Accommodation — The Scottish Association for Marine Science

SAMS offers a number of accommodation options for students.

For students who are underage when they start their studies or have particular needs, we offer on-site accommodation in the Margaret Barnes Building. For other students we work with a letting agent to provide residential student accommodation in the centre of Oban. This will be largely reserved for students who are here in their first year and live away from home for the first time.

After first year, most students opt for private accommodation. By that time they have made friends, decided who they want to live with (if not alone), and have explored the area sufficiently to know where they might like to live.

How to apply for accommodation in our student residences

>Accommodation is only offered to UF / CF applicants.
>Accommodation packs are sent out mid-May. You will be asked for your accommodation preferences.
>Accommodation is allocated to students by mid-June.
>Contracts and payment requests will be sent to students.
>Students with conditional offers: we will only issue a final acceptance of accommodation after your place on the programme has been confirmed.
>We will send you a pre-arrival pack mid-August.
>We expect students to move into their residence in the first week of September.

Margaret Barnes Building

>Who was Margaret Barnes?

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.

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 roooms

Students live in single rooms.

Rooms are equipped with: a single 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.

Living room: 5 sofas, 1 arm chair, coffee table, TV cabinet and large flat screen TV. A TV licence is included in your rent - but only for this one TV.

Laundry room: washing machine, tumble dryer, ironing board, iron, sink for handwashing and storage.

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 shed (bikes not to be stored inside Margaret Barnes building).

Rent

Students sign a contract covering the period from September to the end of May. Monthly rent is IRO £500 and includes all bills (heating, electricity, water, Wifi, single TV licence, use of laundry facilities). Rent is paid every quarter in advance and is due on 1 September, 1 December and 1 March.

Residents have to pay a £400 security deposit to secure their rent. You can pay this by cheque, cash or card when booking is acknowledged. Any damage to the fittings or structure of the residence will be deducted from this deposit, as will any cleaning charges if the facility is not left in an acceptably clean condition.

What will your address be?

SAMS Hostel, Scottish Marine Institute, Dunbeg, Oban PA37 1QA

What to bring

Privisions for the first few days until you manage to go shopping

Bedding for single bed (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)

Cleaning products, toilet roll

New extension lead (to adhere to Portable Applicance Testing regulations)

Headset/headphones (so you don't disturb house mates if you want to listen 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), electric blankets, plug-in air fresheners, inflatable cushions or furniture.

Distillery apartments in the centre of Oban offers modern living accommodation for 22 first year SAMS students. It was opened in autumn 2017 and is thus still very new!

The letting agent is West Property and detailed information including rental costs and conditions, and the inventory and facilities with photos are available on their website.

We will send students detailed information of how to apply to live at distillery appartments once they have a confirmed place at SAMS.

Many students - especially in higher years - prefer to find their own accommodation.

SAMS maintains an online accommodation folder if you want to find private accommodation we are aware of.

Alternatively, contact local letting agents