Moving in
Lots of our students will be moving away from home for the first time. We understand this is an exciting time in your journey, but it’s completely normal to be apprehensive and nervous. We’re here to provide as much advice or guidance as you need.
Pre-arrival
Living in NTU accommodation?
If you’ve chosen to live in NTU/UPP halls of residence, you will receive an email from us about your arrival. This will invite you to complete your halls induction, which takes about 20 minutes and is full of information you'll need to know before you move in.
Your licence agreement will show you exactly what your earliest move-in date is.
You will need to make sure you have chosen a room, signed the licence, and set up your payment plan. You can set up payments in the accommodation portal. If you need to make changes to your bank details at any point, you can update them online here.
Not living in NTU accommodation?
If you are not living in NTU/UPP halls of residence, check your emails as your private accommodation provider may send you similar advice about your contract start date and arrangements for moving in.
International students
We strongly advise international students to book your accommodation before arriving in Nottingham. If you have not arranged this in advance, please make sure you have a temporary option booked (such as a hotel) for your arrival. Our accommodation team is here to help, or you can read our accommodation advice.
Top tips for moving in
You’ll be living with your flatmates for a year, so get to know them from the outset – make an effort to bond, and set some healthy boundaries too. You could try:
- placing a sticky note on your door with your name,
- putting notes under your flatmates’ doors asking to meet in the kitchen to break the ice on your first evening,
- talk about how to share responsibilities, by having a cleaning rota for example.
Coming to University isn't just about studying. Throwing yourself into something beyond the classroom can be an unforgettable part of your NTU experience. It’s the perfect time to try something new – to broaden your horizons, meet new people, and develop the skills that’ll set you up for life. Find out more about all of the opportunities, activities and societies on offer here.
There are also events for local students during NTU Welcome, and we have a specific Facebook group for students who are not living in halls of residence. This will help you to meet other local students studying at NTU.
Nottingham has great transport networks, which means no matter what campus you are on you’ll have access to public transport to help you get from A to B.
If you do need to bring a car to NTU, please check the information for your relevant campus:
City Campus
On-site parking facilities are available at our Blenheim, Maltings, Meridian Court, Norton Court and Simpsons residences only. You would need to apply for a parking permit which will cost approximately £250* for the academic year. The Maltings and Meridian Court also include a free travel pass to make it easy to get to campus.
There are no on-site parking facilities for students living in our Byron, Gill Street North, Gill Street South, Hampden or Sandby residences – but our teaching facilities are only a ten-minute walk away.
Find out more about travelling to our City Campus.
*Price correct for 2024/25 year and may be subject to change.
Clifton Campus
On-site parking facilities are available at our Peverell residence. You need to apply for a parking permit which will cost approximately £250* for the academic year. Email Peverell to find out more. Please note you can only apply for a parking permit if you live in Peverell, there are no parking facilities for New Hall residents.
For students living in College Drive you can apply for a parking permit by emailing accommodation@ntu.ac.uk.
If your term-time address is outside of the NG1 to NG14 postcode area, a limited number of parking permits will be available from the online store in September.
If you live between NG1 to NG14 and have extenuating circumstances, you will need to email the Clifton parking team to request a form.
If you have a blue badge, please email the disability support team.
Find out more about travelling to our Clifton Campus.
*Price correct for 2024/25 year and may be subject to change.
Brackenhurst Campus
If you live on campus and plan to bring a car, a limited number of parking permits will be available from the online store in September. There’s also free parking facilities at the Brackenhurst Campus for students who do not live on campus.
Find out more about travelling to our Brackenhurst Campus.
Mansfield Campus
You will need to apply for a free permit to access the free daytime parking facilities at NTU in Mansfield. Please email mansfieldreception@ntu.ac.uk for further details. Find out more about travelling to our NTU Mansfield University Hub.
We recommend that you take out insurance to cover your belongings in case they get broken or stolen. If you’re living in the University’s accommodation, basic insurance cover will be included.
If you’re in private accommodation, you’ll need to arrange your own cover. You could also explore the option of getting cover within your family home insurance.
When you complete your online enrolment, confirm if you wish to register with a University Student Health Centre. We strongly recommend that you register with a doctor close to where you live – as a student living in Nottingham, you must be registered in order for you to receive treatment for any illness while you are at university. Don't wait until you feel ill or need a repeat prescription.
For full information about how to register, visit our enrolment pages.
Budgeting is crucial so draw up a monthly budget and try to stick to it; remember, all your utility bills and Wi-Fi are included when living in our halls.
If you need support with managing your money, NTU's Student Money Team is here for you. Visit our Money, fees and funding pages on StudentHub to find out more. The Nottingham Trent Students' Union (NTSU) website also has some useful tips for smart spending.
Why not wow your new flatmates with your cooking skills? Practice on your friends and family before you move to NTU. Sainsbury's have some great recipe ideas for feeding a family for under £5 and Tesco's recipe finder tool will help you make sure none of your food goes to waste.
Current student Naomi and her flatmates cooked a meal together recently – perfect for having some cheap and memory-making experiences together! Watch her TikTok video for more inspiration.
Students living in NTU accommodation have access to laundry facilities within our residences. The facilities are offered by third party providers. You may wish to download the necessary app before you move in to familiarise yourself with how it works.
- Washnet operates in Byron, New Hall, Gill Street South.
- Circuit operates in Gill Street North, Sandby, Hampden, Blenheim, Meridian, Maltings, Norton, Simpsons and Peverell.
If you are living in private accommodation, check with your provider about the laundry facilities that are available.
What to bring
If you’re staying in university accommodation, you’re probably wondering about what you need to bring with you. We recommend the following essential items:
Bedroom
- Mattress protector
- Duvet, duvet cover and sheets
- Pillows and pillowcases
- Things to spruce up your room (maybe a rug or some cushions)
- Decorations to make you feel more at home (e.g. photos of family/friends)
- Stationery and books
- Laptop, chargers, portable speakers and any additional tech items you may need
- Purse, cards, ID, Passport and other important documents
- Bags (overnight bag, bag which your laptop fits into and any books you need to take to university)
- Clothes, shoes and coat hangers
- Medicines (paracetamol and personal medication)
- A bedroom bin
Bathroom
- Shampoo, conditioner and shower gel
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Hand soap
- Toilet cleaner, toilet brush
- Towels and hand towels
- Toilet rolls
- A washbag
- Flip-flops or slippers if you’re sharing a bathroom
Kitchen
- Mugs and glasses
- Saucepan, frying pan or wok
- Chopping board and baking tray
- Cutlery and chopping knives
- Plates and bowls
- Binbags, sandwich bags, foil and cling film
- Kitchen utensils
- Tea towels
- Tupperware
- Cupboard essentials (teabags, coffee, beans and pasta are all ideal to get you through the first few days)
Don’t panic if there is anything you've forgotten, or you are travelling from overseas - Nottingham has great local shops. So if you choose not to bring certain items with you, or need to travel light, you can decide what you need when you arrive. You can join with your flatmates and chip in together to save money.
If you’re living off campus, the list above will still apply, although it’s a good idea to check with your provider what items are supplied.
International students can easily purchase items once they have settled in. Avoid overpacking clothes and unnecessary appliances as halls are often furnished. You can see our packing advice and more about travelling to Nottingham on our International webpages.
UniKitOut provide bespoke student packages from kitchen to bedding packs, and all the extras you might need for your new home, at discounted rates. You can get your pack delivered directly to your new accommodation so it's waiting for you when you get there.
Save 10% on your UniKitOut order with the discount code 'TRENT10'.
Arriving on campus
If you are moving into NTU/UPP accommodation, you can collect your keys from the start of your licence. Please check your licence start date as they will not all be the same. The licence will have been sent to you via email.
When you arrive, the first thing to do is pick up your keys from the property reception so you can access the building.
For further information, view our Managed Arrivals Guide, UPP Arrivals Guide, or our Accommodation Parent Guide.
We understand that it is not always possible for you to move in during the designated dates/times. If you are unable to arrive during these times, please let us know your plans by emailing accommodation@ntu.ac.uk so we can look at alternative arrangements for you.
If you are moving into private accommodation, you will receive information directly from your provider in relation to moving in day.
Looking after yourself at university
At NTU, we understand that living independently for the first time can be daunting. Feelings of anxiety, stress, homesickness, and overwhelm are normal and can accompany any significant life change. The wellbeing of our students is of utmost importance to us, and we recognise that additional support can be crucial in managing these feelings and maintaining good mental health.
Please see the details below of some of the specialised services we offer at NTU.
If you are experiencing any issues while living in halls and need some support, you can get in touch with our dedicated team of Student Accommodation Support Officers for help with:
- Settling into your accommodation and making friends.
- Resolving any disagreements in your flat.
- Any worries you may have about your flatmates.
- Supporting your own mental health.
- Feelings of being down, overwhelmed, stressed or worried.
- If you just need some guidance.
You can contact the SASOs at support4halls@ntu.ac.uk, or on +44 (0)115 848 2323. The team are available at the following times:
- Monday – Friday, 9.30 am – 10 pm.
- Saturday – Sunday, 1.30 pm – 10 pm.
NTU offers an accommodation service for all, and we realise that many students would rather talk to us face-to-face, especially regarding sensitive issues or situations. That’s why you can now visit us at the Accommodation Hub for more individually tailored support. We can provide guidance on:
- Anything related to student accommodation.
- Bookings with NTU.
- Bookings within the private sector or in Purpose Built Student Accommodation (PBSA).
- Additional services you can access and signposting these as needed.
You can visit the Hub on Goldsmith Street, City campus, opposite Boots Library. We are currently open on Friday, 9.30 am – 12 pm and 12.30 pm – 4 pm.
If you need to speak to someone outside of these hours, please book an appointment here.
There is a huge range of wellbeing and support services available offering both in-person or online support from within NTU and from external support services. For more information, visit our Health and mental wellbeing pages on StudentHub.
Respecting your community
Where you live and who you live with can have a great impact on how you feel. It’s important to be considerate when living in shared accommodation, as your actions can have a direct impact on those around you.
Respecting others is an integral part of being an NTU student and our Student Code of Behaviour and our Student Charter will give you an insight into the ways we ensure all our students understand the University's expectations.
Visit our living in the community page on StudentHub to find out more about how you can be a good neighbour, and how you can make a difference to your local community.
Not living in halls?
If you’re from the local area, you may already be familiar with Nottingham – but coming to university will still be a new experience for you. If you’re living at home while you study, try and get involved in activities, clubs and societies so that you still feel part of university life.
There are events for local students during Welcome, and we have a specific Facebook group for students who are not living in halls of residence. This will help you to meet other local students studying at NTU.
Moving into private sector accommodation?
Whether you decide on a shared house or a small flat, find out the key questions that you’ll need to ask. Visit our private accommodation information page for all you need to know.