Affordable Rooms
For the 2026-27 academic year and for the first time in UCL’s portfolio, there will be a total of 572 London Plan Affordable (LPA) affordable rooms.
What we’re offering
A total of 572 London Plan Affordable (LPA) affordable rooms will be available for 2026-27 academic year. These rooms are priced at approximately £200 per week, providing high‑quality accommodation for students from low household‑income backgrounds.
443 affordable rooms will be available at urbanest Canary Wharf, consisting of 185 affordable single ensuites and 248 affordable singles. In addition, UCL has 139 affordable single ensuites available at Venti House (Fresh).
Eligibility and evidence requirements
New first year home and international undergraduate students who meet household income criteria will be able to apply for an affordable room.
For home undergraduate students, you will be required to upload at least one of the following:
- confirmation from your local Student Finance authority of your maintenance loan amount as evidence that your household income is below £42,875 per annum.
- Prior means-tested bursary award letter from your school or previous institution.
- evidence of free school meals.
For international undergraduate students, you will be required to tell us about your household income. You will be required to confirm:
- How are you funding your studies?
- How much is your household income per annum? The household income must be under the equivalent of £42,875 per annum.
- How many dependents are supported by your household income?
For international undergraduate students, you are also required to upload:
- An officially translated version of your most recent household tax return. Tax years can differ by country, so please use the last completed tax year applicable to your home country.
Affordable rooms exception groups
Students who are estranged, care experienced or have a forced migrant status will qualify to apply for an affordable room.
An estranged student is aged 25 or under and has been classified as an independent student. Estranged means that you no longer have contact with your parents or legal guardians due to a permanent breakdown in your relationship. This might mean that your biological, step or adoptive parents, or wider family members are no longer responsible for supporting you. This does not include choosing to live away from your family during your studies or studying abroad.
For estranged students, the requirement will be to upload at least one of the following:
- If your estranged status has been verified by the Access UCL team, upload a copy of your confirmation email from the Access UCL team verifying your estranged status.
- If your estranged status has not been verified by the Access UCL team (or you are unsure) upload a letter on headed paper from your teacher or safeguarding lead at school or college confirming that you are estranged, or a letter on headed paper from Student Finance confirming that you have been assessed as an independent student on the basis of estrangement.
A care experienced student has been in the care of, or been given accommodation by, their local authority (LA) for a period of at least 13 weeks before the age of 16 and hasn’t reconciled with their parents between leaving care and starting their course.
For care experienced students, the requirement will be to upload at least one of the following:
- If your care experienced status has been verified by the Access UCL team upload a copy of your confirmation email from the Access UCL team verifying your care experienced status.
- If your status has not been verified by the Access UCL team (or you are unsure) upload a letter on headed paper from your local authority confirming that you are a statutory care leaver or care experienced or a letter on headed paper from Student Finance confirming that you are in receipt of funds for care leavers.
UCL use the term 'forced migrant' to mean one of the following:
- Refugee
- Asylum seeker
- Those who have been granted a temporary form of leave as the result of an asylum or human rights application (e.g. limited leave to remain, discretionary leave to remain, humanitarian protection, UASC leave)
For forced migrant students, the requirement will be to upload at least one of the following:
- a copy of your Biometric Permanent Residence card (BRP) which shows your status
- a copy of your Application Registration Card (ARC)
- If you do not have the required evidence available, official documentation you may have from the Home Office which outlines your immigration status in the UK.
How to apply and receive an offer
- Applications for affordable rooms will open in March of the year of entry.
- Applicants applying for an affordable room will be required to upload evidence as part of the application process. Evidence upload will be a mandatory step.
- Applications are assessed in order of when submitted.
- Eligibility for an affordable room does not guarantee an affordable room, as places are allocated based on availability.
- Affordable Rooms will be offered for a 39-week contract length at Venti House and at urbanest Canary Wharf, for both 40 weeks and 51-week contract lengths.
- Successful applicants will receive an offer of an affordable room at Venti House or urbanest Canary Wharf only.
To accept the offer:
- For urbanest Canary Wharf: Within 7 days of receiving the accommodation offer email, applicants will be required to accept the accommodation offer via the UCL Accommodation Portal. The £400 pre-payment requirement will be waived.
- For Venti House: successful applicants will be contacted directly by Venti House. A deposit of £150 will be required to confirm your place with Venti House, which will be applied against your first invoice.
Learn more about the two halls
urbanest Canary Wharf
A brand-new self‑catered hall for new and current students with 1,672 beds across two towers. Room types include single, ensuite, duplex ensuite and studio. Affordable and accessible rooms available.
Venti House
A brand-new self-catered hall for undergraduates in Stratford with 139 Affordable classic ensuites.
Contact us
If you have a question about your application or allocation, our team is here to help.
You can contact us by phone Monday to Friday, between 11am–1pm and 2pm–4pm. Alternatively, you’re welcome to speak to us in person at the Admissions Hub on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10am–4pm.
Admissions Hub
Chadwick Building, Room G02
Gower Street, WC1E 6BT
