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Accommodation for full-time students

Intercollegiate Halls

Applications for student accommodation in Intercollegiate Halls of residence for the academic year 2024/25 are now open.  

  • Eligibility criteria
    • You must have accepted your offer to study at Birkbeck on a full-time course to apply.
    • You must be a first-year student starting a course in September 2024, for the full academic year.
    • Priority will be given to international students studying in the UK for the first time and students from outside London (the M25).
    • Students under 18, prior to 15 September 2024, can only apply for accommodation at the College Hall and Nutford House.
    • Demand for nominated rooms usually exceeds supply. Therefore, we cannot guarantee that every applicant will be offered a room. We advise applicants to also look into alternative accommodation options in London as early as possible. The UoL Housing Services offers a Private Housing Guide and free advice on private rental.
  • Students will be able to apply via Birkbeck for rooms in the following University of London Intercollegiate Halls:
  • When to apply
    • Applications are open until 20 August 2024. We may close applications earlier if all places are allocated before the deadline.  
  • How to apply
    • Intercollegiate Halls rooms are offered to Birkbeck students by the University of London through the quota system. You need to apply for rooms through the Birkbeck quota. 
    • Eligible students need to submit room applications via their My Birkbeck account, under 'My Services'.
    • Accommodation offers will be sent out from April until 30 August. We are unable to assess and allocate rooms all at once, so we kindly ask you to bear with us and be patient.
  • Only one offer of accommodation will be made to successful applicants, and we are unable to change room types after the offer has been sent out. You will be required to accept or decline the offer. If you miss the deadline to respond, your offer will be withdrawn.
  • If your application is unsuccessful with Birkbeck, you can also register for the Intercollegiate Halls’ waiting list from 22 August to apply for rooms with University of London directly.
  • If you have medical conditions that require special arrangements, please contact us via ASK and select 'accommodation' query category, so we can assist you. 

Other University of London halls

  • If you are interested in intercollegiate rooms that are not part of Birkbeck's quota, or if you don’t meet the eligibility criteria to apply for a room via Birkbeck, you can apply directly to the University of London Accommodation portal for space at in the intercollegiate halls. Applications are open and dealt with on a first-come-first-served basis. For information on the process, please visit the University of London website and scroll down to direct bookings.
  • In early September, all intercollegiate rooms that haven't been filled by colleges via the quota system will be released for direct booking on the University of London Accommodation portal. Please note, however, that there is no guarantee which accommodation is going to be available and it is a first-come, first-served process managed by the University of London Accommodation.

Independent halls of residence

  • London has a variety of independent halls of residence, not-for-profit and commercial, offering a large range of accommodation from dorms to flats.
  • You must apply directly to the halls for a space. Applications are usually dealt with on a first-come-first-served basis.
  • Applications are open to all full-time students (new and returning students). A small number of providers accept part-time students. You can stay in private or charity-run halls of residence as long as you are a student.

University of London's apartments

  • Located in Bloomsbury, these University of London-owned apartments offer a great alternative to halls of residence for students who would like more independence and focus. 
  • The flats are self-catered and fully-furnished.
  • (PMU) for more information.
  • There is no formal application process and spaces are allocated on a first-come-first-served basis.

Help with private accommodation

  • Birkbeck students have full access to the University of London’s Housing Services (ULHS), the University of London's dedicated Private Housing Service, which offers a range of services to assist and support students who are looking for and living in private accommodation. 
  • Online database
    • You can search for accommodation on the online property database with offers of accommodation from registered landlords, lettings agents, private halls and other providers of private accommodation.
  • Events
    • ULHS run a selection of events for students, landlords and those working in student accommodation. This includes housing talks and advice sessions, training courses and forums, flatmate finder events and the annual Housing Fair in May, which supports students who are searching for private accommodation for the following academic year. 
  • Contract checking
    • ULHS offers a contract checking service for students to use before they sign their contract for private accommodation. They provide guidance on what to look out for and to do when you are renting privately and check the contract for unfair clauses, which may cause you problems in your accommodation. Read more on the ULHS Get Advice section.
  • Legal advice
    • ULHS' experienced Housing Advice Team is dedicated to supporting students who experience problems in private accommodation and offers advice on a range of issues including deposit disputes and repairs.
  • Private Housing Guide
    • The Private Housing Guide will give you further information on the different types of accommodation, how much you can expect to pay and what you need to know before you start your search.
  • Flatmate Finder on Facebook