommodation Office to reserve the appropriate accommodation to meet the student’s needs. For further information please contact the Brunel Disability and Dyslexia Services.
SECTION 2
a) The University is able to offer campus accommodation to full-time new main scheme year one undergraduates including students under 18 years of age. Please see separate Under 18’s Policy for Resident Students.
This will include:
• Students on a foundation programme (The foundation year will be considered to be the first year of entry to the University.);
• Direct entry into level two and level three;
• Students studying with LIBT (The first LIBT year will be considered to be the first year of entry to the University.);
• Exchange students (eg Erasmus and Socrates), who come in blocks of not less than one term, are entitled to accommodation on the same basis as other students coming to the University for the first time subject to room availability.
b) New first year postgraduate and research students in full-time study, who have firmly accepted their unconditional course offer by 1 September 2012 and whose course entry is at the start of the session, may apply for campus accommodation. Students will need to have completed the online application form. Details are on the course reply slip sent to you by Admissions or Brunel International. Late applications or course entry dates other than the start of the session will only be considered subject to availability.
c) Full-time research students commencing their second or third year of study paying full-time fees applying by 26 January 2012 will be offered accommodation (please refer to section 6 notes b and c for part-time and students going into continuation information).
d) Full-time students entering the University via the Care Leaver route, commencing their second or third year of study, paying full-time fees who have applied by 26 January 2012 will be offered accommodation subject to accommodation contract terms and conditions.
e) Full-time new first year undergraduate students who have not held a conditional offer with the University and are made unconditional firm prior to 1 September 2012 will be allocated campus accommodation. Late applicants will be allocated subject to availability.
SECTION 3
Full-time undergraduate students entering the University through the Clearing/Adjustment process in August are allocated campus accommodation subject to availability and after other priority groups have been allocated. Students entering through the Clearing/Adjustment process who wish to secure accommodation early should contact the University Housing Office for information on University managed off-campus housing and local private sector housing options. Students who are under 18 years of age and entering through the Clearing/Adjustment process will be considered under the same terms and conditions as other Clearing/Adjustment students (Please refer to the separate Under 18’s Policy for Resident Students for further information.).
SECTION 4
a) Final year sandwich undergraduate students will be considered for accommodation after other priority groups.
b) Final year non-sandwich undergraduate students will be considered after Final year sandwich course students have been allocated.
c) Students on an extended five year M.Eng course can apply for accommodation in the same order of priority as final year sandwich students.
d) Students on a four year M.Eng course can apply for accommodation in the same order of priority as a non-sandwich final year student.
e) During the returner application process third year undergraduate returners will be treated as the same priority level as third year final undergraduates.
NB If demand for campus accommodation exceeds supply and we are unable to accommodate you on campus you may wish to place your details on a waiting list. If demand from higher priority groups is met you will be considered for accommodation in accordance with policy priority.
SECTION 5
a) All third year undergraduate students on a four year course will be considered for accommodation after other priority groups. Third year undergraduate students hoping to be accepted on a University recognised work placement who have received a provisional allocation or room offer but subsequently accept a placement will have the room allocation cancelled. Students are expected to live off campus during the placement period and provided the Accommodation Office is notified by 1 September 2012 you will receive a full refund of the booking fee. Students who secure a placement after the Tenancy Agreement has started are permitted to remain in campus accommodation for the placement year but will be low priority for a campus room in their final year of study. If the placement student ends the Tenancy Agreement early to take up a placement after the contract has started, normal contract Terms and Conditions will apply (please refer to regulation 17.4). Living in campus accommodation during the placement year will be considered equal to being allocated accommodation in your final year. The Accommodation Office will seek verification from the Placement Office of the placement commencement date. Students returning to the University in January may place their details on a waiting list for accommodation. If demand from priority groups is met you will be considered for accommodation in accordance with policy priority.
b) Second year undergraduate students will be expected to live off campus. However you may wish to place your details on a waiting list and if demand from higher priority groups is met you will be considered for campus accommodation.
SECTION 6
a) Undergraduate students entering year one who have completed a foundation year will not be considered for campus accommodation but should contact the University Housing Office for information on local housing. However you may wish to place your details on a waiting list and if demand from higher priority groups is met you will be considered for campus accommodation.
b) Undergraduate and postgraduate students who are part-time or who have exceeded the normal duration of their course are considered to be low priority. However you may wish to place your details on a waiting list and if demand from higher priority groups is met you will be considered for campus accommodation.
c) Research students paying continuation fees for part or all of the academic year will be considered low priority and should expect to live off campus. However you may wish to place your details on a waiting list and if demand from higher priority groups is met you will be considered for campus accommodation.
d) Undergraduate students repeating year one will be regarded as second year students and will not be offered accommodation. However you may wish to place your details on a waiting list and if demand from higher priority groups is met you will be considered for campus accommodation.
e) Diploma and certificate LIBT students transferring to or from Brunel Courses will be considered as a low priority and should expect to live off campus.
f) Staff and visiting academics will be given low priority and may only apply during Summer Vacation for student campus accommodation.
SECTION 7
STUDIO FLATS FOR CO-HABITING COUPLES
a) To be eligible to apply for a studio flat you are required to be an enrolled full-time, full-fee paying student for the entire session. The Accommodation Office may request evidence from your department. Co-habiting couples, irrespective of sexual orientation, may apply for this accommodation provided they are in a long-term and stable relationship.
b) There is no family accommodation available. Students seeking to live on campus with children/dependants cannot be offered studio flats.
c) A Student and/or their partner who is pregnant at the start of the Tenancy Agreement are advised to seek off campus housing as studio flats are not suitable for children. If you have to move off campus as a result of changes to your circumstances there may be financial implications to consider.
d) When both partners are registered students of this University, each may qualify for occupancy of a studio flat in their own right.
e) Priority is given to first year full-time postgraduate students and full-time, full-fee paying research students, followed by fourth year final year undergraduate and third year undergraduate students. Other returning undergraduate students are also invited to apply however offers of accommodation are subject to availability.
f) A proof of relationship letter must accompany all applications for studio flat accommodation. This should be a marriage/civil partnership certificate or confirmation of your relationship from your Department/School, employer, landlord or other professional body. If this document is written in your home language you will be required to provide a written translation alongside a copy of the original document.
g) Couples are required to jointly collect the keys and sign for their studio flat at the same time.
h) The University requires individuals as a condition of their application for accommodation to disclose any criminal convictions investigations and related information for the tenant and their partner as described in the University Disclosure Policy. For further information on the University’s Policy for acceptance of ex-offenders see www.brunel.ac.uk/courses/admissions/criminal-records-bureau/ .
NB If you anticipate you are not able to comply with this requirement (eg delay in visa) you must notify the Accommodation Office in advance. A period of grace (seven days) will be permitted for your partner to join you. Thereafter if there are further delays, you will be requested to vacate the studio flat and either move to a single room on campus or move to off campus housing.
FURTHER NOTES
a) The distance of your home from the campus does not affect your chances of getting accommodation.
b) The University reserves the right to withdraw any offer of accommodation if a student's year group (and thereby the priority status) changes as a result of having to repeat a year.
c) The following factors are not normally taken into account when allocating campus accommodation:
a. Being an officer of a club or society;
b. Being a Residences Student Mentor;
c. Financial assets or means;
d. Work placement locations;
e. Home address;
f. Home or overseas fee paying status;
g. Gender;
h. Religion;
i. Domestic circumstances.
1 When considering whether a disabled person or student is placed at a substantial disadvantage compared to somebody who is not disabled, account will be taken of the time, inconvenience, effort or discomfort entailed in comparison with other people. A ‘substantial’ disadvantage is one that is more than minor or trivial. top
