Frequently asked questions

Applying for halls

Arriving at halls

Student life in halls

If you don't get a place in halls

 

I haven't received an offer of accommodation yet. When will I know if I have a place in halls?

We allocate accommodation when your course offer becomes 'unconditional firm' (subject to availability). You can check if you have been allocated a place in halls by logging onto the application site to confirm your current status:

  • If your status shows as 'allocated' you should check your emails for your allocation pack.
  • If your status shows as 'pending' you have not yet been allocated a place.

It is vital you ensure that we have your current email address. Should you change your email or home address please contact aps@kingston.ac.uk with the new information. You will also need to advise UCAS.

My account on the application site has been deactivated. What does this mean?

This may be because you have entered your password incorrectly. Try again, making sure you use lower case and all the characters given in the password, including any asterisks (*). The user name should be seven digits and password 13 digits.

When I apply online, how do I know if you have received my preferences?

You will receive an automatic response email confirming your application if we have an email address for you.

My application says 'pending'. What does this mean?

This means that you have not yet been allocated a place. It has no bearing on whether or not you have made preferences.

I must have a room in halls as I have a special need/disability.

Please contact the special needs/disability advisor on +44 (0)20 8417 4282 or email disability@kingston.ac.uk.

My friend and I are coming to Kingston University together. Can we live together in the same flat?

No. Kingston University policy is to encourage all students to mix socially and culturally, enriching the student experience. Your flat mates will be mixed by gender, course and background.

I have moved and now live outside the 15 mile-radius from Kingston station. I want to apply for halls.

Please contact accommodation@kingston.ac.uk. We will need to see legal documentation to prove that your address is now outside the 15-mile radius.

I have been told that I live within the 15-mile radius of Kingston station, but I don't.

We cross check your postal address with our database, which gives us the exact mileage from Kingston train station to your home. This is calculated in a straight line. Many people measure the distance by road but we do not use this way of calculating the distance. We do not offer rooms to students within the 15-mile radius in the first instance. Please contact us in November for up-to-date availability information.

In the meantime, you might want to register for access to the daily vacancy list and the student-to-student noticeboard. Read more about private accommodation.

I have been accepted through Clearing. Can I apply for a place in halls?

We do not expect to be able to offer any accommodation to Clearing students until after the start of term.

I am an international Clearing student. Do I get priority for halls?

We do not expect to be able to offer any accommodation to Clearing students until after the start of term. When allocating accommodation to Clearing students we will prioritise those who live furthest away.

I have been offered a room at Penrhyn Road, but I study at Kingston Hill. Can I change my room?

No – we are unable to make any changes to student room bookings. Allocations are made automatically based on the preferences you have made and available rooms.

I don't like my room. Can I change it?

No – we are unable to make any changes to room bookings.

Can I change to an en-suite room as that was my first choice?

No – unfortunately all rooms are subject to availability.

What happens if I reject my room?

We will place you on the waiting list when it opens in the Autumn term. It is unlikely that you will receive a new allocation before November.

Can I pay my deposit when I arrive?

No – to secure your room you must make your deposit before the closing date of offer stated on your hall licence. Failure to pay your deposit will mean that your room is offered to another student. To make your payment you can either:

  • return the paperwork as detailed in your offer pack which includes the hall deposit form;
  • pay online with a credit/debit card at www.kingston.ac.uk/epay;
  • pay over the telephone to credit control on +44 (0)844 855 2309; or
  • pay by bank transfer as detailed in the Welcome to Halls booklet (PDF).

If I defer my course until next year am I guaranteed accommodation?

Due to extremely high demand we will not guarantee that halls accommodation will be provided.

I am a postgraduate student and my course will last longer than the standard 40-week contract. Can I extend my stay in halls?

Postgraduate students are able to extend their stay by a further 10 weeks but that is the limit of what the University can offer.

I am a January start postgraduate student and my course will last longer than end of June. Can I extend my stay in halls?

Postgraduate students are able to extend their stay by a further 10 weeks, taking you to the beginning of September, but that is the limit of what the University can offer. Moving out in June will give you the opportunity to find a six-month private sector contract. Please come to the Accommodation Office if you need a house hunting talk.

I am a UK student. When can I arrive in halls?

Please consult the 'Your moving in date' sheet which is included with your offer of a place in halls.

I am an international student. When can I arrive in halls?

International students can arrive from 9.00am on Tuesday 13 September 2011. If you arrive before this date, you will need to make your own arrangements. You must contact your hall to tell them when you are arriving.

I am an international student. Will someone meet me at the airport?

We run a airport pick-up service on Tuesday 13 September 2011 from Heathrow and Gatwick airports. If you are arriving outside of this date or to other airports you will need to organise your own transport. Full details are on the international section of our website.

What do I need to bring with me?

Please consult our welcome to halls section.

Do I need to take out insurance?

As a student living in halls at Kingston University, your contents are automatically insured through our partnership student insurance company, Endsleigh. For the exact level of cover provided, please see the policy certificate (PDF). Students living in halls sometimes wish to insure valued possessions such as a laptop or mobile phone away from their room wherever they take them. For all information on this please visit the student insurance website.

Can my parents/family/friends stay with me when I first arrive?

One guest can stay overnight for one night only on first arrival. However, the rooms are small and the best option would be for your family to stay in a local guest house.

Can my parents/family/friends stay with me during the year?

Please contact halls management when you arrive regarding this request. Our licence conditions state:

  • "You are allowed one overnight guest (who must be over 18) for a maximum period of two consecutive nights in any one week, and for a maximum of six visits per term. You must make sure any overnight guest signs in to the hall. All other visitors must leave the hall or grounds before 12 midnight. For health and safety reasons you will only be allowed two student or non-student guests at any one time. You are responsible for the behaviour of your guests or visitors while they are on the premises, and you will have to pay us for any damage/loss they may cause. Guests or visitors are not permitted to enter or use the room or flat without you being present."


Do I have to arrive on the date stated in the letter?

You must arrive in time for your scheduled enrolment. You should receive details of this in mid-August. However, if this is impossible, you can enrol at a later time. You must notify Accommodation Services of the date you wish to arrive if it is after 17 September 2011.

Your licence states:

"You will lose all or part of your deposit, at our discretion, if you don't take up occupation of the room by 5.00pm on the start date specified in the term sheet."

Can I arrive earlier than the date stated in the letter?

No – unless you are an international student.

Can I park my car at halls?

Car parking permits are available. Please contact the halls management when you arrive. You will need your car documents including insurance. Further details are available in the Welcome to Halls booklet (PDF). There is no parking available at iQ Wave halls.

Can I smoke anywhere in halls?

No – you cannot smoke in any building within the University. This includes your own study bedroom.

What type of internet access will I have?

It is broadband, high speed internet access. Please consult your Welcome to Halls booklet (PDF) for more information. You can obtain full details when you arrive.

I want to open a bank account. Can I have a letter stating where I live?

Please call in to Accommodation Services after you have moved into your hall to complete a form. We will prepare a letter stating you are resident in halls. You will need to visit the information point in your Learning Resources Centre for confirmation of study.

I have not been offered a place in halls. Where can I live?

You might want to consider renting in the private sector. These properties can be houses, flats, lodgings or rooms in flat shares. You may have to take a 12-month tenancy. You'll need six weeks' rent as a deposit and a month's rent in advance.

Where do I start to look?

Accommodation Services provide a daily listing of local vacancies. These include properties suitable for a group, rooms in student houses/flat shares and lodgings. This listing is available on the intranet to all enrolled Kingston students. It is also available on the external website to all potential new students via a login and password.

Please note that these properties are not managed or approved by Kingston University. The arrangement is between the student and the landlord.

The landlord must sign up to our recommended Code of Standards and will have provided a Gas Safety Certificate.

How do I find other people with whom to share?

New students can sign up to a student-to-student noticeboard where you can share details with other students in a similar situation. You can list your details and hobbies. This can only be accessed by other applicants on the notice boardand runs from June to October each year. Access is by login and password only.

Can I have a list of local letting agents?

You can download a list of local lettings agents (PDF) from here.

Can I have a list of local hotels and guest houses?

You can download a list of local hotels and guesthouses (PDF) from here.

I am a second or third year student and cannot find a room in the private sector. Can I stay in halls?

Unfortunately we only offer hall rooms to students studying at Kingston for the first time. It is possible that we will have rooms available after the start of term, in which case we will put a bulletin on StudentSpace advising of availability in halls. It is unlikely that rooms will be available for returning students before December or January, although this does vary from year to year.