Moving into accommodation and starting your first week

Moving into accommodation

If you’re moving into RAU accommodation, please check the Accommodation Portal and make sure you have paid the £300 deposit, read and signed the contract, and set up your payment plan.

Moving in will take place on Sunday 22 September from 10:00am - 5:00pm. If you need to arrive outside of this window please contact Accommodation with your expected arrival time so we can make arrangements.

Upon arrival, please park in the car park relevant to your accommodation:

  • Stroud Road car park - West Lodge, Coad Court, Bledisloe and Main Building
  • Woodlands car park - Vic Hughes 1 and 2, Woodlands 1, 2 and 3

Car park barriers will be open and you will not require a permit for moving in day.  Click here for a map of our campus, including car park entrances.

Once parked, head to the Emrys Jones Block and Atrium café, and you will be greeted by our friendly team of staff.

If you completed all the registration and payment steps prior to arrival, you will receive your accommodation access and student card.

More information on accommodation

What to bring

Bring things to make you feel at home – your own duvet cover, 2 pillow slips and a sheet (single bed), towels slippers and dressing gown (in case of fire drills!), snacks for your room, waterproofs, wellies (if needed), decorations and pictures.

Catered rooms -  bring a mug for a cuppa and a plate and cutlery for snacking in your room if you want to.

Self-catered rooms - bring additional pots pans, crockery and cutlery for meal making and utensils for washing up – yes you have to do your own!

We ask that if you bring items to put on walls you must use fixings that can be removed without damage – i.e. glue dots or white tack. Do not use anything on the walls or furnishings that cannot be removed without leaving a mark.

We do not allow cooking appliances/pets/smoking/vaping in bedrooms.

Starting your first week

Induction for all new students starts on Monday 23 September 2024 with a variety of sessions and activities taking place. Your Induction Week timetable can be viewed by selecting your course from the list below:

Agriculture

Business

Environment

Equine 

Land and Property

Postgraduate research

Welcome Day – Thursday 26 September

Whether you’re new to the RAU, or you just need a refresher on the way things work, our Student Lifehacks event on Welcome Day will get your year off to a great start.

Join us in Boutflour Hall and the Parkinson Lecture Theatre from 10:00am – 2:00pm on Thursday 26 September for a series of short talks from the teams around the university.

Learn who to go to for help, where to get free wellbeing resources, and how to make the most of local opportunities – don’t miss out!

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE FULL LINE-UP

There will be stands outside the talks, giving you a chance to meet some local organisations who can help you on your student journey.

Student Services will also be offering a free, sitcom-themed breakfast from 8:30 – 10:00am on that day; come to Emrys Jones 01 to make friends, have a laugh, and get your day off to a relaxing start.

Follow @RAUstudentservices on Instagram for more updates.