Just to further Gonzo's reply, due to personnel being their usual slick self I had written confirmation of my course only two weeks before I was due to start it! And that was only after my SATCO got involved by phone with them! As a result I started chasing accommodation very late. The advice I was given at the time was to start at the BOTTOM of the list and work up as everybody else will start at the top and work down. Worked a treat as the first place I phoned had vacancies. The downside was that nobody on my course was staying at the same place but that didn't bother me as I knew I would be looking for a flat after a couple of months anyway.
Odi