The job forms part of the largest capital development by the University since the creation of the campus in the 1960s.
Over three years, several student blocks will be replaced with four new buildings and a series of town houses to create 800 new student rooms.
An extensive refurbishment programme will also be carried out under a separate long term programme of works.
The university plans three phases of construction in 2012/13, 2013/14 and 2014/15, each being around 12 months long with the new accommodation scheduled to completed in time for the start of the following academic session.