New Undergraduate students

Applications for the 2024-2025 academic year are now open.

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

• You return your application by midnight, Friday 13 September 2024

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

If you are an International Student (paying overseas fees) joining Essex as an undergraduate in the 2024-2025 academic year, you are entitled to guaranteed accommodation for the duration of your course.

If you have chosen us as your firm or insurance choice (insurance students will receive an application form directly from admissions), you can apply. Applications are open now and as long as you apply by Friday 13 September, you are guaranteed accommodation for your first year.

For more information please refer to our Allocations 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.

• Read our Allocation Policies for Colchester and Southend

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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:

• Start-Up Square - for the entrepreneurs that want to learn about starting a business
• Athlete Village - for those that play sports competitively
• Volunteer Square - for those that want to help in their community

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.

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.