Application and room allocation guidance 2026/27

New undergraduates who are guaranteed accommodation

Please see details of the University of York's accommodation guarantee, including key dates and eligibility.

After you have completed your accommodation application, your application is held until your place of study is confirmed on A-level results day, Thursday 13 August 2026. Accommodation offers are sent on from this date or as soon as possible thereafter.

Allocation process for new undergraduates

Please note that we do not operate a 'first come, first served' system for new undergraduates. Instead, for eligible students who applied for accommodation by Friday 31 July 2026, the allocation process is automated as follows:

• The 'mass allocator' or 'lottery' system is used, beginning on A-level results day, starting with students who have selected the University of York as their firm choice, followed by those who have selected the University of York as their insurance choice.
• As students are randomly selected by the automated system, they will automatically be offered the highest available preference from those that have been stated in their application. Those students who are randomly selected in the early stages of this automated process are more likely to receive their top preference.
• As described above, while all applications are considered, not everyone receives their top choice due to varying room popularity and the nature of the lottery system. It is therefore important when selecting your preferences to consider them in order of priority.
• If the automated system is unable to allocate any of a student's preferences, students who are guaranteed accommodation will be manually offered accommodation from available room stock at the time of allocation.

New undergraduates who are not guaranteed accommodation

If you do not meet the accommodation guarantee, this may be due to the fact that you did not apply for accommodation by the guarantee date or are coming to study at the university through clearing; you will be able to apply for accommodation from Thursday 13 August 2026. You will not be guaranteed accommodation, but the accommodation team will support you in finding accommodation owned, managed or approved by the University. This may be on campus or may be in the City Centre.

New undergraduates with additional requirements

Students with an additional requirement, such as a health, welfare, or mobility requirement that requires a room with a certain facility or to be in a certain location, are encouraged to submit supporting medical evidence with their application to be considered for tailored, accessible, or specifically located accommodation. Where it is agreed that the requirement is applicable, a separate manual allocation process takes place with the aim of providing the most suitable accommodation to meet the needs of the additional requirements

Returning undergraduate application process

Now closed for the 2026/27 academic year.

Applications for returning undergraduates are now closed. Applications for the 2027/28 academic year will open in late November/December 2026. For those who do apply to University-owned, managed, or approved accommodation, priority is given to certain groups. This includes students that have additional requirements that cannot be supported off campus, students planning to go on, or returning from, a placement, and students who are estranged or care leavers are able to apply for returning accommodation. All other students will need to secure accommodation in the private sector from the second year onwards.

Allocations are done manually by the Accommodation Services Team, considering preferences stated and additional requirements that have been identified.

Family housing applications

We welcome applications from families. However, we have a limited number of suitable properties, and therefore we cannot guarantee accommodation for those applying for family accommodation.

We allocate based on the priority (highest to lowest) below:

• Students with evidence of an additional requirement that cannot be supported off campus
• New students from outside the UK
• New students from the UK
• Continuing students who have not previously lived in University family accommodation
• Continuing students who have previously lived in University family accommodation

Postgraduates who are guaranteed accommodation

Please see details of the University of York's accommodation guarantee, including key dates and eligibility.

Allocation process for postgraduates

Once you have submitted your accommodation applications, unlike new undergraduate applications, we do not wait until August to allocate postgraduate rooms. Applicants are able to state preferences when applying, and offers are sent out in frequent batches starting soon after applications open. This does mean that those applying later may have more limited options when applying if certain options have proved more popular. Allocations are done manually by the Accommodation Services Team.

Postgraduates with additional requirements

Students with an additional requirement, such as a health, welfare, or mobility requirement that requires a room with a certain facility, or to be in a certain location, are able, and encouraged, to submit supporting evidence with their application to be considered for tailored, accessible, or specifically located accommodation. Where it is agreed that this is applicable, a separate manual allocation process takes place with the aim of providing the most suitable accommodation.

Any other questions

Please contact the Accommodation Services Team if you have any further queries regarding accommodation offers, allocations or guarantees.

• Email: accommodation@york.ac.uk
• Telephone: +44 (0)1904 322165