Applying for accommodation can be confusing, especially with all the terminology involved. To help, we’ve put together this Accommodation Jargon Buster, explaining key terms and why they matter to you.
Key Terms Explained
Accommodation agreement
At Kent, the accommodation agreement is a document you must follow while living in university housing. It outlines key terms alongside our Terms and Conditions. It includes:
- Move-in and move-out dates
- Payment details
- Behaviour expectations
- Room condition requirements when leaving
Off-campus, this may be called a contract or come with separate terms and conditions.
Accommodation with a meal plan
Also known as part-catered accommodation, this means some meals are included in your accommodation fees.
- Typically, these rooms only have a kitchenette rather than a full kitchen
- The Flex Meal Plan provides £14 daily to spend at our campus food outlets
- Available in Becket Court and Keynes College.
If you live off-campus or in self-catered accommodation, you have the option to buy a Flex Catering Plan separately.
Catering package/plan
A meal plan is included in your accommodation or bought separately. See “Accommodation with a Meal Plan” for details.
Contract lengths at Kent
The duration you are paying for accommodation. At Kent, our contract lengths align with academic term dates. The right contract for you will depend on whether you’re an undergraduate or postgraduate student and your chosen accommodation.
Contract lengths:
- 31 weeks – Keynes College and Becket Court (meal plan included, must vacate during winter and spring breaks).
- 38 weeks – Most undergraduate students (self-catered, includes vacation periods)
- 44 weeks – KMMS students and Giles Lane (includes vacation periods)
- 52 weeks – Mainly postgraduate students (September–September, includes all vacation periods)
- Under 38 weeks – Available for students on short courses or study abroad programs.
Fees or rent
This is the amount you pay for your accommodation, but it’s important to check what’s included to help you budget effectively.
✅ On-campus: Rent includes all utility bills, WiFi, personal possessions insurance, and a free sports membership
❌ Off-campus: You may need to pay for heating, electricity, Wi-Fi, and water separately.
First-come, first-served
Rooms are allocated based on the date of your application, so applying early increases your chances of getting your preferred accommodation. Don’t worry—you can still update your preferences as many times as you like before the deadline without affecting your application submission date.
Fully-fitted kitchen vs. kitchenette
- Fully-fitted kitchen – Includes some appliances (oven, fridge-freezer, microwave and kettle)
- Kitchenette – Smaller space with limited facilities (e.g., kettle, microwave). Found in meal plan accommodation.
Guaranteed offer
Kent offers two guaranteed room offers to eligible students.
31 March 2025: Firmly accept your offer to study at Kent and apply for accommodation by 31 March 2025 to guarantee your first choice of room style (en-suite, shared facilities)
30 June 2025: All students who apply to Canterbury or Medway by 30 June 2025 are guaranteed on-campus accommodation (off-site at Pier Quays for Medway students). This does not guarantee your first-choice room as allocation depends on the date you applied.
Housekeeping
- You and your flatmates are responsible for keeping your accommodation clean, this includes your bedroom, en-suite or bathroom and kitchen
- Each college has a Housekeeping team, they will keep communal areas (such as stairways and colleges) clean and also visit your accommodation once a term to provide a deep clean. They are also always on hand to offer support or advice.
Inventory
This is a document listing your room’s condition when you move in. This document allows you to officially record the condition and contents of your room at move-in, as you’ll be expected to return it in the same state when you move out. It’s crucial to complete your inventory, as it helps prevent any misunderstandings or charges for damages you didn’t cause, whether you’re living on or off campus.
Lifestyle moderate living
Accommodations for students who prefer a quieter environment with lower noise levels are set aside in all accommodation areas. Students in moderated living areas are expected to maintain a quieter lifestyle, including respecting alcohol use, noise levels, and socialising. While not monitored more closely, these areas bring together like-minded students who self-manage their environment. We can’t guarantee a completely quiet or alcohol-free space, but there are measures in place for addressing students who don’t follow the guidelines.
MyAccommodation Portal
Your online hub for:
- Applying for accommodation
- Accepting offers
- Downloading important documents
- Checking move-in dates
National Code of Assured Accommodation and The Student Accommodation Code (SAC)
Two independent regulatory bodies ensuring quality and safety standards in student housing.
Occupancy
Defines how many people can live in a room:
- Single occupancy – One person per room (most student accommodation)
- Double occupancy – Some twin or studio rooms allow two people
Occupancy period – The length of your contract.
Other accommodation requests
- When applying, use the “Other accommodation requests” box to request specific needs, for example, if you wish to live with a friend then you both need to include your full name and UCAS/student number here or additional preferences/needs such as single-sex accommodation can also be added here
- Requests are not guaranteed but will be considered based on availability.
Part-catered accommodation
Now called Accommodation with a Meal Plan (see above).
Preferences (room choices)
- You can choose up to four accommodation preferences (en-suite, part-catered etc)
- Only two can be en-suite
- It’s best to spread your choices across different room types to improve your chances.
Consider all four options on your preference list, as your top choices may be full, and you could be allocated to any available option. It’s also important to balance en-suite and shared-facilities preferences. To increase your chances, avoid selecting multiple room types within the same college—e.g., an extra-large and a standard room in Turing Flats—since if Turing Flats are full, we’ll need to move to your next available preference.
Returner accommodation
Rooms are available for returning students (second year and above) on and off campus. It’s uncommon for returning students to be housed with new students, and this is avoided unless specifically requested by both/all parties. Returning students can also apply to live with friends.
Room allocation
Room allocation refers to the process our team go through when placing students into their rooms on campus.
- Rooms are allocated based on your application date (first-come, first-served)
- Receiving your offer later does not affect your allocation—rooms are assigned in advance.
You can read more about our room allocation procedure on our dedicated blog.
Room offer
The accommodation offer you receive once your place at Kent becomes unconditional.
- Check your email regularly (offers are sent after exam results)
- You have 7 days to accept your offer
- If you’re unhappy with your offer, don’t reject it or let it expire as this will deactivate your application—contact the Accommodation Team to discuss options.
Self-catered accommodation
No meals included, but access to a fully-fitted shared kitchen to prepare your own food. Most Kent accommodation is self-catered. If you choose, you can also purchase a Flex Meal Plan separately.
Shared facilities vs. en-suite
- En-suite – Private toilet/washroom
- Shared facilities – Communal toilet/washroom (varies by location).
Note: En-suite rooms cost more, while shared facilities offer a more budget-friendly option. Most privately rented accommodation offers shared facilities, while independent student housing providers tend to have more en-suite options. At Kent, we offer both, with 60% of our on-campus rooms featuring en-suite bathrooms.
Vacation accommodation
Need to stay on campus during periods not covered by your contract? Apply for vacation accommodation during the winter, spring, or summer vacation times. Depending on where you live you may not be able to stay in your room during this period but you will be provided with an alternative option
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