Where it ranks in the Unifresher Rankings 2027, what it’s really like to study there, and what halls and living costs look like.
The University of Suffolk is a small, young university on the Waterfront in Ipswich, Suffolk's county town. The campus is a short walk from the town centre and the station, and the marina area around it is packed with bars and cafés. Most undergraduate courses use 'block and blend' teaching, so you focus on one module at a time.
It's a good fit if you want small classes and a calmer pace, with the coast, countryside, Cambridge and London all within reach. It isn't a big party university, though, and the university doesn't own any halls. You book directly with private providers, including Athena Hall on campus.
Known for
The University of Suffolk is 113th out of 124 UK universities in the Unifresher Rankings 2027, with an overall score of 37.2, below the UK median of 48.5. Our rankings are built around the student experience, combining employability, freshers experience, happiness, nightlife, sustainability, inclusion, innovation and societies. That means big research names don’t automatically top the table. See how we score universities.
Marker shows the UK median across all ranked universities.
| Rank | University | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 111 | University of the West of Scotland | 37.9 |
| 112 | Newman University | 37.3 |
| 113 | University of Suffolk | 37.2 |
| 114 | SOAS University of London | 37 |
| 115 | University of Central Lancashire | 36.9 |
Each award ranks all 124 universities on one part of student life. Click through for the full table.
21st of 124 · Affordability Score 66.1
54th of 124 · Safety Score 45.4
62nd of 124 · Wellbeing Score 51.3
64th of 124 · Freshers Score 54.7
65th of 123 · Happiness Score 45.9
78th of 122 · Careers Score 27.6
85th of 124 · Employability Score 26
92nd of 124 · Nightlife Score 39.8
94th of 124 · Value Score 38.2
95th of 124 · Societies Score 42.4
95th of 124 · Balance Score 36.9
99th of 124 · Social Score 41.4
114th of 124 · Inclusion Score 32.5
117th of 124 · Sustainability Score 24.9
122nd of 124 · Innovation Score 25.2
Ipswich as a student city
Ranked 40th of 72 UK university cities in our Best University Cities 2027 ranking, with a score of 50.9.
The University of Suffolk appears in 21 of our subject league tables. Here’s where it places in each, best first.
| Subject | Rank | Table size | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Photography | 5th | of 44 | 109 |
| Radiography | 6th | of 29 | 86 |
| Fine Art | 22nd | of 58 | 125 |
| Midwifery | 21st | of 54 | 94 |
| Criminology | 40th | of 94 | 142 |
| Graphic Design | 29th | of 68 | 122 |
| Physiotherapy | 21st | of 49 | 99 |
| Nursing | 39th | of 85 | 126 |
| Pharmacy | 15th | of 32 | 72 |
| Psychology | 54th | of 108 | 129 |
| Subject | Rank | Table size | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sociology | 44th | of 86 | 130 |
| Computer Science | 53rd | of 102 | 136 |
| Biology | 27th | of 51 | 83 |
| Film Production | 49th | of 87 | 130 |
| Biomedical Science | 53rd | of 93 | 99 |
| Business and Management | 65th | of 114 | 129 |
| Social Work | 39th | of 67 | 118 |
| Sports Science | 46th | of 78 | 101 |
| Teaching | 49th | of 79 | 95 |
| History | 49th | of 76 | 85 |
| Primary Education | 42nd | of 59 | 85 |
Subject tables compare universities on graduate earnings, student satisfaction, teaching quality and academic support. Scores aren’t comparable between subjects.
Student life centres on the Waterfront, where campus sits among independent bars, bistro pubs, cafés and restaurants. The town centre, Cardinal Park leisure complex and Portman Road (home of Ipswich Town) are a short walk away. The Students' Union runs societies, social sport and BUCS teams, plus events like pub golf, a duck hunt and the Reclaim the Night march. Athena Hall has an SU gym on its ground floor. For more, Suffolk's coast and beaches are close, and Cambridge and London are reachable by train.
University halls cost £139–£215 per week (2026/27, all bills and Wi-Fi included; tenancies of 44–51 weeks) (2026/27 prices).
First-year accommodation guarantee
There's no accommodation guarantee. The university says it doesn't own or manage any of the accommodation it recommends; instead it accredits local landlords and lists their rooms. You book directly with the provider. It advises September starters to apply by the end of June if they want a room in Athena Hall, the on-campus hall. If that's full, the Student Centre can point you to accredited off-campus options within walking distance. International students must live within 70 miles of the Ipswich campus.
| Hall | Area | Rooms | From | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Athena Hall (Bronze) | Ipswich Waterfront (on campus) | en-suite | £139/wk | The on-campus hall: 590 beds in 4–7-bedroom cluster flats, 300 m from the Waterfront Building. Privately owned and managed (by Collegiate AC). Bronze rooms are the smallest: £139 a week on a 51-week tenancy or £157 on 44 weeks. Contents insurance is included; the deposit is a £100 reservation fee. |
| 75 Grimwade Street | Next to the north end of campus | en-suite | £140/wk | A small, purpose-built block of 49 en-suite rooms, a 3-minute walk from the Waterfront Building. Bronze £140–£145 and Silver £150–£155 a week (51 or 48 weeks). Managed by Amigo Living. There's a £400 deposit. |
| Ormonde House | Christchurch Park (about 20 minutes' walk from campus) | en-suite and shared-shower mix | £150/wk | A renovated Victorian house with 16 rooms overlooking Christchurch Park, run as a designated quiet, party-free house. Rooms cost £150–£172.50 a week, and there's a garden and limited parking. |
| Athena Hall (Silver and Gold) | Ipswich Waterfront (on campus) | en-suite (larger room) | £168/wk | Medium (Silver) and largest (Gold) en-suite rooms: Silver £168–£173 and Gold £169–£183 a week, depending on 51 or 44 weeks. |
| Athena Hall (Studio) | Ipswich Waterfront (on campus) | studio | £215/wk | Studios with a double bed and kitchenette, offered to mature students or couples. £215 a week on either tenancy length. |
Prices are the university’s published weekly starting prices and can change. Always check the official accommodation site before applying.
Right by campus and the marina, with bars and cafés on your doorstep.
About 10 minutes' walk from campus, with the main shops and nightlife.
Quieter and leafier, on the far side of the town centre, around 20 minutes' walk from campus.
Top tip
Start looking once you hold an offer. Landlords usually take September bookings from the November before, and the university advises booking Athena Hall before the end of June. You book directly with the provider, so read the tenancy, cancellation policy and deposit terms first. Check whether you need a UK guarantor. Accredited private houses are listed on Suffolk Studentpad.
The university doesn't publish an overall living-cost estimate. Rent is the biggest cost: accredited halls run from £139 to £215 a week for 2026/27, with bills and Wi-Fi included. A Bronze room in Athena Hall on a 51-week tenancy works out at about £7,089 for the year. Laundry in Athena Hall is extra. For a benchmark, UKVI asks international students to show £1,171 a month for living costs outside London.
Getting around
Ipswich is compact, and most students walk. The Waterfront campus is about 10 minutes from the town centre and 15–20 minutes from Ipswich station, where Greater Anglia trains run to London and Cambridge. Ipswich Buses and a Park and Ride serve the town. Single bus fares in England are capped at £3 until at least March 2027. Campus parking is permit-only.
Weighing up your options? Here’s how nearby universities compare in the Unifresher Rankings 2027.
The University of Suffolk is 113th out of 124 UK universities in the Unifresher Rankings 2027, with an overall score of 37.2. Its strongest results are for affordability (21st).
No. The university doesn't own or manage any accommodation. It accredits local landlords and recommends their properties, and you book directly with them. To get a room in Athena Hall, the on-campus hall, apply before the end of June.
For 2026/27, en-suite rooms cost £139–£173 a week on a 51-week tenancy and £157–£183 on a 44-week tenancy, depending on room size (Bronze, Silver or Gold). Studios are £215 a week. Bills, Wi-Fi and contents insurance are included, and there's a £100 reservation fee.
Most undergraduate courses at Suffolk are taught one module at a time in blocks, rather than several modules side by side. The university says it lets you focus on one subject at a time and study in a way that suits you.
On the Ipswich Waterfront, with the Waterfront Building on Neptune Quay as its hub. The town centre is about a 10-minute walk away and Ipswich station 15–20 minutes. Suffolk degrees are also taught at partner colleges, including Suffolk New College in Ipswich and East Coast College in Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth.
Yes. Ipswich station is a 15–20-minute walk from campus, with Greater Anglia trains to London and Cambridge. That's handy for weekends, part-time work or trips home.
The Waterfront itself has independent bars, pubs, cafés and restaurants. The town centre, Cardinal Park leisure complex and Portman Road (home of Ipswich Town) are all walkable. The Students' Union runs societies, social sport and BUCS teams. Suffolk's coast and countryside are close for days out.
About this guide. Rankings data comes from the Unifresher Rankings 2027 (methodology). Facts, hall prices and costs come from the university and official sources listed below. Last updated 23 October 2026.
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