Subversion is great for student projects.
To set up a repository type the command svnadmin create [path/to/repos]. Since you only have access to your own home directory that is where we will create the repository.
$ cd
$ svnadmin create repos
You now have a directory called repos it should contain the following items
conf dav db format hooks locks README.txtLets say that you have a project called Zuul that you want to add to the repository.
$ svn import Zuul file:///home/pernicat/repos/Zuul -m "initial import"
Adding Zuul/trunk
Adding Zuul/trunk/.classpath
Adding Zuul/trunk/.project
Adding Zuul/trunk/Game.java
Adding Zuul/trunk/README.TXT
Adding Zuul/trunk/Parser.java
Adding Zuul/trunk/Player.java
Adding Zuul/trunk/Room.java
...
Committed revision 1.