Allocation policy 2020

We guarantee all eligible first-year students an offer of a place in one of our halls of residence.

In order to be eligible for guaranteed accommodation, you must meet the following criteria.

  • Make Brighton your firm choice of university
  • Be starting your first year of full-time study*
  • Apply for university accommodation by the deadline we tell you about

If your course is based in Eastbourne you can also apply for accommodation if we are your insurance choice.

*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 apply for accommodation or would prefer to live more independently, please contact us so that we can provide advice and support to help you explore suitable private rented sector options. We are always looking to expand our room stock so contact us to check availability in university-managed accommodation.

Contact details

Got a question about your eligibility, or believe other circumstances should be taken into account when your application is considered, contact us as soon as possible. The accommodation team are here to help.

Apply for university accommodation

COVID-19 pandemic

All university accommodation is managed in line with the latest government COVID-19 guidance and advice. We have extended our application deadline from 30 June to 30 July following UCAS decision to extend the standard university application deadline from 19 May to 18 June. All our halls are now self-catered with the option to add in a food and drink plan. We're also offering overnight stays if you commute to university. And you’ll be supported through our Residential Lives scheme; our student residences advisors are around 24/7.

Our accommodation

University accommodation includes the following:

  • Halls of residence managed by the university and/or our partner providers
  • Unihomes – university-managed houses
  • Unilets – houses jointly managed by the university and a letting agent (Brighton only)

Applying for accommodation 

  • Invitations to apply for accommodation are sent out by email from March onwards.
  • You will be invited to create and submit an application via our online accommodation portal.
  • The deadline for all accommodation applications has been extended to 30 July 2020
  • If your course is based in Eastbourne, you can apply for accommodation in Eastbourne only
  • If your course is based on a Brighton campus, you can apply for accommodation in Brighton, and houses in Eastbourne
  • Whilst we aim to offer a room in the closest available accommodation to your campus, we require you to identify up to four preferences during your application.

Teaching sites and accommodation are linked as follows:

  • Eastbourne based courses: Welkin halls, Unihomes in Eastbourne
  • Grand Parade based courses: Phoenix Brewery halls, Circus Street halls and houses in Brighton
  • Moulsecoomb based courses: Moulsecoomb Place halls, Varley Park halls, Circus Street halls and houses in Brighton
  • Falmer based courses: Paddock Field halls, Great Wilkins halls, Varley Park halls, Circus Street halls and houses in Brighton.

Room allocations 

  • Rooms are not offered on a first come/first served basis, a random allocation process is used for fairness and transparency.
  • Applicants are grouped by teaching campus and assigned a random, computer-generated allocation number. We then allocate rooms in number order, starting with students given the lowest numbers, until all rooms are filled.
  • Students are grouped together, wherever possible, with other students of a similar age.
  • When you apply for accommodation you will be asked to select up to four options in order of preference. We take these preferences and the campus where your course is based into account. Our ability to offer you one of your preferences will be determined by your position on the allocation list.
  • If you select a Unihome or Unilet as one of your preferences on your application, you may be allocated into a university-managed house in either scheme. You will be placed in the most suitable house based on factors such as your campus and any additional requirements that you state on your application. If you have only selected halls of residence options within your preferences, you will be guaranteed an offer of a room in halls of residence.
  • Significant transport works are scheduled for Brighton city centre during 2020/21. To minimise travel-to-study time we aim to, but cannot guarantee, to place students in the accommodation closest to their teaching campus.

Accommodation offers 

  • Accommodation offers are sent after we close for applications in July
  • If you hold an unconditional academic offer, you may hear from us from July 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. Please note that if your offer does not go unconditional by 7 September, then we are unable to guarantee you an offer of accommodation.
  • We offer rooms to students throughout July, August and September
  • 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 14 days rent to secure your offer of a room in university halls or in a unihome.
  • To secure an offer of a unilet you need to pay a deposit of £250 to secure the room.
  • 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.

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 or accommodation 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 application process and provide up to date medical evidence to support your case.

Appropriate medical evidence

Supporting evidence must be a letter which fully explains your condition, how the condition affects the way you live and why your condition is best supported in a hall of residence or in a specific type of room. 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. Read the guidance for medical practitioners.

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 declare your condition or disability in your application 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.

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 continued stay within university accommodation. However, this will only be considered if the student would be unable to continue their studies unless they remained in university accommodation. A direct referral from the Disability and Dyslexia team recommending a specific allocation would be required.

Contact details

If you have questions about your eligibility, or believe other circumstances should be taken into account when your application is considered, contact the accommodation service at 

FAQ's

How long will it take to complete my application?

It is quick and easy to complete your application, most students spend no more than 15 minutes on this process. 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 application deadline.

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

What should I do if I am under 18?

If you have applied on time, we will offer you a room in a university managed residence if you are under 18 after 1 September.

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

As an international student, what will I be offered?

If you have been classified as international status for fee purposes and you have applied for accommodation through our online portal, you will be offered a room in a university managed residence.

If you’re in any doubt about your fee status, check with our admissions team.

If you have missed the deadline to apply for accommodation please contact us for advice.

Should I tell you if I am a care leaver or estranged from my family?

If you are a care leaver or are estranged from your family, please declare this during your accommodation application 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 the Widening Participation team (care leavers) or the Student Advice team (estranged students) and you apply by the accommodation deadline, you will be made an offer of a room in university-managed accommodation. If you do not declare this information during your application 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 to find suitable private rented sector accommodation. Contact our widening participation team to find out more about the help we offer: aboutuni@brighton.ac.uk, 01273 641043.

Read the general advice from the university.

As a health sciences student, which accommodation should I choose?

We recommend health science students consider university managed houses as their preferred option for the following reasons:

  • The contract lengths offered can be a better match for the longer terms involved in some health courses
  • Health science courses can involve shifts and weekend working which can be easier to manage when living in house with other students studying similar courses
  • University halls of residence do not offer parking but some of our unihomes and unilets do. This is particularly relevant for Paramedic Science students who are often required to have their own transport.

University-managed houses are allocated as part of our online accommodation application process. If you would prefer to look for accommodation in the private rented sector, we can provide advice to help you with your search.

Please let us know if you need to bring a car with you to university when you apply, so that this can be taken into consideration when we allocate rooms

If your course starts in February we can advise you about university accommodation availability or help you to find accommodation in the private rented sector. To find out about availability contact the accommodation service early in the new year.

As a BSMS student, how do I apply?
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 Paddock Field or University of Sussex accommodation at Lewes Court or Park Village. 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.

If you are allocated a room at Paddock Field you can choose to buy a food and drink plan.

I have missed the deadline, can I still apply?
If you miss the deadline please contact us for advice. We operate a priority waiting list for students who meet the following criteria:

  • Students who will be under 18 on 1 September 2020
  • 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

What if my course does not start in the Autumn term?
If your course starts in February, please contact us for advice. Rooms become available in halls and university managed properties throughout the year. Alternatively we can share information with you to help you find a student house in the private sector

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 apply 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. Our university managed houses are often a popular choice for mature students so if people of a similar age apply we might be able to group you together in a property. University managed houses tend to be quieter than halls, as you are sharing with fewer people.

Alternatively, we can provide information to help you secure accommodation in the private rented sector.

Can I apply for quiet accommodation?
We do not currently provide a specific site identified as a quiet area. You may find that living with fewer people is quieter than living in a block with many others, if this is the case we recommend you select university managed houses as one of your preferences in your application. University managed houses range in size from 3 to 6 bedrooms.

How do I apply for a unihome or unilet?
University-managed houses (unihomes and unilets) are reserved for new students and allocated to students in the same way as halls of residence, so please apply online through the accommodation portal.

Privacy statement

Please read our privacy statement.