How to apply for accommodation

1. Students who have previously applied via the SOAS Accommodation portal should log into the portal to access their account. Please use the login details (email) created the first time you used the portal (use the Forgot password feature if needed), do NOT create a new account.
2. Students who have never applied via the SOAS Accommodation portal should use their existing SOAS email address to create an account in the application portal.

After accessing/creating your accommodation account:

• Please visit our accommodation portfolio to select your housing options. 
• You will need to use your SOAS ID when prompted for a code in the application. 
• You will be required to select 3 options which you are prepared to accept if offered. Please do not select accommodation which is beyond your budget. Carefully consider whether you require catered, non-catered, ensuite, studio, or shared housing. 
• SOAS will aim to offer housing from one of your three choices. If this is not possible, the accommodation office will contact you with alternative options.
• Please note if you do not respond, reject, or miss the acceptance deadline for allocated accommodation, it may not be possible to make a further offer.

Accommodation code

• This will only be received once you have firmly accepted your place at SOAS.
• This will be sent out via email by the specific course Admissions teams, usually within 3 working days of you 'firming' the offer. 
• However, if this is not received within 7 working days, please email applyaccommodation@soas.ac.uk. 
• Postgraduate Research students will not receive an accommodation code but will need to upload a screenshot of their firm offer when prompted in the portal. This will be validated by the accommodation team.
• Scholarship students should state the scholarship they have been awarded in the notes section of the application. This is to ensure the application is processed correctly. Please note an advance deposit to secure the accommodation is usually required.

What you need to do

• Please visit our accommodation portfolio to select your housing options. 
• Access the SOAS Accommodation portal to create an account. First year students should not use a SOAS email address based on their applicant number, as this email will not be activated until enrolled in September.  
• You will be asked to enter your unique accommodation code to progress with the application.
• You will be required to select 3 options which you are prepared to accept if offered. 
• Please do not select accommodation which is beyond your budget. 
• Carefully consider whether you require catered, non-catered, ensuite, studio, or shared housing. 
• SOAS will aim to offer housing from one of your three choices. If this is not possible, the accommodation office will contact you with alternative options.
• Please note if you do not respond, reject, or miss the acceptance deadline for allocated accommodation, it may not be possible to make a further offer.

For clarification, Study Abroad students are those enrolled on our dedicated Study Abroad Programme as part of their degree at their overseas university.  

Accommodation code

• This will only be received once you have firmly accepted your place at SOAS.
• This will be sent out via email by the Study Abroad Team or ELAS Team, usually within 3 working days of you 'firming' the offer. 
• However, if this is not received within 7 working days, please email studyabroad@soas.ac.uk for Study Abroad students; ifcelsadmissions@soas.ac.uk for ELAS students.

What you need to do

• Please visit our accommodation portfolio to select your housing options. 
• Access the SOAS Accommodation portal to create an account. First year students should not use a SOAS email address based on their applicant number, as this email will not be activated until enrolled in September.  
• You will be asked to enter your unique accommodation code to progress with the application.
• Students should ensure they select the correct contract length required: 
  • Study Abroad Full Year – you can apply to any SOAS halls. Please select 3 options which you are prepared to accept if offered. Please do not select accommodation which is beyond your budget. Carefully consider whether you require catered, non-catered, ensuite, studio, or shared housing. SOAS will aim to offer housing from one of your three choices. If this is not possible, the accommodation office will contact you with alternative options.
  • Term 1 only, or Terms 2 and 3 only – single ensuite rooms at Dinwiddy House will be the only accommodation offered. You will need to select 'single ensuite room' as your first choice and then two other options from Dinwiddy House to continue the application, however options 2 and 3 will be disregarded. 
  • Terms 1 and 2 - students requiring accommodation from September to March should contact the Accommodation Office for advice and information.
• Please note if you do not respond, reject, or miss the acceptance deadline for allocated accommodation, it may not be possible to make a further offer.

Students taking a pre-sessional course before fully joining SOAS in September: 

1. The pre-sessional course office will email you a special discount code to book your accommodation at Dinwiddy House, where our pre-sessional students usually stay.
2. Access the Sanctuary Students website and make a booking using the code you have been given for a single ensuite room at Dinwiddy House from your arrival date until 15 September 2024. 
3. You will need to pay for this at the point of booking.
4. You then need to access the SOAS Accommodation portal to create an account to apply for your accommodation from September. Please use a personal email address and not a SOAS email to register.
5. Please use the same code that you have already been given when prompted in the application portal. 
6. You will be required to select 3 options which you are prepared to accept if offered. It is usual for pre-sessional students to continue to stay in Dinwiddy House from September, so please choose this as your first choice, followed by two other options.  
7. If you do not wish to stay at Dinwiddy House, carefully consider whether you require catered, non-catered, ensuite, studio, or shared housing. 
8. Please do not select accommodation which is beyond your budget.
9. SOAS will aim to offer housing from one of your three choices. If this is not possible, the accommodation office will contact you with alternative options.
10. Please note if you do not respond, reject, or miss the acceptance deadline for allocated accommodation, it may not be possible to make a further offer.
11. Please ensure that you add into the Notes section that 'you are a pre-sessional student who requires your accommodation to start from 15th September', when your summer booking ends. This will allow us to start your September contract on the day that your summer booking ends. 
12. Every effort will be made to ensure you remain in the same room for the duration of your stay, however this cannot be guaranteed
13. Should you not progress into September at SOAS following the pre-sessional part of the course, the September accommodation booking can be cancelled. Please request the cancellation within 48 hours of receiving your results.

Students taking a pre-sessional summer course only - students only attending SOAS for a short course in the summer and not continuing in September.

1. Please note that Dinwiddy House can only accommodate you until 15 September 2024. 
2. Do not apply via the SOAS Accommodation portal
3. The pre-sessional course office will email you a special discount code to book your accommodation at Dinwiddy House, where our pre-sessional students usually stay.
4. Access the Sanctuary Students website and make a booking using the code you have been given for a single ensuite room at Dinwiddy House from your arrival date until 15 September 2024. 
5. You will need to pay for this at the point of booking.