Students Housed in Andrew Melville Library

At the beginning of each semester, the University of St Andrews manages the allocation of student housing to first-years. This task presents challenges, which require solutions such as temporary housing.  

Each year, the University of St Andrews uses temporary housing as a way to manage student accommodation at the beginning of the semester. The University told The Saint, “Short-term temporary accommodation provides accommodation support while alternative, longer-term accommodation is arranged. Temporary accommodation is used in most years to manage periods of high demand, and ensure we can accommodate the maximum number of students.” 

Johannes Plangemann, a first-year International Relations student from Germany, was one of two students housed in the Andrew Melville Hall library at the start of this term. According to Plangemann, he was informed that he would be placed in temporary accommodation but was unaware of the exact circumstances. 

Plangemann applied and had been paying for a single room. “Before I arrived, they said I had a temporary space, but I didn’t know what it was. But then when I arrived they said it’s a temporary shared space,” Johannes said. “I felt surprised, like ‘what’s happening?’ But then it was okay. I wasn’t frustrated or shocked. I was just surprised about the circumstances.”

Plangemann explained, “It's a typical library at Andrew Melville Hall. It was a study hall, and then it was transformed into a shared room. It was designed for three people, but the third didn’t arrive, so there were two people for one and a half weeks. It was just one big room with three beds.”

According to the University, “the temporary room space has been fully furnished for student occupancy, including bed, wardrobe, desk, operator chair, and bedside cabinet”. 

Plangemann’s roommate moved into permanent housing a week prior to him. “I think there was an issue with communication,” Johannes said, “because I was thrown into a situation, but it’s been resolved in two weeks, so I think it’s more or less fine.”

Plangemann received permanent housing in St. Salvator’s Hall on 24 September, after waiting over two and a half weeks to be informed where he would be placed. 

The University stated, “We have provided accommodation for all entrant undergraduate students covered by the guarantee. In most years, we make use of temporary accommodation to ensure we can support the maximum number of students, and we expect this approach to continue in future years.

Meanwhile, some beds remain empty. Clea Saint Bris, another first-year student at St Andrews, is currently living alone in a shared room in John Burnet Hall. 

“No one showed up”, she said. “They told me that my roommate just didn’t show up at the Uni. And a week after that, another girl who wanted to change room[s] came to visit my room, and she was gonna be my new potential roommate. And now she has to wait a month, because some people are staying in the library [of] dorms or common rooms in dorms.” 

The complication of room changes presents another challenge to the University, which results in some rooms being left vacant whilst housing is re-allocated.

“I just don’t understand,” Clea continued. "There's been a big miscommunication, and if my roommate has to wait a month, how has nobody already moved into my room?”

Jamal Abu-Hassan, a first-year living in John Burnet Hall, is another student who has experienced difficulty with the housing process: “When I was applying online, it wasn’t very clear whether I could apply for first semester, or second semester, or both. So at the moment, my contract ends on the 22nd of December, and then after that, I have no accommodation.”

“Communication between me and the University has been a little bit confusing and a little bit unclear,” Jamal expressed. “I’ve emailed them once, and they were like, we need proof you’re going to stay for next semester. And I don’t know what that means. I don’t know what to provide.” 

As detailed on the University website, students must accept their offers and apply for accommodation prior to the deadline of 30 June in order to be covered by the first-year housing guarantee. Those who apply for accommodation after that deadline are not guaranteed housing. 

One such student is Olivia Samwer, a first-year undergraduate student from Germany. 

“Two weeks before coming here, the University told me that they don’t have enough housing," Olivia shared. The University suggested Space and Ayton House, two non-university-affiliated student housing facilities, but according to Olivia, “they didn’t really offer that much to help.”

Image Courtesy of Yishu Zhang