- Student accommodation
- En-suite
- Bills included
- Furnished
- Available
About Collegiate University Quays, Colchester
- Price from
- £124 / wk
- Range £124 – £196 / wk
- Room types
- 3 options
- En-suite
- Move-in from
- 1 Sept 2026
- Lease length
- 39–50 weeks
- Deposit from
- £100
- Bills
- Included
- Electric, Gas, Water
- Furnishing
- Fully furnished
University Quays is situated in Colchester, CO2 8GY, in the United Kingdom. This Colchester student housing provides en-suite apartments near university and college campuses. It is on-campus housing for students of the University of Essex, which is within a 10 to 15-minute walk. Other college campuses are also nearby, such as Colchester Sixth Form College, which is within an 11-minute drive from University Quays.
Colchester has approximately 15,000 to 17,000 students across major universities such as the University of Essex and University Centre Colchester. For students, it is just an hour away from London and is 35% to 40% cheaper as well. The cost of living in Colchester is approximately £900-£1,350 per month. Students can also think about establishing themselves in this city, as it offers various employment opportunities and has an employment rate of 75.5% (Office for National Statistics). Some of the major employers in the city are Colchester Hospital, Colchester City Council, Ford Retail, Concurrent and Merlin Cloud. University Quays sits along the River Colne/Hythe Quay, placing residents right next to a large Tesco Extra, Hythe retail park, and popular waterside paths into Colchester city centre.
- Shortlisted by 14+ students
Features
- University Quays apartments have ensuite options such as Single Ensuite Rooms, a Premium Single Ensuite, and Double Ensuite Rooms. Ensuites include a private bedroom with a bathroom and a shared kitchen, and a living room. There are many room amenities to make your move-in easy. There is a single bed, a study desk, a chair, a wardrobe, a lamp, and more. The kitchen is stocked with an oven, freezer, kettle, and a microwave. The rent includes Wi-Fi, gas, electricity, heating, water, council tax, and contents insurance. So no surprise bills for you.
- There are common amenities as well for a better lifestyle. You can stay active with badminton courts, basketball courts, a climbing wall, and a well-equipped gym. The wellbeing facilities support relaxation and healthy routines. The common room offers a comfortable space to socialise and unwind. Safety features include key fob access, fire blankets, smoke detectors, and trained first aiders. The disability support and mental health support make this place ideal for people with some physical or mental distress. At University Quays, your packages are managed with the help of mail delivery, post boxes, and parcel collection. Your basic needs are supported by laundrettes. The on-site cafés, restaurants, and bars provide convenient dining and social options. Bike storage offers secure bicycle parking. The outdoor spaces provide areas to relax and enjoy fresh air.
Nearby places
- University Quays Essex, has everyday conveniences nearby, including educational institutions. The Colchester Institute is also within a 12-minute drive, and the University Campus Suffolk is within a 36-minute drive. Home Bargains and Starry Mart are your one-stop solutions for groceries and household products. Your medicinal and hygiene needs can be taken care of at The Hythe Pharmacy and Boots Pharmacy. In case you fall sick, there is Lexden Hospital nearby.
- University Quays Colchester has premium eating options close by, such as Subway, Bambu Vietnamese, and Naka Thai. At welcoming cafes like Mission Cafe, Hollyhock Café, and Bakeoffee, you can plan your hangout sessions with your friends. The Spinnaker and SU Bar are full of chill vibes and atmosphere to enjoy your evenings. Wivenhoe Nature Park and Salary Brook Local Nature Reserve take you close to nature.
- Touring the city during your stay at University Quays makes your student days more memorable. The Colchester Castle Museum is a great place to explore 2,500 years of history, including Iron Age, Roman and Norman collections. At Colchester Castle Park, you can organise picnics, play mini-golf and visit the boating lake. Visitors can view modern artworks, attend events and participate in creative activities at Firstsite. Hollytrees Museum has objects and decorative arts that illustrate life over the past 300 years, making it one of the best places to learn about domestic and social life in Colchester.
Commute
- Essex University Quays is close to public transport, making your commute easy. The nearest bus stop is Knowledge Gateway on the main campus. University Quays has its own dedicated bus stop (University Quays) directly outside the property on Boundary Road/Haven Road—a 1-minute walk. For bus ride discounts, students can use the Colchester Borough Card. For longer journeys to nearby cities, Hythe train station is within a 14-minute walk. There are 16–25 / 26–30 Railcards, which, by linking to National Rail tickets, you can get 1/3 off off-peak rail travel across the wider UK network. International students can take their flight home from London Stansted Airport, which is within a 51-minute drive.
Rooms & prices
Choose a room to enquire about it directly.
3 room options
3 photosSingle Ensuite Rooms
En-suiteAvailable- Private bathroom
- 1 bedroom
- Move in 1 Sept 2026
- 39–50 weeks
- Deposit £100
- Bills included
Shower · Toilet · Single Bed · Study Desk · Chair
Enquire for this room£124 / wk
up to £186
3 photosPremium Single Ensuite
En-suiteAvailable- Private bathroom
- 1 bedroom
- Move in 1 Sept 2026
- 39–50 weeks
- Deposit £100
- Bills included
Shower · Toilet · Small Double Bed · Study Desk · Chair
Enquire for this room£128 / wk
up to £196
3 photosDouble Ensuite Rooms
En-suiteFully booked- Private bathroom
- 2 bedrooms
- 39 weeks
- Deposit £100
- Bills included
Private en-suite Shower · Toilet · Double Bed · Desks · Chairs
Ask about availability£186 / wk
Amenities
11 facilities confirmed for this residence.
Essentials
- Bills included
- Fully furnished
- Private bathroom
Living & social
- Kitchen
- Study space
- Common room
- Outdoor space
Health & wellbeing
- Gym
Safety & security
- Secure entry
Services
- Bike storage
- Parcel room
Show all 21 amenitiesHide full list
- Gym
- Wellbeing Facilities
- Outdoor Spaces
- Key Fob
- Fire Blankets
- Smoke Detectors
- First Aiders
- Disability Support
- Mental Health Support
- Badminton Courts
- Basketball Courts
- Climbing Wall
- Common Room
- Mail Delivery
- Post Boxes
- Parcel Collection
- Launderettes
- Cafés
- Restaurants
- Bars
- Bike Storage
Ratings & reviews
This residence has no published ratings yet. Our advisors speak with residents and can tell you what living here is really like.
Who lives here
Share of recent residents.
Students from
- British
- 43%
- Indian
- 43%
- Saudi Arabian
- 14%
Popular with students at
- University of Essex Southend Campus100%
Location
Colchester CO2 8GY, UK
Nearby
- University of Essex0.6 mi
- city center2.2 mi
- University Campus Suffolk15.5 mi
- University of Suffolk15.6 mi
- Anglia Ruskin University21.8 mi
- University of Greenwich (Medway Campus)37.4 mi
Loads a map from OpenStreetMap.
Colchester CO2 8GY, UK, Colchester, United Kingdom
Open in Google Maps(opens in a new tab)Bills & policies
Bills included in the rent
- Electric
- Gas
- Water
- Heaters
- Wi-Fi
- Council Tax
- Content Insurance
Payment
Booking Deposit
- £100 Reservation Rent required at booking
- Fully refundable if cancelled within the 3-day cooling-off period
- Retained if cancellation occurs after 3 days
- Adjusted against the first rent payment after the tenancy agreement is signed
Mode Of Payment
- Payments can be made via:
- Online portal (card payments)
- Bank transfer (via portal details)
- Bank transfers:
- Must be arranged in advance due to longer processing time
Pay In Instalment
- Available options:
- 1 instalment (full payment)
- 4 instalments
- For 4-instalment plan:
- Must pay 4 weeks’ rent 10 days before the tenancy start date
- Second instalment due at the end of September (aligned with student loans/grants)
- Instalment plans designed for students relying on loans or grants
- Students paying in instalments without a UK guarantor must pay a 5% additional upfront fee on the total accommodation fees.
- Note: Instalments are not available if the student books a tenancy agreement of less than 27 weeks.
Guarantor Requirement
- A UK guarantor is required for the standard instalment payment plan.
- The guarantor must:
- Resident of the UK (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland)
- Recognised as a UK tax resident (HMRC)
- Must have a fixed address
- Must provide:
- Proof of address (utility bill within last 3 months or council tax bill)
- Photo ID
- Must be over 25 years old
- If no UK guarantor:
- Students without a UK guarantor can still book accommodation by choosing one of the following options:
- Pay in Full Upfront: Pay the full accommodation fees upfront without requiring a guarantor.
Cancellation
Cooling Off Period
- 3-day cooling-off period from the date of booking
- Must cancel in writing via email to the property
- Full refund of the Reservation Rent if cancelled within 3 days
- If not cancelled within 3 days, the Reservation Rent is retained
- The Tenancy Agreement must be signed within 3 days of booking
No Visa No Pay
- Applicable to first-year undergraduate or postgraduate international students
- Conditions:
- Must inform within 7 days of visa refusal notification
- Must provide official notification from the visa authorities
- Final deadline to submit evidence: 30th August
- Outcome:
- Booking can be cancelled
- Full refund of any rent paid
No Place No Pay
- Applicable to first-year undergraduate or first-year postgraduate students
- Conditions:
- Must inform within 7 days of receiving university rejection
- Must provide a written rejection letter from the university/college
- Final deadline to submit evidence: 30th August
- Outcome:
- Booking can be cancelled
- Full refund of any rent paid
Other cancellation policies
- If the provider cancels the booking:
- The student will be notified in writing
- Alternative accommodation offered
- If unsuitable:
- The student can cancel
- Full refund of any rent paid
- Refunds:
- Processed within 14 days of receiving the required evidence
- Reservation Rent:
- Held and offset against the first rental payment once the Tenancy Agreement is signed
Delayed Arrivals & travel restrictions
- If you are unable to travel due to government-imposed travel restrictions, please contact the team with the relevant supporting documentation. We will facilitate the request to review your circumstances and explore the possibility of cancellation/contract amendment. Requests are considered individually, and any outcome will depend on the property's review and applicable booking terms.
University Course Cancellation/Modification
- If your course has been cancelled by your university, please reach out to the team with the relevant supporting documentation. We will liaise with the property team to review your request on a case-by-case basis for cancellation. The resolution will be subject to the property's assessment and the terms of your booking.
Deferring Studies
- If you have deferred your studies, please contact the team and share your updated university documentation. We will notify the property team to review your request for cancellation/contract amendment. Requests are assessed individually, and the final outcome will be subject to the property's review and booking terms.
House rules
Room allocation
- Students can indicate specific room number or location preferences during the booking process, and the team will accommodate these preferences wherever possible, based on availability.
Check in guide
- Approximately 2–4 weeks prior to the scheduled move-in date, students will receive check-in instructions via email. This communication will include the steps required to select a check-in date and time slot, complete necessary documentation, and settle any outstanding payments prior to arrival.
Renewal policy
- Students who wish to extend their stay can contact the team for renewal or rebooking at the same accommodation. Our team will support the renewal process and help students secure a suitable room of their choice. Students are encouraged to reach out early to ensure they can rebook the same room or another room of their choice at the same property.
Early check in policy
- Early check-in requests can be shared in advance with the team. Our team will do a feasibility check to facilitate early check-in requests based on room readiness and availability. Additional charges may apply where applicable.
Smoking
- Smoking is not permitted inside the building. Smoking is allowed only outside in designated areas, where permitted by property rules and local regulations.
Guest policy
- Guests may stay with you where permitted by the property. Always notify the property 1 to 2 weeks in advance to complete the required formalities.
Minimum age
- You must be 18 years or older on your move-in date to stay at this property. Please ensure you meet the age requirement before booking. In case you do not meet the minimum age requirement, inform the team while enquiring with us, and we can suggest you accordingly.
Student eligibility
- This accommodation is exclusively available to students. Non-students are not eligible to stay at the property.
Questions about this residence
How much does Collegiate University Quays, Colchester cost?
Rooms start from £124 / wk across en-suite options. Prices vary by room type and tenancy length.
What's included in the rent?
Bills are included in the rent: electric, gas, water, heaters, wi-fi, council tax and content insurance.
How long can I stay?
Tenancies here run 39–50 weeks. Options include 39–50 weeks and 39 weeks.
When can I move in?
The earliest move-in date listed is 1 Sept 2026. Dates can differ by room, so ask us to confirm the one you want.
Is there a deposit?
Yes. Deposits start from £100, depending on the room.
Where is Collegiate University Quays, Colchester?
Collegiate University Quays, Colchester is at Colchester CO2 8GY, UK. It is 0.6 mi from University of Essex.





