Many of the halls date from the early 1900s and were the homes of Leicesters wealthy industrialists.
The magnificent Edwardian houses, set in landscaped grounds, have been extended to include modern refectories and bedroom blocks. The Oadby Halls are about 3.5km from campus in leafy suburbs linked to the university by cycle routes. College Hall in Knighton is the closest to the university campus and is less than 1.5km from the main site. A good public service runs between the halls and the campus during term times. There is also a womens minibus service at night. Shops, pubs and restaurants are within walking distance and there is a regular public bus service to the city centre. The halls provide catered accommodation and 14 meals a week. Each block or house has a small kitchen area for making hot drinks and snacks. All the halls have similar facilities and each hall houses both male and female students of all years and courses.
Each hall has a Junior Common Room Committee that is elected by the students on an annual basis. Most importantly, they provide a range of entertainment including balls, concerts, films and sport events from your annual subscription. The halls offer you a place to live, study and relax. There is the opportunity to meet students who may be taking other courses to your own, chat in the common room, enjoy a programme in the TV room or play darts or pool in the bar. Self catered accommodation:
The University of Leicesters self catered accommodation is offered on four main locations close to the University and City centre.
Freemens Common and Nixon Court are adjacent to the campus. Salisbury Road Houses, Goscote House and the Ratcliffe Residences (Clare, Elms Road and Mary Fee Houses) are situated 15-30 minutes walk away. All of these are close to public transport, shops, pubs and restaurants. Most of the self-catered accommodation is purpose built, offering mainly single study bedrooms and a communal kitchen, bathroom/shower and a laundry. Some larger, older houses have also been converted to provide similar facilities. Life in self-catered accommodation is less structured than that in the halls, but social and sporting activities are arranged. Self catered accommodation at the University of Leicester: Clare Houses
Purpose built and converted houses
Elms Road
113 spaces Elms Road Houses
Purpose built converted house
Elms Road
200 spaces Freemens Common Houses
Purpose built
Welford Road
360 spaces Mary Gee Houses
Purpose built converted houses
Ratcliffe Road
360 spaces Nixon Court
Purpose built
Putney Road
707 spaces Salisbury Houses
Converted houses
Salisbury Road area
95 spaces Goscote House
Flats
Sparkenhoe Street
135 spaces John Frears House
4 single and 16 double rooms
St. James Road
20 spaces Privately rented accommodation:
Some students prefer to make their own arrangements for private accommodation from day one and some students prefer to move out after their first year.
The standard of properties is high in Leicester and prices are reasonable from around £38 a week plus utility bills. Nearly all student properties are within walking distance of the University. If you are more interested in renting privately in Leicester, help is available from the Private Sector Accommodation Service, based at the Student Union. Contact the Private Sector Accommodation Service on 0116 223 1180. The Student Union:
The Student Union is the life and soul of your student life at the University of Leicester. Your years at university will shape the rest of your life and the Student Union will help you make the most of them.
The Union or the Percy Gee Building (as its affectionately known) is at the hub of campus life.
They provide entertainment and leisure facilities, academic and welfare advice and help with your accommodation as well as other services. When you enrol at the University of Leicester, you automatically become a member of the Student Union. Being your union, it needs your involvement to make it work.
You can get more involved in the Union by joining societies or sports teams or even standing for a position on a committee or even becoming part of the Union Council itself.
For more information on your stay in Leicester, go to 'see also' at the top of this page.
Return to Leicester University index | 
