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New Residents
Moving in
We know that the first few days can feel a little overwhelming, so the information below is here to help you get off to a stress-free start.
- Complete your online induction before your arrival
You need to complete your online induction before you move into UCL Accommodation. This can be found on the UCL Accommodation Portal and will be available to you 7 days before your arrival.
- What items are provided in all student bedrooms
The following items are standard in all study bedrooms:
- carpet
- curtains
- wardrobe
- desk/table
- desk chair
- bed (including mattress and mattress cover)
- wastepaper bin
- light shade/cover
- What to pack / what to buy
As you move into UCL Accommodation, you may find that a few essentials will need to be bought and shared between your flatmates. Before you begin to shop in London for your new home, we recommend you discuss with your flat what is needed and how expenses should be split as you settle into your new room.
What to pack from home:
1. Essential Documents
- Photo ID (Passport, BRP, Driving License, etc.)
- Insurance Details (Travel Insurance, contents protection, etc.)
- Student Finance Letter (Digital or physical copy with your Student Loans Company (SLC) number on)
- Bank card
2. Electrical Appliances
- Laptop and charger
- Mobile phone and charger
3. Personal items, home comforts and clothing
- Essential medication (e.g. prescription medication, epipens)
- Bags, clothes, shoes, and coat hangers
- Gym and swim wear
- Slippers
- Photos, posters, and mementos
- Umbrella
What to buy when you arrive in London or Pre-Order from UniKitOut:
1. Kitchen Essentials
- Cutlery
- Plates, bowls, and cups
- Chopping board
- Saucepan/frying pan
- Kitchen knife
- Baking tray
- Bottle/can opener
- Tupperware (for storing leftovers/packing lunch)
- Kitchen basics (teabags, baked beans, pasta)
2. Bedroom Essentials
- Bed linen
- Duvet
- Pillow
- Laundry basket
- Coat hangers
3. Bathroom Essentials
- Towels
- Toiletries (e.g. toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, shower gel)
- Toilet roll
- Hand soap
- Toilet cleaner
- Period products
You can pre-order bedding, kitchen and bathroom packs through UniKitOut and have it delivered before you arrive on campus. UCL Students can save 10% with discount UCL10 at UniKitOut.
- Get your uni essentials delivered before you arrive
Ordering from UniKitOut is the only way to get your bedding, bathroom and kitchen essentials delivered at your Hall - ready for you on arrival. UCL Students can save 10% with discount UCL10 at UniKitOut.
To make sure your order gets to the Hall before you arrive, you must order it before these dates:
- Wednesday, 18 September (if you will be arriving on or after Saturday, 21 September)
- What not to bring
The following items are prohibited in UCL Accommodation. It is considered a disciplinary offence to have these items in your accommodation. Prohibited items found will be removed and held until you move out.
- Portable heating equipment or humidifiers
- Candles, incense sticks, oil lamps, fragrance burners
- Smoking, e-cigarettes, hookah or shisha pipes, Nitrous Oxide (laughing gas)
- Fairy lights (only battery operated are allowed)
- Dartboards and ball games
- Non-fused and cubed adaptors
- Weapons
- BBQs or fireworks
- Personal Light Electric Vehicles (PLEVs) including e-Scooters, e-Bikes, e-Unicycles, or similar items
- 3D printers
Use of cooking equipment in your room is also prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to, toasters, kettles, microwaves, rice cookers, hotplates, steamers, and sandwich makers. Refrigerators are also not allowed in rooms unless a specific medical condition requires you to have one. Kettles and microwaves are provided by UCL Accommodation so please don't bring your own.
If you need a refrigerator in room for medical reasons, either include this in your UCL Accommodation Portal application. If you have already submitted your application, contact the Accommodation Office. Further information can be found on our Students with Additional Requirements page.
Additional information on prohibited items is available in the UCL Accommodation General Regulations.
- Insurance coverage
We provide a basic contents insurance policy for students’ possessions while they are in UCL Accommodation.
At UCL Halls, the insurance coverage is provided by Gallagher.
We advise you to visit the Gallagher UCL Hub to find out more about what is included in your free insurance.
From the Hub, you can: download documents, add them to your Apple/ Google wallet for quick access, find out what is covered and add to your cover.At Unite and urbanest Halls, the insurance coverage is provided by Endsleigh Insurance.
We advise you to confirm your cover with Endsleigh on their website or through their app.If your valuables are damaged while outside your hall, you will not be able to make a claim as the policy applies only to damage that occurs to your valuables inside halls. Therefore, you may want to consider insuring valuable items that you are taking outside of halls such as your laptop or mobile phone.
Checking In
When you arrive at your Hall there will be Campus Experience Ambassadors available to help make your arrival a special and welcoming first experience at UCL.
- Book your timeslot in advance of your arrival date
You should pre-book a time slot at least 3 working days in advance of your planned arrival date via the UCL Accommodation Portal.
- If you are unable to attend your initial booked time slot, you will be able to cancel or rebook it through the UCL Accommodation Portal. Please give as much notice as possible to give others the opportunity to take the original slot.
- Once your slot has been booked, you will receive a confirmation email with a link to further information about the check-in process.
If you wish to arrive before your contract start date, you must complete an Early Arrival Request. Please do not book any travel until we have confirmed your Early Arrival Request. You will be invoiced for the additional night(s) after you arrive. The charge applies regardless of the reason for the early arrival.
If you will be arriving after your contract start date, you must submit a Late Arrival Notification on the UCL Accommodation Portal. Once you have logged in, please select check-in on the top tab. Please note that you will be charged accommodation fees from your contract start date.
- Planning your journey to your Hall / Parking information
UCL does not offer an airport shuttles service, so you will need to make your own way to your Hall. You can check the best way to get to your accommodation from the airport using the UCL Go app and Citymapper for more information about public transportation. You might want to consider travelling at off-peak times, using quieter stations, and booking tickets in advance or paying by contactless if you can.
If you are arriving by car, be aware of the parking restrictions, the congestion zone and ULEZ charges surrounding UCL Halls. We recommend that you do not leave your vehicle unattended at any time. UCL Accommodation is not responsible for any fines incurred during the move in process. For the most up to date information on local car parking, we recommend looking up local car parks on a maps app or street parking restrictions on your hall's borough council website. We kindly request that after unloading you move on as quickly as possible as a courtesy to others.
During the move in week, there will be Student Ambassadors wearing pink t-shirts available to assist you once you arrive at your Hall. Please be aware that some Halls share a main reception with another building.
- 109 Camden Road
Check in for Ifor Evans Hall, Ann Stephenson House, Neil Sharp House and Max Rayne House.
Access site via the Camden Road entrance to drop off and unload luggage. - Arthur Tattersall & John Tovell Houses
Check in for Arthur Tattersall House and John Tovell House at 117 Gower Street.
Limited on-street stopping available for unloading purposes only. - Astor College
Limited on-street stopping available for unloading purposes only. - Beaumont Court (Unite)
Limited on-street stopping available for unloading purposes only. Limited disabled parking for those with access requirements only. - Bernard Johnson House
Drop off and unload luggage in front court only. - Campbell House East and West
Check in for Campbell House West at Campbell House East Reception.
Limited on-street stopping available for unloading purposes only. - Goldsmid House
Limited on-street stopping available for unloading purposes only. Sainsbury's opposite Goldsmid House has 2 hours free parking. - James Lighthill House
Limited parking onsite, managed and controlled by Kingdom Security with Paul Robeson House. Limited disabled parking for those with access requirements only. - John Adams Hall & Endsleigh Gardens
Check in for Endsleigh Gardens at John Adams Hall Reception.
Limited on-street stopping available for unloading purposes only. - John Dodgson House
Limited on-street stopping available for unloading purposes only. - Langton Close & Frances Gardner House
Check in for Francis Gardner House at Langton Close Reception.
Limited on-street stopping available for unloading purposes only. Limited disabled parking for those with access requirements only. - New Hall
Limited on-street stopping available for unloading purposes only. - One Pool Street
Limited parking bays that could be used to drop off and unload luggage. - Ramsay Hall & Ian Baker House
Check in for Ian Baker House at Ramsay Hall Reception.
Limited on-street stopping available for unloading purposes only. Limited disabled parking for those with access requirements only. - Schafer House & Prankerd House
Check in for Prankerd House at Schafer House Reception.
There is a 10 minute drop-off time due to limited car park spaces. Limited disabled parking for those with access requirements only. - St Pancras Way (Unite)
Limited on-street stopping available for unloading purposes only. Limited disabled parking for those with access requirements only. - Stapleton House (Unite)
Limited on-street stopping available for unloading purposes only. Limited disabled parking for those with access requirements only. - Urbanest Kings Cross
Limited on-street stopping available for unloading purposes only. - Urbanest St Pancras
Limited on-street stopping available for unloading purposes only.
- 109 Camden Road
- Your check in experience
- There will be Student Ambassadors (in pink t-shirts) and staff on hand to help guide you on your arrival.
- If you have made us aware of additional requirements in your application, your Hall Team will make arrangements accordingly.
- Your identity will be checked before being shown to your room. This can be any photographic national or institutional identity document, including your UCL student card, passport, or driver’s license. If your preferred name differs from the name on your photo ID, please let the Hall Team know so we can ensure your record is updated and that in communications with you we use your preferred name.
- Once you have checked-in and been given your keys, you will be shown to your room by one of our ambassadors.
- You will not be allowed to leave any belongings in the reception area. There will be trolleys available for you to use.
- Hall Reception opening hours
UCL Halls will have staff available to check you in from 8am-7pm.
If you are in a hall run by Unite, urbanest or University of London, you should contact the Hall Team directly to find out more information. You can find the contact details for all halls on our contact us webpage.
If you arrive your Hall outside of the reception working hours, please don’t be worried. The UCL Security Team will be onsite and give you access.
- Logging onto the Wi-Fi (Eduroam)
If you are in a UCL run Hall, log onto the Wi-Fi (Eduroam) using your UCL ID (ucluserid@ucl.ac.uk) and password. If you haven't enrolled yet, you can use The Cloud network to access the internet in Halls until 30 September. If you have any problems with Eduroam, call the Information Services Division (ISD) on +44 (0)20 7679 5000 or log into the MyServices portal.
Settling In
Once you complete your mandatory activities, it's time to start building your community. UCL Accommodation will be running a programme of events and activities to help you settle in and make friends, including a welcome party.
- Complete the Inventory Form
You’ll find the inventory form online on the UCL Accommodation Portal under the Room Condition section. Please complete this within your first 48 hours of having moved into your Hall. It’s important to check your inventory thoroughly. Record anything that seems missing or damaged, otherwise you may be charged for it at the end of the year.
- Complete your mandatory fire safety activities
All UCL Accommodation residents must complete the mandatory fire safety activities after their arrival.
- Complete the Fire Safety Familiarisation Induction on the UCL Accommodation Portal
- Attend a fire safety walk in your Hall within the first week of arriving. Contact your Hall Team to sign up.
These activities ensure that all residents are familiar with their building, what to do if there is a fire and how to evacuate in an emergency. Failure to complete these activities will put the resident at risk of receiving a fine.
- Download the SafeZone app
You can contact UCL Security directly using the SafeZone app if there is a problem in your Hall when the Hall Team is not available.
- Upload your evidence of entry to the UK on Portico (international students only)
For Visa document guidance, visit the Your journey to joining UCL webpage.
- Attend your Welcome Talk and Welcome Party
UCL Accommodation will be holding Welcome Talks in each Hall on Saturday, 21 September. This is a great way to meet your Student Residence Advisers (SRAs), Hall Team, and your hallmates, and to learn about life in your Hall.
There will also be a Welcome Party in a central London venue on Sunday, 22 September. You will receive more information when you move into your Hall.
There are also International Students Orientation Programme (ISOP) and Welcome Week events to suit everyone’s interests - you can find details of the events on the UCL Go app.
Students’ Union also organises the Welcome Fair at the end of Welcome Week which brings together more than 250 clubs and societies, commercial stalls, music, and entertainment and is a great opportunity to sign up to a club or society.
- Access Welcome information and local resident recommendations
Visit our Welcome information webpage, to access information about UCL Accommodation, tips to get you settled into life at UCL, and local resident recommendations for your Hall.
- Get your UCL user ID
Your UCL user ID (or username) consists of 7 letters. The first few letters are a random combination, and the last few letters are your initials. It should have been set up using the link provided in your invitation email.
- Collect your UCL student ID card
Your UCL ID card gives you full access to buildings across our campuses and enables you to borrow books from UCL libraries.
Once you have received email confirmation with the subject line Confirmation of enrolment to UCL you will be able to collect your ID card.
You can collect your ID card from Bloomsbury or UCL East. Remember:
- To bring your 'confirmation of enrolment' email.
- Have a Valid ID document e.g. passport, UK driving license, EU identity card or BRP.
- Your photo will be taken for your ID card when you collect it.
For more information about collecting your student ID card, visit the Your journey to joining UCL webpage.
- Get your UCL email address
You’ll need your UCL user ID and password that was set up as part of pre-enrolment. If you have any access issues, contact Information Services Division (ISD). All information from your department and central UCL teams will be sent to your UCL email account, so it’s important to check it often.
You can check your UCL email account online or download the MS Outlook app and log in using your UCL credentials.
- Logging into Portico and Moodle
Use your UCL ID (@ucl.ac.uk) and password to log in to Portico and Moodle to do everything from paying your rent to viewing lecture notes.
- Set up a student bank account
If you do not have a UK bank account it’s a good idea to open one. This will help you manage your money more easily and safely. We strongly advise against carrying large amounts of cash or keeping money in your room. Find out more about managing your money and finances.
To open a UK bank account, you’ll need a letter from UCL confirming your student status. This is called a Statement of Student Status. You can download it directly from Portico after you are enrolled.
- Register with a doctor
Registering for local health services is one of the first things you should do. You can find details about your local doctor surgeries (also known as General Practices) on the NHS webpage.
- Get a TV licence
If you want to bring your own TV or use streaming services like iPlayer, then you will need your own TV licence. You won’t be covered by the licence in your Hall, or by a licence held at your home address, if you are viewing in your room.
- Get your Oyster card
We recommend you don’t bring a car to UCL. You can pay for public transport with a contactless bank card or Oyster card. If you’re aged 16-25 (or if you’re over 25 on a full-time education programme lasting at least 20 weeks), you’re eligible for a 16-25 Railcard, which gives you 1/3 discount on rail travel across the UK, and you can link this card to your Oyster to get a 34% discount on single off-peak pay as you go fares on London Underground and Docklands Light Railway (DLR) services.
Many students are eligible for the 18+ Student Oyster photocard. This replaces the standard Oyster card and gives you a 30% discount off the price of adult-rate Travelcards and Bus & Tram Pass season tickets. If you use public transport regularly, an 18+ Student Oyster photocard is highly recommended.
