Living in residences

The Reslife Manager and their team of student Resident Support Assistants (RSAs) are here to help ensure the best possible student residential community experience. We run a programme of events to help you settle in and get to know your flatmates. 

Student welfare and wellbeing is very important to us and students are encouraged to meet with the ResLife Manager or RSA in confidence to discuss any issues, worries or concerns they may have, whether relating to their studies, wellbeing, welfare, living environment, or anything else at all.

Your RSA will visit your flat every other month to answer any questions the flatmates may have, to help with any problems and to keep everyone in the flat up to date with events and activities on campus and around the city.

Find out more about RESLife.

Tips for living in Residences

• Be aware of the University discipline rules and the terms of your contract.
• Get to know ALL your flatmates - they are going to be your 'family' for a long time.
• Have a flat meeting as early as possible and agree on some ground rules - cleaning the flat, use of communal areas, dealing with noise, overnight guests etc.
• Respect your fellow residents and look out for each other.
• Living with others can be challenging, so be prepared to negotiate and compromise.
• Get involved in your residence's social activities – it is up to you to make things happen.
• Consider insuring your belongings in addition to the general insurance which covers you as a resident in University residences.
• If you are experiencing difficulties or are worried about a fellow resident, we are here to help.
• Get to know the staff (Sanctuary and Residences offices) who are looking after your accommodation, and learn how to contact them if needed.
• Your accommodation reception can help you with day to day general enquires.

Dealing with conflict

If you are having difficulties with flatmates, you could try to resolve the conflict on your own by speaking to them first. You don't have to do this before you contact us, but it might make things easier for you and your flatmates.

Cleaning

You will contribute jointly to the cleaning of the communal areas of the flats, such as the kitchen and living area, and have responsibility for cleaning your own bedrooms and en-suite shower rooms. Flats will be inspected for cleanliness and breakages throughout the year.

Students who may find this difficult due to a disability can make enquiries at the Sanctuary Students Heathfield Office about the possibility of engaging a private cleaning service.

Laundry

There are self-service laundrettes at Belmont, Heathfield, West Park, and Seabraes.

You can pay using the Circuit Laundry app available for iOS and Android, which lets you top up using a credit/debit card or PayPal.

Instructions and advice for using the machines are provided in the laundry rooms and on Circuit's website.

If you encounter any issues with payment, or the machines themselves, please report this to Circuit Laundry (choose Dundee, then Sanctuary Student Housing) so they can be dealt with / repaired. Neither Sanctuary or University staff have access to help with your account or fix the machines.

Contacts

Welfare

• help
• support
• advice

Reslife Manager
Enquiry Centre
Campus Green
Dundee DD1 4HN

Monday to Friday 09:00 - 17:00
+44 (0)1382 384040
Contact us via our online form

Maintenance

• management
• cleaning
• repair works
• safety and security

Sanctuary Students
Heathfield, 75 Old Hawkhill
Dundee DD1 5EN

Monday to Friday 09:00 - 17:00
+44 (0)1382 383111
[email protected]

Contracts

• extending the term of the contract
• transfer requests
• rent payment

University Residences Service
Enquiry Centre
Campus Green
Dundee DD1 4HN

Monday to Friday 09:00 - 17:00 (Wednesday 10:00 - 17:00)
[email protected]

Security and out of hours help

If there is a serious problem (i.e. a serious leak or dangerous electrical fault) or you have lost your keys outside office hours then call the out of office number +44 (0)7776 298 696.

Overnight there is security provided by Sanctuary Students for all University Halls of Residence. There is a 24-hour telephone helpline, so if you encounter a problem late at night a member of the Security Team will be happy to attend and help.

What is RESLife?

ResLife is the dedicated programme for students staying in University of Dundee managed accommodation. The ResLife team consists of the ResLife Manager, two ResLife student Deputies and a team of student Resident Support Assistants (RSAs) who are responsible for your wellbeing while you are living in residences. We also arrange events and activities to help you meet new people, try new things and help you get the most out of campus life.

Meet the team

Starting university and living away from home can be hard at first. The ResLife team are here to support you while you get used to your new home and settle in. They completely understand what it’s like to be a new student, as they are all students too. RSAs live in student accommodation as well, so they are always easy to contact if you need support. 

 The team can help with a range of issues such as:

• settling into university life 
• navigating campus and the local area
• signposting to helpful university services
• support with resolving flatmate disputes

How to contact ResLife

Each RSA is allocated a number of university managed flats which they are then responsible for. After you move in, your RSA will contact your flat to arrange a meeting to introduce themselves and share their contact details. Make sure you attend the meeting! After the introductory meeting they will visit your flat every other month to see how you and your flatmates are getting on, but you can contact them in-between visits if you need to. You’ll also see them around campus and at our events and activities. RSAs are easy to spot, they wear the ResLife black and yellow hoody or t-shirt when on duty.

You can also email the ResLife manager: [email protected]

Events and activities

ResLife arranges events and activities throughout the year. You can keep up to date on what’s happening as well as book your tickets by following us on Instagram. Keep an eye out for our pop-up competitions too!

Here are some of activities we have planned for the new academic year. Check Instagram for dates and how to book.

Welcome week silent disco and mingling events

• Monthly movie nights
• Trip to IKEA
• Trip to Stirling Castle
• Sustainability workshops
• Sensory-friendly activities
• Edinburgh Christmas markets
• End-of-winter term Ceilidh
• End-of-summer term ResFest

Take a look at some of the photos and video from this year’s activities and events, we can’t wait to do it all again with our new students in 2023/24!

Our trip to Stirling Castle (YouTube)

Becoming an RSA

As you settle into university life and get to know your fantastic RSA you might wonder how you can become one as well! 

There are some fantastic benefits to joining the ResLife team:

• You receive extensive training to undertake the role as well as gain access to the university organisation development opportunities as an associate staff member.
• You will gain invaluable experience such as teamwork, problem-solving interpersonal and organisational skills which will help you boost your CV.
• ResLife is run for and by students. You can help shape and develop the ResLife programme to ensure it meets the needs of our student community.
• You will have a rewarding role, making a positive impact on student lives while enhancing your own skillset.
• You receive a generous rent reduction.

You can download the current Job Description below. The next round of recruitment will take place in November 2023 and is open to all students from Undergraduate Year 2 and beyond. Check Instagram for application dates and instructions.