Types of contracts, halls and rooms

Depending on whether you're a graduate or undergraduate student, you can choose from different halls.  

Depending on your contract, your accommodation runs term-time only or also includes some of the vacations. Different contract lengths suit different preferences and budgets. Some halls offer more than one contract length option. 

31-week contracts

31 week contracts don't include accommodation during the Christmas, Easter or summer vacations. Great if you're planning to go home or travel during the vacations and don't want to pay for something you're not going to use. You'll need to be able to remove all your belongings from the room (normally by 10am on the move out day).

Halls with 31-week contracts
Carr-Saunders Hall and Passfield Hall

Contract dates (31-week)

Michaelmas Term
Move in on: Sunday 17 September 2023
Move out on: Saturday 9 December 2023 

Lent Term
Move in on: Sunday 7 January 2024
Move out on: Friday 29 March 2024

Summer Term
Move in on: Sunday 28 April 2024
Move out on: Saturday 15 June 2024

What if you suddenly need accommodation over Christmas or Easter?
You may have the option to book additional accommodation during Christmas and Easter. For information, visit: Staying at your hall during Christmas and Easter 

39-week and 40-week contracts

39-week and 40-week contracts include the Christmas and Easter vacations but not the summer vacation. These contracts have slightly different start and end dates but are all a good option if you want to stay in London for the whole academic year. 

Halls with 39-week contacts
Bankside House, High Holborn Residence, Rosebery Hall, Lilian Knowles House and urbanest Westminster Bridge (for new students at LSE only).

Contract dates (39-week)
Move in on: Sunday 17 September 2023
Move out on: Saturday 15 June 2024

Halls with 40-week contracts 
College Hall, Connaught Hall, International Hall, Nutford House, Sidney Webb House and The Garden Halls. 

Contract dates (40-week)
Move in on: Sunday 10 September 2023
Move out on: Saturday 15 June 2024

50-week contracts

50-week contracts include the Christmas, Easter and summer vacations. They cover you for almost a whole year. This is a good option if you will be on a 12-month Masters' course or are planning to do a summer internship. 

Halls with 50-week contracts
Butler's Wharf Residence, Lilian Knowles House, The Garden Halls, urbanest Westminster Bridge. 

Contract dates (50-week)
Move in on: Sunday 17 September 2023
Move out on: Sunday 31 August 2024

The Garden Halls (UoL)
Move in on: Sunday 10 September 2023
Move out on: Saturday 15 June 2024

LSE halls of residence (your contract is made with LSE)

• Bankside House
• Butler's Wharf Residence
• Carr-Saunders Hall
• High Holborn Residence
• Passfield Hall
• Rosebery Hall
• Sidney Webb House (Your contract is formed with LSE, but Unite Students run the building)

Living in LSE halls means that you'll be together with LSE students only. Your contract is formed with LSE.

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University of London (UoL) Intercollegiate halls (your contract is made with UoL)

• The Garden Halls
• International Hall
• Connaught Hall
• Nutford House
• College Hall

Intercollegiate Halls belong to the University of London (UoL). They offer accommodation to students from several London universities. 

Rules on paying fees, leaving rooms early, guests and so on may be different from LSE halls, see: University of London Accommodation.

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Sanctuary Students (your contract is made with Sanctuary Students)

• Lilian Knowles House

Lilian Knowles House is managed by Sanctuary Students. It houses LSE students only. 

Rules on paying fees, leaving rooms early, and guests will be different from LSE halls, see: Lilian Knowles House [at Sanctuary Students].

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urbanest (your contract is made with urbanest)

• urbanest Westminster Bridge

urbanest offer rooms to students of different universities, but they dedicate part of the building to LSE students. Rooms are offered on a first come, first served basis. 

Rules on paying fees, leaving rooms early, and guests will be different from LSE halls. Check at: urbanest FAQ 

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Single rooms

Single rooms come in different shapes and sizes. They all include a washbasin, but shower and WC are shared. Sometimes rooms are organised in flats, sometimes, rooms are arranged in a more dorm-style way, with a shared bathroom along the corridor.

Shared rooms

They're a great option if you're watching your budget or if you want to share with a friend. Only people of the same gender can share a room. 

If you book a shared room, you can request to share with someone you already know when making your booking. Read the step-by-step guide on booking a shared room with a friend. 

We can’t guarantee that you'll be in a room together, but we will try our best to make it happen. It is optional to list a room-mate and if you have not listed someone, we'll pair you up with somebody.

En suite rooms

En suite means that you'll have your own private bathroom connected to your room. These have a shower, wash basin and WC. Most halls have a mix of en suite rooms and rooms with shared bathrooms, but this list will help you get an overview: 

In some halls, all rooms are en suite: 
Lilian Knowles House
Sidney Webb House

Some halls have no en suite rooms: 
Butler's Wharf Residence
Nutford House

Some halls only have very few en suite rooms:
Carr-Saunders Hall
Connaught Hall
Passfield Hall 
Rosebery Hall

Studios

Studios have a private bathroom and a kitchenette.
Halls that have studios are:
Connaught Hall
International Hall
urbanest Westminster Bridge
Lilian Knowles House

Townhouse rooms

Townhouse rooms are available in UoL The Garden Halls only and are single rooms with shared bathrooms and kitchen arranged 'townhouse-style'. Each townhouse contains between 14 and 18 bedrooms over four levels with each bathroom shared between a maximum of two rooms. There is an entire floor dedicated to the kitchen and communal dining space and an additional lounge on the first floor (except for Townhouses two and seven).

Bed sizes vary between halls and sometimes between rooms in one hall. For bed and bedding sizes, view the Table of bed sizes in halls [PDF]

Generally, there are two basic layouts:

• 'dorm-style' corridor layout, with rooms arranged along a corridor, with a shared kitchen
• flat-style layout with a smaller number of rooms grouped into flats with their own bathroom and kitchen

Catered halls

Eating together in the dining room offers an extra chance to meet people and strengthens the community. At each mealtime, you can choose from a varied, healthy range of dishes, and there's always a vegetarian option. We can also offer Halal and Kosher meals but it may varies slightly between LSE and UoL halls, for more detailed information on special diets, visit:

• Catering in LSE halls
• Catering in UoL halls

You'll still be able to prepare small meals for yourself, and there are microwaves, kettles and toasters, as well as some cupboard and fridge space. However, the snack-point kitchens may only be open during the day, and facilities are more basic than in self-catered halls. For details of what's provided in the kitchens see What we provide in each hall [PDF]. 

Self-catered halls

Shared kitchens are the social hub of your flat or corridor. Self-catered halls don't have a dining room or canteen, so that's why the shared cooking facilities are more extensive than in catered halls.

Shared kitchens offer space to eat and socialise, so you can show off your cooking skills and enjoy meals together with your flatmates. For details of what's provided in the kitchens see What we provide in each hall [PDF].