Short-term accommodation options

Most halls only offer long-term accommodation to students, with contracts from 40 to 51 weeks. However a number of options are available should your stay be shorter:

• Homestay (Host Family) Accommodation: Homestay offers the opportunity to live with a UK family for a short period of time.
• University of London Visitor Accommodation: The University of London offers a range of great value holiday and short-term accommodation in unbeatable central London locations.
• UNITE - Semester stay: UNITE offers the opportunity of a short-term stay in one of their student halls.

Accommodation options outside of term time

Over the summer, most halls of residence operate as bed and breakfast accommodation which is available to members of the public. This would be advertised on the organisation's website - please visit Unite and other private halls.

It is possible for full-time students to apply for rooms in University of London Student Homes that become available after the academic year has started and are advertised as open to all University of London students. Through this scheme the University of London offer rooms in shared accommodation. You would become a tenant of the University of London and would be required to have a guarantor. Birkbeck cannot act as a guarantor for this scheme.

Stay with a family

If you are an international student staying in the UK over Christmas or if you live in a hall of residence and want to experience living with a family then take a look at HostUK. HostUK is a voluntary organisation with a network of UK residents who welcome international students to their homes for a weekend or Christmas.