UCL accomodation - does anyone have any words of wisdom?

[Revengeofthepangolins]

Am making slightly heavy weather of understanding the UCL undergraduate accommodation issue - how they allocate (first come first served ? ballot once the deadline has passed?) especially given one can't choose particular buildings, how to help nudge ones application towards getting one of the options one really wants, and how it works with the integrated halls, some of which appear on the UCL list and some (eg Garden Halls) don't seem to - if one specifies an intercollegiate hall via UCL and don't get it, how do they then choose where to put you?
Also, in a few places on the website is says that in 2020-21 they weren't allocating catered rooms because of covid - did this mean they left those rooms empty? Am wondering in case that happens again this year, putting pressure on room availability.
Any words of wisdom or experience on any of the above, or just observations about any of the UCL or intercollegiate blocks very gratefully received.

Accommodation is guaranteed for freshers who apply before the deadline so I wouldn't worry about not getting a room. They use an algorithm to try and allocate students to the accommodation that best matches their preferences for price, location, catered, shared etc in a way that most people get most of their preferences rather than some people getting exactly what they want and others getting none of their preferences. I don't know about how it works with intercollegiate halls but I would assume the same as any preference - if you don't get a room in an intercollegiate hall, the algorithm with allocate the best match for your other preferences that is available in UCL accommodation.

I would look at TSR for tips on how to maximise your chances of getting what you want by tailoring your preferences and working out what you might get offered if you don't get your first choice by looking at the number and types of rooms that each hall has IYSWIM?

Looking at the FAQs, my understanding of the allocation is that all on time applications are treated equally. Once the deadline has passed, applications are dealt with in a random order and an attempt is made to allocate according to the criteria stated (room type, budget etc). Accommodation offers are then sent out in July to those with an unconditional firm offer and after results day (that is, when their offer changes to unconditional) to those with conditional firm offers. So the room isn't allocated when the application is made, the apication is a 'statement of interest' for accommodation, so to speak.

(I can't help thinking that the 'first come, first served' way of doing it that some universities adopt, must create an awful lot of work when conditional offers fail to become firm on the day?).

Thanks chaps - v helpful

Hi Revenge. I was just posting about Garden Halls on the other thread. We went for a wander around there yesterday - not sure what to think really.

I’ve heard it’s mainly UCL in that hall and also that it attracts a more international set than other halls. Does anyone know if this is true? Certainly it would seem to be from the ones we saw coming in and out yesterday.

What percentage in there is UCL? I know LSE also use this block, but presumably there could be students in there from any London uni - SOAS, KCL, Birbeck, Imperial, Goldsmiths, QMUL etc etc?

Do they put particular unis in particular areas, so they have more chance of meeting people in the same uni? Sorry for so many questions!

Apparently a lot of the more central LSE accommodation has already gone because they let people book on a first come first served basis. Hardly seems fair when many are still waiting for offers or just heard on Friday! Also, how can you be paying deposit on a room when you can’t be sure you will even get the grades??

Don't know much about it, but when dc1 applied for any of the intercoll halls, they were all full by the time he applied.

What percentage in there is UCL? I know LSE also use this block, but presumably there could be students in there from any London uni - SOAS, KCL, Birbeck, Imperial, Goldsmiths, QMUL etc etc?

It's only the 17 colleges of the University of London. So none of the South Ken universities (Imperial, Royal College of Music, Royal College of Art), the UAL colleges or the ex-polys.

Do they put particular unis in particular areas, so they have more chance of meeting people in the same uni?

The colleges have contracts for a set number of specific rooms in specific halls and allocate the rooms themselves. The rooms are allocated to colleges not students IYSWIM? I'm not sure if there is a way to find out how many rooms and what type of room UCL has in each of the intercollegiate halls.

I don't know if there are any intercollegiate rooms that are not preallocated to the colleges but they are certainly pooled and allocated first come, first served after results day to students who are taking up insurance offers and not guaranteed accommodation. One of mine had KCL as their insurance and they were told they should apply to the intercollegiate halls directly as well as for KCL accommodation (fortunately that didn't happen). It looks like you can apply directly for some halls for 2021/22 on their website.

halls.london.ac.uk/how-to-apply

Oh jeepers, I really don’t understand this system - I thought the rooms were allocated at results time, provided students applied by the deadline. But I guess I am not factoring in the intercollegiate timetable.

I clearly need to look into this more .... And fast :-)

They start making accommodation offers in July to students who have unconditional offers or who already have their results. My DC did the IB so they got their results on 5 July.

I would guess that as only students who have firmed UCL and applied before the deadline are guaranteed accommodation, they do the allocation as soon as they have all the applications.

Hi, my dad has a place at RCSSD (Royal Central School of Speech and Drama) which is part of UCL. They use a lottery system but only have maybe 20 rooms to allocate this is allocated in July. It is a very small intake - compared to others but still! They have listed how they allocate rooms, probably because they can’t house all their first year students. So DD has bitten the bullet and booked Lillian Penson Halls directly (it looks a bit rough and ready) but is close, catered, is part of UCL and also within budget. This is one of the 2 halls that house RCSSD students according to their accommodation information. The student room does have lots of advise and info about how UCL allocate rooms - they even have actual university staff that comment on the threads, as well as members of the student union too! Very useful

Following up on this for 2021 UCL firmed offers, has anyone had their accomodation allocated yet?

Getting a bit nervous or is it usual to take this long after results day? Grateful for any info if anyone else in the same boat, Thanks:)

Well, dc2 seems to have gotten her place at an IC hall a while ago (LSE though). She applied via the IC website and seemed to have gotten what she wanted. In fact paid for deposit well before she got her grades last week

@alwayslearning789 DD got her place on the 10th for UCL and by Friday had been offered accommodation- however it doesn't fulfil her DSA criteria so she is looking into that at the moment.

This may or may not be a relevant factor, but UCL massively over-subscribed with undergraduates this year.

Many Thanks All for your updates...confirms my suspicions....

Sounds like I need to get a Plan B sorted then!

So much for the first year accomodation guarantee....

Feeling rather twitchy too. Problem is that private options are mostly so much dearer, heavily booked and probably don’t deliver the social network that one would hope for. Hmmm.

@Bingobango69

This may or may not be a relevant factor, but UCL massively over-subscribed with undergraduates this year.

@Bingobango69. I imagine that is true, but do you know that for certain? Eg any stats?

My department, for instance, has double the number of first years this year we might ordinarily expect - over 400. This is apparently reflected across the uni, and is on top of last year's bug numbers.

So shocked by the numbers am I that I've forgotten how to spell.

Which departments do you know about @Bingobango69 ?

I'm afraid I'd rather not say as I would like to remain anonymous. Put it this way, there were 41K students at UCL in 2019/20, 43K in 2020/1, and we expect a bigger increase for this year. It's an absolute nightmare for staff, and even in normal times the library etc is bursting at the seams.

I suspect other big London unis will have taken on more students too, so presume there will be pressure on uni and private accommodation.

Thanks @Bingobango69. How come there aren't limits to the number of students? Is it all about money then? More students = more income. I hope more staff are hired and treated well (naive hope?)

No worries!

Individual departments may have had caps, but the biggest issue this year has been A Level grade inflation - steps were taken to make requirements a little tougher, but many more have met the requirements. And once the offer is met it has to be fulfilled.

Expect lots of three-year teaching fellowships and PhD students taking up the slack, with loads more casualisation. I fully expect an increase in infections in autumn/winter and restrictions of some sort following, and it being just as tough for everyone as last year. But then I am an inveterate pessimist.

Thank You @Bingobango69....

Helps us plan as far as we can to manage individual expectations.

Understand as it's been a period like no other...

We'll wait and see for now, Thanks

It was a long time ago but I spent my first year in intercollegiate halls and DH in university run halls. Both catered and the food at my intercollegiate Hall was far better - freshly cooked healthy meal every day. DHs Hall also catered was unhealthy chips, burgers and other ready made food.

Catered really took off the burden and helped socialise in the dining hall.

Any chance you can get a view of the food on offer if going catered?

@Bingobango69. Gosh. Well that’s really depressing.