The Towers - Your bog standard accommodation, six towers sub-divided into self catering flats of 14 to 16 people. Although these are 60's in origin, the tall black towers are quite striking and almost look smart. Reasonable at the price of £53.83 per week. However, the rooms are small and some describe them as crap but most say that The Towers is the easiest place to meet people.
South Courts - excellent accommodation with spacious bedrooms and ensuite bathrooms. There are also 4 rooms for wheelchair access. Quality reflected in the price, £78.68 per week and can be let for 39 or 50 weeks.
The Houses - Perfectly adequate, modern buildings all with ensuite rooms and some rooms adapted for wheelchair access. The small minority of Houses off campus do not have ensuite facilities. £65 per week.
University Quays - Brand new and winner of the 2004 Colchester 2020 and Royal Institute of Architects award for best new contemporary building. This residence is situated close to the Colne estuary, yet easy walking distance from campus and the shops. The Quays development continues to expand, but is definately the place to be. All flats are en-suite with most flats consisting of eight rooms and a modern shared kitchen. £78.68 per week.
Other accommodation includes Wolfson Court, which is on campus and Avon Way, which is off-campus.
All of the accommodation now has phone/internet access. About 60% of students are located on or very near campus - which is pretty good by national standards.
Here's a comment from someone living in Towers that should help:
OK, I live in a south tower. There are 16 of us (on one floor). We have an enormous kitchen and living area. (No sofa though :P) Anyway, the flat is split into two sections either side of the kitchen. (8 one side and 8 the other) The rooms are quite big (subjective info there). You get a bed, desk and chair, big comfy chair, wardrobe (not bad size), small chest of draws and some shelves. Oh and a phone. There also a plug for the internet. Oh and a lamp. And a bin. There are two windows in each room that go from floor to ceiling. There is 2 toilets both side (equals 4 toilets) and 1 shower each time (I know you won’t believe me but there’s no queue for the shower) There is space for all your junk under the bed and on top of the wardrobe. And you can move the room around (so long as you don’t move the bed in front of the door or whatever.
There is only on bad thing about the towers and that’s that it can get a bit nosey sometimes but there’s always something going on and a party and life somewhere. If your one who wants to just sit in your room quietly then try the south courts. :P And there is a lovely view from all directions…
There are also student tutors (4 for 16 floors) and two senior student tutors (that live at the top of the tower). So you might have a 3rd year living with you. It’s so much fun! They know like everyone… Hehehe. If you really hate your flatmates then you can move if you find someone to move into your flat. (Or be happy like me and laugh every night until 2am)
