Students in kitchen at halls

Student accommodation at Imperial explained

Accommodation at Imperial explained

Halls of residence

All offer holders who make Imperial their firm choice are guaranteed a place in one of our halls of residence for their first year, as long as they are eligible and apply by the deadline.

What are the options?

We have a range of self-catered accommodation to suit different tastes and budgets. These range from modern purpose-built halls to converted Victorian town houses. Some are within walking distance of campus. Single and shared rooms are usually available.

Each hall has its own atmosphere and social life. Their welcoming environment allows students to develop a sense of home and community.

Compare rooms and halls on our Accommodation pages.

Info on halls of residence

How to apply

Applications normally open in late May and close in late July. This is for students who have made Imperial their firm choice.

Your child will receive an email with application instructions. They can specify their top five preferences based on price, room type and hall of residence. They can only choose one single room per hall and their preferences are all ranked equally.

While there are no guarantees, we do our best to match one of their preferences. No priority is given to students who apply early.

For students who make Imperial their insurance choice, applications for accommodation open in August, and a place is not guaranteed.

Rooms are allocated in early September.

How much does it cost?

Rent varies depending on the room and location.

Compare our halls of residence

Rent is paid on a termly basis. Invoices are issued to students via email before the start of every term and payment can be made online, or by cheque or bank transfer.

The length of our accommodation contracts vary from 38–40 weeks, though students have the option to stay over the summer at some halls.

The accommodation fee is inclusive of utilities, high-speed internet and contents insurance. En-suite rooms closest to campus tend to be the most expensive, while sharing a room is cheaper.

What do they need to bring?

All study bedrooms are equipped with:

  • a bed
  • study desk
  • chair
  • wardrobe
  • shelving
  • desk lamp
  • curtains
  • chest of drawers
  • notice board
  • bookcase

Your child will need to bring everything else necessary for independent living. This can include:

  • bedding
  • cooking utensils
  • network cable, and so on.

If they intend to bring a TV with them for their room or watch live TV or BBC iPlayer on their laptop or any other device, they will need a TV license.

Bedroom, bathroom and kitchen 'packs' can be ordered online from Uni Kit Out, and delivered straight to their hall. There is a 10 per cent discount for Imperial students.

None of our halls have allocated parking and street parking is expensive, so we advise students not to bring a car.

Safety and security

Students find help from experienced residential support teams. They will provide round-the-clock care throughout the year.

The team includes a number of returning students, giving residents the option to talk to other students and staff. All residents must also complete a health and safety briefing as part of their induction.

All halls of residence have CCTV and swipe card or fob entry systems.

We run a number of campaigns throughout the year to raise awareness of the ways in which students can protect themselves and their possessions.

We also provide practical support, such as secure storage for bikes and the chance to buy bike locks at discounted prices.

Adapted accommodation

Students with disabilities or additional requirements have a range of rooms designed for them.

They should contact our Disability Advisory Service as early as possible for more information and to discuss their needs.

They must ensure that they indicate their special accommodation requirements on their online application. This will ensure that they are allocated to an appropriate room.

Beyond the first year

Private accommodation

Most students live in private accommodation from their second year onwards.

London has a huge range of houses, flats and studios to rent. This can seem like a daunting task, but there is plenty of help available.

We have extensive resources to help at each step of the private accommodation journey.

Our Student Hub has even arranged a series of virtual events for the #RoadToPrivateHousing.

Staying on in halls

Students outside Evelyn GardensContinuing to live in College accommodation for another year could be a great transitional option for your child. This offers a sense of familiarity but with more independence.

Students can do this is by applying to join their hall's residential support team as a hall senior. This involved helping organise social events and activities.

There are spaces for returning students in our Evelyn Gardens hall of residence. It may be possible to apply for vacancies in other halls that have not been taken by new first-year students.