APPLY


Information about applying for accommodation at NOOC

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Departments or Sponsors?

If you are seeking accommodation on behalf of someone else, who fits into one of the categories above, please read the information below.

We prefer to receive applications directly from the person wanting to stay at NOOC, however, we are happy to receive enquiries, made on other peoples' behalf, regarding availability, charges and we are happy to advise on appropriate ways of applying, depending on the student's circumstances.

Please contact the Administrator by phone ( 01865 311277) or email.

 

NOOC is committed to equal opportunities

Therefore, all requests for accommodation are considered fairly, without reference to race, background or religion.

 

Gender and Age

The gender of the applicant is not a relevant factor, except where particular accommodation has been designated for men or women.

 

We do not normally accept applicants under the age of 21.

 

The Booking Deposit

You must confirm your acceptance of an offer of accommodation by paying a booking deposit of £200.* A booking will not be confirmed until a deposit has been received.*Bookings of less than 28 days do not need a deposit.

Cancelling a booking

Click here for more details about cancelling a booking.

 

The Legal Situation

 

The Oxford Overseas Student Housing Association is registered in England as an Industrial and Provident Society with charitable status (W18697R).

 

We will ask you to meet with the Director of the Centre to sign a Licence Agreement within a few days of arriving at the Centre.

 

The Licence Agreement is a legal document that includes details of the obligations which NOOC will fulfil and which you, as a resident, are expected to fulfil.

 

We will send you a copy of the Licence Agreement before you arrive at the Centre

 

The Centre has a complaints policy (details may be obtained from the administrator) and subscribes to the Independent Housing Ombudsman.

Who can apply for accommodation at NOOC?

You can apply for single, double or family accommodation if you are (or will be):

1. a full time post-graduate student or academic visitor at a University in Oxford.

2. a full time post-graduate student or an academic visitor from another university using the research facilities in Oxford.

3. a full time undergraduate student over the age of 21 studying at a university in Oxford.

You can apply for  family accommodation if, in addition to the above, you have two children or less, all under 10 years old

All applicants should be permanently resident outside the UK.

Most rooms are available only to applicants entering the UK on a Student or an Academic Visitor Visa (where a visa is required).

If you do not fall into the categories listed above (for example, you are an Academic Visitor coming on a Work Permit visa) and would like to know if you may be eligible for accommodation, please contact the Administrator.

How long can someone stay at the Centre?

Accommodation at the Centre is provided for stays of between 12 weeks and 1 year, although an Agreement may be extended up to a maximum of two years. Applications for bookings of less than 12 weeks will not be given priority. The minimum period of stay is one week (or two weeks between June and October).  Academic Visitors can only stay for a maximum of 6 months.

Please note that we do not normally accept bookings that begin or end during the University academic terms.  Click here to find out these dates.

How to apply for accommodation

1. Please read all the information on this page.

2. If you consider that you meet our accommodation criteria (see above) and you think that there might be a suitable vacancy - please fill in an application form

Please answer every question on the form as we cannot consider your application without all the information.

Please note that you should apply the same number of months before your length of stay.

For example, if you want to stay for 2 months you should apply no earlier than 2 months before the arrival date.  We do not accept applications more than 6 months in advance.

Please note that an enquiry or application does not guarantee a booking.

Please contact the Administrator if you would like a full copy of our Accommodation policy

3. We will then assess your application.

The following criteria are used to assess the eligibility of each applicant:

  • Student (on a full time course) or Academic Visitor status
  • length of time resident within the UK (normally not more than 5 rooms will be allocated to people already in UK
  • financial situation
  • the need of the applicant for the support of NOOC
  • the need to maintain a multicultural, multidiscipline community within NOOC
    • This means that we will not allocate more than 10% of our accommodation to any one nationality or department in order to maintain a balance.
  • the ability of the applicant to contribute to the life of the NOOC community

Priority will be given to:

  • new arrivals from developing countries
  • postgraduate students

The allocation of accommodation is the responsibility of the Administrator in consultation with the Directors. 

4. We will then contact you about your application.

We aim to respond to applications within three working days of receipt. 

  • Acceptance

If you are accepted, we will offer you a room, and state the dates that the room is available and the charges that will be made. You may also be asked to pay a returnable deposit of £200 - details of the terms and conditions and how to pay it will be sent with the letter of acceptance.

The letter of acceptance will ask you to reply and pay the deposit by a certain date - NOOC will cancel your reservation if you have not confirmed and paid the deposit by this date.

  • Refusal

If we are not able to offer you accommodation we will write to you as early as possible to give you opportunity to look elsewhere.

  • Pending

In some situations we may not be able to offer you accommodation immediately: 

  • if you do not need a visa to enter the UK we may need to contact your Departmental Administrator to confirm that you will not be on the University payroll

  • if we do not have a room vacant for the dates you have requested but expect that one will become available we will tell you this and keep you informed about the situation

  • if you applied early for accommodation we will put your application on hold until the appropriate time in advance to consider your application

Cancelling

 

Please see the next page for information about our cancellation policy

Some regulations for residents

Residents staying longer than 28 days must sign a Licence Agreement within a few days of arrival.

All damage to, or losses of, the Association's property by a resident, their family or guests must be paid for and the Housekeeper will carry out an inventory check at the end of a tenancy.

The date at which a resident is required to vacate the room will be specified at the time of registration or renewal of agreement. We ask that residents vacate their room by 10am on the specified date of departure.

To shorten a stay, because of early completion of a study course or the need to leave Oxford earlier than anticipated, notification must be made at least 28 days in advance

Finding alternative accommodation is not a reason to leave the Centre before the due departure date as agreed to on the Licence Agreement.

This means that if you want to move to alternative accommodation in Oxford before the expiry of your licence agreement we will not accept 28 days' notice. We reserve the right to charge up to the end of the agreed licence period.

Residents may apply in writing to the Administrator for permission to transfer or exchange rooms.  A charge is made for room moves.

The Association has the right to terminate the Agreement if:

  • the resident fails to pay the accommodation charges

  • the resident breaches the terms of the Agreement

  • the resident ceases to be engaged in full time academic study

  • the resident has made false claims on the application form in order to be eligible for accommodation

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Home About Us Links Contact

 

North Oxford Overseas Centre, 117 Banbury Road, Oxford OX2 6JX

+44 (0)1865 311277

administrator@nooc.org.uk

Oxford Overseas Student Housing Association Ltd is registered in England as an Industrial and Provident Society (W18697R) with charitable status.