An iconic waterfront city known for its port, Southampton offers a unique student experience. Located on England’s south coast, this popular spa town has something for every kind of student – from exciting culture and vibrant nightlife to the New Forest National Park. Make the most of your time in Southampton when you stay with Unite Students.
Book with confidence
Southampton is one of the UK’s sunniest cities. Plus, its compact size with plenty of green spaces means it’s easy to get around on foot, by bike or on public transport. The city is a friendly and secure place for students, and has been awarded a Purple Flag for its safe and vibrant nightlife.
Unite offers student accommodation in Southampton close to the bustling centre and the universities. We have two student halls available in Southampton, Orion Point and Mercury Point. Whether you’re studying at the University of Southampton, Southampton Solent or City College Southampton, you can enjoy the balance of city and student life.
Choose your property and room type.
Book a viewing or watch a virtual tour.
Choose your length of stay.
Enter your personal details.
Enter your guarantor details.
Submit your payment details.
Choose the instalment plan of one, three or seven payments.
To book student accommodation in Southampton, you must be at least 16 years old and a student in education.
We offer as standard:
7-Day Cooling-Off Period – if you change your mind you can cancel your booking within seven days.
No Place, No Pay – if your offer is withdrawn or you choose a different university, you can cancel your agreement at no cost.
You can pay for your Southampton student accommodation in the following ways:
Direct Debit
Card payment
UnionPay for international students.
All bills are included with Unite Students, so there are no hidden extra costs. Pay in one, three or seven instalments to suit your budget.
We don’t take deposits but advance rent may be required. This is a small part of the full-year amount, and we put this towards your first rent instalment.
You may need a guarantor for your student accommodation in Southampton. This must be someone over 25 who can make payments if you’re unable to pay rent on time – for example, a parent or legal guardian.
Our Southampton student housing comes in three grades:
Basic - our most affordable student accommodation, with access to all the facilities.
Classic – upgrade to Classic get more space and storage.
Premium – top-of-the-range rooms with better views, more space and larger beds.
Features may vary by property – browse our Southampton student accommodation for further details.
Find out what’s included in your room and what you need to bring.
You can reserve student accommodation in Southampton starting the first week of November for the following academic year, which starts in September. Southampton is one of Unite Students' most popular cities and student halls regularly sell out. To avoid disappointment, you should try to book as soon as you receive your university offer. Book now to lock in your price for 2024/25.
If you don’t get a place at your chosen university and go through clearing instead, there might still be student accommodation available. If not, you can join our waitlist as students do drop out or choose to live elsewhere, so rooms can become available at short notice. First-year students benefit from our No Place, No Pay offer - if you don’t get your place, you can cancel for free. This means you can book accommodation while you wait to hear back from clearing, without money worries.
Student accommodation in Southampton varies in price depending on the location and property type. Shared student housing outside of the city centre tends to be cheaper. Premium rooms in modern accommodation close to the city are the more expensive option. However, these halls often benefit from facilities like common rooms, study areas and even on-site gyms.
The safety and security of our students are our top priorities. CCTV keeps an eye on the exterior and entrances of our properties, and you’ll be given a secure key card or fob for entry. All bedrooms have their own locks, and there’s a concierge at reception too. Our call centre is open 24 hours a day,365 days a year and you can also use the Unite Students app for help.
Portswood, Highfield, Polygon, Shirley, and Bassett are all popular student neighbourhoods in Southampton. Portswood is a vibrant area near the university with plenty of bars and restaurants. Highfield is home to the main university campus and a popular area for students to live. Polygon is located near the city centre and is known for its bar scene and cultural attractions. Shirley is a quieter area with good transportation links, while Bassett is known for its peaceful environment and is popular among postgraduate and mature students.
You can view your housing options in person before making a booking with Unite Students. If you’re unable to visit in person, all our property pages have 360-degree virtual tours so you can have a good look around.
Students studying in Southampton have several options. You can choose to stay in university-owned halls or in privately-run halls like Unite Students. There are also plenty of options for group housing across the city – or you could opt for a private apartment. The choice is yours. It’s not just first-years who choose to live with us – second and third-years can also make a group booking with friends. Masters, postgrads and mature students also often stay in our studio accommodation.
According to the NatWest Student Living Index, Southampton has an average cost of living for students. It’s more expensive than cities like Sheffield, Nottingham and Leicester, but cheaper than London, Leeds and Edinburgh. With a large student population, there are plenty of shops, restaurants and bars geared towards a student budget.
When searching for student accommodation in Southampton, students should consider where in the city they would like to live first. Lots of students prefer the city centre, but close to campus is also a popular choice, as are more affordable options outside the centre. You should also work out your budget so you can find accommodation that’s affordable for you. Other than that, the type of room, number of flatmates and additional facilities are all factors to consider when looking at Southampton student halls.
Southampton is popular with international students. The University of Southampton has over 10,000 international students, and Solent University has welcomed people from over 100 different countries. The city is also diverse, with nearly 160 languages spoken here – so you’re sure to feel right at home.
The universities in Southampton have their own student accommodation, which is allocated once you receive your exam results and official offers are made. Students can choose their preferred accommodation ahead of this but, due to supply and demand, people often don’t get their first choice. If this happens, you can opt to find halls through private lettings or with a student accommodation provider like Unite Students.