I'm looking for...

Courses Research People Something else

Prefer to see our subject areas?

Browse courses by subject

Looking for funded postgraduate opportunities?

View doctoral training partnerships Browse postgraduate research opportunities

We are different and we are the same. #WeAreEssex

Looking for student or staff information?

Student Directory Staff Directory

Courses

Prefer to see our subject areas?

Browse courses by subject

Research

Looking for funded postgraduate opportunities?

View doctoral training partnerships Browse postgraduate research opportunities

People

We are different and we are the same. #WeAreEssex

Something else

Looking for student or staff information?

Student Directory Staff Directory

Accommodation - Returning students

Returning Colchester Campus

Keep your experience going - stay with us again next year

Apply for your accommodation today

Start your application to live with us.

You’ve already experienced what life at Essex is like, now it’s time to take it to the next level. Explore your returning-student accommodation options at Colchester and see how you can make your next year even more comfortable, social, and connected.

Apply now

IMPORTANT: please remember, there is no cooling off period. You cannot cancel your contract with us once accepted/confirmed, unless you withdraw or intermit from the University, even if you don't move in. So please consider carefully before confirming your booking through Book Now or accepting an offer we have sent you.

Current accommodation offers

Apply to live with your friends as a group. With the Book Now system you can pick a flat and select rooms in the same one! Other students may book rooms while you’re applying, so if a room disappears, you’ll need to pick another – or, as a group, choose a different flat with enough rooms for everyone. Find out more about how to apply as a group.
£250 Returners Cashback + £100 Essex Food Credit Offer. The deadline to apply for the cashback is 26 June 2026. Cashback will be paid in January 2027. The credit is redeemable using the Essex Food app and will be added after you have moved into your accommodation. Please note terms and conditions apply. NOTE - Wolfson Court, South Towers, North Towers, studios or self-contained apartments are not eligible for this offer.

Ready to apply?

Apply now

Returning undergraduate and postgraduate students Colchester

Returning accommodation applications for the academic year 2026-27 are now open.

IMPORTANT: please remember, there is no cooling off period. You cannot cancel your contract with us once accepted/confirmed, unless you withdraw or intermit from the University, even if you don't move in. So please consider carefully before confirming your booking through Book Now or accepting an offer we have sent you.

Undergraduate

You will need to access the online form via the following link and select the 2026-27 academic year from the drop-down, when applying.

Colchester undergraduate returning accommodation application form 2026-27

(You will need your Essex username and password to apply)

Postgraduate

You will need to complete an online application form via the following link:

Colchester postgraduate returning accommodation application form 2026-27

Northwest Partnership

Accommodation is guaranteed to Northwest University students, as long as you complete the process by the closing date of 11 September 2026.

Northwest returning accommodation application form 2026-27

(You will need your Essex username and password to be able to apply)

Payment

New and returning postgraduate students, will be required to make a £250 prepayment (which will be deducted from your first terms rental fees) to complete the booking process and accept your offer.

You will be able to make this accommodation prepayment by credit/debit card when you accept your offer. If you do not make this prepayment online, you will be able to pay credit/debit or UK cheque, in person at the Cash Desk on the 2nd Floor of the Forum Building.

Please do not try and pay your accommodation prepayment now. It will only be required when you complete the booking process. Full instructions on paying your accommodation prepayment will be provided in the offer of accommodation letter.

The refund deadline for this payment is 60 days before the start date of your contract.

Find out more about paying for your accommodation.

Next steps

Undergraduate

Once you have chosen and reserved your room online, you will receive an automated email confirming your booking.

Your confirmation of booking will be emailed to your @essex.ac.uk email address and will contain details about your room and the accommodation charges.

Once you have completed the Book Now process, you will have formed a contract which is legally binding and you will not be able to cancel your contract, unless you withdraw from the University.

Postgraduate

We hope to begin making accommodation offers from December 2024, so please make sure you check your email account regularly from that date, for your new offer of accommodation (please check your junk folder).

You will need to accept your offer of accommodation before its expiry date, to confirm your allocation for the next academic year. The offer expiry date will be clearly specified in the offer letter.

Once you have accepted the offer, you have formed a contract which is legally binding and you will not be able to cancel your contract, unless you withdraw from the University.

Intermitting students

If you have withdrawn temporarily from Essex (intermitted) during the first term of the first year of study and decide to return the following academic year, you may re-apply for accommodation.

How to apply

Unable to secure University accommodation

If you're unable to secure University accommodation you have the option to live locally in privately owned rental properties. The Students' Union's house-finding service SU Homes will be able to help you find the perfect place to live.

SU Advice can offer information about tenant rights and responsibilities, about repairs, repossession, eviction, harassment by landlords, contracts, deposits and much more.

If you have a debt to the University

Students who have a debt to the university will not have their Book Now allocation confirmed or be made an offer of accommodation, until the debt is cleared. You will be notified if this is the case and be given an opportunity to make payment to clear this debt.

If this is not received then we may not be able to confirm your Book Now allocation or proceed with your application.