Allocation policy

Need to know

Our halls of residences

• are fully furnished, centrally heated and have on site laundry facilities
• 75% have a private en suite bathroom
• all of our halls have 24 hour staff cover and residential advisers
• all our halls have mixed gender flats with 3–8 students sharing
• we allocate halls on a mixed multi-faith basis.
• the rent include bills, contents insurance, internet access, off-peak gym membership and a shuttle bus between campuses
• most halls have 39 week contracts
• Great Wilkins (Falmer) and The Hub (Varley Park) have 50 week contracts.

Our unihomes

• All houses are in central locations
• All houses are fully furnished and have laundry facilities
• All houses are let on a mixed gender/multi-faith basis
• Unihomes have shared bathroom facilities
• Rent includes bills, contents insurance and internet access
• Unihome contracts are typically 48 weeks.

The allocation process

Rooms are not offered on a first-come-first-served basis; instead a computer program is used to make sure everyone has a fair chance of being offered a room.

Applicants are assigned a system-generated number that gives each individual a random placing on an allocation list which is configured after the deadline. The accommodation service then allocates rooms starting with the lower numbers until all rooms are filled.

For Brighton-based courses, where a number of options exist, students are required to make a minimum of four choices of accommodation in order of preference on their application. Where possible, we will try to allocate one of the choices, but this is determined by the position on the allocation list and nothing can be guaranteed. Students without a room allocation will be allocated a house share with a partner letting agent through the reserved room scheme or have access to our house-hunting service to source suitable private rented sector accommodation. On the Eastbourne campus there is just one hall of residence to apply for.

Accepting your offer

When your academic offer is unconditional we’ll email you as soon after the application deadline as we can to let you know if you’ve been allocated a place in halls.

• Because demand for accommodation is so great, we have a one offer policy. This means that if you reject an accommodation offer, no other room allocation will be made to you.
• When a room offer is made, you have seven 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 your email you used when applying.
• A 2% discount is offered in cases where rent for a halls or Unihome agreement is paid in full for the contract term at the time of acceptance online, but in no other circumstances. Where applicable, the discount is only given for University of Brighton accommodation.
• You must read and accept the terms and conditions of the room offer before you accept – it’s a legally binding contract. University residence contracts are set with reference to the standard term dates.
• You can move in to most of our accommodation from Saturday 23 September 2017. For the exceptions - Unihomes, Reserved Room Scheme and Great Wilkins – you can move in from Saturday 16 September 2017.

Eligibility criteria for university accommodation

All students must have firmly accepted an academic offer to be considered for a room in a university residence.

The deadline for receipt of applications is 15 July 2017 for entry into the random allocation process. The majority of places are allocated to UK, EU and Island fee status students who have firmly accepted an academic offer and submitted their accommodation application to deadline.

Please check other factors that might influence your accommodation application:

• Tuition fee status
• Other eligibility criteria.

Tuition fee status

Your tuition fee status will dictate whether you are guaranteed accommodation or join the random allocation process without any guarantee.

UK, EU and Island fee status students

If you have a firm academic offer and a UK, EU or Island fee status you will be eligible to apply for halls but we are unable to guarantee a university residence place. If your application is received and confirmed with an email receipt by 15 July 2017 it will join a random allocation process. The majority of places are allocated to UK, EU and Island fee status students who have firmly accepted an academic offer and submitted their accommodation application to deadline.

Students who live in the European Economic Area or British Overseas Territory

If you live in one of the European Economic Area states or a British Overseas Territory and have been assessed with a home, EU or Island fee status, you are eligible to apply but we cannot guarantee you a room. If you’re in any doubt, you can check with our admissions team via admissions@brighton.ac.uk.

• European Economic Area - www.gov.uk/eu-eea
• The British Overseas Territories - www.gov.uk/types-of-british-nationality/british-overseas-territories-citizen

If you live in one these areas and believe other circumstances should be considered, please contact the accommodation service at accommodation@brighton.ac.uk so that we can make an assessment of your situation.

International students (outside the EU, EEA or BOT)

If you are classified as an international student for tuition fee purposes, make us your firm choice, and apply for university accommodation by 15 July 2017, we will guarantee you a university residence room for your first year of study.

Students who made us their insurance choice or apply through Clearing

If you make us your insurance choice for a Brighton based course, or apply through Clearing you will not be eligible to apply for university residences like halls, but we will help you to find affordable private rented sector housing.

Other eligibility criteria

The following criteria may influence your eligibility to apply for accommodation:

• If you live in Sussex
• If your course involves a placement
• If you are under 18 on the first day of your course at university
• Campus location
• Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS)
• Information for students who are leaving care
• Information for students with disabilities
• Information for students with dependants
• Information for students with the School of Health Sciences
• Information for students at a University of Brighton partner college

If you live in Sussex

If you live in one of the excluded postcode areas listed, you will not be eligible to apply for university accommodation in Brighton. There are no postcode restrictions for students applying for halls on the Eastbourne campus, although students who live further away from the area will be prioritised.

We apply the excluded postcode exclusion because demand in Brighton exceeds the supply. The reasoning is that if you live close by, it’s easier for you to find suitable private rented sector accommodation locally or commute from home if you choose to.

However, if you live in one the excluded postcode areas and believe other circumstances should be considered, such as poor transport links, please contact the accommodation service at accommodation@brighton.ac.uk with written evidence so that we can consider your case.

Please note that the excluded postcode apply to all students including those studying with the Brighton Sussex Medical School.

Brighton campus postcode exclusions

• Brighton & Hove: BN1, BN2, BN3
• Henfield and Hassocks: BN5, BN6
• Lewes and Ringmer: BN7, BN8
• Newhaven and Peacehaven: BN9, BN10
• Lancing, Ferring and Worthing: BN11, BN12, BN13, BN14, BN15
• Eastbourne: BN20, BN21, BN22, BN23, BN24
• Seaford: BN25
• Polegate: BN26
• Hailsham: BN27
• Portslade, Shoreham, Steyning and Poynings: BN41, BN42, BN43, BN44, BN45
• Burgess Hill: RH15

If your course involves a placement

If your course involves a placement that means you will live away during term time you will not be eligible to apply for accommodation. Because demand for halls is so great, we have to prioritise accommodation for first year students needing a room for the full academic year. If this exclusion does apply, we’ll help you explore suitable private rented sector options.

Course details can change, so if you’re not sure about placements it’s best to check with your school office. We reserve the right to withdraw an allocation in cases where a placement arrangement becomes known to us retrospectively.

If you are under 18 on the first day of your course at university

If you have met the application deadline but have not turned 18 at the start of term we will guarantee you a place in a university residence. Regrettably we are unable to guarantee late applicants any accommodation but we will prioritise these cases for any availability that might arise.

Campus location

You can only apply for accommodation in the same location as your campus site, i.e. Brighton or Eastbourne, so please make sure you know where your course is based before you apply for university accommodation. You can view the course finder for details.

Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS)

If you plan to study the Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery qualification and make BSMS your firm choice, you will be guaranteed a room for your first year of study if you apply for accommodation by 15 July 2017. BSMS students can choose between University of Brighton accommodation at Paddock Field and University of Sussex accommodation at Lewes Court. These options are within walking distance of the Brighton Sussex Medical School and provide the unique length of contract needed by BSMS students.

Please note that although we guarantee a room, we cannot always guarantee a first choice of room.

A 2% discount is offered in cases where rent for the full contract term is paid in advance at the time of acceptance online, but in no other circumstances. Where applicable, the discount is only given for Paddock Field (University of Brighton).

Please note that there are some excluded postcodes which apply in the allocation process (please see the ‘if you live in Sussex’ section for details). This means that BSMS students who reside in these excluded postcodes areas will not be considered for Paddock Field halls.

Eating In

The EAT IN package is available to BSMS students allocated Paddock Field (catered) accommodation, but this service is only available during standard term times, which will differ from the BSMS schedule.

Outside of standard term times, the package is not available and students will need to make their own arrangements.

Information for students who are leaving care

A care leaver is someone who has spent time in any of the following:

• foster care
• residential care (children’s home)
• under a Special Guardianship Order
• supported accommodation outside of the family.

To be eligible for additional help, you usually need to be under the age of 25 and have been in local authority care for three months or more since the age of 14. You should also be applying to study for a full time undergraduate degree.

Check with Wendy Heasmer on 01273 644605 or email w.heasmer@brighton.ac.uk to see if you are eligible for -

• guaranteed accommodation in your first year
• help with money
• a personal student support guidance tutor
• counselling services
• study skills sessions

If you are eligible and apply by 15 July 2017 we will guarantee you a room in university accommodation. We will also consider you for a university residence as a returning student if you request it or help you to find suitable private rented sector accommodation.

Information for students with disabilities

If you have a disability and plan to apply for accommodation, you should liaise with student services at the earliest opportunity to make sure that you receive the best support available – disability@brighton.ac.uk.

Some students have a medical condition or disability which needs to be managed in specific accommodation, such as a hall of residence. We consider each case on an individual basis but in order to do so, we require applicants to disclose their medical conditions, disability or specific requirements during the online application process. You will also need to provide medical evidence to support your case at the point of application which demonstrates that you would be unable to study successfully in the private rented sector.

In cases where an applicant does not disclose a disability when they apply, where the information is not sufficient or when it is not supplied by the application deadline, it cannot be considered unless there is a direct referral made by the student services team. We work closely with this team to provide the best support to our students and will seek advice to make decisions when needed. You can also discuss your case or any on-going support needs at any time by emailing disability@brighton.ac.uk.

The supporting evidence must be at least one of the following:

1. A letter which fully explains your condition. It needs to be written in English by a certified medical practitioner. We have guidance available to help medical practitioners – if this is needed, please ask. The letter must explain how the condition affects the way you live and why your condition is best supported in a hall of residence.
2. A direct referral from the student services team recommending an allocation in a hall of residence.

We consider all evidence in the context to 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.

We have some rooms that are suitable for students who use wheelchairs, and also for people with visual and hearing impairments. If you require specialist equipment for use in halls for your disability – such as hoists, fridges, heaters 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. 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.

In special circumstances where a student would find it difficult or impossible to find suitable accommodation in the private sector, permission may be given for a three-year continued stay within the university accommodation. However, this will only be considered if the student would be unable to continue their studies unless they remained in university accommodation.

Information for students with dependants

We do not have university accommodation suitable for students with families, but the accommodation service can offer support and guidance to help you find private rented sector options. Please email us at accommodation@brighton.ac.uk for help if you need it.

Information for students with the School of Health Sciences

School of Health Sciences students are considered for halls using the established criteria and deadline but we recommend that you consider private rented sector housing as a realistic option. This often suits better due to the length of some courses and the preference to live with other health professionals with similar course and placement demands.

Most university residence contracts are for 39 weeks so we recommend that you check your course details and length with the School of Health Sciences before you apply for halls.

If you start in February and have an interest in hall vacancies, we suggest you contact the accommodation service in the new year and join a waiting list for accommodation. We can also help you to find accommodation in the private rented sector.

Information for students at a University of Brighton partner college

If you are studying a University of Brighton validated degree course at a partner college, you may be eligible to apply for university accommodation so long as you meet the criteria above and apply by the published deadline. Please check with your partner college and the accommodation service to confirm what arrangements are in place.