Applying for Undergraduate accommodation

New student accommodation applications for 2024-2025 will close on 3 October 2024. Still need a room? No problem, you can make a Late Booking from this date.
January 2025 entry applications remain open.

If you have chosen us as your firm or insurance choice you can apply for accommodation, we still have rooms available, apply below. 

Essex Accommodation on social media:

Two students talking in their kitchen
3-Year Accommodation Deal

New students can lock in the current prices for the duration of your studies with our NEW 3-year contract. Keep the same room you've made home, Summer accommodation at the same rate and no price changes for 3 years. Peace of mind and easy living!

Find out more

Support for low income households

Are you eligible for our undergraduate bursary for 2024-2025? Check out Essex Futures Bursary page for more information.

New Undergraduates October 2024 entry

Who can apply and when 

Applications for the 2024-2025 academic year will close on 3 October 2024.

Although our guaranteed accommodation deadline has now passed, we still have rooms available and you can still apply for accommodation with us. Please see details below on how to apply and secure your room today. 

Follow the next steps below to see what happens after you have made your application.

For more information please refer to our Allocations Policy.

Allocation policy

Our Allocation Policy covers:

  • the criteria for students who want to apply for accommodation
  • details of those students who are guaranteed accommodation and
  • how we will prioritise applications for returning students, part-year students and those on the waiting list

If you are 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 full term of the contract.

Please read our terms carefully before accepting any offer of accommodation.

Reasons you may have trouble applying

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)
  • your status at Essex is neither conditional firm nor unconditional firm or
  • you do not have a PRID (e.g. SMITH12345) in the Home section of the My Essex Applicant Portal
  • you have not allowed 48 hours after becoming firm at Essex for our system to update, before applying for accommodation

Contact your Student Services Hub if you have any queries relating to accommodation applications.

How to apply for Undergraduate accommodation

You will be able to choose and reserve your room when you apply online, using our new Book Now process.

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

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, where, if applicable to you, you'll find the accommodation section.
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. 

New undergraduate students are not required to make an advanced rent payment when accepting their offer.

Next steps

Once you have chosen and reserved your room online, you will receive an automated email confirming our booking.

Your confirmation of booking will be emailed to the address you supplied to UCAS (or your @essex.ac.uk email address, if you have one) and will contain details about your room and the accommodation charges. 

Colchester accommodation 3 year undergraduate deal 

If you are a new undergraduate student for the 2024-2025 academic year and want to secure accommodation for the duration of your course, then you now have the option to select a 3 year accommodation contract, when you apply.

Benefits

By selecting the 3 year deal, you benefit from:

  • Rent fixed at the 2024-2025 rate for the duration of the 3 years, so no rent increases
  • Free storage of your belongings in the summer (of years 1 and 2) as you keep the same room
  • Option to book summer vacation accommodation, in your room, at your current rent rate
  • We will honour the 3 year deal over a 4 year period, if you have a 1 year placement or will be studying abroad for 1 year during the 3 year deal period
Location

The 3 year deal is available in the following accommodation areas:

  • South Courts
  • North Towers
  • University Quays
  • The Meadows Townhouses

If you would like to take advantage of this new 3 year deal, then select the option when completing your accommodation application. Rooms are limited and are subject to availability.

Terms and conditions
  • Offer only available to new students.

  • The 3-year deal is available in the following accommodation areas: South Courts, North Towers, University Quays, and The Meadows Townhouses only.
  • Rooms are limited and are subject to availability.
  • Rent fixed at the 2024-2025 rate for the duration of the 3 years starting from October 2024.
  • Free storage of your belongings in the summer (years 1 and 2) as you keep the same room.
  • Option to book summer vacation accommodation, in your room, at your current rent rate subject to availability.
  • Offer subject to change and availability.

Southend accommodation 3 year undergraduate deal

If you are a new undergraduate student for the 2024-2025 academic year and want to secure accommodation for the duration of your course, then you now have the option to select a 3 year accommodation contract, when you apply.

Benefits

By selecting the 3 year deal, you benefit from:

  • Rent fixed at the 2024-2025 rate for the duration of the 3 years, so no rent increases
  • Free storage of your belongings in the summer (of years 1 and 2) as you keep the same room
  • Option to book summer vacation accommodation, in your room, at your current rent rate
Location

This deal is only available for en suite rooms.

If you would like to take advantage of this new 3 year deal, then select the option when completing your accommodation application. Rooms are limited and are subject to availability.

Terms and conditions
  • Offer only available to new students.
  • The 3-year deal is only available for single en suite rooms. 
  • Rooms are limited and are subject to availability.
  • Rent fixed at the 2024-2025 rate for the duration of the 3 years starting from October 2024.
  • Free storage of your belongings in the summer (years 1 and 2) as you keep the same room.
  • Option to book summer vacation accommodation, in your room, at your current rent rate subject to availability.
  • Offer subject to change and availability.

Learning communities

We wanted to create exciting living and learning communities on our campuses, that are designed to provide you with a unique opportunity to live with like-minded individuals and engage in academic and personal development under a shared topic.

These communities (only currently available on Colchester campus) are supported by experienced professionals, that will guide and support your journey here at Essex, ensuring you get the most out of your time here with us:

You are able to select one of these as an option when you apply for accommodation, so do check out the information, so do check out the information, so you don't miss out on this exciting opportunity.

South Towers Enhanced Single Bedroom
Car parking for residents

Car parking permits are available for a limited number of accommodation areas on the Colchester Campus. Current availability is for those choosing to live in either South Courts or The Meadows. The permits are offered on a first-come-served basis and spaces are limited. The permit will be charged at a reduced rate of £25.00 per term. Please contact us for more details. This offer is only available to new students starting their course in 2024-25.

Contact Us

New Undergraduates January 2025 entry

How to apply

Applications are now open.

We have a limited number of rooms available for undergraduate students starting their course in January 2025, across both our Colchester and Southend campuses. To apply for one of these rooms, please follow the steps below. 

You will be able to choose and reserve your room when you apply online, using our new Book Now process.

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

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, where, if applicable to you, you'll find the accommodation section.

Rooms will be offered in order of application date.

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. 

New undergraduate students are not required to make an advanced rent payment when accepting their offer.

If you are interested in living on campus, please email the team at accadmin@essex.ac.uk and confirm your room preferences. 

If you have a debt to the University

Students who have a debt to the university will not be made an offer of accommodation until the debt is cleared. You will be notified if this is the case and be given an opportunity to make payment to clear this debt.

If this is not received then we may not be able to proceed with your application.