Collage of student halls of residence and shared space

Home isn't just where the heart is

It's where the free broadband and WiFi are too

Whether you're in our halls of residence or renting in the city, when you join us you won't just study here, you'll make Portsmouth your home.

Wherever you choose to live, you'll become part of the local community. You'll discover Portsmouth is a bustling, easy-to-explore city with 4 miles of beaches and plenty of green spaces.

And because you can walk across the city in an hour, everything you need is within walking distance. The rest of the country is easy to reach too, thanks to our great transport links.

When you accept a firm offer to study with us, we'll send you details of your accommodation options.

Explore your accommodation options below.

Find a place to call home

Take a closer look at your accommodation options when you choose to study with us, and find out more about the housing support we offer once you're here.

Get a guaranteed room in halls

Received an offer and accepted us as your firm choice? Find out how to get a guaranteed place in our halls.

Male student sitting on a bed in halls
Secure your place

Our halls of residence

Whatever your accommodation needs, we can deliver: from non-/catered facilities to accessible rooms.

Collage of University of Portsmouth halls of residence rooms and buildings
Explore our halls

Want to live with a friend in Halls?

It's always nice to see a friendly face. If you and your friend are both joining us at Portsmouth and would like to live together, get in touch with us and we will do our best to allocate you accommodation together.

Email us

Student House B Roll Shoot

Discover Portsmouth | City Guide

Portsmouth is a great place to live as well as study. We're the UK's only island city and life as a student in Portsmouth is unbeatable. We’ve got beaches, great places to eat, heaps of independent shops and music venues, cultural and artistic hotspots, and stacks of green space. Portsmouth is one of the most picturesque, welcoming and interesting places to live in the UK, and was voted the in the top 10 trending hotspots by Airbnb (2022).

I think Portsmouth is very forward thinking.

It's got such a really friendly atmosphere and even though it's a city, it’s quite a small city, so it feels really welcoming and homely.

When I first came to the open day for Portsmouth, I instantly fell in love with it.

When the sun is shining, there is nowhere better than Portsmouth.

Welcome to Portsmouth, the UK's only island city and home to the University of Portsmouth.

Join us today as we show you some of our favourite spots so you can take advantage of studying at the heart of our community. 

It's a very cosmopolitan city, it's got so much to offer.

You have the commercial road, you have the city centre ar the heart where it's all lively.

Student nightlife is really, really good. You’ve got lots of nightclubs, lots of stuff to do.

But then as soon as you come to Southsea it’s more of a lazy seaside town, you get to go to the beach.

You just have to go down to the beach or the common on a sunny day and everyone's having picnics. It's just beautiful.

Fuelling up for the day, you’re absolutely spoilt for choice.

Everyone I know has a different favourite café spot.

We’ve got you covered for freshly roasted coffee, doughnuts, fish and chips, vegan food and artisan bread.

And that’s before we even get to the restaurants and bars. Cheers.

Okay, shopping. I love to shop local myself and the top spots for that are Palmerston Road, Marmion Road or here, Castle Road.

Commercial Road has you set for your shopping essentials. Or pop down to Southsea for charity shop bargains and quirky independent businesses to browse for something unique.

Or join us in Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth's Waterfront Shopping Centre to check in on your favourite brand outlets or catch the lights at Christmas. 

I love that kind of vibrancy of the city

It's got a real independent spirit about it.

I think it's got a really good mix of independent businesses.

There are so many local independent businesses.

There are entertainment activities in terms of lots of bars and restaurants and loads of cool places to eat.

There's so much to do right here in the place you live.

There's an island’s worth of beautiful coast to explore and unique green spaces like Canoe Lake and the Rose Garden to enjoy with your friends or by yourself as a space for study or reflection.

Or for something a little different, you could wander into an art gallery, try an escape room, or book a table with your friends at DICE, the local board game café.

And don't forget the nights. There's a ton of live music events happening every week as well as karaoke comedy nights and live theatre.

There are lots of cultural events, art galleries, music venues.

And there are so many shows. You've got kite festivals. 

Food festivals. 

The big one that really helps the town is Victorious Festival.

It is such a really lovely community.

And I think after you've been here a while, you feel part of the community.

It just makes you feel like you're at home away from home.

Portsmouth is a one of a kind place, a place for you to explore and thrive.

There's something for everyone here, and we can't wait for you to be part of it.

To find out more about our city, book an open day and get exploring, visit port.ac.uk.

Deciding where to live

We'll help you decide between halls, private renting and staying at home.
University of Portsmouth private student housing
Learn more

Private renting

Our island city has lots of beautiful and buzzing places to live – and many of our students rent privately.
Student walking down Southsea street past colouful houses
Find out more

Housing support

From help finding a housemate to support dealing with contracts and landlords, we're here to help.
Student cooking in halls
Read more

Virtual Experience

Explore a virtual day in the life of a Portsmouth student, tour our accommodation, discover our island city and experience your subject.
Sam Shaw; 11th June 2019; Portsmouth Photoshoot
Start exploring

 

TEF Gold 2023

Gold rating in national assessment of teaching excellence

Our TEF Gold rating ranks Portsmouth amongst the top universities in the UK for teaching. 

Find out more