If you have a question about University managed accommodation there is a chance it has been asked before.

APPLYING:

When can I apply for accommodation?
Information about how to apply online for accommodation is distributed by the Undergraduate Admissions Office and Postgraduate Admissions Office between March/June to applicants commencing their programme of study in the following October.

Will I be guaranteed University managed housing?
All first year full time undergraduates applying through UCAS who firmly accept an offer of a place for the following October are guaranteed a place in university managed housing provided we receive your housing application by the 1st August.

All first year full time postgraduates coming for a full academic year AND who are studying for a research degree OR are from outside the EU and studying a taught masters programme, are guaranteed a place in university managed housing provided we receive your housing application and £250 prepayment by the 1st August.

What if I'm a student living in or close to Brighton?
If you are a local student you are free to apply for University managed housing and will be allocated housing along with other first year students

What happens if Sussex is my Insurance choice or I come through the Clearing Scheme?
Students not covered by the housing guarantee are still encouraged to apply for housing. If we are unable to offer you university managed housing at the start of the academic year you will be advised about the possibilities open to you and will be assisted in finding temporary accommodation until such time as a place becomes available. The Housing Office is usually able to accommodate most undergraduates in University managed housing before the end of the autumn term.

How do I apply for accommodation?
Once the offer of a place has been made you will be sent details of how to apply for housing. You should complete your application by the 1st August. See How to apply for more information.

When will I know where I will be living?
Details of your housing allocation will be sent to you as follows:-
Undergraduate students holding an unconditional offer - details posted during late July/early August
Undergraduate students holding a conditional offer - details posted during late August/early September
Postgraduate students - details posted between early August and September.

Can I choose where to live
You will be able to specify the residential area in which you would prefer to live and every effort will be made to allocate you to your preferred residences. However, depending on the specific demand, it may be that we are unable to meet all preferences. If you do not get your preferred choice of housing you can put your name on the housing swap list which opens on the first day of term. A fee of £20.00 is charged for the first swap and £50.00 for any further swaps that term.

I am an international student. Will I be placed in accommodation with
other students from my country?
Sussex has a policy of integrating students from home and overseas. There are however, areas that international students can apply to live in and most visiting and exchange students coming to Sussex for one term only will usually be allocated to York House.

I am an offer of a course at the Medical School - will I get housing at Sussex?
BSMS students are housed by both the University of Brighton and the University of Sussex - roughly 50% at each. You can state that you wish to be housed by the University of Sussex on your application form but we cannot guarantee to definitely give you a room. Medical school students are mixed in with students from other disciplines so that they can integrate fully in University life. Details of how to apply for accommodation are found here.

I have an offer of a course at the Brighton Institute of Modern Music - will I get housing at Sussex?
Students doing the first year of the BA Hons course in Professional Musicianship will be sent details of how to apply for University of Sussex accommodation. As BIMM is based in the city, many choose to live in off campus housing owned or managed by the University. However, an equal number also decide to live on the campus and, as the bus into Brighton runs from campus every few minutes, the travelling is easily managed.

Will I be living with people from my course?
The policy is to integrate students within the residences, therefore your flatmates could be studying a variety of courses.

Can I live in a single sex flat?
The accommodation is predominantly mixed sex; however there are some single sex flats available.

Will I have to share?
Although the majority of the accommodation comprises in the main of single rooms there are some shared rooms. We will allocate shared rooms in the first instance to students who have indicated that they wish to share a room. However, it is possible that you could be allocated a shared room when you would have preferred a single room. If you have been allocated a shared room when you would have preferred a single room we will automatically prioritise you for a swap to a single room as soon as we are able to offer you one.

ARRIVAL:

I'm going to be a new student - when can I arrive?
All new students are expected to arrive over the arrival weekend of 26th/27th September to take part in the academic and social induction programme organised for Freshers' Week.

Can I send my luggage in advance?
The University does not accept luggage in advance. However, if you have been allocated on-campus housing you may send luggage to your address but will need to ensure that the luggage does not arrive before you do.

RENTS AND SERVICES:

How much does it cost?
The University operates a system of differential rents across its housing. Please refer to the individual residences for details of rents.

How do I pay for accommodation?

You can pay for the accommodation in full or by termly or monthly instalments. Whichever option you choose a payment arrangement must be in place before you arrive at Sussex. You can arrange to pay when registering through Sussex Direct, the University's on line service at www.sussex.ac.uk/direct. Alternatively you can contact Student Accounts on 0800 019 4979.

Does my residence fee include charges for gas and electricity?
All residences have service charges included, apart from some small off campus houses and Kings Road which charges separately for electricity.

FACILITIES:

Are there any catered halls?
No, all the accommodation at Sussex is self catering so students prepare their own food in shared kitchens

What furniture will my room contain?
All rooms are furnished and you could expect to find a bed, wardrobe, bedside cabinet, desk, chair and, in most areas, an easy chair. Off campus, each house is different so the furniture varies. All rooms do, however, have what is reasonable for the room size.

Is there a wash basin in my room?
Most of the rooms on campus with the exception of East Slope, have washbasins in the rooms. Most off campus rooms also have washbasins.

Are rooms en-suite?
The University has en-suite rooms in Lewes Court, Stanmer Court and Swanborough. There are also a few en-suite rooms in York House, but most students share bathrooms.

Do I need to bring my own bedding?
Yes, you need to provide this yourself. However a bedding bale with duvet, duvet cover, bottom sheet, pillow and pillow case can be purchased on arrival for £35.00.

How many people will I have to share a kitchen with?
Kitchens are shared between groups of six and twelve students.

What will the kitchen contain?
Kitchens are fully fitted with cupboards, fridges, freezers, cookers and, in most cases, microwave ovens. All houses and flats also have irons and ironing boards. You will need to provide your own crockery, cutlery and kitchen utensils, or you can purchase a catering pack from us for £25.00.

Are there any restaurants nearby?
There is a restaurant and coffee shop in Bramber House, which is close to the residential buildings and there are a number of other cafes around campus. There are two shops on campus where you can purchase groceries, and bars where you can purchase meals.

What are the laundry facilities like?
There is a central laundry for students to use and a number of small satellite laundries on campus. Most of the houses off campus have their own laundry facilities within the house/flat

Are there medical facilities near accommodation?
There is a health centre, a chemist and also a dentist on the campus. Off campus there are a variety of facilities locally which the off-campus Building Manager will be able to advise you about.

Where do I collect my mail from?
All external mail will be delivered to the Porter's Lodge for your residence and placed in lockable boxes. Internal mail (e.g. from your school of study) will be put in your pigeon hole in your school area

LENGTH OF STAY:

How long can I remain in my flat?
The tenancy agreement will specify the period of your tenancy. You would normally be granted a tenancy that runs for the period of the academic year. However some postgraduate tenancies run for eleven months, whilst family tenancies are normally for 12 months.

COMMUNICATION - TELEPHONES/COMPUTERS:

Is there a telephone in my room
All study bedrooms on campus have a dedicated telephone.  Most of the houses off campus have a public telephone and it is possible to install a telephone line in your room.

Can I connect to the internet from my room?
All on-campus rooms have a wired broadband internet connection, as do all study bedrooms in Kings Road. Students will need to bring their own computers/laptops. Some of the smaller off campus houses have a wireless internet connection provided.  Students living in headleased properties have to arrange their own internet connection.   See the IT Services web pages for further information.

There is also a 24 hour open access PC cluster in York House, one of the Park Houses.  See the IT Services web pages for more information about this room and other PC clusters.

Can I connect to the University network through my own computer in my room?
Yes, you can connect to all University services like "Sussex Direct" - course timetables, course marks, etc, "Study Direct" - course learning materials, your School web pages, Library electronic resources, etc. from your room.  You will be asked to enter your university IT account details - username and password - to access some of these services.  They can all be accessed from off campus as well as on campus. 

You can also access your files stored on the University backed up file store.  See IT Services web pages for further information.

CLEANING:

Is there a cleaning service provided to the accommodation?
Communal areas in University owned residences are cleaned by housekeeping staff, usually weekly. Arrangements vary from area to area and depend on the number of students sharing facilities. Students are responsible for doing the washing up and keeping surfaces clear in the kitchens and also for emptying rubbish bins in their flat.

How often is my room cleaned?
Bedrooms are not normally cleaned by University staff. Periodic cleaning of en-suite facilities and room sinks does, however, take place in many areas.

SPECIAL NEEDS:

What provision is made for students with special needs?
The University has accommodation available for students with a range of disabilities, including those who are wheelchair bound, or who have hearing or visual impairments. Other special medical needs may also be taken into account when allocating accommodation, depending upon their severity. Please see the section on special needs for more details.

FAMILY ACCOMMODATION:

Can I bring my family with me?
All family flats (the majority of which are only suitable for a couple and one small child), are constantly in heavy demand and availability cannot be guaranteed. The University therefore strongly recommends that students do not arrange for their family to come from abroad unless they have a firm offer of a flat or they have made alternative arrangements in the private rented sector. See the housing guide for details of how to apply.

RESIDENTIAL ADVISERS:

What is a Residential Adviser?
Residential Advisers (RAs) are second and third year undergraduate and postgraduate students who are allocated accommodation around the residences after going through an extensive recruitment, selection and training process. Their role is to help new students settle in to the accommodation and to help facilitate communal life.

VISITORS:

Am I allowed to have anyone to stay?
We allow friends to stay for up to 3 nights in any 7, but not for longer.

Can my parents stay on campus if they visit me?
We currently have guest rooms for family and friends available in Swanborough. There is an approved list of local hotels and bed & breakfast establishments online.

TRAVEL:

I would like to live in the City how easy is it to travel to the campus?
Falmer station is connected to the campus by a pedestrian underpass and trains from Falmer run to Brighton, Hove and Lewes. In addition, the number 25 bus travels every few minutes throughout a 24 hour period from three locations in the centre of Brighton and terminates on campus. The campus is also served in peak hours by the 84 and 86 services to outlying areas of the City. There are also a number of other services that travel between Brighton, Lewes and beyond that stop on the main road outside the University, but do not actually come onto campus. See Campus maps and how to get here for more information.

Can I bring my car?
Students resident on campus are not allowed to park their cars on the campus with the exception of families, Residential Advisers and others with special exemption. Students resident off campus can bring a car on campus but will be required to pay a permit to park as do RAs and families resident on campus.
There is limited parking for students living in Kings Road. Application for parking spaces at these residences should be made to the off campus Building Manager, Email: W.L.Lee@sussex.ac.uk . Elsewhere off campus there is street parking - however students should contact the local council about residence parking permits and charges etc.

Is there secure storage for bicycles?
Bicycle racks can be found close by all residences. Students are advised to use a sturdy chain and lock for security when leaving bicycles unattended. Bicycles cannot be brought inside the residences unless there is an internal bicycle store.

PRIVATE SECTOR ACCOMMODATION:

How can I obtain further information about the private sector?
The University operates a private sector housing register and maintains "Studentpad" an on-line accommodation website available to students or perspective students. "Studentpad", is password protected and you will need to contact the Housing Office for access details, quoting your UCAS or application number. Email: housing@sussex.ac.uk

What can I expect to pay for accommodation in the private sector?
You should expect to pay approximately £80 for a single room in a shared house excluding bills. For further details, go to the Private Rented Sector pages.

VACATION ACCOMMODATION:

Is accommodation available over the vacation periods?
If you have a three termly tenancy (some Visiting and Exchange students only) and require accommodation over either the winter or spring vacations, this is normally possible to arrange direct with the building manager. Students wishing to remain in the Brighton area over the summer vacation may be able to book a room on campus. See the section on short term accommodation for further details.

Is there storage available over the holidays?
Limited storage facilities are normally available for students on three termly tenancies, although this cannot be guaranteed. There are several storage companies close to the University, details can be provided on request.

GENERAL:

Are pets allowed?
The University operates a policy of no pets within the accommodation unless the animal is an aid for a disabled person.

What is the television reception like on campus?
The majority of rooms at the moment do not have a television aerial point so good reception cannot be guaranteed. There are communal TV rooms with good reception available in Park Village and the Park Houses. Some flats in Swanborough also have TVs provided in the communal area.

Do I need a TV licence?
You are required by law to have a separate licence for your television set. Further details are available from http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/index_frameset.html It may be sensible to check what the TV reception is like in your room before deciding whether to apply for a licence.

Will I need insurance? How much will this cost? How secure is
accommodation?
The University includes personal contents insurance as part of your rent.  However, if you have particularly valuable items, you may wish to extend your cover with the insurance provider, Endsleigh.

Are there wardens in University accommodation?
Each of the Residential areas is managed by a non-resident Building Manager who is also supported by a team of porters and housekeeping staff. There is a Student Support Manager who is resident on campus. This is in addition to approximately 80 trained student Residential Advisers, who live in the accommodation. The security office in York House maintains 24 hour cover. There is also 24 hour porter cover in York House reception and Stanmer Court reception.

Are there any residence regulations I have to abide by?
Yes. Upon allocating a room to you the Housing Office will send a Tenancy Agreement [DOC 39KB] setting out terms which need to be observed by the University and the Student. A copy of a residence guide which forms part of the tenancy is also included. This booklet gives an overview of life in your University residence and sets out the parameters for harmonious communal living which we expect students to observe, as well as University regulations.

Is there anything that I cannot bring with me into a University residence?
Some items, for example: candles, joss sticks, radiant electric fires, weapons etc., are banned on grounds of safety. Please see the Tenancy Agreement clauses and residence guide when you receive your tenancy.

Can I smoke in University residences?
We ask that you smoke only in your bedroom, not in the common areas of the residences. If you have been allocated to a non-smoking area you will not be allowed to smoke in your bedroom.