Students were informed at the last minute that they would not be given a place in UCL accommodation, a source within the Students’ Union has told The Cheese Grater.
This was despite previous correspondence reassuring students that they could be contacted with their offer as late as 9 September.
The email read, “due to the high number of eligible students accepting their places this year, it is highly likely that we will not be able to offer you a place in a UCL managed hall.”
Students were encouraged to look into private accommodation, and told to explore these options “as soon as possible”.
However, this is likely not financially possible for many students.
iQ, one of the UK’s biggest private accommodation providers, lists its cheapest accommodation in London at £265 a week — notably higher than the maximum possible maintenance loan of £264 a week.
One student received an email on 11 September informing them that they would not be offered accommodation, a mere week before the move-in day for UCL accommodation.
The subreddit r/UCL was marred with users concerned that they would be arriving in the UK without a place to live, pointing out that UCL had not given them enough notice to find private accommodation.
One user claimed that UCL had sent them an email in late August telling them that their application was being processed, and that they did not need to take any further action; a message directly contradicting the email that was sent just weeks later telling students to look for other options.
Another user shared screenshots of emails they had received. The first email said, “there’s nothing you need to do right now – we will contact you with your offer as soon as possible.”
However, a follow-up email was sent to the user, which included the same contents, except for a subtle change — with the previous quote being changed to “we will contact you with the outcome of your application as soon as possible.”
A further thread included a student who had been offered a place on 11 September, only to be informed that the room they were offered cost £477 a week — more than double the £200 a week they had set as a budget.
Such a fiasco is starkly different to the situation in the previous academic year, when all students who met the eligibility criteria for UCL accommodation were offered a place.
A UCL spokesperson said: “Accommodation in UCL-managed halls is prioritised for first-year undergraduate students who meet the eligibility criteria, which are clearly outlined in our communications and on our website. While we do our best to offer places to all eligible students, accommodation is not guaranteed, and this is made clear throughout the application process.
“This year, demand for accommodation has been exceptionally high, and despite our best efforts, we haven’t been able to offer places to every eligible student. We know this has caused some uncertainty for a small number of students, and we are sorry for the impact this has had.
“To assist, we’ve partnered with trusted, accredited private providers to ensure alternative accommodation is available to all students who need it. These options offer high-quality housing, with tenancy lengths aligned to the academic year and competitively priced rents.
“Initial feedback suggests many affected students have already secured housing, and we remain committed to supporting everyone in finding suitable accommodation and settling into university life.”
