Accommodation

Moving in to your Colchester Campus accommodation

Find a course
Students walking outside University of Essex Accommodation

Before you arrive 

You'll will need to print off or your Arrivals pass (which is available at the end of your e-induction) or have it available electronically and have your ID, or your Letter of Allocation, as you will need this to collect your key. You can collect your keys from the start date of your contract. When you arrive, take your Arrivals pass/Letter of Allocation to your designated key collection office (details below) where you will be given an envelope with a map (to show you where you need to go) and your key (fob).

Unless you have received agreement from our Accommodation Office for late arrival, we will be entitled (but not obliged) to terminate your contract for the Accommodation if you have not taken up residence within 7 days of the start of the Period of Stay

If you are not able to bring certain items with you, such as bedding and kitchen items, then you have the option to order these from Essex Essentials

Luggage

Please make sure you only bring what you need and that everything is securely packed and easy for you to transport, as staff are not able to help with your luggage.

Travel and parking

Further information on how to get to the University can be found on our travelling to Colchester Campus page.  Parking for new arrivals is available at University Quays (///roses.moved.forest). Parking for The Meadows, The Copse, and The Pastures is at the Capon Road temporary car park (///movie.agrees.soup) opposite the accommodation, and North Campus is in the North Towers car park (///under.jaws.riders) next to North Towers. Both these car parking areas are accessed via the Knowledge Gateway off of the A133. Parking for South Campus is in Valley Road Car Park (///stones.epic.arena) for South Towers and Car Park B (///pull.string.energetic), behind the gym, just off of Boundary Road for South Courts, from the A133 towards Wivenhoe.

/// Download what3words to help you find your way.

Google maps is also a good tool for finding your way to and around our campuses.

 

Welcome week

As well as moving into you accommodation, we also have a wealth of advice to help you get started on your first few days on our welcome pages.

Collecting your keys

Arrivals key collection 2025-26

North Campus (North Towers, The Houses, and Wolfson Court) 

Where to go

If you will be living on the North of campus (The Houses, Wolfson Court or Tawney Tower) please follow these instructions:

Key collection 

Key collection is available from the 1st Floor of the Silberrad Student Centre from 10am to 4pm, Monday to Friday and out of office hours, will be from Security at the Security and Safety Centre on Square 3.

Directions to the Silberrad Student Centre

Please go to the 1st Floor of the Silberrad Student Centre on Square 5, next to the lake.  

You can access this by walking along the North Causeway from the North car park, and continue passed the Tony Rich Teaching centre, then under The Hex building, which will take you to Square 4, leading to Square 5.

South Courts and South Towers  

Where to go

If you will be living on the South of Campus in South Courts (Rowhedge, Thaxted, Manningtree, Brightlingsea, Harwich, Alresford, Frinton, and Walton) or South Towers (Bertrand Russell and Eddington), please follow these instructions: 

Key collection 

Key collection is available from the 1st Floor of the Silberrad Student Centre from 10am to 4pm, Monday to Friday and out of office hours, will be from Security at the Security and Safety Centre on Square 3.

Directions to the Silberrad Student Centre

Please go to the 1st Floor of the Silberrad Student Centre on Square 5, next to the lake.  

You can access this by following the path that runs past the Sports Centre, and Sports Arena, continue on the path down past the silver Ivor Crewe Lecture Hall, to where the building sits, next to the lake. 

The Meadows and The Copse  

Where to go

If you will be living at The Meadows or The Copse on the North of Campus, please go to the accommodation reception in The Poplars building at The Copse to collect your keys.

Key collection is available from 9am on the start of your contract, and then 24 hours a dayIf the office is temporarily unmanned, please call Security on 07460373172 and they will come and assist you.

Please turn at the traffic lights in to the north side of Campus (Knowledge Gateway on the A133) and take the third exit on the first roundabout onto Capon Road where you will be guided by security staff on where the best place is to park. For SatNav purposes, please use The Copse postcode CO4 3ZT. The Capon Road car park is just opposite The Copse.  

University Quays 

Where to go 

Monday to Friday, key collection is available from the University Quays accommodation office in Matthews Quay 1 between the hours of 8.30am and 5.00pm. 

Outside of these hours your keys will be available at the Security Office in Hawkins Quay 2.

If the office is temporarily unmanned please call Security on 07460373172 and they will come and assist you.

For SatNav purposes, please use the postcode for University Quays, which is CO2 8GY. 

The Pastures

Where to go

If you will be living at The Pastures on the North of Campus, please go to the accommodation reception, which is located on the ground floor of The Saltmarsh building. 

Please note, that there is not a lift in Woodrush House.

Key collection is available from 9am on the start of your contract, and then 24 hours a day. If the office is temporarily unmanned, please call Security on 07385935610 and they will come and assist you.

Please turn at the traffic lights in to the north side of Campus (Knowledge Gateway on the A133) and take the third exit on the first roundabout onto Capon Road where you will be guided by security staff on where the best place is to park. For SatNav purposes, please use The Pastures Saltmarsh postcode CO4 3ZU. The Capon Road car park is just opposite The Pastures and is a temporary car park and therefore, is gravel, so is not suitable for trollies. Luggage will need to be manoeuvred to the pavement before a trolley can be used.  

Important information
  • Where possible bring your belongings in suitcases with wheels so you're easily able to transport it to your accommodation
  • You're not permitted to have any guests to stay for the first 2 weeks of your autumn term contract
  • Please only bring one person with you where possible and arrange off campus accommodation for them.
kitchen items
What you need to bring

Discover which items are included with your accommodation here at Essex and what you'll need to bring.

Find out more
Student at graduation with her family
Family member of a new student?

Are you a parent, guardian or family member? Here's some helpful information to put your minds at rest.