There's no place like home

Experience a cosy residential estate, nestled on the edge of the north side of our Colchester Campus, yet close to our main study facilities. The Houses are ideal if you're looking for a quieter living space.

 

The details
267
Colchester Campus
Ensuite
Undergraduate students
Room and Accommodation Type 2025-2026 Prices 
Standard shared twin £101.78
Standard single £181.23
Enhanced single £185.22
Premium single £196.84

Check out the 2024-2025 rent prices.

  
Don't forget, you can apply for accommodation with us as soon as we're your first choice. 
Apply for accommodation now

Please note that contract lengths vary in line with course dates. Postgraduate courses are normally 50 weeks and undergraduate courses are normally 39 weeks, however, some courses start earlier or finish later than others.

About The Houses

If you enjoy a tranquil, relaxing environment with great spaces to read and study in peace, The Houses are for you. Josephine Butler, Thomas Hopper, Isaac Rebow, Swaynes, Richard Woods, and Anne Knight Houses, are located on our beautiful parkland and very close to some of our main study facilities.

As a new student, you will be able to select either a shared twin room, standard, enhanced (refurbished) or premium (larger bed) accommodation within one of our six Houses. Check out images of this accommodation below which includes images of our standard and enhanced flats. Flats are arranged on each floor of the three-storey buildings (no lifts) and accommodate between four and six students per flat with a shared kitchen and there are only fifty students in each house.

  • Tranquil, central location near the Library and Student Centre, Essex Business School, and North campus car park
  • Five-minute walk to central campus
  • Available for undergraduates

Room and kitchen details

The bedrooms are very homely and each has an en suite toilet and shower facilities.

  • Single bed, premium rooms have a small double bed, and twin rooms have 2 single beds 
  • 18 premium rooms, 86 standard rooms, and 148 enhanced rooms
  • We have 8 adapted rooms for wheelchair uses, which include adaptions for those with hearing impairments
  • We have 6 shared twin ensuite rooms 
  • There is 1 self-contained apartment available (type C)
  • Typical dimensions: 3.8m x 3.6m (13.6m3)
  •  Room includes desk, chair, bed, wardrobe, shelving, mirror, lamp, bin
  • Kitchens have a hob, oven, multiple fridges and freezers, a microwave, and a kettle (ironing board and hoover also provided for the flat)

Location

The Houses - The Houses is located just a 5 minute walk from the centre of campus where you will find the Albert Sloman Library, SU bar, SU Shop, eatery outlets and plenty more. It is also only a 8 minute walk to our gym and other sport facilities located on the edge of the University campus.

The Houses

Benefits of campus living

There are many advantages to living on campus at Essex - you’ll have your lectures on your doorstep, get to know the University inside and out plus you’ll be right in the heart of the action.

Quality Guarantee

Accommodation Essex is a member of the Universities UK Student Accommodation Code (SAC) which sets out the quality and standards (.pdf) that students can expect from our accommodation.

To make sure we comply with the Housing Act 2004, Accommodation Essex adhere to the UUK Student Accommodation Code, which has been designed to protect your rights to safe, good quality university-managed accommodation.

Derwent, the management company for The Copse, University Quays, and The Meadows, as well as BYUK FM, who manage The Pastures, adhere to National Code Assured Accommodation (ANUK).

Fixed cost

At Essex, we recognise the cost of living challenges that will impact our students. For example, your weekly rent includes your energy bills and internet access.

Gym

If you are living on the Colchester Campus, then you get a silver Essex Sport gym membership included in your rent.

Medical centre

There is a medical centre at Colchester Campus for you to visit when you are unwell. However, you will need to register before you can see a doctor. You can register online either just before or when you arrive.

Security

Our campuses are generally very safe environments. We want to ensure that things stay this way. There is 24-hour security at our Colchester Campus.

Support services

We have a wide range of support services to help you with everyday worries in your accommodation or for practical or personal issues.

Support is available to you within your Student Services Hub, providing advice and support on a range of issues such as financial worries, immigration issues and support for students with additional needs or specific health concerns.

SU Advice, run by the Students' Union, offers welfare advice to students on a range of issues. SU Advice is located on Square 3.

Insurance

By partnering with Howden, the No.1 student insurance provider, we've arranged contents insurance for all of our students staying with us, in our residence, at no cost to you.

"I love the newly-refurbished modern interior of the room; it makes it look clean and spacious and it allows enough light in during the day to make studying in the room really nice! The kitchen is also great. I tend to be the only one cooking meals, so the space doesn't usually get very crowded. The kitchen is also where all the socialising happens. We regularly catch up with each other there, playing games and listening to music."
Clara Carufel BA Politics and International Relations student
disability go logo
Adapted flats

We offer a number of studio flats adapted for wheelchair users. Find out more.

Postal address
Name of house followed by Flat / Room (e.g. Isaac Rebow House 4/6) University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park
Colchester, CO4 3SQ
student talking to support staff
Contact us

For enquiries about accommodation or about an application you're making, contact us at the Student Services Hub. Quote your full name and PRID or PG number on all correspondence.