Student Accommodation near School of Oriental and African Studies

1. Overview: The School of Oriental and African Studies, SOAS, established in 1916, is a world-leading university specializing in studies around Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. SOAS follows a 3-semester academic year system, with each semester being about 11—12 weeks. It offers 115 postgraduate programs across 3 faculties: The Faculty of Arts and Humanities, the Faculty of Languages and Cultures, and the Faculty of Law and Social Sciences. Among them, it is strong in Politics and Anthropology, ranking 18th and 19th in QS World University Rankings by subject 2024. SOAS, with its high quality of teaching and academic excellence, naturally attracts more than 5,000 students each year to study here, over half of them being non-domiciled. Meanwhile, the university also encourages overseas students to attend Study Abroad and Exchange programs and the Summer School.

2. Campus: SOAS is situated in Russell Square, Bloomsbury. With its prime location in Zone 1 of central London, you can enjoy the well-connected transport system and colourful and bustling city life. As for the on-campus facilities, SOAS has one of only 5 National Research Libraries in the UK and Brunel Gallery displaying impressive art from the region.

SOAS itself doesn't have on-campus SOAS University accommodation properties, but its following uni, the University of London (UOL) prepares 8 halls for SOAS students. The average rent is about £6,000—£15,000 per semester, including the basic utility bills like electricity, water, gas, Wi-Fi, maintenance, and security. Most freshmen would like to book an on-campus SOAS student accommodation. The applications for the accommodation are processed on a first-come, first-served basis. Therefore, we recommend you start your book as early as possible to get the most suitable one. Undergraduates need to book in February or March, while postgraduates can book later in April or May. Students who miss the on-campus accommodation or expect a lot more of the quality of life can rent an off-campus SOAS University student accommodation on uhomes.com. Unlike SOAS dorms, the off-campus housing features more options, more privacy, higher-quality facilities, and flexible stays.

Accommodation is an essential part of our university life, affecting our experience and mood. To find an appropriate SOAS University accommodation, we'd better start our search as soon as we get the offer from the school. Generally, the right SOAS accommodation is always safe and affordable, with all the amenities you need and a close distance to the campus. To simplify the whole process of finding and booking such houses, uhomes.com provides multiple filters and 1-on-1 property managers to ensure a smooth search and seamless booking. Below are some of the most booked SOAS accommodation options:

1. iQ Shoreditch

2. Scape Kings Cross

3. iQ Tufnell House

4. Scape Bloomsbury

5. Bloomsbury Janet Poole House

6. Rathbone Place

7. iQ Bloomsbury

8. Fitzrovia Residences

9. Somerset Court

10. Bss Rathbone Place

1. Bloomsbury

The average rent for SOAS student accommodation in Bloomsbury is around £324—£628 per week. From Bloomsbury, you can walk to the campus in only 2 minutes. Some of the most popular SOAS University accommodation options in Bloomsbury include Guilford Street and Scape Bloomsbury.

2. Holborn

You can rent a SOAS University of London student accommodation in Holborn at around £429—£595 per week. Holborn is a 20–25-minute walk from the campus. Herbal Hill and Kirby Street Residence are some of the most booked SOAS accommodation properties in Holborn.

3. Camden

In Camden, the average prices for SOAS University of London accommodation options are around £237—£305/week. A 19-minute tube ride from Camden takes you to the campus. As for the best SOAS University accommodation properties in Camden, we recommend The Stay Club Camden and YOHO South Bermondsey Studio.

4. King's Cross

King's Cross' average rent for SOAS student accommodation properties is around £389—£550/week. It's an 18-minute tube ride from SOAS. Among various SOAS University accommodation properties in King's Cross, Urbanest King's Cross and Victoria Hall King's Cross are popular choices.

5. West Kensington

In West Kensington, the average SOAS accommodation fees are around £380—£649/week. The neighbourhood is a 38-minute tube ride from the university. Perfect SOAS accommodation options in West Kensington include London Munden and Lch Skyline Apartments.

The primary part of your budget will be used to rent SOAS student accommodation, but the other living expenses should also be considered. Generally, the monthly cost of living in London is about £1,500—£2,500. If you want to cut back on unnecessary spending, we recommend you rent an affordable SOAS University of London accommodation with the utility bills included, about £230—£430 per week. The additional expenses apart from SOAS accommodation are shown above.

1. Food: £50—£100 per week

2. Laundry: £20—£35 per week

3. Utility bills: £25—£45 per week, and you don't need to pay this part if you rent SOAS University accommodation with uhomes.com

4. Transportation: £50—£80 per week

5. Stationery and course books: £15—£25 per week

With a well-connected transport system, navigating throughout London is convenient and effortless. Living in your SOAS student accommodation, there are various transport options within easy reach.

1. Underground: There are many underground stations close to SOAS University of London, such as Goodge Street, Warren Street and Euston Square stations, making it easy to commute to the school from your SOAS University accommodation.

2. Bus: More than 100 buses run all around the city. Students will find it easy to get to the bus stops close to SOAS University of London accommodation. The fares range from £2 to £5, and you can enjoy a 30% discount with an Oyster card.

3. Driving: Due to the serious traffic jams in London, driving is undoubtedly a challenge. As for the parking, most SOAS accommodation properties have free car parking spaces. You can also use the nearby parking garage, like A5 and A501.

4. Cycling: For students living in the accommodation near SOAS, commuting by bike is also a popular way. Meanwhile, it is effortless to find a SOAS accommodation with free bike storage.

5. Walking: Walking to the campus can save you both time and money. It is suitable for students living in a SOAS University accommodation, a stone's throw away from the campus.

1. On-campus student life: SOAS offers plenty of social and sports activities, campus-wide events, and more than 100 societies to students, including Bangla, Chinese percussion, debating, feminist society, and much more. Meanwhile, students can get help and support in various areas, like academics, immigration, SOAS accommodation and more.
2. Off-campus student life: SOAS, with its prime location in Bloomsbury, between UCL and the British Museum, is a 10-15-minute ride to the London city centre, giving students unparalleled university life. Living in the student accommodation near SOAS University, a student-friendly area, you can walk to the social hotspots, like West End's shops, Oxford Street, Brunswick Centre, and St Pancras Station in several minutes. You can also enjoy the delicious dishes in Bella Italia, comedy night in Camden, or some drinks at Sam Smith's bar.

There are plenty of interesting and unique things to do in London, such as visiting the famous tourist attractions, beautiful parks, and world-class museums. SOAS University of London accommodation gives students opportunities to enjoy the colourful London life. Some of the most fascinating tourist attractions close to SOAS accommodation properties include:

1. British Museum

2. Russell Square

3. Camden Market

4. Grant Museum of Zoology

5. Senate House Library

6. Covent Garden

SOAS offers various undergraduate and postgraduate programs to students. Here is a list of some of the strongest courses at SOAS.

1. Creative Arts and Cultural Industries

2. Development Studies

3. African Studies

4. Middle East Politics

5. International Business Law

6. South Asian Studies

You can book your SOAS accommodation in several easy steps: use the multiple filters or directly consult our property manager to find preferred accommodation and then pay the security deposit if required.

For most SOAS student accommodation properties, you need to pay a deposit, which may start out as a reservation fee, while others do not. The amount is about 5 weeks' rent.

The rent for SOAS accommodation varies depending on different factors, like the accommodation types, room types, location, amenities provided, and room configuration. Take room types as an example.

1. Studio: £350—£654/week

2. En-suite: £264—£618/week

3. Non-En-suite: £234—£497/week

4. Shared Room: £198—£360/week

5. 1-bedroom Flat: £550—£748/week

6. 2-bedroom Flat: £529—£680/week

Yes, students who book in advance typically enjoy good seasonal discounts and naturally pay lower rent for your SOAS University accommodation. You can also get cashback and discounts on group bookings.

Some of the best areas for SOAS accommodation include Bloomsbury, Holborn, Camden, King's Cross, and West Kensington. They are safe, convenient, and transit-rich, with only a short walk or ride from the campus.

Some students choose to stay for an academic year, while others, especially international students, would require a tenancy that covers the entire year. You can also rent for a longer or a shorter term. SOAS summer accommodation properties are also available on uhomes.com. Please contact our booking consultants or use the multiple filters to find such houses.