Frequently asked questions

The accommodation application will open on 4 February 2025.

From 4 February 2025 if you have accepted a firm or insurance course offer with Birmingham City University you will then be sent an email with a link to the accommodation portal in order to make an application.

All first-year, full-time home and international students are guaranteed University accommodation if they have firmly accepted an offer in the main application cycle and apply by the deadline date.

Please view the appropriate portfolio for your academic year in-take. If there are medical or mobility factors which have a bearing on your accommodation needs, please provide full details and supporting evidence at the time of application to enable us to allocate appropriately. You may also wish to contact the Disability Support Team disability@bcu.ac.uk . 

To register and apply for accommodation you will need to use your University Application number/Student ID (it has eight numeric characters):

• Register in the Accommodation Portal

• Select your Application Pathway that is relevant to your Campus

• Where required please select your accommodation preferences and contract length which is suitable for your course

• Please use the Additional Information section to advise us of any requirements that is relevant to the allocation of your room

Note: to avoid any delay please ensure you frequently check the progress of your application.

All first-year, full-time home, and International students are guaranteed University accommodation if they have firmly accepted an offer in the main application cycle and apply by the deadline date.

Application Deadline Dates

• UK Students - 31 July 2025
• International Students – 31 August 2025
• Clearing/Insurance Students – 31 August 2025 (TBC)

There are several reasons why you may not be able to register:

• You have not yet accepted your course offer
• You have used an incorrect University Application Number -  the UCAS ID is not the same as the University Application Number
• Your details are not on the University's admissions system
• You may have entered your personal details incorrectly - If you need any assistance please contact Accommodation Services.

Your University Application Number should be on your offer email. It is made up of eight unique numbers this should be on your Birmingham City University Course Offer. If you are unable to locate this number please contact Accommodation Services. 

Please allow up to 30 minutes to receive the email and also check your spam/junk emails. If you have still not received the email, contact Accommodation Services.

Please see individual accommodation location pages for prices, alternatively you can view the

Residence Fee Summary 2024-25

If you have a disability or long-term health condition which causes you significant difficulties in your day-to-day life it is essential that you contact Accommodation Services as soon as possible to discuss your specific requirements. We will not be able to make you a room offer until we can confirm that reasonable adjustments can be made.

We may be able to offer you accommodation for the duration of your course but due to possible changes in the portfolio this may not be the same accommodation each year. If you have a personal support worker who will be enabling you to live independently at university, we can also provide a room for them (the full cost of this room is applicable). Please ensure you have also informed the Disability Support Team disability@bcu.ac.uk of your medical condition.

We will guarantee you accommodation for the duration of your course, so long as all accommodation fees have been paid and there have been no breaches of contract.

You will be required to submit a new application form for each academic year by the advised deadline date. Please note: depending on the accommodation you have selected you may be required to move rooms during the summer vacation period.

A care leaver is someone who has previously lived with foster parents, in a children’s home, orphanage, or sheltered accommodation who has been in the care of the Local Authority for a period of 13 weeks or more spanning their 16th birthday (The Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000).

Visit our Care Leavers student support page for further information.

When applying for accommodation in the BCU portfolio, you can declare your trans status on application and request accommodation to meet your needs. If you choose not to declare at this point, you will still be able to request a change of accommodation later on the basis of your trans status (subject to availability).

If you disclose your trans status while already living in accommodation in the BCU portfolio you will be asked what type of accommodation you would prefer e.g. mixed gender or single gender. We will take all reasonable steps to place you in your preferred accommodation. However, there may be occasions when this is not possible e.g. because all accommodation in the BCU portfolio are booked up. In this instance, Accommodation Services will support you to seek suitable alternative accommodation elsewhere.

If transitioning whilst at University, you may reasonably request that your accommodation in the BCU portfolio arrangements be re-assessed and a room transfer offered if available. We will facilitate such requests wherever reasonably possible.

If you live at University Locks and wish to move to new accommodation, Accommodation Services will seek to arrange a move to the most appropriate type of accommodation as soon as reasonably possible. If there is no suitable alternative accommodation in the BCU portfolio, we will consider releasing you from your contract and providing assistance to find suitable alternative accommodation.

Semester 1 Students

Subject to availability we will aim to make an offer of accommodation to Semester 1 students from (September 2025 – January 2026), so long as you have been offered and have accepted a place on a course, meet the room offer criteria and have applied for accommodation by 31 August 2025.

Semester 2 Students

Subject to availability we will aim to make an offer of accommodation to Semester 2 students from (January 2026 – June/August 2026), so long as you have been offered and have accepted a place on a course, meet the room offer criteria and have applied for accommodation by 5 December 2025.

Yes, you can apply. Your application will be placed on a waiting list until BCU becomes your firm choice.

We are able to offer accommodation within the University portfolio so long as you have accepted a place on a course and have applied for accommodation by 31 August 2025 (TBC).

You can apply for accommodation once you’ve had your Clearing offer confirmed by us. We’ll support you throughout the process, so relax and let us find the best accommodation for you.

We have a wide range of accommodation options to live with other students, close to academic and social spaces close to campus. We are able to offer accommodation, subject to availability, within the University portfolio so long as you have accepted a place on a course and have applied for accommodation by 31 August 2025 (TBC).

If you have applied after the deadline date we will aim to make you an offer of accommodation (subject to availability).