Accommodation FAQs

Here are some answers to commonly asked questions about our accommodation.

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Here are some answers to commonly asked questions about our accommodation.

Need some assistance?

If you have any difficulties or concerns relating to your financial circumstances, accessibility or general wellbeing, please do not hesitate to contact the Residential Life Office on 020 8223 4445 or residentiallife@uel.ac.uk to discuss further.

I can't log in or register on the accommodation portal, what should I do?

If you can't log in or register for the University of East London Accommodation Portal, please take a screenshot of the error message appearing and email this to ResidentialLife@uel.ac.uk.

Am I eligible to make an application?

If you are a new student, you are eligible to live in our Halls of Residence if:

  • You are over 18
  • You are starting your first year of studies at UEL
  • You are studying a full-time course
  • You have an unconditional firm offer to study at the University of East London

 

If you are a returning student, you are eligible to live in our Halls of Residence if:

  • You are over 18
  • You are studying a full-time course
  • You are progressing in your studies at the University of East London
  • You do not have rent arrears or previous disciplinary warnings

 

You can also check out our Eligibility criteria page for full details.

What are the local amenities?

There are various food outlets on site, including University canteens which serve hot food throughout the week. Starbucks, The Edge and Costa Coffee are situated on campus and open Monday to Friday. 'The Shop', situated in the East Building, is open every day.

Asda is approximately ten minutes' walk away or two stops on the Docklands Light Railway (DLR). Tesco is approximately a 20-minute walk or a short bus ride. A small Co-op is a five-minute walk along the dockside from the East Village. There are other outlets, such as restaurants, a pharmacy and the popular Wellbean Cafe, situated near both the above supermarkets.

Stratford's Westfield shopping centre is approximately 20 minutes away by DLR/London Underground. Here you will find most stores and restaurants that Central London has to offer including a multiplex cinema and bowling lanes.

Are there any communal spaces on campus for students/residents?

Residential Life provides three common rooms for residents. During the academic year, these common rooms are open daily from 9:00 AM to 11:00 PM, including weekends.

Two common rooms are located on the ground floor of Clare House, while the third is situated opposite the Residential Life office on the ground floor of Longbridge House. The Longbridge common room is the largest of the three and is equipped with a TV, speaker, and board games, making it ideal for socializing with friends or hosting events. See information on how to book the common rooms on our intranet site for current students.

Additionally, the University offers several other communal spaces, including The Hub, where board games can be borrowed, and table football is available; The Lounge in the West Building; The Nook Café in the North Building; and the Students' Union in the North Building. There is also an on-campus bar for students to enjoy. For outdoor activities, residents have access to communal sports facilities, including basketball courts and table tennis tables.

Can I park a car on campus?

Apart from move-in and move-out, we’re unable to offer daytime car parking (8am to 5pm) at our Docklands campus. However, we do reserve a limited number of spaces for Blue Badge holders. If you hold a Blue Badge and require a parking space, please contact ResidentialLife@uel.ac.uk or call us at +44 (0)20 8223 4445.

Do I need to register for a GP near campus?

We strongly encourage all new students at the University of East London to register with our healthcare provider Royal Docks Medical Practice who are based less than five minutes away from our Docklands campus.

Are there sports facilities on campus?

Yes, our SportsDock complex is located at the Docklands campus. This facility includes a state-of-the-art gym, indoor and outdoor sports pitches, dance and aerobic studios, a martial arts studio and teaching rooms. East London Sport and Residential Life organise inter-hall tournaments throughout the year and there are clubs and societies for numerous sports.

Find out more about the SportsDock.

Can I smoke on campus?

All University buildings are non-smoking, including our Halls of Residence. However, designated smoking areas are located outside the halls.

I am a Stratford-based student, can I still apply to live in halls?

Yes, students across all campuses can apply to live in our halls of residence, with a free shuttle bus to transport you from Docklands to other campuses.

How can I report maintenance issues?

Maintenance issues must be reported via the Halls of Residence maintenance request form which is found on the University intranet. The form is also accessible via the scannable QR code found in each flat kitchen.

What deposit is required to secure my room on campus?

A £750 deposit will be required once you have received your provisional room offer. This is made up of a £500 advanced rental payment, which is taken off the full cost of your tenancy, and a £250 security deposit. The security deposit will be refunded to you once you move out as long as you are not in arrears and the room is returned to us in the same state in which you found it when you moved in.

What do I do once I have made my application?

Once you have made your application, your next step is to wait for the Residential Life Team to verify your application. All eligible applications will be verified within 48 hours of being submitted.

Please see our Deadline Dates page for further information on the timeframes in which applications will be processed.

If you have submitted your application but you are currently holding a condition firm offer, your application will be held until you satisfy your entry requirements. When you satisfy your requirements (receive an Unconditional Firm offer from UEL), your application will be processed.

For a full breakdown of the application process, including timelines and deadline dates, please see our How to Apply page.

Can I be allocated to live with friends?

This year we are opening the 'Living with Friends' applications to all students. Once you have submitted your accommodation application you can make a separate Living With Friends application. The process, terms and conditions and application form can be found on our Living With Friends intranet page. Please note, that you will need to be logged in to view this page.

I am an international student; how do I pay my deposit?

The payment method for international students is Flywire. Flywire is an easy, online payment platform that allows international students to make payments in their local currency, track payments, and process payments faster with greater transparency.

If you experience trouble making or tracking a payment through Flywire, you can access Flywire's customer service 24/7 in your local language.

Please find information on how to use Flywire.

I have received a provisional room offer but it is not my first choice. If I reject it, will I receive another room offer?

If you reject your provisional allocation, there is no guarantee you will receive another room offer. The team will work to fit your preferences as best we can.

Are there any cancellation costs?

If you have not accepted your room offer then there is no cancellation cost. Please see below for more details:  

  • If your visa was rejected and you inform us more than seven days of moving in, there is no charge.
  • If you inform us more than seven days of the move-in date, there will be no charge.
  • If you inform us less than seven days of the move-in date, you will incur a £50 change of contract fee.
  • Once the tenancy has started, you will be charged a £50 change of contract fee and will be liable until the room is filled.
  • If you must cancel your room booking at any point due to travel restrictions, VISA cancellations or medical reasons, these will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. Please contact residentiallife@uel.ac.uk as soon as possible if any of these circumstances relate to you.

Please refer to the Allocation Policy for the full cancellation process and charges.

How is my rent calculated?

Your rent is calculated by multiplying the nightly cost for your room type by the number of nights of your tenancy. You are also charged a £250 deposit on top of your rent cost.

How do I pay my rent?

Once you have accepted your room offer, you will be emailed letting you know your payment plan is ready for you to set up via UEL Direct.

A payment plan is your remaining rent account balance divided into equal instalments for you to pay throughout the year. The amount you need to set up your payment plan for, will be your total rent for your tenancy, minus any payments you have already made.

Once your payment plan has been created, you will be emailed confirmation of your instalment plan. This will include the due dates of your instalments and the amounts you need to pay. You can also access this information by logging into UEL Direct, going to “My Payments’ > ‘Student Statement’.

You can also follow the above steps to pay your rent. Simply click on the instalment you wish to pay, and you will be re-directed to the payments page.

What's included in my rent?

Rent includes all utility bills, basic contents insurance provided by Howden Insurance and up to 100 Mbps WiFi/Ethernet access within your flat. Laundry charges are not included in utilities. All our laundry facilities are operated by an external partner, Circuit Laundry. To use and pay for the machines, you will need to download the Circuit Laundry app on arrival.

Please see the Campus Living page for more details.

Can I change my room if I don't like it?

Students may request a room move during the academic year, however, there is no guarantee that a room move will be approved. Further information on room move requests can be found on the Intranet.

Do I need to get my own contents insurance?

Basic contents insurance (Howden Insurance) is included in your rent. However, there are some high-value items not covered by this insurance for which you will need to purchase an upgrade. You can check your cover on the Howden website.

What do I need to bring?

As a guide, you'll need to bring your own bedding, and items for cooking and dining. Please note that if you're a student attending the University's International Welcome Programme, Residential Life will provide your bedding pack on arrival. Further information will be provided via email and on our intranet closer to your arrival.

Can the aeroplanes be heard on campus?

You can sometimes hear the planes but all dock-facing rooms are triple-glazed and the airport is only permitted to operate flights between:

  • 06.30 and 22.30 hours on weekdays
  • 06.30 and 13.00 hours on Saturdays
  • 12.30 and 22.30 on Sundays
  • 09.00 and 22.30 hours on Public or Bank Holidays
  • Full closure on 25 December
  • The final 30 minutes of operation is solely for flights scheduled earlier which have been unavoidably delayed.

Can I bring my bicycle?

Yes, we actively encourage you to use green transport methods to get around London.
There are bike stations where you can lock your bike located around the campus. Please note that you'll need to bring your own bicycle lock.