Students Staff

New students

You can apply for accommodation using our online application process. This is normally available through the myEssex Applicant Portal. All deadline dates for applications will be published on these pages.

Essex Sport membership

For students applying for accommodation in Colchester from 2019/20, we’re including an Essex Sport Silver membership package within your rent. Find out more to see what’s included within the Silver membership.

How to apply

Your first year of study

Applications for new undergraduate students for 2019-20 are now open.

All full-time undergraduate students studying at our Colchester Campus are entitled to accommodation for the first year of study provided they fulfil the following two conditions:

  • You return your application by the deadline date
  • You have not, in the previous academic year, had an allocation of University owned or administered accommodation that commenced before the end of the autumn term and ended after the start of the summer term

All full-time undergraduate students studying at our Southend Campus are entitled to accommodation for the first year of study as long as they return their application by the deadline date.

Please only select areas you are willing to accept as we will not make any changes once an offer has been sent.

  • Colchester Campus accommodation availability

    You're guaranteed a room if you apply for accommodation before 11.59pm on Friday 23 August 2019 and you have not, in the previous academic year, had an allocation of University owned or administered accommodation that commenced before the end of the autumn term and ended after the start of the summer term.

    If you're a new applicant and apply after this date, we can no longer guarantee you accommodation for your first year, but you can still apply for accommodation and we will offer you a room if possible. If we can't offer you campus accommodation then we'll put you in touch with SU Homes, an agency run by our Students' Union.

  • Southend Campus accommodation availability

    You're guaranteed a room if you apply for accommodation before 11.59pm on Friday 23 August 2019.

    If you're a new applicant and apply after this date, we can no longer guarantee you University accommodation for your first year, but you can still apply for accommodation and we will offer you a room if possible.

    Before you apply check out our fantastic offers for Southend. Choose either a 2 year or 3 year deal when you apply and save money.

If you have chosen us as your insurance choice, you will only be able to apply for accommodation here, once you have become 'firm' with Essex.

You will not receive an offer of accommodation until your academic status is unconditional.

The guarantee does not apply to other student categories. For more information please refer to our Allocations Policy.

Make sure you read the Application Guide (.pdf) before making an application for accommodation.

New undergraduate students are not required to make a prepayment (previously known as a deposit).

What you need to do

When your UCAS status at Essex is showing as either conditional firm or unconditional firm, you can apply online.

You need to:

  1. Create your myEssex applicant portal (see timescales below)
  2. Login to the portal
  3. Go to the Living section of the portal, where you will find the link to the online accommodation application form under Accommodation

Timescale

It can take up to 24 to 48 hours for the relevant data to be imported into the accommodation application system from the point of creation, so set up your portal as soon as you can.

Reasons you may not be able to apply

You will not be able to apply if:

  • you have not received an offer of academic study at Essex
  • you have only just created an applicant portal (see timescale above)
  • Essex is not your firm choice
  • your status at Essex is neither conditional firm nor unconditional firm or
  • you do not have a PRID (e.g. SMITH12345) in the myAdmin section of the myEssex Applicant Portal
  • you have not allowed 48 hours after becoming firm at Essex for our system to update, before applying for accommodation

More information

Registering to vote

If you’re eligible to vote in UK local and general elections, you’ll need to make sure you’re on the electoral register once you’ve settled into your accommodation, using your new address. Don’t miss your chance to have your say – join the UK electoral register online.

What you need to do

Applications for new postgraduate students for 2019-20 are now open.

All full-time postgraduate students studying at either our Colchester or Southend Campuses are entitled to accommodation for the first year of study as long as they return their application by the deadline date.

Please only select areas you are willing to accept as we will not make any changes once an offer has been sent.

  • Colchester Campus accommodation availability

    You're guaranteed a room if you apply for accommodation before 11.59pm on Wednesday 31 July 2019.

    If you're a new applicant and apply after this date, we can no longer guarantee you University accommodation for your first year, but you can still apply for accommodation and we will offer you a room if possible. If we can't offer you campus accommodation then we'll put you in touch with SU Homes, an agency run by our Students' Union.

  • Southend Campus accommodation availability

    You're guaranteed a room if you apply for accommodation before 11.59pm on Wednesday 31 July 2019.

    If you're a new applicant and apply after this date, we can no longer guarantee you University accommodation for your first year, but you can still apply for accommodation and we will offer you a room if possible.

Make sure you read the Application Guide (.pdf) before making an application for accommodation.

You need to:

  1. Create your myEssex applicant portal (see timescales below)
  2. Login to the portal and accept your offer of academic study
  3. Go to the Living section of the portal, where you will find the link to the online accommodation application form under Accommodation

Timescales

It can take up to 24 to 48 hours for the relevant data to be imported into the accommodation application system from the point of creation, so set up your portal as soon as you can.

Payment

Don't worry about the money at this stage. When you receive an accommodation offer you have one week to accept and pay your £250 prepayment. You will be able to make this payment by credit/debit card as part of the online acceptance process.

If you are not able to pay your pre-payment at the point of acceptance, please contact the Student Information Team in the Student Services Hub. Please do not try and pay your pre-payment via the student online payment system. We have experienced difficulty tracing such payments in the past and this option has therefore been discontinued.

To be guaranteed accommodation, you must complete the application form by the deadline date of 31 July 2019.

Reasons you may not be able to apply

Please also note that you will not be able to apply if:

  • you have not received an offer of academic study at Essex
  • you have only just created an applicant portal (see timescale above)
  • you have not accepted your offer of academic study or
  • you do not see a PRID (for example, SMITH12345) in the myAdmin section of the MyEssex Applicant Portal
  • you haven't allowed 48 hours after accepting your offer at Essex, before applying for accommodation

More information

South Essex College

We currently provide a small number of rooms at the University Square, Southend for new undergraduate students studying at South Essex College.

  • SEC students wishing to apply for accommodation should contact Student Services on:
    Telephone 0845 5212345, Email accommodation@southessex.ac.uk for an application form.

East 15

Private accommodation is available at Loughton, please visit the the East 15 website for more information.

East 15 students studying at Southend Campus can apply for accommodation as a new or returning undergraduate student via our normal channels.

Erasmus/Study Abroad

Erasmus/Study Abroad students should contact the Essex Abroad office regarding applying for accommodation.

Sports bursary

If you have a sports bursary and want to apply for accommodation, please contact the Sports Centre direct.

Edge Hotel School

Two-year course Accommodation applications for 2019-20 academic year

If you are an Edge Hotel School student and wish to apply for accommodation for your two-year course starting 2019-20, please complete the 2019-20 Edge Hotel School Application form and return by email to accadmin@essex.ac.uk

April postgraduate applicants for Colchester

For all Colchester postgraduate April 2019 starters wanting to apply for accommodation, please complete the 2018-19 April postgraduate arrivals Colchester Campus Accommodation Application form and return by email to accadmin@essex.ac.uk

All other January applicants

Undergraduate and Postgraduate

Applications for January 2019 are now closed.

If you accept your allocated accommodation you will enter into a legal contract with Accommodation Essex and you will be liable to pay the rent for your room for the period stated on your offer letter.
Please read our terms carefully before accepting any offer of accommodation:

Contact us if you have any queries relating to accommodation applications.