UK uni accomodation arrangements

I am a student from Europe applying to uk and currently waiting for answers from universities. Since I've never lived in the UK, I don't really understand how the system of accommodation and place to live for student works. I'm currently looking at what the universities I have applied to offer in accommodation arrangements and I have a question. Is is possible to live in a university accomodation with a person of my choice as I have heard it is mostly randomly allocated who your flatmates will be. So is there a way I can apply to live with someone I know ( my partner, we apply to all the same unis and would love to be able to live together)? What are our options? Thank you in advance to everyone!