Housing

You will be able to select your building, room and roommate via the Student Affairs website. The earlier you submit information requested by the London Office, the sooner you will be able to select your housing.

After you have selected your housing, the London office will approve your choice and will inform you via your personal page if your selection has been successful.

We will try our best to honour every housing selection we get, however, limited space and the random configurations of the buildings mean that the fulfillment of housing selection will not always be possible and cannot be guaranteed.

You will also have to submit a credit card number via the student affairs website, this information acts as a deposit. We will not charge your credit card unless damages occur within your room and flat.

There is also an additional supplement for single rooms. Please see charges below. If your single room request is approved your credit card will be charged.

Housing Deposits

Full Semester Rates

Grade I single $1000.00
Grade II single $800.00
Single bedroom $600.00

Half Semester Rates (Six week Summer programmes)
Grade I single $500.00
Grade II single $400.00
Single bedroom $300.00

The Grade I single refers to self contained flats, including ensuite bathroom and small kitchen unit, at Lexham Gardens and 123 Queensgate. Grade II singles are located in the Crofton, and provide ensuite private bathrooms and shared kitchens. Basic single bedrooms are available at Lexham Gardens, where shared bathroom and kitchen facilities are provided.

You will see a confirmation of your housing choice at least two weeks before you arrive on the programme.

Once your housing is approved you will be able to see on your personal page:
a) your full mailing address
b) directions to your building (please print these out before arrival)
c) flat and mobile telephone numbers (which you should give to friends and relatives).
d) a link to see and communicate with your roommates.

Arrivals

When you arrive in the U.K., you are to go directly to your housing assingment to check in. Be sure that you are checking your email daily, as it will contain crucial information about your housing and arrival. Should you have any enquiries about your housing before you arrive, please contact Student Affairs.

Please note you will have to arrive by 12 noon on arrivals day. However, if you cannot adhere to this time line due to flight arrangements you can arrive one day earlier. Please see your personal page for more information.

Your London Address

If you are living in any building except The Crofton, please note that your mailing address is not the same as your housing address. Instead, you will use our headquarters address. Please use the following format:

Your Name
43 Harrington Gardens
South Kensington
London
SW7 4JU
UK

If you are living in The Crofton, your mail should be sent using the following format:

Your Name
The Crofton
14 Queen's Gate
Kensington
London
SW7 5JE
UK

The Buildings

Once assigned, you will be living in Kensington, in central London, in buildings built in the 1870s. This means that you will be a stone's throw from most major sights and attractions in London. The buildings have been converted within the limits of the building for modern use as flats rather than dormitories. Add to that the fact that the British like their homes less high tech, and you see that you'll have to make some adjustments. For example:

The flats rarely contain desks - many students happily use the dining table or the facilities at the main headquarters at 43 Harrington Gardens.

The flats are of differing sizes and configurations. Nothing is standard. This is especially the case with living space. Apologies, but there is little we can do.

Hot water tanks in buildings mean that if someone takes a long shower in the morning, all his/her flatmates will have to wait, not only for the tank to refill, but sometimes for the water to re-heat, before they can take a shower or bath. The water pressure may be such that you can only take a bath.

Although we have worked hard to rectify the situation, there may be a lack of storage space.

Be prepared to make all the adjustments you need to live with a stranger and be prepared to compromise. You are likely going to be living with more people than ever before. This means that eight people could be sharing a kitchen and two bathrooms.

Be prepared for communal responsibility! The cleanliness of the shared living areas will be everyone's concern. You may have to work out a trash rotation. Set house rules and stick to them!

Aside from the people who make up our maintenance team we are forced to rely on outside contractors. This means that you will sometimes experience a wait until a plumber, electrician or specialist builder can be sent to your flat. We are forced to prioritise repairs which means at certain times you will need to be patient.

• View an online tour of the buildings.