Accommodation - Frequently Asked Questions

What is the accommodation guarantee?

• Applicable to first–year students who apply for accommodation by the 31 May
• Have accepted Cardiff Met as their Firm choice through UCAS.
• Preferences are not guaranteed. 

How do I apply for accommodation? 

Please follow the web page guide on How to Apply.

Applications are made online.

When should I apply? Does timing affect my chances?

• We recommend you apply as early as possible, especially before the guaranteed deadline.   
• While we don’t operate on a first come, first served basis, applying early means: Halls of Residence Allocations Policy
• You are included in the main allocation rounds
• There is more availability to match your preferences 

Do I need to firm Cardiff Met before applying? 

You will be able to apply for halls application after you accept a course offer on either a Firm or Insurance basis.   

Can I apply if Cardiff Met is my insurance choice or if I’ve deferred entry? 

Yes, you can still apply for halls if you are holding an insurance offer or have deferred your entry.  

Is accommodation available for returning or postgraduate students? 

We have provisions for full time postgraduate students who will be at Cardiff Met for the first time.

There are limited rooms available for returning students and accommodation is not guaranteed.

What accommodation options are available? 

Please refer to web page to explore all the halls options.

What’s the difference between room types (e.g. classic, premium)?  

• Self-Catered ‘Premium’ ¾ bed with en-suite, shared kitchen 
• Catered ‘Premium’ ¾ bed with ensuite meals included, shared snack kitchen  
• Self-Catered ‘Classic’ single bed with en-suite, shared kitchen  
• Catered ‘Classic’ larger study bedroom with fitted washbasin unite in each room,  shared main shower/bathrooms.    

Which halls are best for different campuses or lifestyles?

There are a number of options available in or near the city centre with good transport links (for those who want to enjoy the best of both worlds), and on campus options for those who want to be as close as possible to their lectures.

Please refer to web pages to explore locations and lifestyle of each halls site.

How long does it take to travel from halls to campus? 

This depends on the halls location, for example Plas Gwyn & North Court halls will be approx. 15 minute walk to the Llandaff study campus, or a 5-minute bus ride. Visit our Accommodation web page for more information.  

How many choices can I list in my application? 

You can submit up to 6 room type preferences in your halls application.  

Can I apply for multiple rooms within one hall?

You can apply for a maximum of 2 room types per location. for example at Cyncoed halls self-catered may be one option and catered as a second option, your other preferences will be at different locations.

How are rooms allocated?  

We do not allocate rooms on a first come, first served basis. Instead, we consider the following to make sure the process is fair for everyone: 

• Your eligibility 
• Any priority needs 
• When you completed your application 
• Your campus of study 
• Your preferences 
• What rooms are available

For more information, see our How We Allocation Accommodation web page.

Is accommodation first come, first served? 

No 

How likely am I to get my preferred hall?  

We will always try to match your preferences where we can, considering the above criteria, but we can’t guarantee a specific hall, room type or price. If your preferred option is full, we will offer you a suitable alternative. 

When will I receive my accommodation offer? 

Halls allocations will commence in late July for applicants holding Unconditional Firm offers and will continue after A-level results from August onwards.  

Is there a deposit? How much is it? 

A pre-payment of your first terms rent is required to secure your booking.

For Cyncoed and Plas Gwyn halls, this will be around £130. Partner halls may require different amounts, depending on the provider.

How and when do I pay for accommodation? 

Information about the amount payable, payment dates and methods of payment will be communicated as part of your accommodation offer. You will normally pay three instalments (one for each academic term) via a payment plan.     

What’s included in the accommodation fee? 

All rooms are fully furnished and include utility bills, WiFi and contents insurance. For catered halls the catered fee is already calculated and included within the halls fee.  

Are there any additional costs? 

Unless you have been allocated catered accommodation, you will need to pay for food, personal items and socialising.     

How long is the contract and how many weeks do I pay for? 

This depends on the location and site, for example Cyncoed and Plas Gwyn will be 42 weeks, and partner halls from 42-44 weeks. Visit our website for more information on the contract length for each option.

Can I stay longer than the standard contract? 

Contracts will be for the fixed term stated in your occupation contract. If you wish to extend your stay, you can speak to the halls manager at your location and they will advise you on availability and costs. You may need to move to an alternative room and sign a new contract for any additional stay.

Can I extend my accommodation across academic years? 

Halls are predominantly offered to students who are first time at Cardiff Met. Priority is given to students leaving care, estranged students, and students with disabilities or medical conditions.

If I wish to re-apply for halls in your 2^nd or 3^rd year?

You can re-apply, but we cannot guarantee to make you an offer of accommodation.

We do however offer an advice service, to help students find suitable off campus accommodation, with information available on landlords or agents offering shared student housing.

Is parking available and how do I apply?  

We do not currently offer Residents Parking Permits. Parking is available for Blue (disabled) badge holders. Depending on which halls you are allocated, we recommend checking with your halls provider to confirm availability and their application process for a disabled parking permit.

Cardiff is a well-connected, student friendly city, and we encourage you to make use of sustainable travel options such as walking, cycling and public transport to get around and travel to campus. Find out more about travel options and our sustainability approach.

For further information on parking, please visit our Car Parking web page.

Can I change accommodation type (e.g. catered options)?

If you wish to update or amend your preferred accommodation options before you are allocated a room, please contact the Accommodation team and we will be happy to help you.  After you have been allocated a room, you can request to be added to a room transfer waiting list, but we cannot guarantee to make you an alternative offer.     

Where do students usually shop for food? 

Depending on which halls you are allocated, you’ll never be too far away from a supermarket or local shop. All locations have local shops within walking distance, or a supermarket within a walk or bus ride. Popular supermarkets include Lidl on Maindy Road, Cathays, and ‘Big Tesco’ on Excelsior Road, near Llandaff campus.

Don’t forget you can also get online supermarket deliveries for your ‘big shop’ that will deliver to your hall of residence.

How many flatmates will I have?

This depends on you halls location and site.

For example, Plas Gwyn will have 8 students sharing a flat, and Cyncoed will have between 8 to 12 students sharing a flat. Private Partner halls generally houses between 4 to 8 persons per flat.

How are flatmates chosen? 

We use your flatmate matching questions (asked in your application form) to help match you with students with similar answers. 

Are mature students housed together?

We aim to house mature students together where possible, but this cannot be guaranteed.

Can I contact my flatmates before moving in? 

This depends on where you are allocated accommodation.

For example, some of our partner halls offer an app where students can connect with flatmates and others in that hall. Cardiff Met halls at Cyncoed and Plas Gwyn have a WhatsApp group that you can opt into (we’ll send information as part of your pre-arrival information before you move in).

What furniture will be in my room? 

All rooms are fully furnished with bed, desk chair, wardrobe, etc.

What should I bring to accommodation? 

You will typically need to bring your own bedding, towels, toiletries, a few pots and pans, crockery and cutlery.

We will provide a guide of useful things to bring with you before you move in.

What items are not allowed in halls? 

This will depend on each hall and there is usually a safety reason, for example, you won’t be allowed to bring candles or anything with a naked flame, e-bikes and e-scooters are not permitted in halls and can’t be charged inside. You will be provided with a more comprehensive list before moving in but if in doubt, just contact your halls provider.

When is move-in and what should I expect? 

Arrivals weekend for September 2026 is Friday 25 September to Sunday 27 September. Partner halls may have a different arrivals schedule.

If you need an earlier start date, please contact us in advance.

How do I apply for accommodation if I have a disability or medical need? 

You should include information about any specific accommodation needs related to a disability or medical condition on your application, so that we can help match you to the right accommodation as early as possible.     

Do I need to disclose a disability, and how do I do this?   

If you require a specific accommodation type, or adjustments related to a disability we recommend you state this on your accommodation application. We share this information with the Wellbeing team, to ensure we match you to the right accommodation and where necessary, make reasonable adjustments.

We also encourage you to contact our Well-Being team, where you can discuss your requirements in more detail. They will help ensure you get the right support early on and will assist us in matching you to the most appropriate accommodation.

What support and facilities are available (e.g. accessible rooms, parking)?  

We have a range of accessible rooms available as well as hearing accessible rooms with flashing alarm systems. Disabled parking is also available for blue disabled badge holders. If you let us know your requirements in your application, this will help us identify the most suitable room for your needs.

Please refer to our Accommodation for Disabled Students web pages for more information.

Can specific accommodation types be requested? 

You can select up to 6 preferences within your application but we cannot guarantee to offer a specific location, room or price.