Allocation policy

We guarantee every eligible student an offer of university-managed accommodation.

To be eligible you must:

  • be starting your first year of study at the University of Brighton on a full-time course
  • live in an eligible postcode area
  • apply for accommodation by the deadline of 30 June 2019
  • if your course is based in Brighton, you must make Brighton your firm choice with UCAS
  • if your course is based in Eastbourne you can also apply for accommodation if we are your insurance choice.

University-managed accommodation includes:

  • university halls of residence
  • unihomes – university-managed houses
  • unilets – houses jointly managed by the university and a letting agent.

Eastbourne students may be offered a room in a student house, managed by a private landlord or agent registered with us.

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.

How to apply for university-managed accommodation

Applying for accommodation 

  • Invitations to apply online for accommodation are sent out by email in March.

  • The deadline for all accommodation applications is 30 June 2019.

  • 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 only

  • While we aim to offer a room in the closest available accommodation to your campus, you will be asked to choose up to four preferences in your application.

Campuses and accommodation are linked as follows.

  • Eastbourne-based courses: Welkin halls, unihomes in Eastbourne and university-arranged properties.
  • City*-based courses: Phoenix Brewery halls and university-managed houses in Brighton.
  • Moulsecoomb-based courses: Moulsecoomb Place halls, Varley Park halls and university-managed houses in Brighton.
  • Falmer-based courses: Paddock Field halls, Great Wilkins halls, Varley Park halls and university-managed houses in Brighton.

*from February 2019, Brighton: City campus is the new name for our Brighton: Grand Parade campus.

Allocating rooms

  • To ensure fairness and transparency, rooms are allocated using a random process, not on a first come first served basis.

      • Applicants are grouped by teaching campus and assigned a random, computer-generated number. We allocate rooms in number order, lowest numbers first, until all rooms are filled.

  • Students are grouped with people of a similar age wherever possible.

  • When you apply you will be asked to choose up to four accommodation 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.

  • To minimise travel-to-study time we aim, but cannot guarantee, to place students in the accommodation closest to their teaching campus.

Accommodation offers 

  • Accommodation offers are sent after applications close in June. We offer rooms throughout July, August and September.

  • If you hold an unconditional academic offer, you may hear from us from July.

  • If you hold a conditional academic offer because 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.

  • 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 keep a close eye on either your emails or your online application.

  • 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 room you need to pay a damage deposit of £250.

  • 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.

Additional information 

We prioritise certain groups for rooms in university halls of residence. This includes:

  • students with evidenced disabilities who, as a result, require a specific room type
  • care leavers
  • students estranged from their family
  • students aged under 18 on 1 September
  • Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery students
  • international fee status students.

We also recommend you read our FAQ section for more information.

You can read our privacy statement (pdf) here.

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, make sure you let us know as soon as possible and before the accommodation deadline.

We will consider your case on an individual basis. In order to do so we require you to disclose medical conditions, disability or specific requirements during the online application process and provide up-to-date medical evidence to support your case. This should  demonstrate that you would be unable to study successfully while living in the private rented sector.

Appropriate medical evidence

Supporting evidence should 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  twelve months old for variable conditions. You can view the guidance for medical practitioners (pdf) here.

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.

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.

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 they would be unable to continue their studies unless they remained in university accommodation. A direct referral from our Disability and Dyslexia team recommending a specific allocation would be required.

Students living in Sussex postcodes

If you live in one of the areas listed here, you are not eligible to apply online for university accommodation.

We operate a postcode policy because demand for our accommodation exceeds supply. The reasoning is that if you live close by, it’s easier for you to commute from home, using discounted public transport, or find suitable private rented sector accommodation locally if you choose to.

We are continually working to expand our room stock so if you would like to live in university accommodation, contact us after 20 August to discuss availability.

Brighton-based courses

If your course is based in Brighton you cannot apply for accommodation if you live in one of these postcodes:

  • 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
  • Gatwick: RH6
  • Crawley: RH10, RH11
  • Horsham: RH12, RH13
  • Burgess Hill: RH15
  • Haywards Heath: RH16, RH17
  • Uckfield: TN22

These postcode exclusions apply to all students including those studying with the Brighton Sussex Medical School.

Eastbourne-based courses

If your course is based in Eastbourne you cannot apply for accommodation if you live in one of these postcodes

  • Eastbourne BN20, BN21, BN22, BN23, BN24
  • Seaford: BN25
  • Polegate: BN26
  • Hailsham: BN27
  • Hastings: TN34, TN35 and TN36
  • St Leonards-on-Sea: TN37, TN38
  • Bexhill-on-Sea: TN39 and TN40

Frequently asked questions

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.

I cannot apply for university-managed accommodation, is there a waiting list in case students drop out?

We are always looking to expand our room stock and will be in a better position to advise about availability after 20 August. If you would like to apply for a room  contact us after this date to discuss.

Although we cannot guarantee a room will become available, students who are prepared to commute initially may find that a room becomes available in university accommodation just before or just after the start of term. 

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 have not applied before the deadline, 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. You can do this by logging into your studentcentral account and sending your question via the messages tab.

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

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

Yes. You can tell us in 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.

Providing your status is confirmed by our widening participation team (care leavers) or our 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. Our widening participation team can tell you about the help we offer: aboutuni@brighton.ac.uk, 01273 641043.

We offer practical support and advice to care leavers and estranged students.

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

We recommend health science students consider university-managed houses or private rented sector housing 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 a house with other students
  • University halls of residence do not offer parking but some of our university-managed and private rented accommodation 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.

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.

As a BSMS student, how do I apply?

Eligible* BSMS students studying for the Medicine BM BS 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 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 have the option to purchase a catered package. Find out more.

*Postcode exclusions apply – if you live in one of the Sussex postcodes listed in our allocation policy you may not be eligible to apply.

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 2019.
  • 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, contact us for advice. We often have rooms available in halls and university-managed properties at this stage so if you contact us from 2 January onwards we may be able to add you to a waiting list. 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, 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 find accommodation in the private rented sector.

Can I apply for quiet accommodation?

We do not currently provide a specific 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 choose university-managed houses as one of your preferences in your application. University-managed houses range in size from three to seven 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 you can apply online and choose university-managed houses as one of your preferences in your application. 

If you are not eligible to apply for accommodation or would prefer to live independently, contact us so that we can provide advice and support to help you explore suitable private rented sector options.