Guarantee of Accommodation

The University offers more than 5000 places in over 20 halls of residence in several locations.

We offer all full-time registered* undergraduate and international postgraduate (see below for further details for postgraduate) students a place in accommodation during their first year of study, providing the following criteria are met:

  • You make Southampton your Firm choice
  • You normally live outside the Southampton city boundaries
  • Your residence application form is received by 1st August in the year in which your studies begin
  • You are unaccompanied, ie you do not bring any dependants, such as a partner and/or children

In years of exceptional demand, in order to meet our guarantee we may offer accommodation in a twin shared room at the start of the academic year for a short period. Some of the accommodation we offer is provided by Liberty Living, a private provider who offer high quality rooms at two Halls in Southampton - Orion's Point and Mercury Point.

*full-time, commencing a course in September/October and studying for a complete academic year and excluding students who are on exchange programmes - see below for further information.

Further information for Insurance choice students

If you are an undergraduate student and have made the University of Southampton your Insurance choice you are covered by the guarantee as long as you submit an application by 1st August, and you will be offered a space in a twin shared room.  On arrival in Halls you will be asked to complete a transfer form and you will be prioritised for a single room as soon as one becomes available.

Clearing scheme

If you join the University through our clearing scheme you can apply for a place in hall but we cannot guarantee you a room.  In years where there is high demand for our accommodation from students covered by the guarantee, we would encourage you to consider renting a room or property in the private rented sector - further details are available by viewing our Private Rented Housing section. Students already living locally often prefer to commute from home to start with if a place in Hall is not available straightaway.

If we are able to make offers of accommodation in halls to clearing students, then we would offer rooms on a first-come-first-served basis as soon as they become available. Early application is therefore advisable. Please contact us for further information, as we can also give you information about temporary and private accommodation providers.

If you are planning to join the University before your 18th birthday but after your 16th birthday, we will guarantee you a place in a Hall of Residence. If you decide not to take up this option, please let us know well in advance of your arrival. Please contact us to discuss this in more detail.

If you will be under 16 when you start studying we will prioritise you and your guardian for sutiable family accommodation.  Please contact us via accommodation@soton.ac.uk to discuss this in more detail.

Postgraduate Students

International: If you are an international fee paying postgraduate student, you are guaranteed an offer of accommodation for your first year as long as you comply with the criteria stated above.

UK and EU: If you are a UK, EU or Channel Island postgraduate student, we are unfortunately unable to guarantee you an offer of accommodation.You can apply online, and we may be able to make you an offer of accommodation; however this is dependent on room availability. If we are unable to offer you accommodation, we can provide advice and assistance with renting accommodation in the private sector.

International Students Commencing Study in 2012

In addition to the guarantee for first year students, if you are a non-EU international student, you are guaranteed an offer of accommodation in each of your years of study, as long as you apply by the relevant deadline**. For your first year this would be 1st August; for subsequent years the deadline is before the start of the second term. Exact details are published and publicised nearer the time; please check this website for more details. For 2012/13 contracts, the 'continuing student application deadline' will be the end of February 2012. Please note that students from the Channel Islands are considered as UK/EU students with regards to the accommodation guarantee.

Visiting Students/Erasmus or other Exchange programme

Every year we receive visiting students via the Erasmus Exchange and other exchange programmes. Exchange students may come for just one semester or for the full academic year, which means that their accommodation needs are often different to the majority of our students.

We are not able to offer accommodation in the University Halls for visiting or exchange students, but we are here to offer help and advice to students coming over as visiting students. Please see our page at http://www.southampton.ac.uk/accommodation/home/erasmus.html for further information about how we can assist you.

International Students Commencing Study in 2013

We are unfortunately unable to guarantee you an offer of accommodation after your first year.  You can applyin online, and we may be able to make you an offer of accommodation; however this is dpeendent on room availability.  If we are unable to offer you accommodaiton, we can provide advice and assistance with renting accommodation in the private sector.

If you are a student on a full time course with the Univesrity and the first part of the course is not in the UK we do guarantee you a place in halls for the first year of your study in the UK

 

 

**Please note, as a continuing student, if you accept an offer of accommodation in your final year of study, but the course finishes before the stated end date of your accommodation contract, you will remain liable for the contract and the associated costs as agreed at the time of acceptance. This is as per the Hall Regulations which form part of the residence agreement.