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Student moves

Most student moves are short and fall in two peaks: the end of the halls year in late June and July, and the start of term in mid September. A room of boxes and bedding fits a small van, and sharing one van between housemates splits the hourly rate.

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Illustration: a box and a desk lamp

What it costs and what it covers

Typical price. A studio or student move by man and van costs £150 to £320 outside London and takes 2 to 4 hours (Fantastic Services cost guide, September 2026). See the flat moves cost guide.

Typical jobs

  • Moving a first year's boxes, bedding and desk lamp from halls to a shared house in late June
  • Collecting three housemates' belongings from one house and dropping them at their home addresses
  • Taking a student's things from a family home to halls on the first day of the licence agreement
  • Moving a bed frame, mattress and boxes from one house share to another across the city in September
  • Taking a summer's worth of boxes to a storage unit between the end of halls and the start of a new tenancy

What is involved

University halls run on fixed licence dates, and moves bunch up around them. At the University of Manchester, agreements for 2026 to 2027 run 41 to 51 weeks, starting between 12 and 20 September 2026 and ending between 1 July and 11 September 2027 (checked October 2026). The university does not accept early arrival, and belongings left behind after the end date carry daily charges until the room is cleared. Other universities and private halls set their own dates, so read the agreement before booking a van.

Peaks follow those dates. Student house tenancies often start in July or September, so the weeks around the end of halls and the start of term are short, busy windows in university towns. August is also the busiest month for house moves in general, and has been for 14 years running (HomeOwners Alliance, August 2026). Book a week or two ahead for those weeks, and pick a weekday if your dates allow.

Halls to a house is about the smallest move a firm does: boxes, bags, bedding, a lamp, perhaps a desk chair. Compare the Man and Van's size guide lists a small van of 3 to 4 cubic metres for student moves, and Checkatrade lists student moves among jobs that suit one person and a van (both checked October 2026). A house share move with a bed frame, mattress or desk needs a medium van and a second pair of hands. Halls often have set loading areas and arrival slots, so ask the accommodation office where a van can stop.

Sharing a van works when housemates leave the same address on the same day. A medium van with the driver helping costs about £46 an hour in London (Compare the Man and Van, March 2026), so a three-hour job split three ways is around £46 each. Drops in different home towns add driving time to the shared bill. Self-drive hire is the other option: Compare the Man and Van gives £60 to £120 a day, plus £30 to £70 of fuel and a £200 to £250 deposit, with an insurance excess that can pass £1,500 (checked October 2026).

Choosing a firm

If a van is shared, agree the details for each person first: who pays the firm, how the time is split and the order of drops. Have everything in boxes or bags before the van arrives, since loose items and last-minute packing are paid for by the hour. Ask if the price includes a second person, or if the firm expects you to help carry.

Check the dates at both ends before booking: the halls end date and checkout time, and when keys are released at the new house. If there is a gap, ask whether the firm can hold your things overnight or take them to storage; MyJobQuote puts storage units at £50 to £150 a week (September 2026). The man and van page covers insurance and parking.

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Common questions

How much does a student man and van cost?

Fantastic Services prices a studio or student move at £150 to £320 outside London, taking 2 to 4 hours (September 2026). In London, Compare the Man and Van's typical small van job is £70 if you load it yourself and £92 for a medium van with the driver helping (March 2026).

When is the busiest time for student moves?

Late June to early July, when many halls agreements end, and mid September, when they start. University of Manchester agreements for 2026 to 2027 start between 12 and 20 September 2026 and end between 1 July and 11 September 2027. Book those weeks early.

Can housemates share a man and van?

Yes, and leaving one house on the same day keeps it cheap because you split one hourly bill. Separate drops in different towns add driving time. Agree the split before the day so nobody is surprised by the total.

Is it cheaper to hire a van myself for a student move?

Sometimes, for a short local move. Compare the Man and Van gives self-drive hire at £60 to £120 a day, plus £30 to £70 of fuel and a £200 to £250 deposit, with an insurance excess that can pass £1,500 (checked October 2026). A man and van includes the driver, fuel and help loading.

Firms offering student moves

494 firms on the site offer it. The busiest towns:

A few to start with

A spread of firms from the biggest towns, one from each.