Accommodation
Adapted rooms policy
The University of Leicester is committed to making reasonable adjustments to support individuals who, due to disability or long-term medical conditions, require adapted accommodation or specific locations to enable them to participate fully and enjoy a rewarding university experience.
Our commitments include:
- Promoting equal opportunities;
- Ensuring residences are accessible to all;
- Welcoming and supporting disabled students
Prospective and current students should contact the AccessAbility Team to discuss their accommodation needs. Please note that medical evidence is required to support all requests for adapted rooms. The requirements for this evidence are as follows: contain a confirmation of the disability or medical condition stated on your application;
- It must confirm the disability or medical condition stated in your application;
- It must be signed by a doctor or other medical professional;
- It must be printed on official headed paper.
AccessAbility cannot accept medical evidence that:
- Has been provided by a family member;
- Is not in its original format.
As there are a limited number of adapted and accessible rooms, students are encouraged to apply for accommodation as early as possible and to contact the AccessAbility Team (accessable@le.ac.uk ) to discuss arrangements, so that reasonable adjustments can be made before arrival. Rooms are allocated on a first come, first served basis. The following outlines the application process for prospective and current students.
Request for adapted accommodation
The deadline to guarantee accommodation in your first year of study is 1 September, although we recommend submitting your application as early as possible.
The deadline to guarantee accessible accommodation for returning students is 30 June. Applications submitted after these dates may not result in a room that meets your specific requirements.
When completing your accommodation request, please carefully consider how your room can help you manage your health condition or disability. Below are examples of adjustments and equipment that can be included in your request:
- Ground floor accommodation
- Accommodation with lift access
- Wheelchair accessible rooms
- Automatic doors to flats and rooms
- Fixed or mobile hoists
- En-suite bathrooms
- Adapted bathroom/toilet (e.g., shower seat, grab rails, height-adjusted facilities)
- Alarm pull cords in the bedroom and/or bathroom
- Kitchens with height-adjustable features
- Deaf Guard pillow
- Flashing fire alarm
- Fridge in the room
- Space for specialist furniture
- Living space for a carer
Adapted rooms typically offer more space and adjustments for wheelchair users than standard rooms. Further details, such as bed sizes, are available on our accommodation webpages.
Special facilities, like vibrating pillows for those with impaired hearing, will be provided to residents requiring them for health and safety reasons.
We aim to match individuals to suitable accommodation, and further adaptations can be arranged if needed. However, students must engage with the AccessAbility Team well in advance to ensure reasonable adjustments are made in a timely and appropriate manner. Early engagement is essential; otherwise, we cannot guarantee your requirements will be met before your course begins.
Bringing your specialist furniture or equipment with you
If you wish to bring specialist equipment or furniture, you must provide an occupational therapist’s assessment report to AccessAbility by 1 September. This ensures we can offer the most appropriate adapted room for your needs.
If you require a guide or assistance animal during your stay, you must follow the full Assistance Animals process, which can be found in our Assistance Dogs and other Animals Policy.
Room subsidy
Students who incur additional costs for en-suite, studio or flat accommodation due to a disability may be eligible for a subsidy towards these costs. The subsidy is offered by the University of Leicester and is only available to students living in university-contracted accommodation (i.e., The Village or The City residences); it does not apply to private accommodation.
Students may apply for the rent subsidy if they require an en-suite, studio or flat in university-contracted accommodation due to disability and/or health needs. The requirement for a subsidy must be discussed and supported by AccessAbility.
If you are supported by a resident carer or personal care assistant, you must contact AccessAbility to discuss your requirements by 1 September.
The subsidy is not automatically awarded to all students with disclosed disabilities living in en-suite, studio or flat accommodation. First-year students must engage with AccessAbility for assessment.
Returning students wishing to remain in university accommodation must provide medical evidence to the AccessAbility Team, and reassessment may be required as part of the application process.
The Village:
- Beaumont Hall - £128.00
- Gilbert Murray Hall - £122.00
- John Foster Hall - £128.00
- Stamford Hall - £123.00
The City:
- Nixon Court - £105.00
- Freeman's common - £177.00
The subsidy will be calculated annually and will be credited to your account on a termly basis (in line with the rent payment dates).
For the academic year 2026/27, the subsidy will reduce the required room rate to the average weekly cost of your chosen hall of residence. Please refer to the applicable rates shown above. These prices apply only for the academic year specified and are reviewed annually.
If your application is received after the start of the contract period, the subsidy will apply on a pro-rata basis, starting from the date you requested the room subsidy.
Eligibility Criteria
You are eligible to apply if you meet one or more of the following criteria:
- You require an en-suite, studio or flat in university-contracted accommodation as a result of a physical disability (e.g., mobility difficulty or wheelchair user), where specific accessibility requirements prevent you from sharing bathroom facilities.
- You require an en-suite, studio or flat in university-contracted accommodation due to a sensory disability (e.g., visual impairment) that affects your ability to maintain independence when sharing bathroom facilities with others.
- You require an en-suite, studio or flat in university-contracted accommodation due to an unseen condition (e.g., mental health disability, autism spectrum condition, or medical condition) that prevents you from using shared bathroom facilities without substantial impact on your wellbeing and ability to carry out self-care.
- You require an additional room for a carer or support worker. Please note all bed spaces are single occupancy, except flats with multiple bedrooms.
- Exceptional cases where Senior Student Support Services staff consider en-suite, studio or flat accommodation appropriate, based on evidence of ongoing difficulties that significantly affect your ability to use shared bathroom facilities.
Personal convenience or preference do not form part of the criteria and will not be considered.
If you book a room of a higher standard than recommended by the AccessAbility Team, the subsidy will not be applied. For example, if you are advised to book an en-suite room but choose a one-bedroom flat instead.
Travel to campus
Parking on the main campus is available only to those with a valid Blue Badge. For information on disabled parking, please refer to the University of Leicester Student Parking (log in required).
The University shuttle bus service operates regularly during term time from The Village to the main academic campus and is wheelchair accessible.
Application Process
We have a specific process for you to follow should you wish to be considered for room subsidy by the University. If you meet the criteria and wish to apply, please submit your accommodation application using the University of Leicester Accommodation portal making note that you will be applying for the adapted rooms subsidy.
Please then contact the AccessAbility team and ask for support with your accommodation in line with the adapted rooms policy. The AccessAbility team will then request your supporting evidence for assessment. They will contact you about your requirements and email the Accommodation Team with their recommendation.
The Accommodation Team will review your application alongside the AccessAbility Team’s recommendations and make an offer accordingly.
All accommodation offers are subject on availability. If your required room type is unavailable, you will be contacted to discuss alternative options and any reasonable adjustments that can be made.
The deadline for completion of applications to guarantee accommodation in your first year of study at the University is 1st September though we encourage the application to be submitted at the earliest opportunity.
The deadline for completion of applications under this policy for returning students is 30th June. Whilst every effort will be made for students under this policy to remain in their current accommodation, this cannot be guaranteed.
If you have any general enquiries relating to accommodation please contact the Accommodation Team on accommodation@le.ac.uk or call +44 (0)116 252 2428.