Application process

The Accommodation Service has years of experience in helping international students find accommodation during their course. First year students who are eligible to live on campus are able to submit an application for consideration.

Please note: additional charges will apply for those moving into halls before 15th September 2024, subject to availability.

If you are a first-year student who is unable to travel home during the Christmas closure period, you will need to make alternative arrangements during this time. The Accommodation Service can assist by signposting you to local hotels, B&Bs, or hosts for the duration of the Christmas break. Students are responsible for arranging payment directly with the private provider.

The Accommodation Service also provides advice and guidance for students wishing to find term-time private sector accommodation including lodgings, private halls, and shared houses/flats. For more information please see our Private Sector Accommodation page.

For more information for International students, please visit the  International accommodation pages.

University accommodation is primarily for new first year undergraduate students, as it is often their first time away from home. It is for sole occupancy only. Students with families and partners who require local accommodation generally live in private rented housing.

The Accommodation Service can help you to find private sector accommodation. There are useful links and advice available on our  private sector accommodation page.

Please refer to our Disability Provision Policy in the first instance. If you need to discuss your requirements further, please contact a member of the Accommodation Service on 020 8240 4034 (9am-5pm, Monday to Friday) who will be happy to help. 

If you apply after the application deadline or have not spoken to the Accommodation Service about your specific requirements, it may not be possible for us to alter your accommodation offer.

We recognise that students who are classed as Care Leavers or are Estranged from their families may require additional support. Please contact the Accommodation Service for further information. Visit our care leavers page for more information.

University Residences are primarily reserved for first-year undergraduate students, but may have provision for continuing students to apply for University accommodation in subsequent years of study, depending upon availability. Applications received from continuing students are on a wait-list only basis and may not receive an outcome until after the August bank holiday.

If you are a continuing student the Accommodation Service can provide advice on finding private sector accommodation in private halls of residences, house and flat-shares, or in lodgings with local families.

We moderate St Mary's Student Pad where private landlords and student accommodation providers advertise available local properties to St Mary's students. We can also provide details of local lettings agents which can be helpful to students.

Some blocks of Clive Halls are reserved for new students who are high performing athletes, but need to have been made a referral to the Accommodation Service by the EPC coaches in order to be considered.

Any student athletes who apply for accommodation but have not been referred by EPC are allocated accommodation in line with our allocation policy as stated above.

A limited number of rooms within Clive Halls are reserved for returning Elite Athletes.

If you will be studying the first year of an accelerated degree course (two years), you are still eligible to apply for University accommodation. However, the licence length in University accommodation is only 36 weeks. You will be responsible for finding alternative accommodation at the end of the 36-week licence period.

There are local private halls of residence locally who typically offer longer contract lengths that you may find are more suitable for your course length.

If you would like to speak with a member of the Accommodation Service about your accommodation options, please contact us at accommodation@stmarys.ac.uk or on 020 8240 4034.

For University managed accommodation

You will be notified to log into the portal where you can view your room offer and any accompanying documents. You will need to accept your accommodation offer using an electronic signature. This forms a legally binding agreement.

University accommodation is allocated on a first come, first serve basis, in accordance with the University’s Allocation Policy. Preferences are taken into consideration and you will have been allocated your highest preference that was available.

If you wish to try again for a higher accommodation preference you need to decline your offer and ask to go on the waiting list. Please bear in mind that if you do this, preference will be given to students that have not yet received an offer of accommodation and we cannot guarantee that another offer of accommodation will be made.

We endeavour to offer accommodation to all eligible students who apply before the 9th June. If you applied after the application deadline, it is possible that you will have been placed on our waiting list. Places do become available in University accommodation throughout the summer and these places will be allocated to students on our waiting list in accordance with the University’s Allocation Policy.  We will keep you informed after A-Level results day and will endeavour to accommodate you as soon as possible.    

Alternatively, you might want to consider   private sector accommodation options. Please contact the Accommodation Service if you have any queries about applying for Private Sector accommodation.