[HDNG]IN COLLEGE:[EHDNG][PARA][GRPH]A2[EGRPH][STAT][BULL] Catered: 4% [BULL] Cost: ú51.50-53.50 (30wks) [BULL] Self-catering: 9.5% [BULL] Cost: ú28-40 (30/38wks)[ESTAT][PARA][BOLD]Availability:[EBOLD] Accommodation on campus is only able to shelter 80% of the 1st years and few from other years, but aims to house all 1st years from outside the region. The accommodation is divided into 4 'phases', I to IV, which differ according to cost, [ITAL]and levels of concrete ghastliness[EITAL]. 10% have to share. 400 new places are due for 1995 entrants. There's also a head tenancy scheme, whereby the University rents out 323 houses in town.[PARA][BOLD]Catering:[EBOLD] The University runs a refectory charging ú3 for a 3 course meal[ITAL]. [EITAL]There's also Microbyte, which serves cheaper fast food, and the Union.[PARA][BOLD]Car parking: [EBOLD]Car ownership is increasing, and [ITAL]the situation sometimes approaches a shoehorn/vaseline scenario[EITAL].[HDNG]EXTERNALLY:[EHDNG][PARA][GRPH]A2[EGRPH][STAT][BULL] Ave rent: ú40[ESTAT][PARA][BOLD]Availability:[EBOLD] Living out presents as many options as living in. Most students opt to live in privately rented flats, some of which are [ITAL]very good value[EITAL], but some end up (for at least part of a year) in lodgings with a live-in landlord/lady who cooks and cleans. [ITAL]Often this is like a home from home, but students complain that rather than making them homesick, this arrangement more frequently makes them sick of home.[EITAL] Talking of home, many students are local and live with their parents and/or families. [ITAL]With all these options, most of the year it's not too difficult to find somewhere, until it comes to September when everybody else is looking, or August when landlords with any sense don't want to know because all their properties are on profitable short-term rents to Festival-goers. Students with nous can get a piece of this action themselves.[EITAL] The trick is to avoid the crush and start a rental period at the beginning of the summer and to ensure subletting's allowed. Then get some am dram group doing a Fringe show to pay ú50 per person per week, cramming in a cast of 20, during the Festival and suddenly student debt is a thing of the past. [ITAL]The best places to be are Marchmont, Bruntsfield and Newington, particularly studenty areas, close to the centre with high quality housing. [EITAL][PARA][PARA][BOLD]Housing help:[EBOLD] The [ITAL]excellent [EITAL]Accommodation Office has 5 staff providing a bulletin board, approval scheme and advice.[PARA][PARA]
