At the beginning of every academic session, there is always a rush because every student is looking for a place to stay. This is common with schools in the U.K especially Southampton.
Students who do not have any idea about how to secure cheap accommodation in Southampton always find it difficult.
Securing accommodation on campus in Southampton isn’t very expensive. However, most freshmen fall into the difficulty of getting a bed space on campus because they do not have an idea about how to apply for accommodation at the institution.
Once they fail to secure a bed space in the student halls, they will be left with no option other than to seek accommodation off-campus.
Meanwhile, getting accommodation off-campus is way too expensive for a student who is on budget. Some returning students also fail to get accommodation on time as a result of one factor or the other.
For these reasons, we have put down a guide that will help you to know areas around any university in Southampton where you can get cheap student accommodation services. You will also know the cost of student accommodation in Southampton and how you can apply for one.
Why Should I Choose Accommodation in Southampton As a Student?
There are several reasons why students choose to live in Southampton. Below are some of the reasons.
Southampton appears to be an affordable place to live and study in the United Kingdom. The city has a student living index score of 0.65, based on average monthly living costs and monthly income.
Resident students make about £1262.50 per month and pay about £473.90 per month in rent. With this, students will have enough to pay their bills.
According to a survey, Southampton is a stress-free place to study. The survey shows that students in Southampton recorded some of the highest levels of degree enjoyment.
How Can I get Accommodation Service In Southampton?
Applications for hall spaces in Southampton is always online. New and returning students should take note of this.
Here are the guidelines you must follow to get cheap accommodation in Southampton:
1. Select your choice of accommodation
Before you make any applications for student accommodation in Southampton, you should ensure to choose the type of hall you wish to live in.
2. Complete the application form
Once you make your choice, you will have to apply immediately. The items that you will need to apply for accommodation include:
- Student ID number. Your faculty will issue this to you upon accepting your admission offer
- Email address
- Current personal details including an address
- The dates that you wish to apply for the accommodation. If you are a pre-sessional or visiting student, or if you wish to extend your halls contract, you may need to apply for the current academic year
If you are applying on behalf of another student or accepting an accommodation offer on the student’s behalf, you will have to obtain written confirmation of their permission from the student.
The student to whom you’re helping must email this written confirmation to accommodation@soton.ac.uk and include the contact details (name and email address) of their delegate.
To apply or accept on the behalf of someone else you will need their student ID number, their date of birth, and an email that you have regular access to.
On the other hand, returning students who wish to apply to stay in halls for the next academic year will have to provide their login ID and password that they used when during registration for the previous year.
Returning students who have never lived in halls before will need to register.
3. Confirm your application status
Upon completion of your application, you will be notified via email to confirm your application.
Institutions in Southampton normally stay in touch with new students so as to notify them of any updates as regards their application. This takes place between mid-August to early September.
If you meet the conditions of your admission offer, you will need to log in to your account and check the status of your application.
4. Accept your offer
The moment you receive an offer of accommodation, make sure that you accept it before the acceptance deadline as contained in the offer. You can stay up to date with your application by checking the status of your application frequently.
Additionally, you will have to register your credit card information and create a payment plan to accept your accommodation offer. You will likely need to make a pre-payment depending on your student status.
Read and Apply: UCD Ad Astra Academic Scholarships for the U.K and Irish Undergraduates in Ireland
Where Can I Get Student Accommodation In Southampton?
The city of Southampton plays host to several students because of the affordable cost of living and how students quality enjoy life in the area.
Here are the places in Southampton where you can get cheap and quality student accommodation:
#1. Portswood
Portswood serves as the biggest home for students in Southampton. The city has lots of shops, cafes, bars, and a variety of restaurants.
You can also get to a train station on time, and that makes your journey inside and outside the city very easy.
There are several houses that provide accommodation services to students in Southampton. The proximity of Highfield and Avenue campuses to Portswood makes it a nice place for students to live.
Statistics show that over 25% of Portswood residents are students of the University of Southampton.
#2. Swaythling
Swaythling is a large town that is very close to the University of Southampton. This city has a train station that serves its residents.
Swaythling attracts students who wish to live closer to the Highfield campus with its restaurants and bars.
The popular student halls in Swaythling are Wessex lane Hall and City Gateway.
#3. Highfield
Highfield is a small residential area that is close to the 326 acres of Southampton Common. It is a very beautiful and quiet area compared to many other student residences.
The town lies between Highfield Campus and Avenue Campus making it easy for students living in the area to trek to school for lectures.
The Highfield hall provides accommodation for students living in this area.
#4. Bassett
Bassett is a large town that lies close to Highfield Campus. This residential area is convenient for students living in the Boldrewood campus or Southampton General Hospital.
Bassett also houses many of Southampton’s sports facilities including the Southampton Sports Centre, Southampton Snowsports Centre, Southampton City Golf Course, and Red Lodge Community Swimming pool.
The Glen Eyre halls offer accommodation services to students in this area.
#5. Shirley
Shirley is a large area that contains the edge of the city center. The city has a variety of pubs, bars, cafes, and small shops, as well as the Southampton General Hospital.
Medical students are known to live in this area. Also, the city is great for students who want to live closer to the nightlife of the city center. It is also recommended for students who need better access to the Waterfront campus.
The halls where a student can get accommodation include Archers Road halls and Mayflower halls.
#6. Winnall
Winnall is a small popular town with a strong community lying directly next to Winchester city center and the Winchester School of Art Campus.
Winchester-based students like to live in Winnall because of its proximity to the campus and good access to a Tesco superstore.
#7. Winchester City Center
Winchester is a beautiful city that has lots of pubs and bars which are located in the center of the city.
Students choose to live here because of the presence of the School of Art Campus which is located on the edge of the city center.
However, the cost of student accommodation here is expensive.
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How Much Will It Cost Me To Get Cheap Student Accommodation In Southampton?
Payment of student accommodation fees in Southampton is done in installments. The majority of the students pay for their accommodation y Recurring Card Payment (RCP).
The RCP is set up once you accept your offer of accommodation. Alternatively, students can make payments for their accommodation online.
The accommodation fees cover the following:
- All your bills (gas, electric, and water)
- Wi-Fi and high-speed internet connection
- Unilink bus pass
- 24-hour support and services
- 24-hour security
- Variety of on-site facilities (common rooms and communal computers)
- Contents insurance (This depends on properties you wish to insure. You may need to purchase additional cover)
The cost of student accommodation is estimated and can fluctuate at any time. Below is the estimated cost of student accommodation in Southampton:
| Expenditure | Estimated Weekly Cost | Estimated Yearly Cost |
| University Hall of Residence | £112.35 – £206.50 | £5,729.85 – £10,531.50 |
| Feeding | £30 – £40 | £1560 – £2080 |
| Utilities (included in Hall fees) | £24 | £960 |
| Socialising and sports activities | £36 | £1872 |
| Mobile phone | £6 | £312 |
| Internet | £6 | £312 |
| TV License | £2.97 | £154.50 |
| Toiletries and laundry | £10 | £120 |
| Travel – unilink | £14 – £25.90 | £395 |
NOTE: The deadlines for payment of student accommodation fees for the 2020/2024 academic session are as follows:
- 12 October 2020
- 4 January 2024
- 19 April 2024
- 1 July 2024
What Are The Types of Student Accommodation In Southampton?
All students in Southampton use two types of accommodation services. They include:
#1. Halls of Residence
There are eight (8) halls of residence that provide accommodation services to students in Southampton.
While making your choice of the hall, you’ll need to put some factors into consideration. These factors include:
- Catered or self-catered
- A shared bathroom or en suite
- The proximity of the halls to campus or in the city
The location of the halls of residence varies. Some of the halls are located very close to Highfield and Avenue campuses while others are near the city center.
So, you will choose if you will like to live closer to the city center or live within a stone’s throw from the campus.
There are two halls of residence for students of Winchester School of Art. They include Erasmus Park and Riverside Way.
The halls of residence differ in size. You will enjoy an active social environment in the larger halls as well as having the opportunity to meet new people. However, smaller halls of residence which are always quiet will not offer you these benefits.
The larger halls of residence in Southampton include Wessex Lane, Glen Eyre, and Mayflower while the smaller halls include Archers Road, City Gateway, and Highfield Halls.
#2. Private Rented Accommodation
Students who do not meet up with the application deadline for accommodation or those that do not want to live in the halls of residence usually choose to rent private accommodation.
If you do not know how to rent private accommodation, log on to the Southampton Accreditation Scheme for the Student Housing website (SASSH).
SASSH is a self-accreditation scheme that is run by the University of Southampton, Southampton Solent University, and Southampton City Council.
These three groups ensure that students have access to high-quality and well-managed accommodation.
All the private rented accommodation for students on the SASSH website provides a proven electrical installation condition report, a gas safety certificate, and an energy performance certificate. Alternatively, you can consult individual letting agents or use Rightmove students.
On the other hand, the prices of the private rented accommodation for students in Southampton differ based on the size, location, and condition of the apartment.
An average rented student apartment in Southampton costs £360 per month while student apartments in Winchester cost £380 per month.
Your bills such as gas, water, electricity, internet, TV, and phone services are not included in your rent. However, you will have to pay the bills separately.
The prices of the bills will vary depending on the packages you choose and how much you use them. All residents of each property share the costs of the bills.
FAQs on How to Get Student Accommodation Services at any University in Southampton
According to the 2019 NatWest Student Living Index report, students enjoy life in Southampton. This is because the city is affordable for living, studying, and socializing.
The larger population of students live in Portswood because the town is close to both Highfield and Avenue campuses.
Yes. Applications for student accommodation in Southampton are made on a first-come-first-serve basis.
No. There are quality transportation systems as well as a Unilink bus pass that students can use to access the campus too and fro from their halls. However, only students that have certified medical conditions or exceptional circumstances can be allowed to use and park cars at their halls of residence.
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