Accommodation and Clearing
If you’re new to considering the University of Exeter through a Clearing, Insurance or alternative course offer then welcome!
Throughout the year we publish general information about accommodation applications which is relevant to Clearing or Insurance entrants. In August, this page will be regularly updated with the latest information about our accommodation availability, along with further advice and guidance on securing your place to stay.
For accommodation on our Cornwall campus please visit our Cornwall accommodation pages.
Availability
We won’t know our availability position until we have processed applications from students who applied during the accommodation guarantee period. From A level results day (usually the second Thursday in August) we will be able to give updates on the current position and information on where we anticipate our remaining availability to be. Please check back on this page to see the latest on the situation.
It is highly unlikely that we will still have availability in our most popular on-campus residences. To get an idea of what these are, you can take a look at our 2025-26 Undergraduate Application Ratio Table to see how the number of applications we received as at the guarantee deadline of 31 July 2025 compared to the number of bedspaces planned for allocation to undergraduate students. N.B. this is not an indication of current availability.
Typically, we tend to have remaining availability in:
- standard catered accommodation
- on-campus studios
- self-catered accommodation in the city.
Exeter is a small city, and the student accommodation we allocate to can all be easily reached within approximately 30 minutes' walk from Streatham campus. Alternatively, a local bus route links the campus to the city centre throughout the day and evenings.
Applying
If you are applying for accommodation after our accommodation guarantee period has ended then you will not be able to state a preference for particular residences. Instead, we will ask you about the type of accommodation you prefer: catered or self-catered, and whether a standard, en-suite or studio room type.
Please note: Once you have accepted a course place via Clearing or if Exeter was previously your Insurance choice, there will be a delay of 24-48 hours before you are able to register an accommodation account while your information is transferred between UCAS, Admissions, and our Accommodation system. If you are still unable to register after this time then please contact us.
If our application system is open then you can log in to apply online. We can only accept applications for accommodation through our online portal.
Offers
After we have processed applications from students who met our Accommodation Guarantee, we will allocate remaining accommodation to Clearing, Alternative Course offer or Insurance Course offer students in the date order of receipt of an online accommodation application. We expect to begin sending out any offers from the last week of August. If you are sent an offer then there will be a deadline date by which you will need to accept or reject it. We will not be able to make alternative offers. If you reject your offer then you will need to make your own arrangements to secure accommodation in the private sector.
Adjustments
The University of Exeter aims to support individuals who, due to disability, a long-term medical condition, sensory or physical impairment or wellbeing requirement, need more accessible accommodation. You will need to complete a prospective student questionnaire as soon as possible so that Wellbeing Services can review any support adjustments. We would encourage you to read our advice about Adjustments to Accommodation.
While Wellbeing Support will detail any adaptations which need to be considered by the Accommodation Office when allocating to a room, such as requiring an en-suite or requiring a room with level access, it is not possible for the Support to be for a particular residence. Gaining Wellbeing Support for your application also does not mean that you will definitely be allocated to one of your top preferences. The availability of accommodation decreases significantly the closer it gets to the contract start date in September so while we will look at your application preferences first, you may be offered accommodation within any of the residences which have availability and are deemed to meet the requirements which have been supported. If your application or support is received late in the process then we may not be able to allocate you to something which meets your requirements immediately.
Looking for private accommodation?
If you prefer, you can seek accommodation in the city. It is not unusual for first year students to live off campus; indeed in 2025 about 30% of university allocated bedspaces are within residences in the city. Living off campus or in private accommodation does not mean you will not get the same university experience as a student living on campus. Exeter is a historic and vibrant city, and private student accommodation can generally be reached within a 20-40 minute walk from Streatham campus. Alternatively, a local bus route links the campus to the city centre throughout the day and evenings.
If you are looking for something very similar to university halls of residence, then we would suggest exploring Purpose Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) in the city. These are large student accommodation blocks operated by a private company. Services tend to include staffed receptions, security, all-inclusive rents, and there may also be communal social areas and study spaces – please check with the individual provider for full details. Our Purpose Built Student Accommodation map shows the name and location of providers across the city.
If you would prefer living with a smaller group of students in a private residential house then we have information on our website about private accommodation options, information about the local area, and transport links around the city.
You can also take a look on our Studentpad website where we list available student accommodation in Exeter and the surrounding area. As well as adverts from local landlords, Studentpad has a message board facility which you can use to find other students who are also searching for housing in the city, so that you can look to form a group to search for accommodation if you wish to.
The University works very closely with private purpose-built student accommodation providers and landlords in the city and if we are made aware of their availability we will give updates on this page.
Advice for applicants
If you held both a Firm and Insurance offer at Exeter, you may have already applied for accommodation with us and this might have been during the guarantee period. However, if you are confirmed as coming to the University based on your Insurance choice course on Results Day, your original accommodation application will be declined and you will no longer fall under the accommodation guarantee (if applicable). You do not need to apply again, but you must contact the Accommodation Office to ask for your application be reinstated. Once reinstated, you will be considered a Post-Guarantee applicant and your application will be processed in the date order of receipt of your original application subject to our remaining availability. If we are able to make you an offer, these are generally sent from the last week of August.
Speak to the Accommodation team by calling 0300 555 0444 (+44 1392 72 4724 from abroad).
If you held a Firm offer, you may have already applied for accommodation at Exeter and this might have been during the guarantee period. However, if following confirmation of your exam results you are offered an alternative course, your original accommodation application will be declined and you will no longer fall under the accommodation guarantee (if applicable). You do not need to apply again, but you must contact the Accommodation Office to ask for your application be reinstated. Once reinstated, you will be considered a Post-Guarantee applicant and your application will be processed in the date order of receipt of your original application subject to our remaining availability. If we are able to make you an offer, these are generally sent from the last week of August.
Speak to the Accommodation team by calling 0300 555 0444 (+44 1392 72 4724 from abroad).
If you had Exeter as your Insurance choice or have accepted a place through Clearing, you can apply for accommodation once your University study offer is confirmed.
Please note, it can take up to 2 days for a Firmly accepted offer to be transferred from UCAS to Admissions and onwards to our accommodation system. This means you won’t be able to activate an accommodation account immediately, but please try after midday each day as this is when our systems refresh. If you still aren't able to apply after 48 hours then please contact us.
Accommodation will be allocated in the date order of receipt of an online accommodation application subject to our remaining availability. If we are able to make you an offer, these are generally sent from the last week of August.
Speak to the Accommodation team by calling 0300 555 0444 (+44 1392 72 4724 from abroad).
If you do not initially meet the entry requirements needed for your course, your accommodation application will be declined. However, if you are going through a re-mark of your results to amend your grade through your school/college, please contact our Admissions Team to make them aware. You must then also contact the Accommodation Office to ask for your accommodation application to be reinstated.
If you applied within the accommodation guarantee period and your revised grades are received by the deadline set by Admissions, we will still guarantee to make you an offer of accommodation. We can only process your application once your revised results have been accepted by the University, so this means you are more likely to receive an offer of accommodation which was not one of your preferences.
You can speak to the Accommodation team by calling 0300 555 0444 (+44 1392 72 4724 from abroad).
You can call us via the university's Student Information Desk (SID):
UK telephone: 0300 555 0444
International telephone: +44 1392 72 4724
You can also email us at ExeterAO@exeter.ac.uk however if your message is time-critical then we recommend you call us.
Consideration
We value our community of students, staff and supporters and aim to always be kind and treat everyone with dignity and respect.
We are here to support our students and help them feel welcomed into the University community. We may not always be able to give you the information or outcome that you want, but we are always working to the best interests of the students guided by appropriate policies and legislation.
In return, we ask that you treat our staff with the kindness and respect that they deserve, so that they feel valued and safe in the work that they are doing.
