You probably have questions about what your living situation will be like while you are in London. We've answered many of the frequently asked questions about the following topics below: 

• Information you need before you go
• Facilities and Support
• WiFi Information
• Maintenance
• Mail and Phone service
• Health and Safety Features in our Student Residences

If you don't find the information you need, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

BEFORE YOU GO

• How can I request a roommate?

  • Roommates can be requested by completing the online Housing Information questionnaire on the MyStudyAborad portal. In the relevant section of this questionnaire, please state the name(s) of your roommate preference (maximum of three). Please note that all parties must make the same request. There is no guarantee that you will be housed with any or all of your requests nor can any housing configuration be guaranteed based on these requests; e.g. it is not guaranteed that you will be in a double room because you have requested only one other person.

    You can also use this section of the Housing Information questionnaire to note if you have any additional roommate/preferences based on your gender identity and/or identity needs.

    Should you need to amend your Housing Information please contact our Student Life team at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

• How do I request medical/accessibility-based housing accommodations? 

  • To request a medical/accessibility-based housing accommodation, please complete the Housing Information and Health and Wellbeing questionnaires on the MyStudyAbroad portal. Here you will have the opportunity to briefly describe the nature of your medical/accessibility-based housing accommodation request.

    If you request housing accommodations in the housing questionnaire, please upload supporting documentation (e.g. evidence of housing accommodations provided on your home campus, or a doctor’s letter). It is only possible to make provisions for housing accommodations with supporting documentation.

    Any additional information or queries related to your FIE London Housing can be sent to our Student Life team at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

    For accessibility-related queries please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Further information on FIE's accessibility policy and provisions can be found here.

• Where do I check-in?

  • Check-in generally takes place at Metrogate House. The Facilities Support Desk is covered 24 hours a day.

• What time can I check-in/out?

  • Check-in: 2 pm* and Check out: 12 pm*. Please note times are subject to change and your confirmed time will be received 30 days prior to your arrival.

• Can I move into housing early?

  • Your housing is available for the duration of your program only and FIE cannot provide for early arrivals or late check-outs

• When will I find out about my housing placement?

  • You will be notified of your housing allocation approximately 30 days prior to your arrival.

• Can I mail my luggage/any mail to my residence before I arrive?

  • FIE can accept only small packages/items of post up to one week before the start date of your program. Storage at FIE is limited and we do not recommend students ship luggage prior to arrival and program start date. Exceptions to this can be made on a case-by-case basis, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. before making any arrangements to have luggage shipped to London prior to your program start date.

• Are towels and bed linen supplied?

  • Towels are not supplied, so expect to bring your own or purchase a towel in London. High Street Kensington, a 10-minute walk from FIE student residencies, offers several shops. Marks and Spencer's and Argos are two of the best shops for towels. Keep in mind the time that you will be arriving as most shops close around 6 pm, so have at least one towel with you for your first couple of days. Bed linens and toilet paper are supplied once a week on Thursdays. Linen will not be changed during your stay's first and last week.

• What can I expect to have provided in my communal kitchen?

  • Communal kitchens are fully equipped with necessary appliances (cooker, oven, microwave, electric kettle, refrigerator) and kitchen equipment (pots/pans, tableware, glassware, cups, and cutlery). If you require any housing accommodation related to kitchens due to medical/accessibility needs please complete the relevant sections of the Health and Wellbeing questionnaire on the MyStudyAbroad portal. Accommodation requests without supporting documentation may be more difficult to facilitate. Should you have any questions or need further clarification please contact FIE’s This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

• Are guests allowed in FIE residences?
  • Guests are welcome in FIE residences during sociable hours. You are responsible for the behavior of your guests at all times. At Metrogate, you will need to sign in and leave contact details for your guests at the Facilities Support Desk. Please note that overnight guests are not permitted within FIE facilities, and we are happy to assist with suggesting accommodations, etc for your friends/family.

FACILITIES AND SUPPORT QUESTIONS

• Are there RAs in the building?
  • Yes, Residence Life Supervisors (RLS) are on-site in each residence hall. Find out more on our Residence Life pages.

• How do I contact an RLS?

  • We recommend students call Metrogate House to contact the RLS on-call on evenings and weekends. The desk at Metrogate House is staffed 24/7 and will place students in contact with the RLS. Alternatively, students can knock on RLS room doors (being respectful and cognizant of the hour and urgency of the matter), or email an RLS using their FIE email which is posted online and in the Residence buildings.

• What are the RLS's main responsibilities?

  • The RLS team is primarily responsible for the health, safety, and welfare of FIE students within the residences. They operate on an on-call system during evenings and weekends and can assist students with non-emergencies (e.g. lock-outs, fuse trips); medical emergencies (e.g. ambulance, A&E visits); medical non-emergencies (e.g. request for GP info); and conduct/policy concerns.

• Apart from flatmates who else has access to my flat/room?

  • Generally the Maintenance Team, Facilities Team, and the Residence Life Supervisors. In addition, there are weekly Health & Safety Checks. If additional access is required, you will receive an email from the FIE team member.

• Are there computer facilities in my building?

  •  A computer lab with desktop computers, printers, and scanners is located at Metrogate along with the Study Lounge and is accessible 24/7.

• Are there laundry facilities?

  • Yes. There are laundry facilities in the basement of Metrogate House and Manson Place. Regardless of residence, all students have access to these facilities at Metrogate House. It is £3.00 per wash cycle and £1.50 to dry (50 minutes).  Circuit laundry cards are given to the students with keys and IDs upon arrival, with options for topping up throughout the semester or summer. 

• Are there common rooms/study areas in the residence buildings?

  • Metrogate House operates 24/7 and provides all FIE students with access to a study lounge, quiet study area, and printing facilities. Manson Place and Hyde Park Gate residences also have common/lounge areas in individual flats. There is also a study area in the basement of Manson Place which, Manson Place residents may access 24/7. Additionally, there is a student lounge in the basement of Foundation House (directly outside the Student Life Office) that students can access when Foundation House is open.

• Is there a safe in my room to store my valuables?

  • Student wardrobes have a lock box section of the cupboard for secure storage of your items, you just need to pack a lock or buy one once you have landed.

WIFI Information

• All residences are equipped with superfast WiFi (1024Mbps). Please see a note from our Chief IT Officer on how to get the best performance out of FIE's wireless networks: FIE Wireless Networks - How to Get the Best Performance
• Any issues with the WiFi should be reported on the Maintenence Form

MAINTENANCE QUESTIONS

• How do I report maintenance issues?

  • Submit the Housing Maintenance Form. Requests submitted on or after 5 pm will be dealt with on the next working day (Mon – Fri). The QUICKEST way to submit a request is to fill out the form as it goes to the Facilities Support and Maintenence Team who can respond quickly. Emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. just means your email will get forwarded to the above teams and you will experience a longer delay. 

• What is the emergency maintenance reporting procedure?

  • Dial our 24-hour emergency line: +44 (0) 207 808 0131 - if you are living at Hyde Park Gate, Metrogate House, or Manson Place, you can also dial 5131 from your flat or room phone. 

• What are the housekeepers' responsibilities?

  • Housekeepers will clean kitchens daily and mop and vacuum rooms weekly. Housekeepers will not wash dishes or make beds. You are responsible for taking out the trash in your flat and room. Please refer to the cleaning schedule on the notice board of your flat. 

• Who washes the bed linen?

  • Our laundry company washes the bed sheets and pillowcase covers. You must place the bed sheets inside the pillowcase covers and leave them outside of your room on Thursday morning. The linen will be replaced in the afternoon. You are expected to wash your comforter/duvet covers as needed.

• What if I run out of toilet paper?

  • You are supplied with one roll per week. If you need additional toilet paper, you will need to supply it

• What happens if I lose my keys?

  Please make sure NOT to lose your keys. If you do lose the key to your building and/or flat, a replacement key will need to be ‘purchased’ by way of donation to Cancer Research UK. Upon receipt of the appropriate online donation, students will be provided with replacement keys by the Facilities Team.

  Over £1200 was collected in 2016 through replacement key charges. We hope this initiative encourages students to keep their keys safe, but if not, the money required to replace them goes to a charitable cause. 

• Do FIE London residences have air conditioning?

  • As extremely hot weather is exceptionally rare in the UK, FIE Residence buildings are not equipped with air conditioning. On the rare occasions that London does experience particularly hot weather, personal fans can be purchased from several shops within a short walking distance from the Residence buildings.

MAIL

• Where should mail be sent to?

  • Mail for ALL residences should be sent to: Metrogate House, 3-7 Queens Gate Terrace, London, SW7 5PE (residents of Hyde Park Gate and Manson Place collect mail from Metrogate House).

  • Please read FIE's additional guidance on posting items to and from the UK including VAT and import charges.

PHONES

Applicable to students living at Hyde Park Gate, Metrogate House, or Manson Place.

• The landline in your room or flat will connect you with: 
  • Facilities Support Team at the Metrogate Front desk (*5130)
  • FIE emergency number (*5131)
  • UK Emergency Services (999). 

HEALTH AND SAFETY FEATURES IN OUR STUDENT RESIDENCES

• The US and the UK have different rules, codes, and policies regarding fire prevention, health, and safety. Please see our statement below on current facilities and procedures in our student residence halls. 
• Our FIE facilities (Foundation House, Metrogate House, and student residences) either meet or, more often, exceed the requirements and recommendations of not only the UK health and safety laws but also ANUK, the national accreditation network for tenants, landlords, and housing providers.
• With regards to fire safety, due in some part to the historical structure of the building, our student residences do not have sprinkler systems. However, all kitchens are provided with fire extinguishers and fire blankets, which are checked weekly by our Facilities Team. Additional fire extinguishers are located throughout our facilities, along with fire call points and alarms/sensors. The alarm system is checked weekly and FIE runs a full residence evacuation drill in our housing (students leaving the residence) during the spring and fall semesters, with our average evacuation time under the recommended times. Our Residence Life and Facilities Teams participate in these drills and are additionally trained in Fire Marshal and First Aid skills. The evacuation route for each residence is stated during the Residence Life Supervisor’s Welcome Meetings (generally conducted the night of arrival) and more thorough coverage of health and safety rules and regulations is done during the Housing Orientation.