Accommodation and Student Life

Creating a home away from home. 

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

Accommodation

WEST DEAN CAMPUS

Full-time residential students studying on the West Dean Campus are accommodated in on-site accommodation, which includes purpose-built student lodgings and refurbished houses, all within a five-minute walk of each other. Each bedroom is furnished with a single bed, en-suite facilities, a desk, pin board and storage facilities for clothes. 

The Dower House is 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 is 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 is a 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 is 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.

Ivy Cottage is a lovely two-storey building, with private surrounding Garden and back courtyard. It has 9 rooms as well as a communal kitchen and common room and a characteristic entrance hall.

Old School House is 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.

Useful information

Sheets, blankets and towels are provided by the college, however, you can also bring your own. Laundry facilities are provided for all residential students and can be used from 7am to 10pm each day.

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. All meals are included for residential students on full board accommodation. If you are paying for accommodation only, meals can be bought on an ad-hoc 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.

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.

Fees and deposits: Up to date fees can be found here.
The tenant will be asked to give a deposit of £200 on accepting the offer of accommodation, which will be held as security against damage to the accommodation. Please note that we are not part of a deposit protection scheme.

 

Accommodation Accreditation 

We know how important it is to have a safe, comfortable living space while studying. We also know that it can be a daunting process when moving away from home. That's why all annexes of our halls of residence are accredited by ANUK/Unipol National Codes 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

 

LONDON CAMPUS

Students at our London Campus are met with a plethora of accommodation options; whether that be in private halls or flat/house shares.  

Popular areas for students to live include Shepherd’s Bush, Clapham, Olympia, Fulham, Earl’s Court, Putney, and Brixton. 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 National Union of Students both offer useful information and advice when it comes to searching for student housing. 

The following websites can be used to search for shared flats, houses and halls in London: 

Accommodation and living costs
Food Hall. West Dean College. Image by Chris Ison

Catering on the West Dean Campus

Many students choose full board accommodation, with all meals served in the dining room. If you choose to stay on a room-only basis, shared student kitchens are fully equipped and food can be purchased at the West Dean Village Shop or in nearby supermarkets in Chichester. Students also have the option of having lunch on campus. See our living costs for more information.

The catering team offer a menu based on our values of being wholesome, sustainable and local. We provide a plated service with a selection of meals, including non-gluten and vegan options. Students can start the day with tempting hot and cold options for breakfast as well as a continental selection. There is a new menu each day, for lunch and dinner there will always be a selection of hot meals, plated fresh salads, hot and cold desserts. Where possible we use local ingredients, including venison from the Estate, vegetables fresh from the gardens and local artisan producers.

As well as using local suppliers we have also implemented a food waste system, which is turned into renewable energy and bio-compost, we have reduced the amount of plastic packaging from our suppliers and are continually working on ways to improve sustainability.

Hot and cold drinks 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.

Special diets
Students with special medical or religious dietary concerns should contact the Student Services Team before their programme starts.

Things to do in and around West Dean

Steward's Bar
Our Steward's Bar with friendly staff is open every evening for students to unwind and socialise.

Other relaxation and study areas
Other facilities in the main house include the Oak Hall, with a large fireplace where students can relax with a book or go for a quiet chat with friends. The extensive library is available for students' use seven days a week along with the IT suite.

Swimming pool
Students have free access to our heated open-air swimming pool at the Vicarage, May - September (weather depending), and two hard tennis courts in the gardens. 

Sports, games and outdoor pursuits
We provide a range of sports equipment to all students. Students also have the opportunity to use our extensive 6,000-acre grounds and award-winning gardens. Enjoy windsurfing at West Wittering and dinghy sailing from Chichester Marina and other local clubs. Local tennis clubs include Chichester Lawn and Squash club. Students keen on athletics should contact David Dorning, who will introduce them to the local athletics club and can provide information on running routes.

Cycling and walking
The Centurion Way, a former railway line, is a seven-mile route for cyclists and pedestrians. Starting in West Dean village, by the A286, it ends in Westgate, Chichester, where it joins the South Coast cycle route. There are also many beautiful walks both on the West Dean Estate and within the wider South Downs National Park.

Outdoor Theatre
The Pergola Theatre performs outdoors in West Dean Gardens for two weeks every year.

Places to go

Weald & Downland Museum - https://www.wealddown.co.uk/
Pallant House Gallery - https://pallant.org.uk/
National Trust - www.nationaltrust.org.uk 
Arundel - http://www.arundel.org.uk/
Bignor Roman Villa - https://www.bignorromanvilla.co.uk/
Goodwood - https://www.goodwood.com/
Chichester Cathedral - www.chichestercathedral.org.uk
Chichester Festival Theatre - https://www.cft.org.uk/
Chichester Harbour - www.conservancy.co.uk
Amberley Museum and Heritage Centre - www.amberleymuseum.co.uk
Bosham Harbour - http://www.bosham.org/
West Witterings - http://westwitteringestate.co.uk/

Things to do and places to go in London

Being in the cultural hub of the UK, and with iconic places like King’s Road and Sloane Square just a stone’s throw away, our London campus is the ideal location for students to take inspiration, challenge ideas and establish their careers in design. Famous for its museums and galleries, green spaces, and lively foodie scene, it’s no wonder so many choose to move to London to study! 

The Design Museum 
Tate  
The British Museum 
Victoria & Albert Museum 
Hyde Park 
Battersea Park 

Student Association

The Student Association is run by students for students to ensure the student community has representation at West Dean and to organise events and social activities for students. 

The Student President oversees the running of the Student Association along with the programme representatives and sub-committees. 

Student Representatives include: Programme representatives, Welfare, International, Events and IT. 

All full time students are automatically part of the Student Association. 

A Student Forum meeting is held every term and is a chance for students to discuss any concerns and ideas. The meeting is for the programme student representatives and sub-committees. The forum is chaired by the Student President. 

The Forum is for discussion of all academic and non-academic issues relating to the overall student experience, including services and resources provided to support the student body. It provides a direct link between students' views and the West Dean’s decision-making processes, and to advise the Director of Education on the strategic direction of student support. Students can make recommendations to enhance the student experience and to ensure that students are aware of actions being taken. The forum contributes to the development of the student community by initiating and organising social events, clubs and other activities. 

Societies 
Students are welcome to set up their own clubs or societies. There must be three students or more involved. A form must be filled out and returned to the Student President. Finance can be granted to fund part of the society on the President's approval. Previous societies have included yoga, Chinese calligraphy, book binding and environmentalism. 

Events 
Student representatives organise official events including the Christmas party and Graduation party. Previous events have included a fancy dress Halloween party and pumpkin carving competition, Thanksgiving dinner, quiz night and pizza night. Events can include student parties, trips out and open workshops/studios. 

Student Support

Counselling 
We are very committed to providing you with the support you need to achieve a successful student life at West Dean. We understand that your mental health and wellbeing are very important to your success. 

Service aims 
The Counselling Service at West Dean aims to offer the following: 

  • Regular, professional and relevant counselling to students. 
  • Routes to good mental health and wellbeing resources to support the College’s community. 
  • Meetings with students and staff across the College to establish what is needed from a counselling provision. 
  • Developing creative, healthy and innovative approaches to counselling that complement our unique and specialist environment. 

Referral and appointments 
Appointments are available two days per week throughout the year. Currently appointments are held on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Afternoon and early evening sessions are available to accommodate your timetables. 

Online support 
Through an online platform called Togetherall, West Dean students can access additional mental health support 24/7. Togetherall is a safe and anonymous online community where our students can connect with others that have real lived experience for advice and support any time of day or night. You can also complete self-paced courses or explore other helpful wellbeing resources when it suits. Togetherall is a great source of support outside of normal campus hours and means you can get support when other services are closed, including evenings, weekends and public holidays. Togetherall is moderated by trained professionals to help keep you safe. 

Student support services 
Study Skills support is available for all our students during term time. These sessions will mostly be on a one-to-one basis so that we will be able to focus on individual areas with which you would like some help. Support includes: general study skills, language support, research and reading and writing skills. 

Registry Office 
Our registry office is open on our West Dean and London Campuses Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 1.30pm to help with students' academic queries. 

Student Welcome Team 
Located at the front of the main house on the West Dean Campus, the team are available for general day-to-day queries about campus and estate facilities. They are on site 24 hours a day, and are always available for any emergencies, or general out of hours enquiries. 

Student Services Team  
This is a dedicated team to the responsibility of student services for 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. 

Student Resources

This section is for current students and staff at West Dean. To view the links below you will need a West Dean login and password.

Canvas VLE
Access to the programme resources and calendars.

West Dean College Library
Access to the College library online catalogue.
Login using your reader code to view your current items on loan.

Student Email and Storage 
Access to student email and OneDrive storage.

School of Design student support services 
Access to course study material, the virtual classroom, personal records, course progress and bulletin boards to discuss work with other students on the course. 

Please contact the Registry Office for further information 01243 818291

If you have any technical issues with these resources, or your College login and password please contact the IT Department by calling 01243 818297.

Transport and Travel

Whether you're travelling by car, train or bus, find travel and transport options. 

Travel & transport

Sustainability at West Dean

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. Our housekeeping team are moving to more sustainable cleaning products.
  • 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
    Find out more about our catering team’s work on sustainability here.