For overseas student admission procedure, please click here.

Do you provide accommodation?

Yes. The College’s Accommodation and Welfare Office offers a range of accommodation for incoming international students. Accommodation arranged with ‘host families’ is the most popular choice, offers the best value for money and is easy to arrange. Hostels and private residences are also very popular, mainly because of their low cost and central location, but for these reasons will tend to fill up very quickly, particularly in the summer. We advise students interested in arranging accommodation through the College to book as early as possible in order to ensure availability of their preferred type of residence.

Accommodation arranged by the Accommodation and Welfare Office must be booked for a minimum four-week period. Cancellation terms and conditions apply.

What advice can you give to somebody living in the UK for the first time?

It is very important for new students to be happy with their temporary home. As such, the Accommodation and Welfare Office takes great care in making sure that suitable accommodation is arranged prior to arrival of the student in the UK.

The two different types of accommodation that can be arranged through South London College are described and explained below.

1. Accommodation with a host family

Many students live with a host family as the friendly support this provides is a good way of getting used to a new country, new customs and a new language. Parents should also feel confident that their children are being well looked after in another family. Families will offer a variety of catering provisions and the Accommodation and Welfare Office will ensure that the terms of your contract are clear.

Information and Booking Conditions

ACCOMMODATION PROVIDED

Single bedroom (or shared double bedroom).
Breakfast and evening meal Monday to Friday; all meals Saturday and Sunday.
Families are situated within approximately 5 miles of SLC campuses.
Students travel by public transport to/from the College each day (about 15 – 30 minutes during off peak time).
PAYMENT - £400.00 per month

A deposit of £400.00 and the booking fee of £50.00 should be sent with the fee deposit. Accommodation cannot be reserved until the deposit and administration fee is received.
The deposit is sent to the family to reserve a single or shared room for the first month.
Payment must be made in advance to the host family monthly for continuous accommodation. Normally, you will be asked to sign a contract of at least six months within the first week of arrival.

LIVING WITH A HOST FAMILY

Do inform the family if there are any foods which you do not eat.
Do inform the family if you will be late for a meal or do not require a meal.
Do inform the family if you are staying away overnight.
Do look after any house keys that you are given.
Do tidy up shared areas such as the bathroom and kitchen after using them.
Do not disturb the family if they are asleep and you come back late at night.
Do not use the telephone unless you have the permission of the host family. Use a public telephone or a mobile. Alternatively, you may inform your own family and friends of the host family’s telephone number so that they can call you, although you should make sure they are aware of time differences between countries if they are calling from abroad.

LENGTH OF STAY

If you wish to leave the host family before your expected date of departure, please inform the Accommodation and Welfare Office and the host family at least one month before you want to leave. SLC will not undertake to assist students with future accommodation if they move without advance notification.
Accommodation is only reserved for the period of a month initially. If you wish to continue more than a month, you must make the further payment in advance after your arrival. If you fail to do so, it is your responsibility to arrange future accommodation.

2. Single or Shared rooms

These are usually in large houses that have been divided into rented rooms or flats. You may be sharing the building with other students or others who are not students. Facilities for cooking may vary and you may be sharing bathroom and toilet facilities. The SLC Accommodation and Welfare Office will co-ordinate efforts by individual students to organise suitable accommodation for groups of students.

Costs: These vary according to how many people are sharing and the facilities offered, but are estimated to be approximately £70-£80 per week for single/shared room.

Deposits: A £300.00 deposit, equal to the rent for one month, will be charged prior to arrival, including the College’s booking fee of £50.

Information and Booking Conditions

ACCOMMODATION PROVIDED

Single bedroom (or shared double bedroom).
No meals included.
Lodgings situated within approximately 5 miles of SLC.
Students travel by public transport to/from the College each day (about 15 – 30 minutes during off-peak time).
PAYMENT - £300.00 per month

A deposit of £300.00 and the arrangement fee of £50.00 should be sent with the fee deposit. Accommodation cannot be reserved until the deposit and administration fee is received.
The deposit is sent to the landlord to reserve a single or shared room for the first month.
Payment must be made in advance to the landlord monthly for continuous accommodation. Normally, the landlord will ask you to sign a minimum six month contract within a week of arrival.

LIVING WITH A SHARED HOUSE

Do respect the other members if there are any foods which they do not eat.
Do look after any house keys that you are given.
Do tidy up shared areas such as the bathroom and kitchen after using them.
Do not disturb the other members if they are asleep and you come back late at night.

LENGTH OF STAY

If you wish to leave the accommodation before your expected date of departure inform the SLC Accommodation and Welfare Office and your landlord at least one month before you want to leave. SLC will not undertake to assist students with future accommodation if they move without advance notification.
Accommodation is only reserved for the period of a month initially. If you wish to continue more than a month, you must make the further payment in advance on your arrival. If you fail to do so, it will be your responsibility to arrange future accommodation.
Self-arranged accommodation
This is only advised when you have family or good friends who you can trust to arrange accommodation for you.

Accommodation Request

If you have accepted a place at the College you will be required to send the deposit for an accommodation. You should inform us that you have sent the payment for the accommodation and should indicate your preferred accommodation. On the Fee Payment you should indicate which of the optional services for accommodation and airport pickup you require.

INSURANCE COVER

Students should arrange their own insurance before leaving their country to cover damage to and loss/theft of personal property, medical treatment and personal risks.

PROBLEMS

If there is anything you do not understand talk to the landlord or host family first.
See the SLC Accommodation and Welfare Office if you need more help.

Do you provide airport pick up? How much does it cost?

Yes. Arriving international students can be picked up from London airports on request. Transport from Heathrow Airport to south-east London will cost in the range of £55 one-way. Transport from Gatwick Airport to south-east London will cost in the range of £65 one-way.

Please note that in case of airport delays as a result of rescheduled flight times, immigration controls etc. will incur a waiting charge.

Is there anything else I need to do in relation to my accommodation once I have paid a deposit?

Yes. Incoming students must inform the Accommodation and Welfare Office of their expected date of arrival at least two weeks in advance. Even if an accommodation deposit has been received from the student, failure to provide this advance notice may lead to students being unable to move into their intended accommodation upon their arrival in the United Kingdom.

In the case that the expected accommodation is unavailable due to a failure of the student to notify the College of their date of arrival, the Accommodation and Welfare Office will attempt to make alternative arrangements. These secondary provisions may or may not lead to extra costs for the student.

What happens if I need airport collection or accommodation but have not paid for it in advance?

If the student informs the College of their requirement for airport pick up and accommodation services after their arrival in the UK and without having paid any deposit towards these services, the College cannot guarantee that these facilities will be available to the student. The Accommodation and Welfare Office will do what is reasonably possible in the circumstance to assist, but the student may be obliged to make their own immediate provisions.

Can I arrange my own lodgings after booking accommodation through the College?

Yes. There is no compulsion for our students to remain in College-arranged accommodation if they do not desire. However, if you book accommodation through the College before applying for a visa, your accommodation deposit will not be refundable under any circumstances once you have been granted a UK Student Visa.

What happens if I book airport pick up but then decide to cancel it or not turn up?

As with accommodation bookings, our airport pick up service is taken as a firm booking, with a non-refundable deposit paid in advance. Students should only inform the College of the date and time of their arrival once their exact flight details have been finalised as cancellations or non-arrivals may cause you to forfeit your deposit.