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 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 - Liberty Point and Liberty Quays.
*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.
International* Students
If you are a new, unaccompanied, non-EU international student, you are guaranteed an offer of a room in halls for another year of your studies i.e. guaranteeing you the offer of 2 years in halls. This does not have to be your second year of study, but may be in your third or subsequent year of study. For your first year, you will need to apply by 1 August in the calendar year in which your studies begin. For subsequent years, you must apply for accommodation during the second term for the coming academic year, the deadline for applications will be publicised nearer the time
*International students are those paying international tuition fees.
Further Information for Insurance choice students
Twin shared accommodation
Postgraduates
Visiting/Exchange Students
Students applying through Clearing
Under 18 Students
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.
Twin Shared Accommodation
A twin shared room is a single study bedroom in a Hall of Residence with two beds, allowing two students to share the room and its facilities for a temporary period. As some of the facilities are being shared the room is offered at a reduced rate of rent for any period where two students are in residence.
How does Twinning Work?
This accommodation is offered to students either as Twin 1 or Twin 2. The student offered the Twin 1 contract will keep the room as their permanent accommodation for the academic year, and will be given a new contract at the full rate of rent once the student they are sharing with has moved out. The student offered the Twin 2 contract will be offered a single room elsewhere in University accommodation as soon as one becomes available, and should complete the transfer form given on arrival at the Hall.
The twinned room will be offered for a period of between six to twelve weeks, but we expect to have offered single accommodation to all students in shared accommodation within six weeks and this will be reflected in your contract.
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.
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 guarantee 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/apply/erasmus.html for further information about how we can assist you.
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.
Under 18 Students
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 suitable family accommodation. Please contact us via accommodation@soton.ac.uk to discuss this in more detail.
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