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Postgraduate

Postgraduate Student Accommodation at SOAS

Moving to a major city like London is very exciting, but it can also be daunting, especially if it is your first time away from home. New students from outside London are advised to apply for a place in a student residence, though we realise this might not be suitable for everyone. We have around 1000 bed spaces available each year and while we try to offer accommodation to as many new students as possible, we are unable to guarantee campus housing for all those who apply.

The School will do everything it can to help you to find accommodation. If we are unable to offer you a place in a student residence, we will be able to provide you with the help and advice you need to find accommodation elsewhere.

Students who have an offer to study at SOAS

Students who have been offered a place to study at SOAS and wish to live in university accommodation can apply online for a place in one of our student halls of residence from the 1st March using the accommodation serial number provided in their offer letter.  For further information on how to apply for university accommodation please visit the Sanctuary Management Services website: www.smsstudent.co.uk 

Students may prefer to apply to one of the independent halls of residence or look for private accommodation and further information is below.

SOAS Halls of Residence

SOAS students have exclusive access to two residences – Dinwiddy House and Paul Robeson House – located on Pentonville Road adjacent to Vernon Square and a 20-minute walk from Russell Square. Paul Robeson House is a postgraduate residence and has 259 en-suite rooms. Dinwiddy House accommodates mainly undergraduate students and has 510 en-suite rooms. Both residences are managed by Sanctuary Management Services (SMS).

Each residence offers purpose-built, self-catering accommodation which features individual study bedrooms with en-suite facilities and a basic broadband internet service included in the accommodation fees. Five to seven rooms are clustered around a shared kitchen/diner. Smoking is not allowed in any part of the buildings. For further information please visit the SMS website: www.smsstudent.co.uk

The residences have been built to accommodate wheelchair access and a number of the study bedrooms have been equipped for use by students with disabilities. You should discuss any specific needs you may have with the SOAS Student Disability Officer (zd@soas.ac.uk) before applying.

A launderette and common room with TV and vending facilities are located on-site and each residence has covered bike storage (but no car parking).

Dinwiddy House

Pentonville Road, N1

  • Mixed residence, self-catering
  • 510 single en-suite rooms arranged in cluster flats of five to seven rooms with a shared kitchen/dining area
  • Basic broadband internet service included (upgradable for an additional fee)
  • Communal areas: common room with a TV, DVD player and vending machines; laundry room; secure bike shed
  • Bed linen not provided but available for purchase (subject to availability)
  • Wheelchair access and rooms specially equipped for students with disabilities. Please discuss any specific needs you might have with the SOAS Disability Officer before applying.
  • Fee per week for a single en-suite room for academic year 2012–2013: £139.09
  • Contracts are for 38 weeks and inclusive of the Christmas and Easter breaks (stays may be extendable during the summer, subject to availability)
Paul Robeson House

1 Penton Rise, WC1

  • Mixed residence, self-catering
  • 252 single en-suite rooms arranged in cluster flats of five to seven rooms with a shared kitchen/dining area. There are also 7 double en-suite rooms as well as a one bedroom flat that couples may apply for.
  • Basic broadband internet service included (upgradable for an additional fee)
  • Communal areas: common room with a TV, DVD player and vending machines; laundry room; secure bike shed
  • Bed linen not provided but available for purchase (subject to availability)
  • Fees per week during for 2012–2013: single £139.09; double £164.43; 1 bedroom flat £241.71
  • Contracts are available for either a 38-week or 51-week duration (inclusive of the Christmas and Easter breaks)

For more information about the SOAS Halls of Residence and to apply please visit www.smsstudent.co.uk/soas.asp

Intercollegiate Halls

SOAS students may also apply for a place in one of the Intercollegiate Halls owned and maintained by the University of London. This offers a valuable opportunity to mix with students from other colleges of the University. All provide catering, offering breakfast and evening meals on weekdays and all meals at weekends.

Buildings tend to be older than those of the SOAS residences and therefore many rooms do not have more modern conveniences such as en-suite facilities, however, personal telephones and data points for internet connection are now offered. The fees vary but are inclusive of the vacation periods.

The Intercollegiate Halls vary considerably in age and style of building. Students with special needs are advised to discuss them with the individual residence prior to application.

Approximately 170 places have been reserved for SOAS students for the 2012-2013 session. For more information and to apply for a place please see www.smsstudent.co.uk/intercollegiatehalls.asp.

Private Accommodation

If you prefer to live in the private sector, the University of London Housing Services offers guidance to new students. It maintains a database of private sector and University-owned accommodation including rooms in private homes, flat-shares, rooms with meals, flats and houses for groups of two or more students and couples, with or without families, whole blocks of self-catering flats for up to 136 students, lists of hotels, hostels and accommodation agencies.

For details, contact:
University of London Housing Services (ULHS)
4th Floor ULU Building
Malet Street
London  WC1E 7HY
Tel: +44 (0)20 7862 8880
Email: housing@lon.ac.uk

The office is open to personal callers Monday–Friday, 10am–5pm, and on Saturdays in September from 10am–2pm. Information is also available on www.housing.london.ac.uk.

Independent Halls

London also has a range of independent halls for undergraduate students in London, many of which are close to SOAS, for example:

You may also find the following websites useful: