Applications for accommodation in partner halls of residence for the academic year 2023/24 are now closed.
Eligibility criteria
You must have accepted an unconditional offer to study at Birkbeck on a full-time course to apply.
Only first year students starting a course in 2023-24, for the full academic year, can apply for a space in a partner hall.
Priority will be given to international students studying in the UK for the first time and students from outside the M25.
Students under 18, prior to 17 September 2023, will be allocated space at College Hall, depending on availability.
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:
Applications are open until 11 August 2023. We may close applications earlier if all places are allocated before the deadline.
How to apply
Eligible students can access the application form on their My Birkbeck account, under 'My Services'.
Accommodation offers will be sent out from the end of May 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, who will be required to accept or decline the offer. If you miss the deadline to respond, your offer will be withdrawn.
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.
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.