Oxford students sleep outside for university accommodation

Undergraduates from Oxford University and Oxford Brookes lined up outside the Finders' Keepers estate agents in St Clement's on Tuesday this week.

Some had set up camping chairs outside the agency, and came armed with hot water bottles and blankets, in anticipation of its 9am opening the next day.

Students queued in St Clements. (Image: SWNS)

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Student housing shortages in the UK have been blamed by many.

A student of business at Oxford Brookes University in Headington, Milly Ashley, 19, said: "We tried to queue last week from 4.30am and there were already people camping out from eleven the previous night.

"So, we decided to beat them this time around and go even earlier.

"We got Domino's, had a good chat.

Students queued in St Clements. (Image: SWNS)

"It's been okay really.

"But I can't feel my feet at all, and I'm wearing four jumpers, leggings, joggers and a coat."

Ms Ashley had been in the queue since 10am on Monday morning (November 27) along with friend Will Johnson, 19, to get their dream property.

Mr Johnson, who studies property development at the university, added: "Loads of people want to get the house we are going for - we've met 10 people today who are trying to get it.

Students queued in St Clements (Image: SWNS)

"It's probably the best four-bed property, and in a good place too, so we've just sat on these chairs all night.

"It was absolutely freezing. I'm wearing three jumpers right now.

"It's so ridiculous that we have to be out here for so long - it's just a scam to drive up demand beyond belief.

Students queued in St Clements. (Image: SWNS)

"The guys at the back, they always end up with the worst houses ever because they have to - they can't get anything."

PhD student of planetary science, Tom, 22, said he did not mind queuing as he was doing it voluntarily.

He said: "My feet are pretty cold, but we're choosing to do it.

Students queued in St Clements. (Image: SWNS)

"It is freezing, but we can leave whenever we want - if we weren't waiting we would still get a place, it'd just not be as nice.

"It's quite a stupid system, you think they would have a digital queue or something, but I don't know if this is just an artefact of the old way people used to get student accommodation or something."

Friend Jared, also 22, who does modern middle eastern studies at St Cross College, added: "This is essentially just us deciding that, yes, it's a bit grim, but we would rather wait here for a night and get a nice place locked in."