A Note About London Housing
General Housing Information
As very few universities in London have what U.S. students would consider a “campus,” most students live in flats throughout the city. When you move into your flat, please remember that housing in London is very scarce and affordable housing even more so. We make sure that the housing we secure for our students is clean, but it is not luxurious, nor is it necessarily located near the famous sites of central London. Commuting is a way of life for the people who work and study in London, and you will likely be no exception.
The England Student Housing Experience With the exception of our London flats for students who aren’t offered places in university accommodation, IFSA-Butler does not provide special housing for students on our England programs. We want your experience to be reflective of the student life in England, so you’ll be living the same housing as degree students. Although student housing in England is not luxurious, it is clean and suitable for student living.
Neighborhoods in London differ from those in many U.S. cities. Residential and commercial establishments are not separated into different zones but mingle in the same block. People of all economic and cultural backgrounds live in the same neighborhoods, and you won’t find the sharp divisions between “good” and “bad” neighborhoods that are common in the U.S.
Independent Housing Although IFSA-Butler guarantees and arranges housing for students on our programs, you may choose to arrange your own housing abroad. Most students who choose independent housing do so because of health or religious reasons, or because they wish to stay with family. Should you choose our independent housing option, we will not charge you the housing component of your program fee. You must make all housing arrangements on your own, including deposits, damage costs and payment of utilities. In addition, your home college study abroad office will need to give permission in writing for you to arrange your own housing. IFSA-Butler does not assist in resolving independent housing issues.
Housing Assignments IFSA-Butler works with each university in England to secure housing for our students throughout the semester, year or summer abroad. We guarantee housing as part of our program fee. In most programs, the host university housing office makes housing assignments. These housing assignments are based on the requests you make on the IFSA-Butler housing preference form, which is part of our application process. Some host universities have separate housing forms that students must also complete as part of the application process. Please note that we guarantee housing but not your first choice. Housing Variations We provide a comparable standard of accommodation for all program participants. We take care to ensure that all accommodations meet our quality standards, but exact conditions, equipment and amenities vary between programs and even sometimes within the same university. Housing Offer Notification When we receive your housing offer from your university in England, we will forward it to you. However, sometimes we don’t receive university housing assignments prior to the start of the program. If you do not receive notice of your address before departure, you can expect to have it in writing during orientation.
M O R E C U LT U R E . L E S S S H O C K .
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