University Of Plymouth Accommodation

The University of Plymouth gained university status in 1992, though its history began with the Plymouth School of Navigation in 1862. That early connection with the sea still influences its teaching and research.

The main campus occupies Drake Circus, PL4 8AA, beside the city centre. Around 18,000 students attend the university, with marine biology, ocean science, medicine, dentistry, nursing and other health subjects forming important parts of its academic profile.

The university also has its own Marine Station on the waterfront. Medicine, dentistry and several health programmes use facilities at Derriford, which lies north of the central campus.

Plymouth Hoe and the waterfront lie around ten minutes from the main university area. Few UK campuses place marine teaching, city shops and the coast within such a compact part of town.

For 2026 entry, the university guaranteed a hall place to eligible new undergraduates who made Plymouth their firm choice and applied by 5 July 2026. The guarantee covered University-managed halls and rooms with accredited private providers.

University of Plymouth Accommodation

The university manages several halls on campus and within the nearby Student Village. Private providers also operate buildings around North Hill, Greenbank, St Judes and the city centre.

Accommodation type	Private space	Shared space	Bills
University hall	En-suite bedroom	Kitchen and flat facilities	Rent covers utilities, Wi-Fi and contents insurance
Private student residence	En-suite room or studio	Depends on the room	Most providers cover utilities
Shared student house	Private bedroom	Kitchen, lounge and bathroom	The tenancy may exclude bills
Private flat	Bedroom or complete flat	Depends on the property	Check the agreement

Most University of Plymouth student accommodation keeps Drake Circus within a short walk. Francis Drake Hall and Mary Newman Hall occupy the campus itself, while Radnor Hall forms part of the nearby Student Village.

University halls give new residents a simple start. The rent covers household bills, and the halls team supports residents throughout the year. Private buildings add more choice over room design, contract length and communal facilities.

Shared houses appeal to many returning students. They often provide a separate lounge and more kitchen space, though housemates need to manage cleaning, bills and contact with the landlord.

Where you live will affect more than the walk to lectures.

North Hill keeps you close to campus events, societies and student venues. Greenbank and St Judes create more separation between university and home. The city centre places shopping, the Barbican and the Hoe within easy reach.

The University of Plymouth Students’ Union occupies the main campus and supports clubs, societies, volunteering and student events.

Marine students can reach the waterfront and Marine Station without travelling across the city. The Hoe gives residents space to walk, exercise or meet friends near the sea.

Mutley Plain and North Hill have cafés, takeaways and pubs that depend on the university population. The Barbican provides restaurants, historic streets and evening venues closer to the harbour.

Drake Circus Shopping Centre covers most high-street shopping. Plymouth Market provides food stalls, fresh produce and independent traders.

Register with a local GP after moving. Students with regular Derriford placements should also learn the hospital route before their first early shift.

North Hill and the Campus Area

North Hill connects Drake Circus with Plymouth railway station and forms the main student route through the university quarter.

Most addresses lie within 0.9 miles of campus. Students can usually walk to lectures without taking a bus.

Weekly private rents in the supplied research range from £140 to £165. Discovery Heights, The Reservoir and The Old Dairy all occupy this part of central Plymouth.

North Hill has cafés, takeaways, pubs and small shops that depend heavily on the student population. The city centre also begins a few minutes away.

The convenience carries a busier atmosphere. Traffic, late-night footfall and nearby venues can create noise, particularly in rooms facing the main road. Check the bedroom position before booking.

Discovery Heights provides one of the closest private options in the supplied research, at under half a mile from campus. The short journey can make early lectures and late library sessions less tiring.

Greenbank, St Judes and the Mutley Edge

Greenbank and St Judes occupy the terraced streets east of campus. Mutley Plain lies nearby and provides supermarkets, cafés, pharmacies and inexpensive places to eat.

Most properties fall between 0.9 and 1.2 miles from Drake Circus. The walk remains manageable, though several streets include noticeable slopes.

Weekly rents generally range from £109 to £189. Alexandra Works, Mary Parker House, Frobisher House, St Teresa House and St Thomas Court cover different room types and price points.

These neighbourhoods feel more residential than North Hill without cutting residents off from campus life. Returning students often choose them when they want quieter evenings or more space.

Alexandra Works currently lists private rooms from £105 per week. St Thomas Court starts at £119, while Frobisher House starts at £134. Prices change with the room and tenancy length.

Older terraced houses can vary considerably in condition. Check the heating, windows, locks and bathroom arrangements during the viewing.

Plymouth City Centre and the Hoe

The city centre places residents between campus, the main shopping streets and Plymouth Hoe.

Most properties lie around 1.1 to 1.4 miles from the university. The walk remains realistic for daily classes and avoids regular transport costs.

Weekly rents in the supplied research range from £129 to £142. Plymouth Cross House, Saltwater Place, Central Point and iQ Astor House provide several private choices.

The location suits students who want shops, restaurants, the Barbican and the waterfront within easy reach. It also works well for anyone with a part-time job in the centre.

Plymouth Cross House and Saltwater Place currently start at £125 per week. Central Point starts at £129. Both Plymouth Cross House and Saltwater Place include en-suite rooms and studios.

A city-centre address can create more evening noise than Greenbank or St Judes. Visit the street after normal working hours before signing.

Derriford

Derriford lies around four to five miles north of Drake Circus. Plymouth Citybus and Stagecoach services connect it with the centre.

The area contains Derriford Hospital, healthcare facilities and a science park. Medicine, dentistry, nursing and allied health students may spend part of their course or placement there.

A central Plymouth room still works during the earlier years of many healthcare courses. Regular hospital placements can make a Derriford address more practical later.

Check the full timetable before relocating. Some weeks may still require visits to Drake Circus, and a move north can lengthen those journeys.

Eligible healthcare students may receive help with placement travel through the NHS Learning Support Fund.

Plymouth generally costs less than many large university cities in southern England. Students can plan for around £110 to £130 per week outside rent.

Expense	Typical weekly amount	What changes it
Groceries	Around £34	Diet and supermarket choice
Transport	£0 to £10	Distance from campus or Derriford
Household bills	Around £16	Relevant when the tenancy excludes utilities
Social plans	Around £14 or more	Frequency and venue
Mobile phone	£3 to £5	SIM plan and data
Laundry	£4 to £10	Building charges
Course costs	Varies	Subject, equipment and placements

The central campus makes walking realistic from North Hill, Greenbank, St Judes and much of the city centre. Many students only need buses for Derriford, placements or trips outside central Plymouth.

Large supermarkets and Plymouth Market help keep food spending under control. Smaller convenience stores near campus often charge more.

Marine students may need waterproof clothing, specialist equipment or money for fieldwork. Health students should leave room for placement travel, even when they can reclaim part of the expense.

The weekly figures exclude rent. The accommodation contract will remain the largest item in most student budgets.

International Student visa applicants currently need to show £1,171 per month for living costs outside London for up to nine months. The government uses this amount for visa evidence, not as a suggested weekly budget.

En-suite Rooms

An en-suite room includes a private bedroom and bathroom. Residents share the kitchen with the rest of the flat.

This room type gives first-year residents privacy without removing daily contact with flatmates. The kitchen usually becomes the main social space.

Ask how many residents share it. A kitchen for five people creates a different routine from one used by ten.

Saltwater Place currently lists standard en-suite rooms from £125 per week, with several other en-suite categories between £130 and £137. Plymouth Cross House lists en-suite rooms from £115 in its room breakdown, although live starting rates can change with availability.

Studios

A studio combines a sleeping area, study space and kitchenette in one private room. A separate bathroom completes the unit.

Studios suit postgraduates, students with irregular schedules and anyone who prefers a quieter household.

The additional privacy increases the rent. Saltwater Place currently lists studios from £200 per week. Plymouth Cross House lists several studio categories from £160, depending on availability and tenancy.

Check the measurements before booking. Property photography can make a compact studio appear much larger.

Storage also deserves attention. Marine equipment, placement uniforms and course materials can take up more room than expected.

Private Bedrooms in Shared Houses

A private bedroom gives you your own sleeping and study space inside a shared house. Housemates use the same kitchen, lounge and bathroom.

Greenbank, St Judes, Mutley and Lipson contain many traditional student houses. They often cost less than modern studios or en-suite halls.

The tenants may need to arrange utilities themselves. They also need to agree on cleaning, visitors and shared purchases.

Check whether the landlord uses individual contracts or a joint tenancy. Under a joint agreement, each tenant may carry responsibility for unpaid household rent.

University Halls

University halls provide en-suite rooms on campus and in the Student Village.

Francis Drake and Mary Newman keep residents directly beside university buildings. Radnor gives students a nearby alternative.

The weekly rent covers utility bills, Wi-Fi and contents insurance. University hall residents also join a programme of events and receive support from the halls team.

Alexandra Works

Alexandra Works occupies Alexandra Road on the Greenbank side of campus. The walk to university usually takes around ten to 15 minutes.

Private rooms currently start at £105 per week, and the rent covers the main household utilities. The building includes bike storage, a common room and security measures.

The lower starting price leaves more room in the budget than most modern central residences.

St Thomas Court

St Thomas Court occupies Gasking Street, close to St Judes and the eastern side of the university quarter.

Rooms currently start at £119 per week. The building includes private rooms and studios, with utilities covered by the rent.

The location balances a residential street with a manageable walk to Drake Circus.

Saltwater Place

Saltwater Place occupies Notte Street, between the city centre and the Hoe.

The building includes en-suite rooms and private studios. Current prices start at £125 per week, with studio categories starting at £200. The weekly rent covers utilities and Wi-Fi.

This address suits students who want the waterfront and central shopping streets near home.

Plymouth Cross House

Plymouth Cross House occupies Raleigh Street in the city centre.

The property includes en-suite rooms and a large selection of studios. Current overall listings start at £125 per week, while individual room prices change with availability and tenancy length.

The building also includes study areas, communal lounges, a courtyard and indoor games.

Discovery Heights

Discovery Heights occupies the North Hill campus area and keeps the university under half a mile away according to the supplied research.

Current listings start at £135 per week. The short walk makes the property useful for early classes and regular use of campus facilities.

The Old Dairy

The Old Dairy also occupies the North Hill student area.

Current rooms start at £140 per week. The building includes communal facilities and covers bills within the rent.

North Hill gives residents one of the simplest routes to lectures, the railway station and city-centre shops.

Yugo Beckley Point

Yugo Beckley Point rises above central Plymouth and gives residents quick access to Drake Circus.

Current private rooms start at £148 per week. The property also lists studios and other room arrangements.

The central address works well for students who want university and city life within the same small area.

The Reservoir

The Reservoir occupies the central campus quarter near North Hill.

Current listings start at £205 per week. The building includes private rooms, studios and several communal facilities.

The higher price makes the room details and contract length especially important.

Alexandra Works has the lowest current starting rate among the main private properties in this guide at £105 per week.

St Thomas Court follows at £119, while Mary Parker House, Saltwater Place and Plymouth Cross House begin at £125.

Property	Starting price	Location
Alexandra Works	£105 per week	Greenbank edge
St Thomas Court	£119 per week	St Judes
Mary Parker House	£125 per week	Central student area
Saltwater Place	£125 per week	City centre and Hoe
Plymouth Cross House	£125 per week	City centre
Central Point	£129 per week	City centre
Frobisher House	£134 per week	Greenbank area
Discovery Heights	£135 per week	North Hill

A low weekly price may only apply to one contract. Check the full term value, advance payment and cancellation policy before booking.

Alexandra Works lists a 51-week room at £105 per week, which brings the full rent to £5,355. A shorter contract at a higher weekly rate could still cost less overall.

Walking

Walking handles most daily university journeys.

North Hill properties can keep the campus within a few minutes. Greenbank and St Judes usually require ten to 20 minutes, depending on the street.

The Hoe and city-centre accommodation may take around 15 to 25 minutes.

Plymouth has several steep streets. Check the actual route rather than relying only on the distance.

Buses

Plymouth Citybus and Stagecoach connect the centre with Derriford, residential areas and surrounding towns.

Healthcare students often use buses for hospital placements. Traffic can extend the journey during the morning, so check the route at the time you need to arrive.

Student tickets can reduce regular travel costs.

Cycling

A bicycle can shorten journeys from Greenbank, Lipson and other nearby neighbourhoods.

The city’s slopes make some routes harder on the return journey. Secure cycle storage matters, particularly in private shared houses.

University-managed halls provide free bicycle storage, though the university does not cover loss or damage from those storage areas.

Rail Travel

Plymouth railway station stands near North Hill and Drake Circus.

Direct and connecting rail services link Plymouth with Exeter, Bristol, Birmingham and London. Journey times depend on the service and interchange.

The station’s central location helps students travel home without crossing the entire city with luggage.

Coach and Airport Travel

Long-distance coaches connect Plymouth with London, Heathrow and other UK cities.

For September 2026, the university arranged discounted National Express travel for new international students travelling from Heathrow. Student ambassadors also planned to meet arrivals at Plymouth Coach Station on selected September dates.

Exeter Airport provides the nearest larger regional option, though many international journeys require travel through Bristol or London airports.