There are a lot of benefits to living in halls in your first year. You get to meet new people, there are social events you can attend, and it is hassle free because most of your living costs are included in your hall fees. This page gives you some information about what you can expect.
Living in Halls
There are a number of useful resources and teams who are here to support you while living at university. Find out more about getting advice when living in halls.
The Residences Information Portal which can be accessed by students living in Brookes Halls is designed to give students easy access to support, guidance and practical advice when living in halls.
For students living in Westminster Hall and Harcourt Hill N Block, we have an exciting new half board offer available at Harcourt Refectory. The offer is equivalent to just £22 per week for Breakfast and Dinner served Monday to Friday (semester-time only). This plan offers excellent value, working out at only £2.20 per meal, you will be provided with menus from Gather and Gather’s portfolio of tasty and balanced recipes. Students living on the Harcourt Hill Campus can sign up to this offer via the accommodation portal when accepting their contracts.
Wi-Fi and wired* connectivity is available at all Oxford Brookes-managed halls. If you live in one of our partnership halls they will be able to provide you information about the Wi-Fi and wired connections they offer.
*Residents can connect to wired internet on their own devices using an ethernet cable - some newer devices and apple products may require an adaptor (cables and adaptors are not included).
The complimentary internet connections in the halls is provided by WiFinity and whilst every effort will be made to ensure the connection is stable, the University does not accept liability for any loss of connection due to technical problems.
Our Resi Life Team are here to help you throughout your time in halls! We know many students feel anxious and apprehensive about moving away from home so we are here to help you ease into university life and provide useful resources for you whilst you are here.
We aim to create the best student experience possible during your time at Brookes, so each year we arrange events and activities for residents to have fun, immerse themselves in culture and come together to create new friendships and experiences they can look back on.
Our halls of residence are a supportive and safe environment. Our hall staff are experienced in making people feel welcome and at home. All of our halls have an on-site halls team to help and advise during the day. There is support available on-site throughout the night too.
The University is situated in one of the safest student areas in the country according to research conducted by the Complete University Guide.
All of our halls are self-catered with each flat having its own shared kitchen for you to cook and eat your own meals.
Our halls also have on-site laundry facilities. You can find more information on the facilities at each hall on our hall pages.
When you apply for your accommodation you will have the option to select whether you would prefer female-only, male-only or a mixed flat. If you ask to live in a single-sex or mixed flat, we will do our best to arrange it. Please contact us if you require any further information
We partner with Endsleigh, the student insurance specialist, to cover your belongings when you’re living with us. All you have to do is register to confirm your cover.
Register with the My Endsleigh app to confirm your cover, find out what’s insured and where you may need additional insurance such as mobile phone or laptop cover for when you’re out and about, or bicycle insurance.
What does the app do?
There are many other great perks included in the My Endsleigh app such as:
- your insurance policy information and secure links to your documents - check what is already covered (and what isn’t!)
- buy optional worldwide cover for gadgets and possessions against theft, damage, mechanical breakdown and loss
- 24/7 access to a wellbeing service that includes advice, counselling, legal information and bereavement support
- information, news and views on life at university, budgeting, mental health and lots more
Please note this information is not applicable to Parade Green, Dorset House, Beech House, Slade Park, Sinnet Court, Canterbury House or the Windmill Road halls (Edna Rose and Champneys Court). If you are in one of these halls of residence, please contact the hall office directly with any queries
Starter Packs
We understand that packing for university can be tough therefore we have introduced some student starter packs that can be ordered through the accommodation portal ready to collect on your arrival! These include bedding, kitchen/dining and cleaning packs.
Brookes Sport
We have various Brookes Sport membership options at a discounted rate for our students. Depending on the membership type, this can include access to the gyms and fitness classes at Headington and Harcourt Hill, the climbing wall at Headington and the swimming pool, sauna, and steam facilities at the Harcourt Hill centre. After accepting your accommodation contract, you will be able to sign up to these memberships through the accommodation portal before you even arrive!
End of Contract Cleaning
Your bedroom and communal spaces must be clean and clear at that end of your contract. You can pre-book to have your room cleaned at the end of contract through the accommodation portal. This will cost £39 for en suite rooms and £25 for those with shared bathrooms. If you choose not to pre-book this service there will be a higher penalty for not returning your room in the condition it was when you arrived.
Starting in September 2023 we are intending to run a pilot scheme in which we will set aside some accommodation that will be offered as “quiet accommodation” and some accommodation that will be offered as “alcohol free”.
This pilot will run in dedicated flats in Paul Kent Hall and Warneford Hall for undergraduates and Crescent Hall for postgraduates. Please note, this pilot will only apply within the dedicated flats and does not apply to the surrounding flats or external spaces of these halls.
After reading the information provided, applicants will be able to indicate on their online application if they wish to apply to live in this type of accommodation.