Accommodation types and guides

Catered residences: introduction

Catered accommodation at the University of Edinburgh is provided at Pollock Halls of Residence, our largest accommodation complex.

Pollock Halls accommodates around 1,900 students. Over 96% of all rooms are singles, with just a few twin-bedded rooms available.

The allocation to Pollock Halls (or any other University accommodation) is not done on a first come, first served basis.

All students who qualify for our guarantee of accommodation and who give catered accommodation as their first choice have the same chance of being successful.

The food

Catered accommodation comprises breakfast and evening meal, Monday to Friday, and brunch and an evening meal at weekends.

All meals are served in the John McIntyre Centre, at the heart of the Pollock Halls site.

There is a vegetarian option on the menu every day, but vegetarians, vegans or students with specific dietary requirements are advised that they may find self-catered accommodation more appropriate to their needs.

Healthy Food Agenda

We offer a wide variety of healthy and nutritious food, including soups, salad bar items, main meals, pizza and pasta.

The University was the first in the UK to achieve the Food for the Brain award.

In addition, the main catering facility at Pollock Halls holds the Healthy Living award and the Eat Safe award.

Award winning food at Pollock Halls

The rooms

There are two distinct styles of accommodation available at Pollock Halls:

En-suite: single (and a very small number of twin) study bedrooms, each with their own shower and toilet.

En-suite accommodation is currently available in Masson, Holland and Chancellor’s Court, which together comprise just over half of the places at Pollock Halls.

Upgraded: recently refurbished single study bedrooms with shared bathroom facilities, totalling around 900 places.

Tenancy

The cost of a single room in Pollock Halls is inclusive of meals, all electricity costs, internet access and insurance for personal possessions.

The standard length of tenancy for new students in Pollock Halls is 34 weeks, i.e. both semesters plus the Winter Vacation.

Part-year tenancies are also available to Visiting Undergraduates.

Catered accommodation costs

Location

Pollock Halls is a large and lively complex situated on the edge of Holyrood Park, in the shadow of Arthur’s Seat, about a kilometre from George Square.

This article was published on Dec 1, 2008