We're delighted to welcome you to University of Birmingham accommodation.
We know there's a lot to take in, from finding your way around campus and meeting new people to getting connected and discovering where to find support. This page is your year-round guide to living in University accommodation and making the most of your student experience.
The Accommodation Diaries
Want advice from students who've been in your shoes? The Accommodation Diaries is packed with stories, tips and honest insights from students living in University accommodation.
Read the Accommodation Diaries
Home at UoB
Home at UoB was developed to help Black students feel welcome, supported and connected while living in University accommodation.
You'll find student recommendations and information on societies, sports and fitness opportunities, faith communities, beauty services, places to eat and Birmingham's social scene, all in one place, so it's easier to find communities and experiences that help you feel at home.
Everything you need to get settled
You’ll find everything you need to know within your first few weeks with us and beyond below. From getting connected to your accommodation’s Wi-Fi to key contacts, we’ve got you covered.
Information regarding fire safety for your flat can be found on the Accommodation Pass – your induction to all things student accommodation at University of Birmingham. This is an essential part of your University induction, so please ensure you have completed it.
Complete Accommodation Pass
To ensure you have the best experience whilst living with us, each University residence has its own Customer Service Manager (CSM):
- Louise – Maple Bank, Elgar Court and Shackleton
- Hannah – Mason
- Jackson – Chamberlain and Aitken
- Alicia – Tennis Court and Green Community
- Jess – Selly Oak Village
- Adele – Pritchatts Park Village
Your CSM is a friendly face you can talk to if you ever have any concerns, queries or just want a chat. They’re also your first port of call if you have urgent maintenance issues (e.g., gas leak) or need help settling into university life.
You can get in touch with them through the Student Living Helpdesk, or by calling your village reception: 0121 415 8520 (The Vale Village), XXX (Pritchatts Park Village) or 0121 415 1011 (Selly Oak Village).
Living with one of our partners
Each accommodation site has staff available to support and advise students. Accommodation sites have 24-hour security in place and have their own dedicated reception service to enable students to report issues and access support 24/7.
If you have concerns such as noisiness, flatmate issues, or you’re just generally feeling like you're not getting everything out of your accommodation experience, we recommend you speak to your site reception.
Free high-speed Wi-Fi and wired internet are included with your accommodation. To get set-up, connect to the ASK4 Wireless Wi-Fi network and follow the instructions on your device. For further information, visit our ‘Contracts, inventories, and facilities’ page.
If you have any issues with connecting, please let your village reception team know. Living with one of our partners? You will need to connect to your accommodation's Wi-Fi. Get in touch with your accommodation team to find out more.
Connecting to the campus Wi-Fi network
Eduroam is the main campus Wi-Fi network for both students and staff. You can connect to eduroam using your full University of Birmingham student email address and password.
Simply select the eduroam network on your device and enter your details when prompted. For further information on how to connect, visit our online guide.
A TV Licence is not included in your accommodation. You will need to buy one if you wish to watch or record live TV programmes on any channel; watch TV on any streaming service; or watch BBC iPlayer. This applies to all devices, including games consoles, mobile phones, tablets, and laptops.
If you don’t have a TV Licence, you may be fined up to £1,000 and ordered to pay for any legal costs and/or compensation. It’s better to be safe than sorry. Don’t think you need a licence? Let TV Licensing know.
Buy a TV Licence
We’ve partnered with Howden For Students, formerly Endsleigh, to provide you with free contents insurance, including free bike insurance up to £400 (with a £25 excess charge). You will also have access to a 24/7 Wellbeing Helpline, where you can get support and speak with a qualified Counsellor.
Please see our certificate of insurance, however we recommend confirming your cover through the Howden For Students mobile app, which is available for free from the App Store or Google Play. Find out more about:
- What is and isn’t covered
- Key exclusions – where cover isn’t provided
- Your policy excess – the amount you pay when you make a claim
- How to make claim
- How to personalise your cover - Howden for Students have developed budget and student-friendly insurance options to cover anything you may encounter while living away from home
All our villages have their own washing and drying facilities. They run 24/7 and are provided by Circuit Laundry (Pritchatts Park) and Washstation (Selly Oak and The Vale).
You can wash and dry your clothes from as little as £2.10 and, thanks to the Washstation and Circuit Laundry mobile apps, it’s never been easier to pay. You just need a credit or debit card or PayPal account. Washstation also accepts Apple Pay and contactless payments.
Through the apps you can also see what machines are in use, reserve a machine and top up your balance. For more information on using the machines, check out the ‘Your room’ section of the Accommodation Pass.
Living with one of our partners? Contact them directly if you're not sure how to use your laundry facilities.
Our campus is incredibly well connected to Birmingham city centre and surrounding areas, making it easy to explore on foot and by public transport.
We have lots of well-lit walkways, including the Preferred Walking Route, which connects The Vale Village to the city centre, and low-traffic cycle routes make it easy to travel sustainably. We have secure bike stores at all our villages too.
There's also a free shuttle bus, the Selly Express, run by the Guild of Students. It operates in the evenings during term time, helping you get from campus to Selly Oak and surrounding areas after dark. For more information, please visit our ‘Getting around Birmingham’ page.
To help you find your way around campus, we recommend downloading the UoB Campus Map, a free app for iOS and android devices.
As a student, you can make the most of discounted tickets and offers from Transport for West Midlands and National Express West Midlands. Grab a free four-week regional Network bus ticket (valid until 1 October for freshers only) and enjoy 20% off bus passes. Visit out sustainable travel pages to find out more.
No matter if you're in catered or self-catered accommodation, you can enjoy having fantastic food and drink on your doorstep. From streetfood at the popular Shack, to affordable breakfast rolls and coffee at Seattle’s Best Coffee at Alan Walters, there's over 20 places to eat and drink across campus.
When it’s time to cook up for yourself, there are plenty of grocery stores and shops nearby. You’ll find an Aldi, Sainsbury’s, and Tesco in Selly Oak, and Costcutter at The Vale. For those of you on campus needing last minute dinner ingredients, pop to the University Centre to find Co-op, and don't forget to sign up for their membership to get even better deals and prices on quality food and drink.
If you live at Pritchatts Park Village, the bustling suburb of Harborne is just a ten-minute walk away. Here you’ll find all the usual food shops, including Iceland and Co-op, plus local grocers.
UoB Food Wallet
The catering plan that gives you more than tasty treats.
UoB Food Wallet makes it easy to eat well at uni while managing your money. Say goodbye to late-night shopping trips and hello to flexible, quality food and drink on campus, with three packages to choose from to suit your needs.
Upgrade to UoB Food Wallet
Looking after yourself
Looking after your health is an important part of settling into university life. As you start your studies, it's a good idea to take a few minutes to make sure you know how to access healthcare and support while you're here.
We recommend that all students:
Learn about meningitis
Register with a GP
Support is always close by
University life brings plenty of new opportunities, but it's normal to need support from time to time. Whether you have questions about accommodation, wellbeing, finances or student life, dedicated teams across the University are here to help.
Student Living Hub
Visit the Student Living Hub in the University Centre, open Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm, where our friendly team can help with accommodation-related queries and point you towards the right support services.
Contact the Student Living Team
Stay safe on campus
Your safety and wellbeing are a priority throughout your time at Birmingham. The SafeZone app gives you quick access to support on campus, including:
Download the app before you need it, so help is always just a tap away.
Make the most of student life
Living in University accommodation is about more than having a place to stay. It's an opportunity to build friendships, gain new experiences and become part of the wider University community.
That’s why the Residence Life team organises activities, events and opportunities throughout the year to help you meet other students, explore Birmingham, learn new skills, improve your wellbeing and creating lasting memories.
Discover Active Residences
Learn more about The Guild
Stay connected
Make sure you're keeping up with the latest accommodation news, events and opportunities throughout the year. Our monthly Student Living newsletter is your go-to source for important updates, upcoming Residence Life activities, wellbeing support, competitions and useful information about living in University accommodation.
You can also follow our Student Living Instagram, Facebook and TikTok and Food Fellows Instagram for day-to-day updates, event highlights, food offers and inspiration for making the most of life on campus.
We're here when you need us
Whatever stage of your University journey you're at, this page is here to help you find information, support and opportunities throughout the year.
Have a fantastic time in University accommodation, and remember, we're only a click, call or visit away.
Arriving in January?
We've got some exciting events to make your first few weeks count. Find out more.
This page will be revised before every main arrivals period. Last revised: 17 August 2026