From Salisbury to Sciennes: What your first year Edinburgh accommodation says about you

Welcome to Edinburgh. As a third year student now, I feel as if I have a wealth of knowledge to scrutinise, or praise, your choice of accommodation. It’s a defining part of your first year experience and can be the source of best friends in university. Halls are a very important stage of a university student’s life, and let’s be honest, it shapes you as a person. So, here it is: What your first year Edinburgh halls say about you.

Salisbury Court

I miss eating my chicken nuggets in my Salisbury kitchen at 2am

Perhaps I’m biased because this was my first year accommodation, but whenever I say I lived in Salisbury Court, everyone always follows up with “I was so jealous of the Salisbury people.” We had an en suite, a large kitchen, a double bed, the Meadows, free food events, and only a 10 minute walk to George Square. Yes it might have been the most expensive self-catered accommodation, but as most people who lived here would say, “Wait, your Daddy doesn’t pay your rent?”

It was the self-catered version of Pollock. We were Pollockers who knew how to cook and clean, and I’m not ashamed of that. If you’re in Salisbury you probably study some form of STEM subject like bio med or engineering and love to make this clear to everyone you meet. You’re deep down a part time Salisbury part time Kings Building resident (who secretly wishes they were in Pollock for the social vibes).

Chancellors Court

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Private school, international student, Surrey, probably friends with someone famous (or you yourself are a nepo baby). No hate to the Channy C people, I am incredibly jealous that you got such a beautiful accommodation AND you didn’t have to cook every meal. You get a nice view of Arthur’s Seat but you probably haven’t climbed it because you’re too busy explaining how you found yourself in Bali this summer and where you’re going on your big family ski trip this Christmas. 

Holland House

Pollock meals were questionable but the fry ups slapped

You didn’t quite make it into Chancellors Court but you can’t quite face going into any other Pollock accommodations, so you’ll settle for Holland. It takes up half of the Pollock site with its horseshoe layout and it’s home to the infamous microlab, which you probably didn’t know about until you read this article.

You probably own a Longchamp bag and play hockey, and you probably study either philosophy or economics or something that will, in the long term, make you a lot of money. And you almost certainly went to private school. 

Ewing, Baird, Grant, Lee and Turner

Minus one point for single beds, Pollock bedrooms were so cosy (and warm)

I’ve put you guys all in the same category because you probably applied to all five of these accommodations as you were set on being in Pollock. You’re slightly less “rah” than Chancellors and Holland but you still maintain a good level. You probably wear a skinny scarf, love going to the races in Musselburgh, and always place a single pen on a desk in the library but only sit there for probably maximum thirty minutes before you go for a smoke break in George Square.

Nevertheless, I respect you. You made a good choice when it comes to accommodation. You definitely met your best friends on the first day in the JMCC and live with them now if you’re in second, third or fourth year. And I’m placing my bets on you studying either history, psychology, or English literature.

Fraser Court

Cut me open and watch me bleed Fraser Court

The last of the Pollock lot, if I can actually class you as Pollock. Every Fraser person I have is genuinely one of the nicest people ever. You guys are so fun, and you probably host some insane flat parties and pres before heading out to Whynot or Liquid Rooms. You have plastered your bedroom walls with pictures and posters and likely play every musical instrument under the sun.

Fraser residents study maths and like to emphasise to everyone they meet that they study maths. Fraser people are cool and trendy, but can also cook and know how to work a washing machine, unlike many Pollock people.

Warrender Park Road/Crescent

It may look pretty, but rumor has it it’s infested with mice

You like the quiet life. You live in Marchmont already so you’re basically living the second year experience, but you’re surrounded by ex-Pollock people who do their food shops in Margiotta. It’s highly likely that this wasn’t your first choice accommodation but you make do with it and the pretty sunsets over the Meadows, so maybe you did luck out after all?

One big downside is the lack of buses so you can’t use your YoungScot card to its full potential, but equally I picture you as a granola, gorpcore kind of person who goes on runs for fun, so no buses is probably not a problem for you. You probably even cycle to university and most definitely are addicted to Strava. 

Darroch Court

Standard uni accom window sill x

You have no excuse for not going to the gym. You practically live in Pleasance car park. I expect you to be going to those 7am spin classes every morning without fail. You lucked out when it came to location in the accommodation battle. You have everything practically on your doorstep. Anyone that lives in Darroch Court is a dark horse. For an accommodation that is nearly always forgotten about, it has a lot going on.

The Darroch Court resident is that course friend who seems perfectly normal (maybe slightly boring even), until you watch their snap story one night and find out they’re actually holding an underground rave in their kitchen. They exclusively drink hard spirits and have empty alcohol bottles lined up in their kitchen. A bit scary.

Kincaid’s Court

Kincaid’s people are the definition of “chaotic energy” and this translates directly upon its chaotic residents. That person who only turns up once every few months? Lives in Kincaid’s. That person who balances every society under the sun, studies medicine, and still manages to go out every night? Lives in Kincaid’s. You by far host the best pres and flat parties so never expect a boring night if you’re invited here.

Fuelled exclusively by pesto pasta and energy drinks from the corner shop below your accommodation, you will not go home until the club closes and you’ve either pulled, scrapped with someone, or disappeared for hours. You’re an enigma in the Edinburgh world. Or… you watched Nayna Florence and decided that because she was in Kincaid’s you also should be. 

Shrubhill, Beaverbank, Murano and Brae

You wanted Salisbury Court but didn’t get it. It’s as simple as that. No one would willingly live this far away from campus and pay the Unite fees unless you were set on only staying in Unite accommodation. I respect you for wanting the utmost best, but surely you could give in? I just couldn’t hack walking over South Bridge every day, or having to get the bus every day and being stuck in the traffic for at least 15 minutes. It’s just not worth it, is it?

Sciennes

Those that I’ve met who lived in Sciennes hated it. Did you even choose it or were you placed here because you didn’t get your first choice? You’re probably friends with a Salisbury resident and so you spend most of your time there instead. Conversely, you might be a mature or masters student who has returned to academics after a few years out but couldn’t quite finesse getting a pretty little Marchmont flat for the year.

If you live in Sciennes you’ve got a couple of lovely little coffee shops to try out and you live by the Meadows so best believe you should be making the most of it. 

College Wynd

I don’t think I heard about this accommodation until the end of my first year, I always thought it was just an extension of Kincaid’s. If you live here you’re probably similar to the description of a Kincaid’s resident, but dare I say even more chaotic? Is there anything you haven’t done? 

Hermit’s Croft

Reconnect with nature to get over the fact you didn’t get your first choice accom x

Life dealt you a bad hand when you got given Hermit’s Croft and every day you have to watch the Salisbury girlies walk by from their luxury pad. But it’s okay, Holyrood Park is just seconds away for a mental health walk (and a cry). If your life were a movie, it would be Shrek, and you’d be the gingerbread man. You have your moments but are more often than not forgotten about. Honestly, you’re just happy to be mentioned in this article.

Mylnes Court

Does anyone even live here? You study theology and brag about the fact that you live on the Royal Mile and have a view of Edinburgh…but so do most people? 

I am most certainly aware that I haven’t listed every accommodation, in Edinburgh (I am tired and want to go to sleep), but most people live in Pollock so #lol.

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