City planners turned down the £40m scheme last June arguing the developer has failed to demonstrate sufficient demand for the block which was over obtrusive.
The triangular building will provide for 534 student rooms offering a rooftop terrace on three upper levels.
The planning inspector judged the slender building would have a benefit to the area and could retain the Corten steel cladding that city planners criticised.
The inspector also found that the city’s existing pipeline of student accommodation projects was unlikely to meet demand over the next few years.