January starters: your guide to meal plans this January

Welcome to Campus Life!

As you prepare for your arrival at the University of Kent this January, we want to make sure you’re fully informed about your Flex Meal Plan and accommodation details. Here’s everything you need to know to plan for a smooth start to your term.


Your Flex Meal Plan: What You Need to Know

The Flex Meal Plan is a fantastic part of your accommodation package, giving you £14 per day (2024/25) to spend on food at a variety of campus cafés, restaurants, and bars during term time. This means you’ll have plenty of options to explore and enjoy!

However, the meal plan will not be available until Saturday 11 January 2025. If you’re arriving before this date, don’t worry—you’ll still have access to:

  • Campus catering outlets and the Co-op Shop (open with limited hours)
  • Local shops and takeaways in the area.

For details on catering outlet opening times, check out our catering page. Regular operating hours will resume on Monday 13 January 2025.

A female student holding a try and plating up food from the serery


Temporary Accommodation Discount

We understand that arriving from Thursday 9 January 2025 means you may not have full access to catering facilities until the term officially begins. To make up for this, we’ll apply a small discount of £8.40 per night for Thursday 9 January, and Friday 10 January—a total of £16.80.

This discount will be applied manually and won’t appear on your initial accommodation invoice. Please remember to deduct £16.80 when making your first payment.


Facilities in Your Accommodation

If you’re staying in part-catered accommodation, you’ll find:

  • A small shared kitchenette equipped with a microwave, kettle, and fridge.

Note: There is no oven in this type of accommodation.

Most students will not return to campus until Saturday 11 January 2025, so you may have your accommodation to yourself until then.


Option to Switch to Self-Catering Accommodation

If you’d prefer to move into self-catered accommodation for greater independence, let us know—we’d be happy to look into this for you.

Three housemates sitting around the kitchen table, chatting.


Need Assistance?

We’re here to support you every step of the way. If you have any questions about your accommodation, meal plan, or anything else, don’t hesitate to reach out to us.

We look forward to welcoming you to campus soon!