Once you have firmly accepted a conditional or unconditional offer from the RAU as your first choice, you may apply for accommodation.

Please note that at this time the RAU online accommodation portal for 2026-27 is undergoing development and is not currently available.

If you wish to make a reservation in advance of the portal opening please send an email to accommodation@rau.ac.uk  with the following information:

  • Full name of student and student number
  • Contact email address
  • First room preference
  • Second room preference
  • Third room preference
  • Any additional information such as dietary/accessibility/medical requirements

This information will be logged onto the Accommodation records and your reservation will remain in place for 10 working days after the portal is opened.

How to apply

We are really pleased that you wish to join us at the Royal Agricultural University this September. Living on campus is a great way to meet fellow students and enjoy an independent living experience in the Cotswolds.

We are currently moving our RAU application system to a new platform which will be operational later in the summer, therefore we are currently unable to take online application submissions in the usual way.

However, if you have accepted the RAU as your Firm choice, you should receive an RAU accommodation application form via email, week commencing 27 April 2026.

On receipt, please complete your RAU accommodation application submission within 10 days of receipt to secure your preferences.

This takes the place of the online system until it goes live later in the Summer.

If you have already sent us reservation information, please complete this form to confirm and secure your application information within 10 days of receipt. Your initial contact date will remain on record.

Room offers, contract and payment details will be sent out in August.

Please contact accommodatio@rau.ac.uk if you have any queries.

Your application submission will be processed by the Accommodation Team and you will receive your provisional room offer and accommodation contract. Once you complete the following you will receive confirmation of your application completion:

  • Read all Terms and Conditions carefully before accepting the offer
  • You will be required to pay a deposit of £300
  • Set up your Payment plan in order to fully secure your room

If you are under 18 and wish to apply for accommodation on campus please contact accommodation@rau.ac.uk and we will send you an RAU Parental Declaration form.

International students will need to pay the accommodation fees in full before 1 September 2026.

Applications are dealt with on a first-come first-served basis so to ensure that you get the room of your choice you will need to apply as early as possible. It is important that you read through the Terms and Conditions of your residence when applying as they form part of your legally binding agreement.

If you have already emailed your preferences to the Accommodation Team: 

If you have already sent us reservation information, please complete this form to confirm and secure your application information within 10 days of receipt.

Please be assured that your preferences have been recorded in date order in our system.  If you have accepted the RAU as your Firm choice, you will receive an RAU accommodation application form via email, week commencing 27 April 2026.

Once your application submission has been received and processed by the Accommodation Team, you will receive your provisional room offer, accommodation contract and payment instructions in August.  You will need to accept or decline your room offer within 10 days of receipt.

If you accept your university residence, the contract will be for a minimum of one full academic year. 

If you fail to meet the necessary requirements, please inform accommodation@rau.ac.uk as soon as possible, and you will be released from your contract and your deposit will be refunded.

For Academic year 2026-27 we are now also able to offer postgraduate students short term stays on a ‘room only’ basis in our Main Building. Catered rooms are available for those staying over three weeks. These rooms are subject to availability so please contact shortstay@rau.ac.uk regarding any queries, in advance of your proposed dates.

We can also help you find accommodation in Cirencester and the surrounding area. For more information, please email us at accommodation@rau.ac.uk.