Accommodation for students in town and on-campus
Students who study at SAMS reside in either on-campus accommodation, Oban-based halls or rent from private landlords in the area, usually staying in Oban or surrounding villages such as Connel, Taynuilt or Benderloch.
Click to download the: 2024 SAMS Student Accommodation Guide
Undergraduate students who have accepted their offer for the coming academic year will be contacted with information about accommodation in May/June and invited to apply.
Postgraduate students usually prefer to arrange their own accommodation – please refer to guidance under ‘Private Renting info’.
However, if you have any enquiries about where to stay when you are studying at SAMS, please send an email to our SAMS Accommodation Team at accommodation@sams.ac.uk who can supply further information.
Margaret Barnes Building
Living in our Margaret Barnes residence means you are surrounded by other students and can focus on making friends and learning to live independently but without the additional challenge of budgeting for utility and transport costs, and perhaps even furnishing your new accommodation.
This is a ground-floor self-catering residence for 11 students in the Margaret Barnes Building. It is a non-smoking facility and cannot accommodate pets.
Wifi is available throughout and students will have to sign a Wifi user agreement when they enrol.
Local amenities and transport
The residence is on the SAMS campus - i.e. you'll be able to sleep the longest! From here is takes approximately 10 minutes to walk into Dunbeg village, which has a local shop and post office, and from where a regular bus service takes students into Oban, which is 3.5 miles away. There is also a scenic cycle path from Dunbeg to Ganavan beach in Oban.
Private rooms
Students live in single rooms.
Rooms are equipped with: a bed, desk, chair, a sizeable built-in wardrobe, shelving, and curtains / blinds.
Each room comes with an adjoining bathroom with toilet, washbasin with mirror and bath with overhead shower.
Shared facilities
The 11 students share a living room, kitchen and laundry room.
Kitchen: Oven, fridge/freezer, sink, microwave, kettle, toaster, bin, vacuum cleaner, storage cupboard and basic supply of pots and pans, crockery, cutlery and cooking equipment.
Laundry room: fridge/freezers, washing machines, tumble dryers, ironing board, iron, sink for handwashing and cupboards for additional storage.
Living room: sofas, coffee table, dining table and chairs, TV cabinet and TV. A TV licence is included in your accommodation occupancy fees - but only for this one TV.
It is the joint responsibility of residents to keep the communal areas clean and tidy.
Parking
There is free car parking available outside as well as a covered bike rack. Bikes not to be stored inside Margaret Barnes Building.
Accommodation occupancy fees
Students sign a contract covering the whole occupancy period from induction week at the end of August/beginning of September to mid-May. Exact dates will depend on the year in which you enrol.
Occupancy fees include all bills (heating, electricity, water, Wifi, single TV licence, use of laundry facilities). Fees can be paid annually (£4623 for the academic year 2024/25), monthly or in 3-monthly instalments in advance - details are outlined in formal accommodation offers.
Residents are also required to pay a £400 security deposit and a £100 non-refundable administration fee alongside the first instalment of their occupancy fees.
Any damage to the fittings or structure of the residence will be deducted from the deposit, as will any cleaning charges, if the accommodation is not left in an acceptably clean condition at the end of the occupancy period.
What will your address be?
Name, Room Number, Margaret Barnes Building, Scottish Association for Marine Science, SAMS, Dunbeg, Oban, Argyll PA37 1QA
What to bring
Provisions (food, toiletries, cleaning products, toilet paper) for the first few days until you manage to go shopping
Bedding for your bed (your own mattress protector, duvet, pillows, sheets, duvet and pillow covers)
Towels and tea towels
Coat hangers
Crockery, cutlery, chopping board if you wish to have your own (but you may need to store some of it in your room)
New extension lead (to adhere to Portable Appliance Testing regulations)
Headset/headphones (so you don't disturb house mates when you’re online or listening to music)
If you want to bring your own TV or watch live TV in your room, please arrange a separate TV licence - see www.tvlicensing.co.uk
What NOT to bring
Candles, incense sticks, tea lights, BBQs, heaters, chip fryers, smoking equipment, dartboards, weapons (incl replica or sports-related), electric blankets, plug-in air fresheners, inflatable cushions or furniture.
Halls of Residence in Oban town
Dunollie Halls offer self-catering accommodation for up to 22 students. The building is a converted church, full of character, located between Breadalbane Street and Dunollie Road in Oban. There are 16 single occupancy rooms and three twin-occupancy rooms. Residents share communal facilities: the large lounge/kitchen/diner, laundry and storage room. Rooms in the main church building share use of the shower rooms/wcs on their landing. Annex rooms have their own ensuite shower room/wc with a shared kitchen/communal area. Students in the Annex can access the shared laundry, bike storage and larger communal area in the main church building, next door.
Due to the unique architectural character of this building, please note that rooms vary in size and shape. Residents are responsible for their own cleaning and catering with the addition of a weekly bathroom cleaning service only for the shared shower room/toilet facilities.
Benefits
> Exclusively for use by SAMS students during term time
> In Oban, close to shops, restaurants, pubs, cinema, theatre, beaches and leisure centre
> Free indoor storage room (bicycles, wetsuits, luggage)
> Heating throughout
> Maintenance available for routine repairs
> Council tax exemption for full time students
> Local bus services from Oban to Dunbeg
> National transport links from Oban include bus, rail and ferry services
Accommodation occupancy fees
Single occupancy bedroom: Single room £625 per person per month. (£5337 fee for the academic year 2024/25).
Shared twin bedroom: Twin room £465 per person per month. (£3970 fee for the academic year 2024/25).
All residents pay a £100 non-refundable administration fee and a £400 refundable deposit.
The occupancy period is from induction week at the end of August/beginning of September to mid-May. Exact dates will depend on the year in which you enrol.
Please direct any enquiries to the SAMS Accommodation Team: accommodation@sams.ac.uk
SAMS maintains an online accommodation folder if you want to find private accommodation we are aware of.
Alternatively, contact local letting agents
Viewing private rentals
If you are unsure what to look out for when viewing accommodation, Urban Jungle have put together some really helpful advice and top 10 tips for viewing private student accommodation.
Places where short-term visitors have stayed before...
Oban
Barriemore Guesthouse on the seafront
Corriemar House B&B on the seafront
Oban Bay Hotel and Spa on the seafront
Oban Youth Hostel on the seafront for en-suite dorm and family accommodation
Perle Hotel - opposite the railway and bus station
Premier Inn - behind railway station and ferry terminal
Wellpark House on the esplanade
Dunstaffnage Marina
The Wide Mouthed Frog (bar, bistro and beds)
Connel
Benderloch
The Isle of Eriska Hotel: for those looking for luxury
Barcaldine
Ardtorna, eco-friendly 5 gold star B&B
Barcaldine Castle, luxury B&B guesthouse
Bonawe
Blarcreen luxury guest house on Loch Etive in countryside
Camp sites and chalets
Cologin Country Chalets and Lodges
Roseview Camping and Caravan Park
Tralee Bay Holidays Lodges and Caravans
Each year we welcome students from all over Scotland, the UK and around world. As part of their experience here, we offer them the option to stay with a local family to get a true insight into the local culture and way of living.
VISIT OUR STUDENT HOST SCHEME WEBPAGE.
HOST FAMILIES:
If you are a local resident who is interested in hosting a student, you can find out everything you need to know over on the main student host scheme web page or you can email your enquiry to accommodation@sams.ac.uk.
STUDENTS:
If you are a student who would like to learn more about the opportunities to live with a local family during your studies with us, please email accommodation@sams.ac.uk.
SAMS Accommodation Team
T: +44 (0) 1631 559 427
SAMS, Dunbeg, Oban, Argyll PA37 1QA, United Kingdom