UCL - which accommodation?

[Frankinator]

My DS will be going to UCL in September and we are at a bit of a loss re the “best” accommodation. He is keen to be close and that’s about the only criteria -we’d be ever so grateful for thoughts
/ recommendations!

Does cost matter? Does for lots of people. I’ve no recommendations but he needs to look at room sizes, costs, location, age of building and shared facilities or not. What can you afford? Close to uni will be expensive from y2 onwards. UCL students scatter to many areas to reduce costs and commute.

Cost will definitely be a factor! I should have said best value really.

I know a boy who stayed in Schafer House at UCL last year. I think it was one of the cheaper undergraduate accomodations and near Euston. He said it wasn't that nice but it was very social and he made lots of friends there.

@FrankinatorLook at what you can afford and maybe post the names of possible halls. Some will be mega bucks. Others not so nice but does that matter? Is cost the most important factor - distance is quick in London with great transport available.

I sometimes stay at Schafer House in the vacation if I’m working in a London archive. It’s really not that bad - modern purpose built (as opposed to some of the older University of London halls) and has some good group and social rooms.

Bur dear oh dear, what has happened to the student spirit of roughing it? Maybe your friend’s son needs to watch The Young Ones.

My son lived in Astor House in his first year. He had a single room with shared bathroom so not the most expensive. It was secure, modern and close to the university. The only complaint he had was about the washing machines being a rip off and fire alarms going off at night occasionally. When we went to look around there were some old converted houses that were being used for student accommodation nearby that I thought looked less safe with regards to fire risk. Lots of narrow staircases for example and no on site front desk.
He moved to a shared house in Clapham for his second year.
Just be aware that UCL have some shared rooms. Obviously these are cheaper but not everyone would want to share so make sure you are clear whether or not your son would be happy with this.

@ParmaVioletTea My Dd shared a room and 6 had one bathroom. Ex boarding students have higher roughing it credentials! Others want better accommodation than they have at how and insist on an en suite bathroom in a modern block. In London that costs!

International Hall on Landsdowne Terrace is in a really good location and has catering options.

DS stayed in Ramsay Hall in his first year. The rooms were a bit tired and it was shared bathrooms, but also catered which bumped up the price a bit. Having said that, he had a fantastic time there, and met some good friends he is now flat sharing with in his second and third years. It does have a reputation as a party very sociable hall, in part because it has lots of big common room spaces.

@SarahMused my son also complained that the washing machines were a rip off, until I told him it was double that for a wash in our local laundrette!

@Frankinator my son was in Connaught Hall in his freshers year and loved it. Very close. It is one of the intercollegiate halls. There is an advantage in applying to intercollegiate halls because, after specifying a budget, you can list preferences for a specific hall. For UCL's own halls you can only specify a budget and a room type so could be placed anywhere.

The intercollegiate halls have very large numbers of UCL students, plus some from other UoL institutions such as SOAS, LSE, Kings, etc.

The Young Ones got free University education 🤣

As soon as results get out the accommodation gets snapped up, so get your son to confirm he wants his accommodation the minute he knows he has got a place at UCL. My son delayed letting them know for about an hour by which time all the options were gone

What year was that in?

My son started uni in 2022. All freshers were guaranteed accommodation provided they applied on time. He submitted the accommodation application in May. After the A level results were released and his place at UCL was confirmed he was sent his accommodation offer a few days later, with a reasonable deadline to confirm by paying the deposit.

2020. Looks like they have changed the system or perhaps there's more accommodation now so they can guarantee first years will get a place.

2020

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/higher_education/5414676-mice-in-ucl-accommodation

Ramsay

@Periwinkletoes Doesn’t work like that, at least not for the last 5 years or so. But getting the application in by the cut off date for the first year guarantee is very important, so stay on top of your offspring’s admin.

The last couple of years, UCL has opened applications earlier than in the past - late March-ish I think but the cut off date is later - probably late May. All handled by their portal which can be accessed once the student has firmed the offer.

their website has a rather good interactive page with maps and filters by cost and types which is helpful. I haven’t heard of people being allocated above their cost range, but there are sometimes odd results on other features. Last year a friend’s child asked for top cost, en-suite and self catered, hoping to get into Astor and was given International Halls catered and shared bathroom at a much lower cost than indicated, which was a bit inexplicable.

I would second the advantages of selecting intercollegiate accom mentioned by a pp, as it is clearer to be able to name specific halls, but they are mostly if not all catered so don’t suit everyone.

My son was in John Dodgson for 1st year. Great location near the university & older accom so not too expensive (by London standards) .

When he applied `i don't think he could name a specific halls just give criteria, cost/ location/ single/ ensuite etc.

The halls were then allocated.