Applying for accommodation
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If you have any problems, please contact us on +44 20 8223 4445 or email residentiallife@uel.ac.uk.
Before you apply: eligibility criteria
To apply for student accommodation, you need a firm offer from the University of East London. You can apply with a conditional firm offer (CF), but it will not be verified until you have an unconditional firm offer (UF).
Unfortunately, we cannot house students under the age of 18. Students under 18 are advised to seek housing off campus. Alternatively, if a student applies to live in Halls before they are 18 years old, they can secure a room by agreeing to pay rent from the tenancy start date, with the understanding that they cannot move into that room until the day they turn 18. We cannot guarantee that accommodation will still be available if the student waits until they are 18 to apply. Please contact us if this applies to you.
Before applying, you must also check if you meet the student accommodation eligibility criteria listed below:
When applying for student housing, it’s important to plan ahead. Rooms are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis within the guarantee deadlines. This means that even if you are eligible, applying early ensures the best choice of room types and locations. Students who delay may still get accommodation, but may have fewer options available.
New students
The University of East London guarantees accommodation to new home, EU and international students who meet the following eligibility criteria and who apply by the Accommodation Guarantee deadline date:
- Are 18 years old (or over)
- Are starting their first year of studies at UEL
- Are studying on a full-time mode of attendance
- Have an Unconditional Firm offer from the University
Returning students
The University of East London guarantees accommodation to returning students who meet the following eligibility criteria and who apply by the Accommodation Guarantee deadline date:
- Are 18 years old (or over)
- Are studying on a full-time mode of attendance
- Must have passed their previous year of studies and re-enrolled at the University
- Must have no previous rent arrears or serious disciplinary
Applying for on-campus housing is particularly beneficial if you want to live close to lectures, benefit from all-inclusive rent, and continue enjoying the convenience of campus facilities such as libraries, gyms, and study spaces.
Care leavers, students with a disability, estranged students and refugees
The University of East London guarantees accommodation to new students who are Care Leavers, estranged students, students with a relevant disability and refugees who meet the following eligibility criteria and who apply by the Accommodation Guarantee deadline date:
- Are 18 years old (or over)
- Are studying on a full-time mode of attendance
- Have an Unconditional Firm offer from the University
- Provide confirmation/evidence from the local authority
Ready to apply: submit your application
Once you have confirmed that you meet the eligibility criteria outlined above, you are ready to make your application.
Access the accommodation portal. New users will be prompted to register, and returning users will be able to log in to apply for the UEL Halls of Residence. Complete your application by following the prompts on the accommodation portal.
Deadline dates and processing timelines
Students are guaranteed accommodation only if they complete the application, payment and acceptance stages by the published deadlines. Please note that all students must meet the eligibility criteria before their application is processed.
Students who apply after the accommodation guarantee deadline are not guaranteed accommodation.
In exceptional circumstances, the University of East London reserves the right to guarantee accommodation to specific prospective residents or cohorts outside the deadline dates.
Deadline dates September 2026
New and returning students (Accommodation Guarantee)
- You must submit your application by Monday, 1st June 2026.
- Your application will be verified by a member of the team within 48 hours if you satisfy the eligibility criteria.
- You will be issued a Provisional Room Offer between Tuesday 2nd and Thursday 4th of June 2026.
- The £250* security deposit will be due on Wednesday, 1st July 2026. After the team has received your payment, your Provisional Room Offer will be confirmed. You will receive an email notification that your Provisional Room Offer has been confirmed.
*Provided there are no damages, missing items or outstanding rent, and your room is left in a reasonable state when you depart, your £250 deposit will be refunded to you. - You must log into the accommodation portal and formally accept your room offer seven days after you receive the email that your Provisional Room Offer has been confirmed.
2nd round of applications (Accommodation not guaranteed)
- You must submit your application by Monday, 6th July 2026.
- Your application will be verified by a member of the team within 48 hours if you satisfy the eligibility criteria.
- You will be issued a Provisional Room Offer between Tuesday 7th and Thursday 9th of July 2026.
- The £250* security deposit will be due on Wednesday, 29th July 2026. After the team has received your payment, your Provisional Room Offer will be confirmed. You will receive an email notification that your Provisional Room Offer has been confirmed.
*Provided there are no damages, missing items or outstanding rent, and your room is left in a reasonable state when you depart, your £250 deposit will be refunded to you. - You must log into the accommodation portal and formally accept your room offer seven days after you receive the email that your Provisional Room Offer has been confirmed.
Post-deadline applications
- For applications submitted after Monday, 6 July 2026, rooms will be allocated based on the Allocation Policy.
- Your application will be verified by a member of the team within 48 hours if you satisfy the eligibility criteria.
- You will be issued a Provisional Room Offer within 14 days when application is verified before Monday, 10th August 2026 and within 7 days when application is verified on or after Monday, 10th August 2026.
- The £250* security deposit will be due seven days after the Provisional Room Allocation. After the team has received your payment, your Provisional Room Offer will be confirmed. You will receive an email notification that your Provisional Room Offer has been confirmed.
*Provided there are no damages, missing items or outstanding rent, and your room is left in a reasonable state when you depart, your £250 deposit will be refunded to you. - You must log into the accommodation portal and formally accept your room offer seven days after you receive the email that your Provisional Room Offer has been confirmed.
*If room allocation is not confirmed before the tenancy start date, move in day may be delayed.
Please note that applications will not be processed during the embargo periods in July and August. These periods run from 28 July to 4 August 2026 and from 7 August to 13 August 2026.
After you submit: processes and next steps
As outlined above, once you submit your application, a member of the team will verify that you meet the eligibility criteria. If you do not meet the eligibility criteria, your application will be listed as “Awaiting Verification” or “Rejected,” and you will receive an email explaining why. You can read more about application states at the bottom of this page.
You must then pay the £250 refundable security deposit* by the deadline dates outlined above. *Provided there are no damages, missing items or outstanding rent, and your room is left in a reasonable state when you depart, your £250 deposit will be refunded to you.
Once we have received your deposit, you will receive an email inviting you to formally accept your room offer. You must do this within the deadline dates outlined above.
Once you have formally accepted your room offer, you will be asked to complete the following steps:
- Complete the e-induction: As part of our mandatory pre-arrival process, you must complete the e-induction available via the accommodation portal. You will not be able to move into the Halls of Residence until this has been completed.
- Select your arrival slot: You must select your arrival slot via the accommodation portal. Arrival slots are vital to ensure you are not processed as a No Show as per the Allocation Policy. Arrival slots can be amended as many times as you need via the Dashboard.
- Set up your payment plan: Once you have accepted your room offer, you will receive an email inviting you to set up your payment plan via UEL Direct. This invitation can take around 72 hours to receive. For more information on payment plans, please visit our Room types, prices and payment plans page.
- Arrival: We look forward to welcoming you to your new home. During Welcome Weekend, you will collect your keys from the Student Hub in East Building. After Welcome Weekend, you can collect your keys from the Residential Life Office between 9am-5pm, any day of the week. Your keys will be organised by building, so be sure you have that to hand along with government-issued identification.
- Get involved! Be sure to follow us on social media and check the accommodation portal for upcoming events.
If you decide to move out before your tenancy ends, you will still be responsible for paying rent until the end of your contract or until we find a resident to replace you.
For more details, please refer to your Accommodation Agreement and/or the Allocation Policy.
Application states
Your application state will change throughout the process. Here we explain what each stage means and if any action is required.
Awaiting verification
There are a few reasons why your application might be awaiting verification:
- Your university offer is not unconditional. While you can apply with a conditional firm (CF) offer, we can't verify your application until your offer becomes an unconditional firm (UF).
- You have outstanding rent. Your application won't be processed if your rent account is in arrears. Please contact the Residential Life Team to find out your current balance.
- You are under 18 years old.
- You are not enrolled in a full-time course.
For more details, please see our eligibility criteria listed above.
Awaiting allocation
We are now in the process of allocating you to your new home. You will receive a provisional room allocation within the deadline dates outlined above.
Provisional allocation
You've received a provisional room offer, which you can view on your Dashboard in the accommodation portal. If you're happy with the offer, you can secure your room by making the £250 deposit payment on our UEL Epay platform.
Waiting list
Your application is now on the waiting list. We will contact you via email as soon as there is an update.
Rejected/Unsuccessful
Your application has been rejected or was unsuccessful. If you would like to discuss this outcome, please contact the Residential Life team.
FAQs about applying for student accommodation
Can I apply for accommodation with a conditional offer?
Yes. You can apply with a conditional firm (CF) offer, but your application will not be verified until your offer becomes an unconditional firm (UF).
What is the accommodation deposit and when is it due?
All applicants must pay a £250 refundable deposit by the specified deadline dates.
Is accommodation guaranteed for all students?
Accommodation is guaranteed for students who meet the eligibility criteria and apply before the guarantee deadline. Applications submitted after may be placed on a waiting list.
Are there accommodation options for students with additional needs?
Yes. Care leavers, students with disabilities, estranged students, and refugees are prioritised for guaranteed accommodation, provided they meet the eligibility criteria.
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