Accomodation

**pickle** · 08-01-2004, 03:31 PM

Hey,
Does anybody have any views on the accomodation at Aberdeen?
I didn't have any time at the open day to have a look at them so any comments would be great.
Do you know if the halls have internet points in the rooms?
Thanks

**Gareth L** · 03-05-2004, 11:01 PM

Know this was posted awhile ago but hope this helps.

When I applied to Abd way back in 2000 there was a whole raft of choices but think it's now limited to

Johnstone
Chrombie
Hillhead - catered or non-catered

I stayed in Johnstone which was great fun, it's a fairly uninspired sixties style accomodation and i doubt the decor's been updated since then but the rooms are large (much better than hillhead) have their own sinks but no internet point - not even a telephone point. tho the atmospheres great and for 1st year medics you simply roll out of bed into lectures, i managed bed to lecture in 5min once, though not to be reccomended.
Foods ok, good variety and in all i'd reccomend it.

Chrombie is much the same though it has more of a cheap hotel feel, all the toffs go there as some of the room are ensuit. Johnstone and Chrombie share a dining hall and are right next to each other.

Hillhead is about 20min walk from campus which is a pain, though there is a good community and somewhat of a student village feel to it. though remember to add 20min to travelling everywhere. there is allot more choice there.

I dont think any of the halls have internet points though there are computers at Chrombie that are easy enough to use.

hope that helps if you want to know anymore about Abdn PM me. im currrently starting 4th year and would be more then happy to share my "wisdom"

**shiny** · 10-05-2004, 07:35 PM

Hi! I am also searching for accommodation in Aberdeen and have been getting rather stressed about it too i might add!
I contacted the med school admissions and was reccomended to avoid hillhead if at all possible (which is a bummer because i was hoping to go self-catered! My contact also reccommended Crombie-johnston as the most convienient for the first year.
I have been looking into a number of privately run student accommodation companies unite-students.com and armuir.co.uk have both been reccommended by friends who know the area much better than me.!!
Anyway that's my experience so far.
It would be nice to keep track of how everyones getting on!!

**Rach** · 12-05-2004, 07:20 PM

hi
I got my certificate of acceptance and accommodation form today. I really dont know where to choose. Ive been looking on the website.

I always thought i'd want to be self catered and have my meals in my own time, but now im not sure. Catered would mean don't have to spend the time making it etc hmmmmmmmm :?

has anyone decided which halls they like best yet?

**DrWannabe** · 13-05-2004, 07:02 PM

Hi
Hm the only thing that I have received so far as far as accommodation is concerned is the 'Accommodation Guide' from the them

...My friends who r going to other Universities has started applying for accommodation eg Southampton n Nottingham.I'm pretty worried right now.I will face big problems if I didn't settle this thing early coz I'm an international student

But isn't the first-years are guaranteed for accommodation?
Also, any recommendations?If it is possible I would like to have an en-suite single room( for privacy maybe? :twisted: LOL) and it shouldn't be far from the med school and library coz I'm a lazy bum

Thx!

**Gareth L** · 16-05-2004, 03:21 PM

Hi,
Im currently in 4th year up here in Aberdeen, this is what i sent to Dr Wannabe, it may help some of you as well.

As for the selfcatered or not debate, i went catered (go Johnstone! E-Block) and really appreaciated the social side of it, it meant that I knew that no-matter how busy/stressed about exams I was I would get some time out to meet and eat with my friends, cooking involves alot of buying, prepareing, lonely(?) eating and then washing up. The foods not the best tho the variety is great - plus how well can you guys really cook?

This was my reply do Dr Wannabe

As far as I am aware neither Crombie or Johnstone have internet points (My flatmate assures me that neither do Hillhead). I was put off by this at first but at least in my case it really wasn't a problem. The computer room is close by and, except just before deadlines rarely full.

I wouldn't worry about being near the medical school for your first year. Almost all of the lectures are held on campus and the Queen Mother Library (the main one) is also on site. Its really only from second year we are camped up on Forresterhill. If your priority is how far you have to drag yourself to lectures then I would recomend Crombie or Johnstone.

If you want on-suite then you'll find these in Crombie tho they are limited.
I blieve that Hillhead has some too.

The Atmosphere in both C/J and Hillhead are great, HH has more of a student village feel to it as it is more isolated and it also has a student bar. The union is moving down to campus, 5min from C/J which will add to the atmosphere.

As for the view!, it really depends on how high up you are, C/J is virtually non-existant, though the grounds are far nicer and "hallowed" than HH.

As for food, C/J are catered but not Halal (as for as I know) there is a veggie option tho. HH may give you greater scope as it provides self-catered flats with a kitchen shared with 4 others. You may be able to get a flat with other muslems and then be able to share pots and pans ect, it really depends how observent you are.

As for privately owned acomodation, I would be slightly warey as there are some scare-stories floating around but also many will be used by 2nd, 3rd and 4th years. Most 1st years will be in HH or C/J.

Given your criteria I would say either
- Crombie on-suite (if you can get it) but you will be stuck with veggie food - not nessessarly a bad thing tho (there are also small kitchens but you would be paying for food you wouldnt be eating)

- Hillead, self catered down side is alot further to walk for 9 o-clock lectures and also going back from town/union.

Hope that helps - dont forget to join Medsoc (sorry had to get the plug in)

**Rach** · 19-05-2004, 11:39 AM

Does anyone know the cost of the retainer charge for the holsidays of 38 week lets that is mentioned on the accommodation form?
I have emailed the accommodation office, but wonderered if anyone knew.