Accommodation

Whether you're looking for a city centre experience or a quiet part of town, we'll help you find a place to call home.

University accommodation

Living in a university residence offers you the chance to join a student community. Residences organise their own sporting and social activities, and a team of staff and students is on site to offer you support and practical help. You'll live with undergraduate students from other countries and cultures, including the UK.

Take a look at the residences available to Study Abroad students.

Accommodation guarantee

Study Abroad students

Direct enrol (non-exchange) students are guaranteed an offer of a place in University accommodation for both September and January entry, if you apply by the deadline.

Exchange students are guaranteed an offer for September entry, if you apply by the deadline. We cannot guarantee an offer for January entry but we aim to place as many students as possible in a university residence or support you in finding private accommodation.

Whilst accommodation is not guaranteed for exchange students beginning in January, we try to place as many students as possible in a University residence or help you find private accommodation.

STABEL students

If you are on the STABEL programme you will need to apply for university accommodation twice: once for the pre-sessional English course, and once for the Study Abroad Programme. It may not be possible to stay in the same room for both courses. The Centre for Study Abroad inbound team will contact STABEL students with more information.

Health needs or disabilities

You might want a specific location for your accommodation if you have a disability or ill health. Students beginning in Semester 2 should note that, since offers are sent on a rolling basis, it is important to apply as soon as possible to increase the chance of being offered the most suitable room.

Find out more about what accommodation is available for students who have a disability and/or health need.

Mature students

If you are 21 or over and want to live in accommodation with other mature students, you should indicate this on the accommodation application form. We will do our best to make sure that you live with other mature students, but most often the students living around you will be 18 or 19 years old.

Living in private rented accommodation

If you are looking for more independence, you may prefer to find private rented accommodation. Most rental contracts are for a minimum of 12 months but it is possible to find shorter-term accommodation.

There is a lot of competition to find private rented accommodation in Bristol. To give yourself the best chance of finding somewhere suitable to live, start looking as early as you can. If possible, we advise that you visit the UK when looking for accommodation.

Our Accommodation Office offers information and guidance on where to look for private accommodation and how to make sure you find a safe place to live by following their housing advice. You can use their Bristol rental areas map to explore the different rental areas along with details about each of these. We also recommend Bristol SU lettings, a lettings agency run by the Students' Union.

Note that if you are living in privately rented accommodation, you will be liable for paying council tax for any dates outside your official university registration. You may be exempt from council tax during university term dates, but you will need to apply for this exemption.

More information on living in privately rented accommodation.