Accommodation allocation policy 2024-25

Our accommodation

Students with disabilities

If you have a medical condition or disability which needs to be managed in specific accommodation, such as a hall of residence on a specific site, please ensure you inform us as soon as possible before the deadline.

We consider each case on an individual basis. In order to do so we require applicants to disclose medical conditions, disability or specific requirements during the online booking process and provide up-to-date medical evidence to support your case.

Appropriate medical evidence

Supporting evidence must be a letter which confirms your medical condition and details any room adaptations or specialised equipment you may require. It needs to be written in English by a certified medical practitioner. Medical evidence must be no more than 6-12 months old for variable conditions. You can view the guidance for medical practitioners online.

Medical evidence will be handled sensitively and may be shared with appropriate colleagues in the interests of allocating the most suitable room for your needs.

We consider all evidence in the context of the Equality Act 2010 definition of a disability as a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term negative effect on the ability to do normal daily activities. 'Substantial' means more than minor or trivial and 'long-term' means 12 months or more.

Adaptations

We have some rooms that are suitable for students who use wheelchairs and mobility aids, and for people with visual and hearing impairments. If you require specialist equipment such as hoists, fridges or beds the university can provide some equipment, but you must make the accommodation service aware of your requirements at the earliest opportunity so that arrangements can be made. If there is a delay in providing the relevant information for your requirements, we cannot guarantee that relevant adaptations will be complete, or specialist equipment provided by the start date of the tenancy.

Adaptations to equipment such as bedroom units can usually be made to suit individual requirements, but major structural adaptations may not be possible. If you think you might need adaptations to your accommodation, please contact us to arrange a visit to view the accommodation as early as possible.

If you do not inform us of your condition or disability in your booking before the deadline but inform us later on, with sufficient medical evidence we may prioritise you for a room. We cannot guarantee, however, that one will become available. If you are not sure whether it is relevant to share your condition or not, please contact us so we can advise.

Priority groups

Under 18s

If you have applied by the deadline, we will offer you a room in a university-managed residence if you are under 18 after 1 September.

If you have not applied by the deadline please contact us and, although we cannot guarantee a room will become available, we may prioritise you for a vacancy should one arise.

Care leavers

If you are a care leaver, please let us know this during your accommodation booking so that we can offer the most appropriate accommodation for your circumstances. This might be university managed accommodation with a longer tenancy length, for example.

Provided your status is confirmed by our Widening Participation team (contact details below) and you submit an accommodation booking by the deadline, you will be made an offer of a room in university managed accommodation. If you do not declare this information during your booking but disclose this later, we may prioritise you for a room in university managed accommodation should a suitable vacancy arise.

We will also consider you for a university residence as a returning student if you request it or help you to find suitable private rented sector accommodation.

To find out more about the help we offer, please contact the Widening Participation team at aboutuni@brighton.ac.uk or call 07792396266. You can read more information for care leavers here.

Estranged students

If you are estranged from your family, please let us know this during your accommodation booking so that we can offer the most appropriate accommodation for your circumstances. This might be university managed accommodation with a longer tenancy length, for example.

Estrangement is verified by Student Finance when you apply for funding; Student Finance will award you independent status based on your estrangement if you provide sufficient evidence. Once this has been verified by Student Finance, please notify our Student Advice team as soon as possible (contact details below) and provide a copy of your confirmation email to them. Our Student Advice team will then confirm to the Accommodation team that your status has been verified.

Provided your status is confirmed by our Student Advice team, and you submit an accommodation booking by the deadline, you will be made an offer of a room in university managed accommodation. If you do not declare this information during your booking but disclose this later, we may prioritise you for a room in university managed accommodation should a suitable vacancy arise.

We will also consider you for a university residence as a returning student if you request it or help you to find suitable private rented sector accommodation

To find out more about the help we offer, please contact the Student Advice team at studentadvice@brighton.ac.uk or call 01273 642888. You can read more information for estranged students.

Contact details

Frequently asked questions

I selected to ‘stay at home’ on my UCAS application. Can I still book a place in halls?

Yes. UCAS asks for your preference on this for their own data, but that information is not passed over to universities. Provided you meet our eligibility criteria, you will still receive an email invitation to book your accommodation.

How long will it take to complete my booking?

It is quick and easy to complete your booking and should take no more than 15 minutes. You can access the online portal from a laptop, smartphone or tablet and you can always log in and amend your preferences should you wish to, so long as you do so before the deadline.

If you need to submit additional documents in support of your booking, it is a good idea to have electronic copies of these ready to upload when you begin.

As a BSMS student, how do I book a place in accommodation?

Eligible BSMS students studying for the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery will be made an offer of a room in university managed accommodation. Students can choose either University of Brighton accommodation at Paddock Field or University of Sussex accommodation. Both options are within walking distance of the Medical School and contract lengths match the BSMS term. We cannot guarantee to offer you your first choice of accommodation.

I have missed the deadline, can I still apply?

If you miss the main cycle deadline, please contact us for advice. If you miss the deadline but you fall in to one of the below categories, we will look to prioritise you for any rooms that come back to us, but we are unable to guarantee this:

• Students who will be under 18 on 1 September 2024
• Care leavers or students estranged from their family
• Students with an evidenced medical condition or disability who would be unable to study successfully while living in the private rented sector (link to guidance for medical conditions above)

Will I be guaranteed one of my room choices?

We make every effort to allocate rooms according to your individual preferences, whilst working with your position on the booking list. In 2023-24 93% of students received their first or second choice room. 

Where should I live as a mature student?

Students aged 21 and over are classified by the university as mature students. If you are eligible to book for accommodation but you are not sure that university managed accommodation is the best fit for you, please contact us for advice.

We tend to group students by age so if other mature students have applied we will try, wherever possible, to place you together in one flat. Alternatively, we can provide information to help you secure accommodation in the private rented sector.

Do you have any quiet accommodation?

We do not currently have a specific site identified for quiet accommodation.

What if my course does not start in the autumn term?

If your course starts in January or February, please contact us for advice. We often have rooms available in halls at this point in the year, so if you contact us from 2 January onward we may be able to add you to a waiting list. Alternatively, we can share resources with you to help you find a student house in the private sector.

What do you mean by nominated private halls?

The University of Brighton is always looking to expand its bedstock in the city and has collaborated with Circus Street halls and Hollingbury House for 2024-25 to secure additional rooms solely for the use of first year University of Brighton students. These halls provide excellent quality accommodation in convenient locations close to our teaching campuses, the city centre and local amenities.

If you are offered a room in one of the private halls, you will be sent a unique link to secure your room booking directly with the halls provider. An advance payment of rent and UK guarantor will be required. Your contract will be directly with the halls provider, and subject to their terms and conditions.