Applying for student accommodation doesn’t need to be daunting, at Kent we’ve made the process of applying for your student room on campus as easy as possible.
All you need to know are the 5 W’s:
When
Our application pages open every year in mid-January for the year you wish to apply for and you should aim to apply by 30 June. Our application pages will remain open after this date and we will accept late applications, but applying by 30 June means you are guaranteed an offer of accommodation. Most students qualify for a guaranteed offer, but you can check our requirements online.
We allocate our rooms on a first-come-first-served basis by the date of application. This means the earlier you apply the more likely you are to receive your first preference.
We also recommend applying as early as possible because you can log back into your application throughout this period and freely make changes without affecting the initial application date we allocate by. Additionally, before you accept an offer there are no cancellation fees.
It’s a good idea to take a look at our accommodation timelines for Canterbury applications and Medway applications to see the whole process including when you can expect to receive your offer.
Where
Online through the MyAccommodation Portal found on the University of Kent Accommodation website.
To start an application you will need to register for an account. Only your surname (as on your UCAS application), date of birth, and Kent Applicant ID number (found at the top of any correspondence from the University) is needed to create a new username and password. It’s a good idea to use your personal email address rather than your school email address so that you can access any emails we send you in the summer (such as your room offer) after you have graduated from school. Keep a note of your username and password so that you can always log in to edit your application or accept your accommodation offer.
You may see listings for student rooms near the University campus on other websites, but we would recommend coming directly to us as we are the only official providers of on-campus accommodation at Canterbury and for offering additional benefits such as included Sports Membership or a guaranteed room offer for both Canterbury and Medway applicants.
If you are a Kent and Medway Medical School (KMMS) or Medway School of Pharmacy Student (MPharm) student you will need to apply online through your own dedicated application links. KMMS accommodation application link | MPharm accommodation application link
Who
Any student who is planning to study at Kent in September that year (e.g. if you are going to start at Kent in September 2024 then you should apply from January 2024).
We welcome accommodation applications from both firm and insurance choice applicants, first-year and returning students. All new full-time students who apply before 30 June are guaranteed an offer of on-campus accommodation in Canterbury or for Medway students an en-suite room in Pier Quays.
Clearing students will need to request accommodation when submitting their clearing application for a place at Kent rather than applying separately via the MyAccommodation Portal.
What
When you apply you’ll be asked to select four room choices in your order of preference. If you wish, you can change these as often as you like until 17 July for new students, however, only a maximum of two choices can be en-suite rooms.
Which rooms you apply for depends upon what you are looking for in your new home. If you’re unsure, give our ‘What accommodation is right for me?’ post a quick read first and take a look around our website.
Our top two pieces of advice are: don’t include any room in your preferences you wouldn’t want to live in, and consider varying your room location preferences rather than opting all for one area. This is because we will allocate down your preference list if your top choice is already full, so it is important that you’ve thought about all the rooms you’ve listed on your preferences.
KMMS students and MPharm students have the choice of applying to live at Kent or in their respective partner universities so be sure to look at which accommodation options are available for you and check that you are using your dedicated application link when applying.
Why
Living on campus at the heart of university life with other new students is a central part of your university experience, and we’re here to make that transition as enjoyable and convenient as possible.
All our accommodation is located on the Canterbury campus (except for Pier Quays which is just a short walk from the Medway campus) meaning you’re only ever minutes away from your lectures, the library or any number of cafés or bars to socialise in. A great Sports Membership is included for both Canterbury and Medway students when applying through us and finally, you don’t need to worry about deposits, any utility bills (including Wi-Fi), or personal possessions insurance as they are all included. You’ll be living together with other Kent students who are starting the journey as you, so really the question is why not?
Which brings us back to how. Simply, head to the MyAccommodation Portal and follow the onscreen steps on the application pages and you will complete your application in no time. Having problems? Contact the Accommodation Team and we’ll be happy to help.