University houses more students than ever before

More accommodation, better forecasting and an innovative new software tool have helped the University to house this year more students than ever before.

More than 4,500 students are now settling in to their University-managed accommodation for the 2013-14 academic year.

The University has not only fulfilled its guarantee to provide accommodation for all new students who firmly accepted and met the terms of its offer and applied on time but has, in fact, been able to allocate housing to all new undergraduates (even those who applied late or who held Sussex as their insurance choice), as well as:

230 students who obtained a place this year via adjustment and clearing, and
at least 100 postgraduates from Europe who were not originally guaranteed housing in University residences.

The Residential Services team has made use of an innovative application and allocation software, StarRez, which has enabled faster processing of applications.

As a result, the vast majority of A-Level students who met their offer received their housing allocation by email on A-Level results day.

Within minutes of receiving their housing allocation, a large number of new residents joined the Facebook group for their residence and introduced themselves to their new neighbours.

Charles Dudley, Director of Residential, Sport and Trading Services, said: “We are delighted to have housed so many students new to Sussex in our developing portfolio of residences.”

The University is continuing to increase the number of properties that it manages in the city, expanding the number of bed-spaces now available from 423 to 504. An additional 148 new, en-suite rooms will also open on campus in the Northfield residences by January 2014.

The University has also been working closely with the developers of the former Co-op building in London Road, Brighton, which is on course to house around 350 Sussex students from 2014-15.