Student Accommodation at West Dean

Student accommodation

Wherever you choose to live whilst studying with us, we want to make sure you have the best experience possible.

Discover accommodation options at our Sussex Campus, and London Campus.

Sussex campus accommodation

Creating a home away from home at our Sussex campus

Wherever you choose to live while studying with us, we want to ensure you have the best student experience possible. Accommodation is available for all full-time students for every academic year of study. All annexes offer a communal space with a TV and a kitchen equipped with basic crockery, cooking equipment, cleaning basics and laundry facilities that are free to use. A housekeeping service comes once a week to clean the communal areas.

We have eight different accommodation annexes available, all within a short walking distance of the campus

The Dower House

A beautiful 19th-century two-storey building, steeped in history and surrounded by a maintained grass area. It holds fifteen bedrooms and a large entrance hall leading to the kitchen and communal areas.

Peachey House

A modern two-storey development, containing ten good sized bedrooms with access to a common room and kitchen facilities. It shares an outdoor courtyard area with Stables and Church Lane House.

The Stables

Welcoming two-storey building, wholly refurbished in 2018, with a well-equipped communal kitchen/common room. It shares an outdoor courtyard area with Peachey House and Church Lane House.

Church Lane House

A two-storey development, with thirteen bedrooms and a newly refurbished kitchen and communal area. It shares an outdoor courtyard area with Stables and Peachey House.

Foresters Cottage

A quiet annexe with a homely atmosphere, five bedrooms and a separate car-park.

Old School House

A 19th century building steeped in history, having served as both the village school house and cottages for tenants of West Dean estate. It is one of our newest renovations and is nestled on the edge of West Dean village. It comprises of thirteen bedrooms, an enclosed private garden, communal spaces, and a kitchen.
Ivy Cottage Student Accommodation

Ivy Cottage

A lovely nine double-bedroom annexe with shared kitchen, common room, and courtyard, along with its own enclosed garden.

The Old Vicarage Student Accommodation

The Old Vicarage

Large two-storey building offering nine spacious bedrooms, a shared kitchen, common area, garden and car park. The campus outdoor swimming pool is also within The Old Vicarage grounds. 

Useful information

What's included with our Sussex accommodation

Duvets, pillows and a mattress protector are provided by the College. Students will need to provide their own sheets and towels. Laundry facilities are provided for all residential students and can be used from 7am to 10pm each day.

Kitchens 
Kitchens in residential accommodation are stocked with the essentials, such as plates, mugs, cutlery, and some cooking equipment. You may want to bring a kettle for your room, or further kitchen equipment if you are a keen cook.

Our accommodation is room-only, but meals can be purchased in the College Dining Room on a pay-as-you-go basis. Food can be purchased in Chichester, where you can find a range of supermarket chains and independent food shops. Most supermarkets will deliver to your accommodation.

Television
TV reception varies around campus and TV points are not available in all rooms, so students should check this before purchasing. If you are planning to bring a TV, please make sure you apply for a TV licence. TVs are provided in common rooms.

WiFi 
Wireless internet connections are provided in all student accommodation at no extra charge. Internet access is monitored and a 'fair usage cap' is in place to ensure that the bandwidth is evenly shared. We encourage students to use speed checking tools and report any issues to our IT team. Various free speed checking tools are available online, such as Speedtest. Please note that Speedtest is an example of a recommended speed checking tool, however the College is not affiliated with this provider and students are welcome to use alternative services.

Furniture
Students should not bring any big furniture pieces but you are welcome to bring smaller items that will make your room more homely, such as posters and pictures.

Heating and hot water
All of the heating and hot water needs of the College and student accommodation are met entirely by our biomass heating system which uses wood fuel sustainably sourced within four miles.

Catering options at our Sussex campus

All of our student accommodation is on a room-only basis. Every annexe has a shared kitchen equipped with basic cooking equipment. Groceries can be purchased at the West Dean Village Stores or from nearby supermarkets in Chichester. Students can choose to have meals in our College Dining Room on a pay-as-you-go basis.

The catering team offer a menu based on the West Dean values of being wholesome, sustainable and local. We offer a plated service featuring a selection of meals, including options suitable for those with non-gluten and vegan dietary needs. Students can start the day with tempting hot and cold options for breakfast as well as a continental selection. A new menu is available daily, featuring a selection of hot meals, salads, and hot and cold desserts for lunch and dinner. Where possible, we use local ingredients, including venison from the Estate, vegetables from the Gardens, and local artisanal producers.

In addition to using local suppliers, we have also implemented a food waste system that converts waste into renewable energy and bio-compost. We're also committed to reducing the amount of plastic packaging from our suppliers and are continually working on ways to improve sustainability.

Tea, coffee, and water are available to students throughout the day from the Atrium, where we have added a milk fridge to reduce the use of plastic milk cartons; alternative milks are also available.

Sussex campus student services team

The student services team at our Sussex campus is a dedicated team supporting residential and day students. They are the first point of contact for all questions or concerns unrelated to your studies. Service support includes maintenance and repairs, cleaning and supplies, catering questions, room allocations, and complaints. You can contact the Student Services Team on: [email protected]

Accommodation Fees

2025/26 accommodation fees for courses held at our Sussex campus

Full time students (46 weeks - room only)
£8,900 per academic year

Full time students (36 weeks - room only)
£6,900 per academic year

All fees are payable termly in advance and are reviewed annually.

Read more about how to budget for accommodation, living costs and more while studying with our 5 tips for budgeting as a student.

Student budgeting tips

Applying for accommodation

Accommodation applications can be made through admissions once you have received an offer to study with us. If you accept an offer of accommodation, you will be required to pay a £200 accommodation deposit. This will be held as a security deposit to cover any damage to the accommodation. Accommodation offer holders will receive a refund if the accommodation is full. Please note that we are not part of a deposit protection scheme.

Room allocation is on a first-come, first-served basis. However, we ensure that returning students receive priority, and where possible, aim to group students according to their subject area of study. When applying for accommodation, you can raise preferences with admissions stating the type of annexe/accommodation you would prefer, e.g. quiet or lively, or certain features you would like.

Accommodation Accreditation

We understand the importance of having a safe and comfortable living space while studying. We also know that moving away from home can be a daunting process, which is why ANUK/Unipol National Codes accredit all annexes of our halls of residence for assured accommodation.

What do these codes mean? They protect your rights and allow you to have peace of mind that a management team are in place to support you throughout your studies. The codes include:

  • a healthy, safe environment
  • timely repairs and maintenance
  • a clean, pleasant living environment
  • a formal, contractual relationship with your landlord
  • access to health and wellbeing services
  • a living environment free from anti-social behaviour

Read more about the ANUK/Unipol National Codes

Sustainability at our Sussex campus

We are committed to providing a sustainable future at West Dean. Find out more about our Sustainability Plan.

We are embedding environmentally friendly practices in our student accommodation and have taken the following steps towards a more sustainable future:

  • Heating and hot water
    All of the heating and hot water needs of the College and student accommodation are met entirely by our biomass heating system which uses wood fuel sustainably sourced within four miles. The biomass district heating scheme was one of the first, and remains one of the largest of its kind in the UK.
  • Housekeeping
    We discourage single use items by providing reusable cleaning cloths for all annexes. 
  • Gardens and green spaces
    Our experienced West Dean Gardens team are always looking for new ways to improve sustainability and respond to climate change. They have propagated drought tolerant plants from the innovative drought tolerant flowerbeds in the main garden and planted these around the annexes. They have also provided “grow your own” beds, which students have used to grow a wide array of plants, from herbs and vegetable to sweet peas and sunflowers. We also work with students to provide a composting scheme, in which students add their fruit and vegetable peelings to the Gardens compost heap.
  • Bike storage
    Following student feedback, we have increased bike storage options on site.
  • Refurbishments
    As part of our location within South Downs National Park, sustainability is high on the agenda when enhancing or building any new accommodation and environmental impact assessments are a part of the planning application.
  • Waste management
    We are committed to incorporating more sustainable practices into our waste management systems across the campus, including expanding options for food waste disposal. For more information on our latest waste management plan, please contact the Student Services Team: [email protected].
  • Catering
    In addition to using local suppliers, we have also implemented a food waste system that converts waste into renewable energy and bio-compost. We're also committed to reducing the amount of plastic packaging from our suppliers and are continually working on ways to improve sustainability.

London campus accommodation

Students studying at our London Campus are met with a plethora of accommodation options

Whether you're moving to London from another part of the UK or from overseas, finding suitable accommodation can be both exciting and challenging. Landlords and housing providers often request proof of student status - which our admissions team can provide upon request.

Consider transport options and the amount of transport changes that you'll have to make on your journey when deciding where to live. Citizens Advice and the National Union of Students both offer useful information and advice on finding student accommodation.

Popular areas our London campus students live in include Islington, Camden, Stratford, Shoreditch, Fitzrovia and Holborn. Student accommodation near campus includes:

  • Chapter Old Street
  • Scape Bloomsbury
  • AXO Islington
  • Mannequin House
  • The Stay Club Camden
  • iQ Will Wyatt Court

You may also find the following options useful to find suitable accommodation.

Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSAs)
PBSAs are privately owned residences designed specifically for students. These accommodations offer modern amenities, fully furnished rooms or apartments, gyms, study areas, and 24/7 security. University of London Housing Services is well known for providing housing facilities to students. There are other providers, such as Sanctuary Students and Scape.

Homestays
Homestays involve living with a local host family. London Homestays or Homestay are good platforms to try when looking. If you are from overseas, homestays provide an excellent opportunity to experience British culture firsthand and practice English language skills. Students often consider homestays if they are inclined to cultural immersion.

Private Student Accommodation
Explore private student accommodation through common platforms i.e. Spareroom, Rightmove. Choose a location that suits your preferences (e.g., proximity to campus, public transport, and amenities).

While we cannot find houses or flats for you, we are always happy to provide support, information and advice to help you make some progress. If you are looking to connect with other West Dean students to find housing/accommodation, please contact [email protected]

Council Tax
Residential UK students on full-time programmes are not liable to pay council tax.

To count as a full-time student, your course must:

  • Last at least 1 year
  • Involve at least 21 hours study per week

Our admissions team can issue a certificate to give to your local council when applying for an exemption. Read more on the Gov.uk website.

Read more about how to budget for accommodation, living costs and more while studying with our 5 tips for budgeting as a student.

Student budgeting tips
Student Life at West Dean

Student Life

Whether you’re based at our Sussex campus or London campus, you’ll find plenty of things to do…

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Student support at West Dean

Student Support

We are very committed to providing you with the support you need to achieve a successful student life at West Dean. Explore support services available at our Sussex and London Campuses.

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Admissions at West Dean

Admissions

Learn about our admissions process with tips on submitting your application, accommodation costs and term dates.

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