Find out everything you need to know about moving into UCL accommodation, from what to bring with you to how to connect to Wi-Fi.
On this page | |
---|---|
Before you arrive | Support |
Checking in | FAQs |
Settling in | Related links |
Before you arrive
- What’s provided
The following items are standard in all study bedrooms:
- carpet
- curtains
- wardrobe
- desk/table
- desk chair
- bed (including mattress)
- mattress cover
- wastepaper bin
- light shade/cover
Additionally, the following items are provided in some of the study bedrooms:
- notice board
- extra chair
- chest of drawers
- bedside cabinet
- under bed storage
- washbasin
- shaving light mirror
- What to bring
For UCL Accommodation, you will need to bring
- bed linen
- towels
- toiletries
- cooking utensils
- crockery
- glassware
- toilet roll
You can purchase bedroom, bathroom and kitchen packs as well as many individual items from UniKitOut. They will be delivered to your hall and you can pick them up when you move in. Be sure to check out the specified cut off dates so that you don't order too late!
Kettles, toasters, cookers, refrigerators, freezers and microwaves are provided in UCL kitchens.
Irons and ironing boards are provided in some of the laundry rooms.
- What not to bring
The following items are prohibited in UCL Accommodation. It is considered a disciplinary offence to have these items in your accommodation. Prohibited items found will be removed and held until you move out.
- Portable heating equipment or humidifiers
- Candles, incense sticks, oil lamps, fragrance burners
- Smoking, e-cigarettes, hookah or shisha pipes, Nitrous Oxide (laughing gas)
- Fairy lights (only battery operated are allowed)
- BBQs or fireworks
- Dartboards and ball games
- Non-fused and cubed adaptors
- Weapons
Use of cooking equipment in your room is also prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to, toasters, kettles, microwaves, rice cookers, hotplates, steamers and sandwich makers. Refrigerators are also not allowed in rooms, unless a specific medical condition requires you to have one. Kettles and microwaves are provided by UCL Accommodation so please don't bring your own.
If you would like to request permission to have a refrigerator in your room on medical grounds you must contact the UCL Student Disability Services prior to your arrival.
Further information on prohibited items are available in the General Regulations 2022/23.
- Get a bedding pack
You can purchase a bed linen pack from UniKitOut which you can pick up from your hall when you move in. Prices start from £46 and packs include a duvet, pillow, duvet cover, pillowcase and sheet. UniKitOut also sells bathroom and kitchen packs, as well as many individual items.
YouTube Widget Placeholderhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nA23TZWp1Dc
- Complete your online induction
You need to complete your online induction before you move in to UCL accommodation. This can be found on the UCL Accommodation Portal and will be available to you 1 week before arrival.
Checking In
- Book your arrival timeslot
You must pre-book a time slot in advance of your planned arrival date via the Accommodation Portal.
- You must book a timeslot at least 3 working days in advance.
- If you become unable to attend your initial booked time slot, you will be able to cancel or rebook it through the Accommodation Portal. Please give as much notice as possible to give others the opportunity to take the original slot.
- Once your slot has been booked, you will receive a confirmation email with a link to further information about the check-in process.
If you wish to arrive before your contract start date, you must complete an Early Arrival Request. Please do not book any travel until we have confirmed your Early Arrival Request. You will be invoiced for the additional night(s) after you arrive. The charge applies regardless of the reason for the early arrival.
If you will be arriving after your contract start date, you must submit a Late Arrival Notification on the Accommodation Portal. Once you have logged in, please select check-in on the top tab.Please note that you will be charged accommodation fees from your contract start date.
- Planning your journey
Check in advance the best way to get to your accommodation from the airport. You might want to consider travelling at off-peak times, using quieter stations and booking tickets in advance or paying by contactless if you can. Download the UCL Go! App or Citymapper, that provide detailed instructions on how to get to your destination using public transport. Both are available for iPhone and Android.
If you are arriving by car, be aware of the parking restrictions surrounding UCL halls. Arriving on a Sunday will give you the best chance of finding parking if you’re arriving by car. To find out more, visit our Instagram or Facebook pages.
- Your check in experience
- There will be ambassadors and staff on hand to help guide you on your arrival.
- If you have made us aware of additional requirements in your application, your hall team will be made aware.
- Your identity will be checked before being provided with your check-in pack. This can be any photographic national or institutional identity document, including; your UCL student card, passport or driver’s licence. You may be asked to briefly remove your mask to confirm your identity.
- Once you have checked-in and been given your keys, you will be asked to take your belongings to your room.
- You will not be allowed to leave any belongings in the reception area. There will be trolleys available to use to take your things to your room.
Settling in
- Complete your inventory
You’ll find the inventory form online on the Accommodation Portal under the Room Condition section. Please complete this within your first 48 hours of having moved into your hall. It’s important to check your inventory thoroughly. Record anything that seems missing or damaged, otherwise you may be charged for it at the end of the year.
- Log on to Wi-Fi
Log on to Wi-Fi (Eduroam) using your UCL ID (ucluserid@ucl.ac.uk) and password. Prior to enrolment, students can use The Cloud network to access the internet in halls. If you have any problems with Eduroam, call the Information Services Department (ISD) on +44 (0)20 7679 5000 or email servicedesk@ucl.ac.uk
- Go to Freshers’ events
There are ISOP and Welcome Week events to suit everyone’s interests - you can find details of the events on the Welcome to UCL app. Students’ Union UCL also organises the Welcome Fair at the end of Welcome Week. It brings together more than 250 clubs and societies, commercial stalls, music and entertainment. It’s a great opportunity to sign up to a club or society.
- Get a UCL student ID card
You will be issued with a UCL student ID card when you enrol - make sure to bring a form of personal ID (e.g. bank card, driving licence) with you. If you need a replacement ID, bring a form of personal ID to the Security Office in the Andrew Huxley Building in the South Quad of UCL’s Bloomsbury Campus.
- Get your UCL email address
You’ll need your UCL user ID and password that was set up as part of pre-enrolment. If you have any access issues, contact the ISD. All information from your department and central UCL teams will be sent to your UCL email account, so it’s important to check it often.
- Set up a bank account
If you don’t have a UK bank account, opening one is a good idea to manage your money more easily and safely. We strongly advise against carrying large amounts of cash or keeping money in your room. Some banks will be present on campus at the start of term to help you open a bank account. When opening an account, you’ll need a letter from UCL confirming your student status. This may be collected from the Student Centre. You will also need a letter confirming your current hall’s address from the Student Centre or hall reception, as well as your ID.
- Register with a doctor
Registering for local health services is one of the first things you should do. As a UCL student, you’re advised to register with UCL’s partner health clinic, Ridgmount Practice.
- Get a TV licence
If you want to bring your own TV or use streaming services like iPlayer, then you will need your own TV licence. You won’t be covered by the licence in your hall, or by a licence held at your home address, if you are viewing in your room.
- Collect your post
Normal letters are delivered to your post box. Registered post or large parcels are kept in reception. You will be notified by a card in your post box and a post list in reception. You’ll need your UCL ID to collect any post.
- Get your Oyster card
We recommend you don’t bring a car to UCL. You can pay for public transport with a contactless bank card or Oyster card. If you’re aged 16-25 (or if you’re over 25 on a full-time education programme lasting at least 20 weeks), you’re eligible for a 16-25 Railcard, which gives you 1/3 discount on rail travel across the UK and you can link this card to your Oyster to get a 34% discount on single off-peak pay as you go fares on London Underground and Docklands Light Railway (DLR) services.
Many students are eligible for the 18+ Student Oyster photocard. This replaces the standard Oyster card and gives you a 30% discount off the price of adult-rate Travelcards and Bus & Tram Pass season tickets. If you use public transport regularly, an 18+ Student Oyster photocard is highly recommended. A Student Oyster card costs £20, so may not be worth it if you rarely use public transport.
Support
- Who do I contact about any maintenance problems?
To report a maintenance issue:
- Log in to the Accommodation Portal
- Choose 'Report a problem' from the top menu
- Select the correct category and item fields, and add further information about the situation to the ticket
- Click submit
You’ll find your hall team at reception, 8:30am-6:30pm, Monday to Friday (excluding bank/university holidays). They take care of day-to-day management of our halls. Out of hours, you can call the duty mobile phone number to report any issues.
- Who can I talk to about any wellbeing or welfare issues?
Student Residence Advisers (SRAs) are postgraduate students who live in your hall who are here for your well-being and welfare, whether it’s a specific issue or you just want to chat. SRAs can be contacted through the local hall office. If you have an emergency out of hours (6:30pm to 8:30am, and all day and night at weekends) use the ‘duty mobile’ number for your halls.
FAQs
- Can I swap rooms if I don’t like my current room?
If you would like to move to a different room, you can put your name on our room swap list. We’ll try to match you with a student who also wants to move rooms, but cannot guarantee it will be possible. The swap list will open after the first 2 weeks of term.
- Who will I be living with?
We cannot share details of your flatmates with you prior to arrival due to data protection laws. You will meet them on your check-in day.
- Can I have visitors to stay in my room?
You’re welcome to have friends and family stay over. During the day, you can have multiple guests. Overnight guests can stay for a maximum of seven nights in a calendar month.
Guests will need to be signed in and out. For everyone’s security, please notify your Hall team in advance of any visitors.