FAQs
A list of frequently asked questions.
Recruitment FAQs
Resident Assistants are (generally) continuing students that reside in accommodation to provide support and guidance to other residents. They do this by building community, planning events, responding to enquiries and undertaking tasks that contribute to the smooth running of their accommodation site.
We are seeking enthusiastic and motivated individuals who want to help others and give back to the university community while developing skills and having fun. You can learn more about the responsibilities of the role and the attributes we are seeking by reading the role description.
RAs will be required to complete online training on appointment to the role. Contractual dates for the role for undergraduate RAs then commence on the 30th of August 2024 and will end on the undergraduate student lease end date (30th of May 2025). For postgraduate RAs the role will commence on the 30th of August 2024, and will end on the postgraduate lease end date, 30 August 2025.
RAs must be able to attend mandatory training on appointment to the role and must be available in-person with any isolation requirements completed during the January arrivals period (typically the first full week of January. RAs will be provided with accommodation for the full duration of contractual dates.
RAs, in return for the duties they provide as outlined in the Role description, will receive free accommodation during RA training, 30th August - 6th September 2024 and a 75% reduction of the rent for a standard room allocated to them at their assigned property from the start of the lease. RAs will receive this reduction while they actively remain in the role.
The Undergraduate RA role will be live to apply from the 19th of Feb – 10th of March for new RA applications. The Undergraduate RA returner applications will be live from 11th of March – 24th of March.
New Postgraduate Applications will open 26th April and close 12th May. Postgraduate Returner Applications will open 13th May and close 26th May.
As we recruit for such large numbers we sometimes run multiple recruitment cycles and/or recruit during the academic year. If you would like to be notified when these vacancies arise then please add yourself to our mailing list by emailing reslife@ed.ac.uk.
Recruitment for 2025-26 is estimated to open in February 2025. Please contact us then for more information.
For the most part we do not place undergraduate RAs at postgraduate sites or vice versa as differences in duration of accommodation lease and RA contracts can be problematic. Some exceptions have been made in the past for PG students who are enrolled on courses with atypical semester dates. We also often have summer RA opportunities for returning UG RAs to support our pre-sessional students. If you would like to request to be placed out-with this policy then please contact us at reslife@ed.ac.uk before applying.
If you are successful in our recruitment process we will either offer you a role at an accommodation site or a place on our waitlist. Candidates who are on the waitlist are will be offered free accommodation for the week of training and are required to participate in full RA training and induction alongside the rest of the team so that they can step into an RA role when one arises. In previous years all candidates on the waitlist have been offered a place at an accommodation site prior to the start of RA training week.
If a candidate has not been placed at an accommodation site by the start of RA training, they still receive free accommodation for the duration of RA training. It is difficult to predict when or where vacancies will arise so a candidate on the waitlist will likely need to move accommodation site to undertake the RA role, and will start receiving remuneration from the point that they commence a role at a site. Please note that the more accommodation sites you include when choosing where you would like to be placed, the more likely you are to receive an offer of a role.
We have a different appointment process for candidates who are currently RAs at the University of Edinburgh, or who have been within the last two years. This is based on your performance in the role and conducted as part of progress review with your line manager. If you are not currently in an RA role but are interested in re-applying please contact reslife@ed.ac.uk. For RAs in the role currently, please speak to your Line Manager.
- If you have been unsuccessful in securing a role then we would not consider another application from you within 3 months of your original application. After 3 months has passed we can accept an application for future rounds of recruitment, but we would strongly encourage that you gain relevant experience prior to submitting new applications. You can find potential opportunities by contacting the Student Association or visiting My Career Hub run by the University of Edinburgh Careers Service.
RAs are not allowed time away from site during the above mandatory training dates. At other times of the year requests for time away from site will be considered.
It’s worth noting that this is a residential role that relies on Resident Assistants getting to know their residents through regular interactions and holding a position of responsibility in the residence. As such the expectation is that they will be a visible presence at the accommodation site and will sleep there unless otherwise agreed in advance. If you are hoping to travel a lot over the coming year, or have significant academic or extracurricular commitments that would require you to be away from site frequently then this may not be the role for you.
Undergraduate RAs do not have any duties for a three week period during Winter break, and a two week period over Spring break. Confirmation of these dates will be provided to you at RA training. Time away from site out-with these times is not guaranteed but can generally be agreed with line managers providing it will not have a negative impact on service delivery or the team.
Postgraduate RAs who are contracted for 51 weeks are entitled to 32 days of leave plus 4 university closure days over the Winter break. They are also entitled to up to 14 days academic leave for conferences and field trips. Requests for time off site must be agreed with line managers in advance. Further information relating to this is provided on appointment.
During the application process we ask all candidates to detail any support needs they may have. This information will be taken into consideration when placing successful candidates. RA teams are formed with diversity in order to meet student needs as a priority, and placements within buildings are allocated strategically within our residences to ensure RAs are distributed across the community and in prime locations to support their residences.
Please note that any personal information disclosed in the application regarding accommodation needs will not be considered during the assessment phases of the recruitment process.
We believe that our recruitment process should be a positive learning experience for applicants. For that reason we make the following commitments:
- The application process will be as much about you finding out if the Resident Assistant role is the right fit for you, as it is about us assessing your suitability for the role.
- Our processes will be fair, inclusive and transparent. We will try and help you succeed at every step by communicating clear expectations and timelines.
- If you are not successful we will aim to respond with feedback on your application within two weeks of a request being received.
If you're expected to receive an extension for completing your degree, you may still be eligible to apply as an RA. However, you will need to provide proof of such extension when submitting your application. Proof of extension is required to ensure that all RAs meet the necessary criteria of being fully matriculated and enrolled as full-time students.
Acceptable forms of proof may include official documentation from the University confirming the extension, such as a letter from your academic advisor or a copy of your updated academic plan.