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Colchester Campus Accommodation

The Meadows Flats

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white block of flats among green grass

Move to Essex

Bright and modern accommodation for both undergraduate and postgraduate students. These stylish rooms complement the beautiful surroundings that form the backdrop to these flats.

The details

Number of rooms: 420

Location: Colchester Campus

Bathroom facilities: Shared, Ensuite, Private

Available for: Undergraduate students, Postgraduate students

Room and Accommodation Type	2026-2027 Prices
Single ensuite premium	£197.89
Self-contained apartment	£282.87

Check out the 2025-26 prices.

Don't forget, you can apply for accommodation with us as soon as we're your first choice.

Apply for accommodation now

Please note that contract lengths vary in line with course dates. Postgraduate courses are normally 50 weeks and undergraduate courses are normally 39 weeks, however, some courses start earlier or finish later than others.

About The Meadows Flats

The Meadows Flats are located near the River Colne estuary, close to the Essex Business School. The Meadows Flats are only a ten minute stroll from the main campus.

With a real sense of its own community, The Meadows Flats has its own shop for those last-minute essentials and common room where you can meet other students from around the world to chat, exchange experiences, and learn about new cultures.

All our premium rooms have large, four-foot wide beds (double bedding packs will fit)
A social pavilion with a common room, shop, and launderette
There is one self-contained apartment available in this area (type B)

We work with Uliving to provide student accommodation at The Meadows Flats. Your accommodation contract is with us but the management, maintenance, and cleaning services are provided by Places for People (PfP).

The Meadows is included within Places for People ANUK/Unipol National Code accreditation.

Find out more about The Meadows Facebook group and view full address.

The rooms

Single ensuite premium

Available for undergraduates and postgraduates.
Cluster flats for 5 to 7 students.
420 single premium ensuite rooms.
Shared kitchens.
Room includes desk, chair, bed (four-foot wide, double bedding packs will fit), wardrobe, shelving, mirror, lamp, bin.
Ensuite toilet and shower facilities in each bedroom.
Kitchens have a hob, oven, multiple fridges and freezers, a microwave, and a kettle (ironing board and hoover also provided for the flat).
Typical room dimensions for the premium ensuite room is 12.5m2. The bathroom takes up 1.85m2.
These rooms are found in Conway, Arber, and Cole Houses. Lifts available in each house.

Self-contained apartment

Postgraduate only.
There is one self-contained apartment available in this area (type B).

Walking distances

5 minutes or less: Essex Business School, bus stops (routes to Hythe and Wivenhoe train stations and central Colchester), Home Bargains.
15 minutes or less: North and Causeway Teaching Centres, The Squares and SU shop, Hythe train station, Tesco.
30 minutes or less: Sports arena and gym, Lecture Theatre Building, Albert Sloman Library.

Image gallery

Entrance to The Meadows

Entrance to The Meadows

External view of The Meadows

External view of The Meadows

Premium Kitchen inside The Meadows Flats

Premium Kitchen inside The Meadows Flat

Single occupancy bedroom with shared facilities

Single occupancy bedroom with shared facilities

View of the Kitchen

View of the Kitchen

Student in bedroom

Student inside their Meadows bedroom.

View more images of The Meadows on our Flickr set.

Virtual tour

The Meadows

Life in The Meadows

In your room

Your room will be provided with a standard set of furniture including a bed with mattress, a wardrobe, a desk and a chair. You will need to bring your own bedding (duvet, pillows and bed sheets) as well as any other decorative items.

We do not allow damage to the wall from nails or screws, but you are welcome to put up posters using blue tac, or have small houseplants on your desk.

Letters and parcels

Residents at The Meadows have their own postbox and key. Our post room team carry out daily post deliveries (except for weekends, bank holidays and university closure periods).

As The Meadows does not have its own reception any large items or anything that needs to be signed for will be kept at The Copse reception in The Poplars building. You will be emailed to let you know something is waiting for you.

We also have Amazon lockers on Square 3, on central campus, which you can nominate as a delivery location for Amazon purchases.

Cleaning and laundry

Students are responsible for keeping their own rooms clean and tidy. A bin is provided in each room and a hoover can be found in the kitchen. Inspections are carried out throughout the academic year to ensure rooms are not being damaged.

Students should work together to keep shared areas, such as kitchens, free from mess and trip hazards. You will need to wash up your own dishes and wipe down surfaces after cooking.

Cleaning staff visit throughout the week to carry out routine tasks in shared spaces, such as emptying bins, mopping floors, or cleaning shared bathrooms.

Laundry

The Meadows laundry facilities are located in The Pavilion. Facilities consist of washing machines and tumble driers. You will need to provide your own detergent (which can be purchased in the SU shop on campus).

More about laundry facilities and costs

Medical centre

There is a medical centre at Colchester Campus for you to visit when you are unwell. Registration at the Centre is required in order to see a doctor, you will be able to register online either just before or when you arrive.

Pharmacies are available in Hythe for prescriptions and over the counter medications.

Benefits of campus living

There are many advantages to living on campus at Essex - you’ll have your lectures on your doorstep, get to know the University inside and out plus you’ll be right in the heart of the action.

Quality Guarantee

Accommodation Essex is a member of the Universities UK Student Accommodation Code (SAC) which sets out the quality and standards (.pdf) that students can expect from our accommodation.

To make sure we comply with the Housing Act 2004, Accommodation Essex adhere to the UUK Student Accommodation Code, which has been designed to protect your rights to safe, good quality university-managed accommodation.

Places for People (PfP), the management company for The Copse, University Quays, and The Meadows, as well as Equans, who manage The Pastures, adhere to the National Code Assured Accommodation (ANUK).

Fixed cost

At Essex, we recognise the cost of living challenges that will impact our students. For example, your weekly rent includes your energy bills and internet access.

Gym

If you are living on the Colchester Campus, then you get a silver Essex Sport gym membership included in your rent. This includes off-peak access to gym facilities, advanced booking of sports facilities such as our tennis courts, and online booking for fitness classes.

Security

Our campuses are generally very safe environments. We want to ensure that things stay this way. There is 24-hour security at our Colchester Campus.

Support services

We have a wide range of support services to help you with everyday worries in your accommodation or for practical or personal issues.

Support is available to you within your Student Services Hub, providing advice and support on a range of issues such as financial worries, immigration issues and support for students with additional needs or specific health concerns.

SU Advice, run by the Students' Union, offers welfare advice to students on a range of issues. SU Advice is located on Square 3.

Insurance

By partnering with Howden, the No.1 student insurance provider, we've arranged contents insurance for all of our students staying with us, in our residence, at no cost to you.

The Meadows Flats - Arber Name of Block followed by Flat/Room (e.g. Arber 5.21/A)

Annan Road, Colchester, CO4 3ZJ

The Meadows Flats - Cole & Conway Name of Block followed by Flat/Room (e.g. Cole 5.21/A)

Annan Road, Colchester, Postcode: Cole - CO4 3ZF, Conway - CO4 3ZE

student talking to support staff

Contact us

For enquiries about accommodation or about an application you're making, contact us at the Student Services Hub. Quote your full name and PRID or PG number on all correspondence.

Get in touch