International Office

Halls of Residence

We recommend that all new students spend their first year in student accommodation, rather than in private accommodation. All new international (non-EU and non-exchange) students starting a full-time course in September 2013 are guaranteed an offer of a place in University halls for the first year of study, provided we have received a completed accommodation application form and £250 advanced rent payment in cleared funds by the deadline of Friday 2 August 2013 (date tbc).

Details of how to apply for accommodation will be sent to students when they hold an Unconditional Firm offer with the University of Portsmouth.

For more detailed information on living in halls of residence and to take a virtual tour of the halls, please visit  Student Housing.  

Halls of Residence fees can be paid by direct debit from a UK bank account in instalments - in October, January and April. The £200 Advance Rent (accommodation deposit) is credited to the student's Hall Fee account at the beginning of occupancy and deducted from the Autumn Term payment.  How to make payments

Please note that as from April 2012 the following restriction has come into place with regards to students paying for accommodation:

MONEY ALREADY PAID TO THE TIER 4 SPONSOR (163) - If the Tier 4 (General) student can show that he/she has already paid all or some of his/her accommodation fees to his/her Tier 4 sponsor before making his/her application, this amount will also be taken away from the total amount of money he/she will need to show for living costs. The amount taken away cannot exceed a maximum of £1000, even if the student has paid more than £1000 in advance for accommodation.

It is important that you note this and DO NOT pay in excess of £1000 towards your accommodation fees as this WILL NOT appear on your CAS statement.

Free bedding packs will be provided to all new international (non-EU) fee paying students on arrival at their hall of residence. These packs contain one sheet, one pillow and pillowcase, one single duvet and duvet cover.

For advice on purchasing other essentials for your room, and for students not eligible for a bedding pack, go to essential shopping.

Students living in Halls of Residence receive limited cover under the terms of a policy arranged on their behalf by the University. However, we recommend that all students take out personal insurance policies to insure valuable items, such as laptops or bicycles.

• We guarantee a room in student accommodation to all international (non EU) students for their first year at Portsmouth, provided that they return their accommodation booking form AND pay the £250 deposit before the deadline of 2 August 2013 (date tbc). We have to enforce this deadline as there are not enough rooms for all our new students.
• Students studying at local Foundation Colleges on University programmes may apply for a room in student accommodation when they transfer to the Portsmouth Campus and enrol on a full-time undergraduate/postgraduate course.
• You cannot apply for accommodation until you have received and accepted an unconditional offer to study at the University. Please make sure you accept your offer by email as instructed on your offer letter. This action triggers accommodation information being sent to you with your final documents.
• Accommodation application forms must be returned to Student Housing with your full name and student ID number.
• We cannot guarantee that you will be offered your first choice of accommodation, but we will offer the highest available preference at the time of processing your application. The earlier you book your room, the more likely you are to get what you have requested.
• We cannot guarantee to meet specific requests to live with friends, but we will try our best.
• Free bedding packs will be provided to all new international (non-EU) students on arrival at your hall of residence.

If you have any further enquiries, please email Student Housing: international.housing@port.ac.uk