Reducing energy consumption in buildings through behavioural changes has been regarded as a relatively low-cost and sustainable method. However, studies that focus on occupant building energy consumption in student residences are few. In the context of shared residences, the energy behaviour could be very different. This is because student-student and student-building system interactions are complex. To address this research gap, this study developed an agent-based simulation model regarding students as heterogeneous individuals. Simulation parameters include student basic information, status of staying at dormitories and applicances using behaviours. All data were obtained from a university campus in Shenzhen, China. Energy-saving scenarios under different strategies were simulated, including different energy-saving strategies and interaction behaviour energy-saving advertising. Results show that (1) occupancy is the most important factor for dormitory energy consumption; (2) reducing the time of air conditioner use has the largest impact on energy-saving; (3) reducing computer standby time has a great energy-saving potential; (4) students' attitude and awareness of energy conservation and the communication and exchange of energy information amongst students play an important role in energy saving. According to these results, the university can take measures to promote energy saving, which include strengthening education, establishing a energy saving championship system for dormitory energy consumption and implementing a reward-and-punishment mechanism.(C) 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.