About Portsmouth
Portsmouth is located on Hampshier’s southern coast, in the south of England. It attracts students thanks to its prestigious University of Portsmouth, its good post-graduation job opportunities, its coastal lifestyle and history, and its good transportation network. The city has 4,000 international students studying at the University of Portsmouth alone as of 2023, which makes up 20% of the total student population.
Popular Student Accommodation Areas in Portsmouth
Portsmouth is divided into North and South and has 14 wards. Geographically, it is divided into the areas of Portsea Island and mainland Portsmouth.
Popular Portsmouth areas include Gunwharf Quays, Southsea, and Old Portsmouth.
1. Students living in Gunwharf Quays will be near the University of Portsmouth, and purposely-built accommodation would cost around £400-£1,000/month.
Travel time from Gunwharf Quays to the city centre by different modes of transportation:
Bus - Seven-minutes (avg.)
Taxi - Five-minutes (avg.)
Walking - 20-minutes (avg.)
2. Students living in Southsea pay approximately £400-£1200 /month. Nearby universities include the University of Portsmouth
Travel time from Southsea to the City Centre by different modes of transportation:
Bus - 15-minutes (avg.)
Taxi - 10-minutes (avg.)
Walking - 45-minutes
3. Students living in Old Portsmouth would pay around £500-£1200/month. The nearest campus to this area is the University of Portsmouth.
Travel time from Old Portsmouth to the City Centre by different modes of transportation:
Bus - 10-15 minutes.
Taxi - 5-10 minutes
Walking - 30-minute (Avg.)
Best Student Accommodation in Portsmouth
Portsmouth has a vast choice of student room options in proximity to their colleges and budgets.
Popular student housing in Portsmouth include Collegiate Crown Place Portsmouth, Collegiate Middle Street, Portsmouth, Collegiate St James Street, Portsmouth, Stanley Studios, and Stanhope House, Portsmouth.
Discover Student Room Types in Portsmouth (Approx. £325 - £2,000/ month)
The purpose-built student accommodation in Portsmouth typically includes various amenities in the bills; it varies according to the provider's terms & conditions. But broadly, we suggest a student should consider budget, needs, and preferences while making decisions.
We have categorised the room types below based on preference and budget to help you in your decision-making. These are the following options:
Type 1: Affordable student rooms in Portsmouth:
These can cost as little as £300-£750 per month on average and are recommended for students who are comfortable sharing space. Typically, such properties are houses or apartments. Note that the provided costs are to be shared among tenants.
Twin room
Amenities: these often include two single beds, study areas, and storage spaces for two. They often have en-suite bathrooms. These also share social areas with flatmates, as well as the kitchen.
Gunwharf Quays avg. Rent: £550 - £750 / month
Southsea avg. Rent: £500 - £700/ month
Old Portsmouth. avg. Rent: £525 - £725 / month
Recommended Portsmouth student accommodation:
Triple rooms
Amenities: these often include three single beds, study areas, and storage spaces for three. They often share bathrooms. These also share social areas with flatmates, as well as the kitchen.
Gunwharf Quays avg. Rent: £450 - £650 / month
Southsea avg. Rent: £400-£600/month
Old Portsmouth. avg. Rent: £425-£625/month
Recommended Portsmouth student accommodation:
Quadruple rooms
Amenities: these often include four single beds, study areas, and storage spaces for two. They often share bathrooms. These also share social areas with flatmates, as well as the kitchen.
Gunwharf Quays avg. Rent: £350–£550/month
Southsea avg. Rent: £300 - £500 / month
Old Portsmouth. avg. Rent: £325 - £525 / month
Recommended Portsmouth student accommodation:
Type 2: Affordable student rooms in Portsmouth with privacy: These rooms cost around £450–£650 per month.
Student Single Room (non en-suite)
Amenities: Private bedroom, Shared bathroom, shared kitchen
Gunwharf Quays avg. Rent: £450 - £550 / month
Southsea avg. Rent: £400 - £500 / month
Old Portsmouth. avg. Rent: £425 - £525 / month
Recommended Portsmouth student accommodation:
Student Single Room (en-suite)
Amenities: Private bedroom, private bathroom, shared kitchen
Gunwharf Quays avg. Rent: £550 - £650 / month
Southsea avg. Rent: £500 - £600 / month
Old Portsmouth. avg. Rent: £525 - £625 / month
Recommended Portsmouth student accommodation: Greetham Street Unite, Portsmouth, Margaret Rule Hall Unite, Portsmouth, and Trafalgar Hall, Portsmouth.
Room Type 3: Portsmouth student rooms with privacy, quiet space, and proximity to the city centre cost £550–£1,250 (on average) per month.
Portsmouth Student Flats (One-bedroom)
Amenities: Private bedroom, private bathroom, private kitchen
Gunwharf Quays avg. Rent: £850–£1,350 /month
Southsea avg. Rent: £750–£1,150 / month
Old Portsmouth. avg. Rent: £800–£1,200 / month
Recommended Portsmouth student accommodation: Central & Cozy Modern, Private Kitchen & Bathroom.
Portsmouth student studio rooms
Amenities: Private bedroom, private bathroom, private kitchen
Gunwharf Quays avg. Rent: £700 - £1,100 / month
Southsea avg. Rent: £550 - £950 / month
Old Portsmouth. avg. Rent: £650 - £1,050 / month
Recommended Portsmouth student accommodation: Stanley Studios, Portsmouth, Greetham Street Unite, and Stanhope House, Portsmouth.
Room Type 4: Amenities over budget
- Student penthouses in Portsmouth cost from £1,250 to £2,000 per month. The median rent is £1,500 per month.
These are suitable for students who prefer private bedrooms, a private balcony, a terrace, privacy, spacious rooms, and a top floor over budget.
Cost of Living in Portsmouth for Students (Approx. £350 - £770)
It varies depending on students’ lifestyle choices, but overall, apart from your Portsmouth student accommodation rent, other expenses cannot be ignored. We have suggestions to help you save money while living in Portsmouth as a student:
Food: £150 - £250 /month on average.
Daily recommended budget: £5 - £8 per day.
Shop from grocery stores such as Lidl, Aldi, and Iceland (cheapest)
Transportation:£50 - £100 /month on average.
Get a Portsmouth & Southsea PlusBus monthly ticket for £49.50.
Ferry transport can cost anywhere from £49.50 to £118.40 per month.
You can also buy a second-hand bike, which can cost as little as £30 all the way up to £500+ (based on the bike type).
Kitchen Essentials: Market worth around £50 - £150
Only a few providers provide bedding packs to their tenants included in bills or as an offer. Otherwise, after move-in, students have to buy on their own.
Former students generally leave their kitchen essentials on the property while leaving the city due to airport luggage weight restrictions. You can find someone in your friend's circle and reuse the stuff.
Bedding Essentials: Market worth around £50 - £150
Only a few providers provide bedding packs to their tenants as part of their bills or as an offer. Otherwise, after move-in, students have to buy on their own.
Due to airport luggage weight restrictions, former students generally leave their bedding essentials on the property while leaving the city. You can find someone in your friend's circle and reuse the stuff.
Bathroom Essentials: Market worth around £30 - £70
While booking a student room, the focus remains on whether it has shared or private bathrooms, but forget about bathroom essentials. Student can check online where some websites provide at discounted prices from market prices.
Cleaning Essentials: Market worth around £20 - £50
