Pre-arrival
Living in NTU or UPP accommodation?
If you’ve chosen to live in NTU or UPP halls of residence, you will receive an email from us about your arrival a couple of weeks before it's time to move in. This will invite you to complete your halls induction, which takes about 10 minutes and is full of information you'll need to know before you move in. Once you've completed your induction, you'll be able to book your arrival slot.
You will need to make sure you have completed your booking by signing the licence and setting up your payment plan before you can book an arrival slot. 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.
Your licence agreement will show you exactly what your earliest move-in date is. This is normally the weekend immediately before the start of NTU Welcome. The majority of students will aim to move in over that weekend, so they're ready for Welcome, Freshers Week, enrolment and the start of term.
Living in private accommodation?
If you are not living in NTU or 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.
We have a lot of information on our website about staying in private accommodation and halls of residence.
International students
We strongly advise international students to book 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.
International students who have any visa-related delays should let Student Accommodation Services know as soon as possible by emailing accommodation@ntu.ac.uk
Late or early arrivals
It's fine if you're not planning to move into your accommodation until after the designated arrival period. It's best to let your hall provider know if you're going to be more than a couple of days late, though. If you're staying in an NTU or UPP room, you won't need to book an arrival slot if you're moving in after the arrivals weekend.
Arriving early is sometimes possible, too, but you should contact your provider as soon as possible to find out if you can move in early.
If you're staying in either NTU or UPP halls and need to move in outside of the arrivals period, please let Student Accommodation Services know by emailing accommodation@ntu.ac.uk
What should I bring?
If you’re staying in halls of residence, you’re probably wondering about what you need to bring with you.
We've listed some things that we recommend thinking about when you're getting ready to pack.
- bed linen (fitted bed sheet, mattress protector, duvet and cover, pillows and pillow cases)
- decorations to make you feel more at home
- bags (overnight bag, a bag which fits your laptop and any books you need to take to university)
- coat hangers
- umbrella, winter coat, hat, scarf, gloves
- medicines (paracetamol and personal medication).
- toilet and shower cleaning supplies
- hand and bath towels
- toilet roll
- personal hygeine products
- flip flops and a wash bag for students that have shared bathrooms.
- mugs and glasses
- saucepan, frying pan or wok
- chopping board and baking tray
- cutlery and kitchen knives
- plates and bowls
- binbags, sandwich bags, foil and cling film
- kitchen utensils
- tea towels
- cupboard essentials (teabags, coffee, beans and pasta are all ideal to get you through the first few days).
Don’t panic if there's anything you've forgotten, or you're travelling from overseas - Nottingham has great local shops. If you choose not to bring certain items with you or need to travel light; you can decide what you need when you arrive. It might be a good idea to discuss what you need with your flatmates and chip in together to save money and not duplicate items.
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'.
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.
UPP halls offer the Residence Life programme of activities to help you settle in and make the most of your time in student accommodation with a packed social calendar, free events, and opportunities to get involved throughout the year. This can be a great way to meet people in your hall.
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, so there's no need to bring a car if you don't need to.
However, 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.
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. It's best to check the terms and conditions to see what's covered and what restrictions there are.
If you’re in private accommodation, you may to arrange your own cover, though many private halls of residence include insurance as part of their agreement.
You could also explore the option of getting cover within your family home insurance.
Register with a GP practice
As a student living in Nottingham, you must register with a local doctor 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.
Find information and guidance on how to register at a local GP practice, book an appointment with your GP and order repeat prescriptions online here.
The University has a medical centre at our City and Clifton campus, they provide the following services:
- appointments with a doctor, practice nurse or health care assistant
- sexual health and contraception advice
- new patient and general health checks
- asthma checks
- blood pressure checks
- screening for sexually transmitted infections
- blood tests
- travel advice and immunisation
- vaccinations
- breast examination advice
- stitch removal
- dietary advice
- employment and insurance medicals
- emergencies out of hours.
Medical emergencies
If you have an urgent medical problem outside of surgery hours, you can:
- call your surgery
- visit the NHS Urgent Care Centre walk-in service, open between 7 am and 9 pm
- go to 111.nhs.uk or call 111
- or visit A&E
- find your nearest A&E.
Registering with a Dentist
It is important to register with a local dentist when living in Nottingham. You can find other dentists surgeries using the NHS Service Search. You may also be eligible for discounted NHS dental charges by applying for a HC2 or HC3 form - learn more about the NHS Low Income scheme here.
Vaccinations
The Department of Health recommends all students be fully immunised before arrival at University. Arrange to see your doctor and make sure you’re up to date with vaccinations against:
*if you are seeking the meningitis B vaccine as an adult you may have to pay. Please check with your GP surgery.
If you’ve only had one dose of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine, you need to get the second dose, too. You can find out from your current surgery if your vaccines are up to date, and ask the doctor for their advice. Check whether you’ve been vaccinated for:
- meningitis C
- first mumps (MMR)
- second mumps (MMR).
If you have, you also need to find you the dates when you were vaccinated. Please give this information to your new doctor when you register at surgery here at NTU.
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.
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.
All of our halls are catered, so you'll need to prepare the majority of your food yourself whilst your in your accommodation.
Practice on your friends and family before you move in. 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 their TikTok video for more inspiration.
Arriving on campus
If you're moving into NTU or 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, or you can view it on the accommodation portal.
You should have been contacted a couple of weeks before the start of term to complete your induction and book your arrival slot.
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.
If you are moving into private accommodation, you should receive information directly from your provider in relation to moving in day.
Looking after yourself at university
Living independently for the first time can be daunting. Feelings of anxiety, stress, homesickness, and overwhelm are completely 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.
We've included some links to services you can use while your in halls (University arranged or private) and during the rest of your studies.
Living in halls toolkit
Student support
We offer personal and discreet support to our students and alumni, including health and mental wellbeing, financial and academic support, and more.
Student Accommodation Support Officers (SASOs)
The University has a dedicated team of Student Accommodation Support Officers (SASOs). Whether you're staying in NTU, UPP or private halls of residence, SASOs are here to offer help and support.
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. 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.
Guide to NTU and UPP accommodation
You’re coming to NTU – congratulations! Now where will you live? Read our guide to find out all you need to know about student accommodation.
Search Accommodation at NTU
We have loads of great residences all over Nottingham, providing accommodation for every taste – search our listings, to find the home that’s right for you.
Contact the accommodation team
if you have any questions or feedback for our award-winning Student Accommodation Services team, get in touch and we’ll do everything we can to help.