Accommodation allocation policy 2026-27

We guarantee all eligible students the option to book a place in our halls of residence.

To be eligible for guaranteed accommodation, you must meet the following criteria:

  • be starting your first year of full-time study*
  • make Brighton your firm choice of university
  • submit your booking request by the deadline of 30 June 2026.

*Your course must start in the autumn term, run for at least 31 weeks and must not include a placement which requires living away from university during term time in your first year.

If you are not eligible to book into our accommodation or would prefer to live more independently, please contact us so that we can provide advice and support to help you explore suitable off-campus options.

Contact details

If you have a question about your eligibility or believe other circumstances should be taken into account when your booking is considered, please contact us to discuss. The accommodation team are here to help.

Our accommodation

University accommodation comprises halls of residence managed by the university and/or our partner providers.

Booking your accommodation

  • Invitations to book your accommodation are sent out by email from April onwards
  • You will be invited to book your place via our online accommodation portal
  • The deadline for guaranteed accommodation bookings is 30 June
  • Whilst we aim to offer a room matching one of your top two preferences, we do require you to identify up to four preferences during your booking.

We suggest that you consider a variety of factors when choosing your preferences, including your budget and proximity of each halls to your study site. The following list notes the halls of residence that are best linked to each study site:

  • City campus-based courses: Phoenix Brewery halls, Mithras halls, Circus Street (nominated private halls)
  • Moulsecoomb campus-based courses: Mithras halls, Varley Park halls, Circus Street (nominated private halls)
  • Falmer campus-based courses: Paddock Field halls, Great Wilkins halls, Varley Park halls

You can find out all about the different halls and what they have to offer here.

Room allocations

  • After submitting your booking preferences, you will be assigned a random, computer-generated allocation number which will determine your position on our booking list. We will then aim to offer you a room from one of your four room preferences. Our ability to offer you one of your preferences will be determined by your position on the allocation list.
  • 98% of students received their first or second choice room in 2025-26.
  • Students are grouped together, wherever possible, with other students of a similar age.

Accommodation offers

  • If you hold an unconditional academic offer, you may hear from us from mid-June onwards
  • If you hold a conditional academic offer, as you are waiting for results, we will contact you after your place at the university is confirmed. For many students this is from mid to late August. Please note that if your offer does not go unconditional by 30 August then we are unable to guarantee you an offer of accommodation.
  • When a room offer is made, you have three days from the sent date to accept the offer. If you miss the deadline the offer is likely to be withdrawn, so please keep a close eye on either your emails or the online portal.
  • You will need to make an advance payment of 7 days rent to secure your offer of a room in university halls.
  • For Circus Street, you will need to make an advance rent payment of £250, and provide a guarantor (a UK resident between the ages of 18-75, and with a good credit history).
  • We have a one offer per student policy. This means that if you reject an accommodation offer, or allow it to expire, no other room allocation will be made to you.
  • You must read and accept the terms and conditions of the room offer before you accept – it’s a legally binding contract. Different providers will have different terms and conditions, so please read them carefully.

Students with disabilities

If you have a medical condition or disability which needs to be managed in specific accommodation, such as a hall of residence on a specific site, please ensure you inform us as soon as possible before the deadline.

We consider each case on an individual basis. In order to do so we require applicants to disclose medical conditions, disability or specific requirements during the online booking process and provide up-to-date medical evidence to support your case.

Appropriate medical evidence

Supporting evidence must be a letter which confirms your medical condition and details any room adaptations or specialised equipment you may require. It needs to be written in English by a certified medical practitioner. Medical evidence must be no more than 6-12 months old for variable conditions. You can view the guidance for medical practitioners online.

Medical evidence will be handled sensitively and may be shared with appropriate colleagues in the interests of allocating the most suitable room for your needs.

We consider all evidence in the context of the Equality Act 2010 definition of a disability as a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term negative effect on the ability to do normal daily activities. 'Substantial' means more than minor or trivial and 'long-term' means 12 months or more.

Adaptations

We have some rooms that are suitable for students who use wheelchairs and mobility aids, and for people with visual and hearing impairments. If you require specialist equipment such as hoists, fridges or beds the university can provide some equipment, but you must make the accommodation service aware of your requirements at the earliest opportunity so that arrangements can be made. If there is a delay in providing the relevant information for your requirements, we cannot guarantee that relevant adaptations will be complete, or specialist equipment provided by the start date of the tenancy. 

Adaptations to equipment such as bedroom units can usually be made to suit individual requirements, but major structural adaptations may not be possible. If you think you might need adaptations to your accommodation, please contact us to arrange a visit to view the accommodation as early as possible. 

If you do not inform us of your condition or disability in your booking before the deadline but inform us later on, with sufficient medical evidence we may prioritise you for a room. We cannot guarantee, however, that one will become available. If you are not sure whether it is relevant to share your condition or not, please contact us so we can advise. 

Priority groups

Under 18s

If you have applied by the deadline, we will offer you a room in a university-managed residence if you are under 18 after 1 September.

If you have not applied by the deadline please contact us and, although we cannot guarantee a room will become available, we may prioritise you for a vacancy should one arise.

Care leavers 

If you are a care leaver, please let us know this when submitting your accommodation booking so that we can offer the most appropriate accommodation for your circumstances. This might be university managed accommodation with a longer tenancy length, for example.

Provided your status is confirmed by our Widening Participation team (contact details below) and you submit an accommodation booking by the deadline, you will be made an offer of a room in university managed accommodation. If you do not declare this information during your booking but disclose this later, we may prioritise you for a room in university managed accommodation should a suitable vacancy arise.

We will also consider you for a university residence as a returning student if you request it or help you find suitable private rented sector accommodation.

To find out more about the support we offer, please contact the Widening Participation team at aboutuni@brighton.ac.uk or call 07792396266. You can read more information for care leavers here. 

Estranged students

If you are estranged from your family, please let us know this when submitting your accommodation booking so that we can offer the most appropriate accommodation for your circumstances. This might be university managed accommodation with a longer tenancy length, for example.

Estrangement is verified by Student Finance when you apply for funding; Student Finance will award you independent status based on your estrangement if you provide sufficient evidence. Once this has been verified by Student Finance, please notify our Student Money Advice Team as soon as possible (contact details below) and provide a copy of your confirmation email to them. They will then confirm to the Accommodation Service that your status has been verified.

Provided your status is confirmed by our Student Money Advice Team, and you submit an accommodation booking by the deadline, you will be made an offer of a room in university managed accommodation. If you do not declare this information during your booking but disclose this later, we may prioritise you for a room in university managed accommodation should a suitable vacancy arise.

We will also consider you for a university residence as a returning student if you request it or help you find suitable private rented sector accommodation.

To find out more about the support we offer, please contact the Student Money Advice Team at studentadvice@brighton.ac.uk or call 01273 642888. You can read more information for estranged students here.

Contact details

If you have questions about your eligibility, or believe other circumstances should be taken into account when your booking is considered, please contact the accommodation service at accommodation@brighton.ac.uk.

Frequently asked questions

I selected to ‘stay at home’ on my UCAS application. Can I still book a place in halls?

Yes. UCAS asks for your preference on this for their own data, but that information is not passed over to universities. Provided you meet our eligibility criteria, you will still receive an email invitation to book your accommodation.

How long will it take to complete my booking?

It is quick and easy to complete your booking and should take no more than 15 minutes. You can access the online portal from a laptop, smartphone or tablet and you can always log in and amend your preferences should you wish to, so long as you do so before the deadline.

If you need to submit additional documents in support of your booking, it is a good idea to have electronic copies of these ready to upload when you begin.

As a BSMS student, how do I book a place in accommodation?

Eligible BSMS students studying for the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery will be made an offer of a room in university managed accommodation. Students can choose either University of Brighton accommodation at Varley Park Halls or University of Sussex accommodation. Both options are within walking distance of the Medical School and contract lengths match the BSMS term. We cannot guarantee to offer you your first choice of accommodation.

I have missed the deadline, can I still apply?

If you miss the main cycle deadline, please contact us for advice. If you miss the deadline but you fall in to one of the below categories, we will look to prioritise you for any rooms that come back to us, but we are unable to guarantee this:

  • Students who will be under 18 on 1 September 2026
  • Care leavers or students estranged from their family
  • Students with an evidenced medical condition or disability who would be unable to study successfully while living in the private rented sector

Will I be guaranteed one of my room choices?

We make every effort to allocate rooms according to your individual preferences, whilst working with your position on the booking list. In 2025-26 98% of students received their first or second choice room.

Where should I live as a mature student?

Students aged 21 and over are classified by the university as mature students. If you are eligible to book for accommodation but you are not sure that university managed accommodation is the best fit for you, please contact us for advice.

We tend to group students by age so if other mature students have applied we will try, wherever possible, to place you together in one flat. Alternatively, we can provide information to help you secure accommodation off campus.

Do you have any quiet accommodation?

We do not currently offer a specific quiet room option.

Anyone with an autism diagnosis, or awaiting an autism assessment can apply for our supported flats, designed for those who consider themselves to have a ‘quieter’ lifestyle.

To apply, send an email to the Disability and Learning Support Team at disabilityadmin@brighton.ac.uk and we will arrange a quick phone call with you or your parents, carers, or trusted contact to make sure that this option would be suitable for your needs.

As places are limited, spaces will be allocated on a first come first served basis.

If you would like any further information, please contact the Disability and Learning Support Team at disabilityadmin@brighton.ac.uk.

What if my course does not start in the autumn term?

If your course starts in January or February, please contact us for advice. We often have rooms available in halls at this point in the year, so if you contact us from beginning of December onward we will add you to a waiting list. Alternatively, we can share resources with you to help you find alternate accommodation in the city.

What do you mean by nominated private halls?

The University of Brighton has collaborated with Circus Street halls to secure 220 additional rooms solely for the use of first year University of Brighton students. These halls provide excellent quality accommodation in a central location close to our teaching campuses, the city centre and local amenities. The site also offers a full social programme with weekly events and live in Wellbeing Coordinators to support all students living in the residence.

If you are offered a room in Circus Street, you will be sent a unique link to secure your room booking directly with the halls provider. An advance payment of rent and a guarantor will be required. Your contract will be directly with the halls provider, and subject to their terms and conditions.