If you choose the University of East London (UEL) you’ll be living and learning in one of the world’s greatest and most diverse cities. Whatever your interests, you will likely find something in London that will excite and inspire you.

You will also be spoilt for choice if you choose Student.com as your provider for student accommodation near the University of East London. We list hundreds of student properties in the British capital, including cheap accommodation close to UEL Docklands and Stratford campuses.

Make your home in a shared or private accommodation that is ultra-modern, beautifully equipped, and located in thriving student communities within easy reach of some of the city’s main attractions.

Where is the University of East London located? 

The University of East London is based in a vibrant and thriving hub in East London, one of the most culturally diverse and exciting regions of the capital.

The university is based on two well-located campuses – in Stratford, close to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, and in London Docklands, near Royal Albert Dock.

Docklands Campus

The Docklands sit in a dynamic location in the historic Royal Docks with the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) and Canary Wharf on its doorstep, and London City Airport just across the water.

With a stunning waterfront setting, the Docklands campus is 25 minutes from London’s West End close to several cafes and restaurants.

Stratford Campus

Close to Stratford’s thriving town centre, the 2012 Olympic Park, and just 15 minutes from London’s West End, this historic campus is located in one of the best-connected areas of London.

The campus is also close to Europe’s largest indoor shopping mall (Westfield Stratford City) and sits next door to the Theatre Royal and the Picturehouse cinema. Many shops, cafés, bars and restaurants, exciting contemporary galleries, authentic markets, leafy parks, and large open spaces are also within easy reach of the campus.

At the heart of an industrial and creative shift

The University of East London is at the heart of one of the largest urban regeneration projects ever undertaken in the United Kingdom.

Being at the heart of this industrial and creative shift provides a hive of opportunities for UEL students to connect with local and global businesses, the creative industries, and disruptive start-ups based in the East End of the capital.

The new developments have made the dynamism and diversity of East London hard to match.

Nightlife

East London is bound to please when the sun goes down. From boutique cocktail bars to basement clubs, themed party palaces, traditional pubs and warehouse raves, East London has it all and more.

Hip spots like Shoreditch are famous for the bars, clubs, and the buzzing nightlife. Hackney Wick, one of London’s best-kept secrets, has scores of warehouse spaces for big-ticket raves or intimate hidden bars.

You will also find plenty of opportunities for a good night out in other areas like Dalston and Canary Wharf, which transforms from a hub of business and finance during the day to a lively location with plenty of affordable eateries, after-work bars, and alfresco terraces at night.

Shopping

You’ll have lots of opportunities to purchase all you need. A great shopping destination, East London has several areas such as Westfield, Hackney Walk, Icon at the O2, and Canary Wharf where you can find household brands alongside small designers and boutique shops.

Celebrating creativity and culture

East London is also a place for the creative and the cultured. The area celebrates creativity, culture, and history well with unusual exhibitions, galleries of all sizes, several museums, and a number of theatres.

From wonderfully weird to contagiously curious, East London has some fantastic museums highlighting the area’s history and the diverse communities of the area.

You won’t have to head to the West End to catch an acclaimed theatre production because East London has a variety of venues showing award-winning shows and contemporary productions such as Hackney Empire, Arcola Theatre, Stratford Circus, Theatre Royal, and Stratford East.

Studying at UEL 

The University of East London (UEL) is a career-led internationally recognised public university.

It is one of the most diverse and fastest growing universities in the UK and is counted among the top academic institutions that provide quality education and excellent career opportunities to its students.

UEL is recognised nationally and internationally as a leading UK university. It is regarded as a top 150 University regionally and top 1,000 globally, placing 114th in the UK in the 2022 Guardian University Guide and 130th in the Times University Guide, respectively.

It is also recognised in the UK and around the world for its achievements. UEL has been ranked the ‘Best Modern University in London’ (National Student Survey), as well as voted the most improved UK University over the last decade (Times Higher Education).

High-quality courses and teaching

UEL is divided into seven schools which are:

• Royal Docks School of Business and Law
• School of Architecture, Computing and Engineering
• School of Education and Communities
• School of Health, Sport and Bioscience
• School of Psychology
• School of Arts and Creative Industries
• Graduate School

In these schools, students can choose from over 130 undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes in various fields, including business, law, social science, journalism, architecture, engineering, health, sports, sciences, psychology, and arts.

The university also offers part-time degree courses as well as a range of short courses and work-based learning programmes.

The courses are designed with employers and taught by leading professionals and world-class researchers, leading to UEL ranking 2nd in the UK for Teaching Quality in the Times Higher Education Young University Rankings.

Internationally recognised research

Many of UEL’s respected teaching staff are also leading researchers in their field. The university’s research is participatory, inclusive, empowering, and impactful, as reflected by the high rating giving to the University by the Research Excellence Framework (REF). The 2014 national report deemed 94% of UEL’s research as ‘internationally recognised’ or higher.

Its research efforts are driven by an urgent need to find long-lasting solutions to significant local and global challenges. The university actively seeks collaboration and maintains partnerships on research projects with local government and community organisations worldwide.

Strong career support

UEL is also renowned for providing students with excellent support services. The university’s ‘Centre for Student Success’ provides its students with a strong career support network, significantly improving their employment potential. UEL is among London’s leading universities for employability with over 80% of its students going on to work or further study within six months after finishing their studies.

UEL’s ‘Career Zone,’ an online digital platform, prepares students and graduates for career success. It helps students and graduates to better secure internships, job placements, and work experiences by facilitating connections, collaborations, and co-creating opportunities with the university’s industry partners.

UEL student life  

University life at the University of East London is not just about academic study. There will be opportunities to pursue non-academic interests where you can not only have fun, but also make lifelong friends and memories, and grow as an individual.

As a UEL student, you’ll have access to more than 90 clubs and societies, two student hubs, a lively programme of on and off-campus entertainment events, a variety of cafes and restaurants, an Underground Bar, and one of the best gyms in London.

Clubs and societies

UEL’s wide variety of clubs and societies reflects its multicultural nature. You’ll have plenty of choices to join a society or a sports club where you can meet like-minded people and enrich your student experience.

Choose from 26 sports clubs where you can compete in rugby union or competitive cheerleading and experience the thrill of using the iconic facilities at the Olympic Park in Stratford.

Whether it is societies dedicated to film, fashion, culture, faith, music, student radio, or academics, you’re bound to find something that matches your interest.

Entertainment

You can also enjoy a varied programme of entertainment at UEL. The university’s Students’ Union (UELSU) runs a lively social calendar throughout the year that includes live music, comedy, dance nights, quizzes, and competitions.

To help you break the ice when you first arrive at UEL, the University’s Freshers’ Week offers a series of nightlife coach trips where you’ll experience some of the biggest and most popular entertainment venues in London.

The Docklands campus Underground Bar hosts regular comedy, karaoke, ‘open mic’, sports, and party nights, attracting many DJs and music bands.

The regular games evenings run by the computer games students, and film screenings of classic and recent movies, are also popular.

Food and drink

You’ll also find plenty of places to eat, drink or just relax over coffee at UEL campuses. Starbucks, Costa Coffee, and The Edge refectory are all at The Docklands campus.

Also, the Munch café at SportsDock serves hot meals and cooked breakfasts, while Origins at Knowledge Dock offers lighter snacks. The popular Underground Bar serves up alcoholic beverages.

You can get your dose of caffeine at the Stratford campus as well. Enjoy some coffee in the mornings at the campus’s own Starbucks outlet, and hot meals during the daytime at ‘The Green’ restaurant.

An on-campus shop, plus Asda and Sainsbury’s superstores, are within walking distance of the Docklands Campus, making shopping for groceries and essentials easy and convenient.

History of the University of East London

The University of East London’s roots go back to 1892 when the County Borough of West Ham formed the West Ham Technical Institute to serve the local community. It established its own internal degree courses in science and engineering, which were later ratified by the University of London. 

In 1970, the West Ham Technical Institute merged with higher education colleges Walthamstow and Dagenham to create the North East London Polytechnic.

In 1988 North East London Polytechnic became a higher education institution before being renamed the Polytechnic of East London in 1989. Three years later, the Polytechnic of East London gained university status and became the University of East London.

In 1999, the Docklands Campus opened and became the first new university campus built in London for over 50 years.

In 2013, the university was granted armorial bearings by the College of Arms.

Frequently asked questions about student accommodation near the University of East London

How can I book private accommodation near UEL on Student.com?

You can book any accommodation very easily on Student.com.

First, compare properties we list by price and location with our convenient filter features and mapping tool. Then, after selecting a student property you want to book, go to the property page by clicking ‘View rooms’.

On the property page you’ll need to choose your preferred room type and the dates when you’ll want to live there. Once you’ve chosen, click ‘Enquire’ or ‘Book Now’. One of our booking consultants will then contact you to answer any questions you may still have and to take you through the next steps of the booking process.

Why should I book private accommodation instead of halls of residence?

Booking a private accommodation instead of student halls will provide you with several benefits, especially in a big city like London that has a very large number of PBSAs (purpose-built student accommodations) to choose from.

You can choose freely where in London you want to live in, whether it is in East London right next to your campus or somewhere in the city centre.

You’ll also have a great range of amenities available for you. Many properties we list have things like in-house gyms, cinema and games rooms and reading rooms where you can get some peace and quiet for studying. You can also choose freely if you want to live in a room where you share facilities with roommates or go for a fully self-contained studio property just for yourself.

What are the different types of rooms you offer near UEL?

We offer three different types of rooms near UEL:

Shared Rooms are accommodations where you share a bedroom with at least one other person. You’ll also share bathroom and kitchen facilities with other tenants from other rooms.

Private Rooms are accommodations that give you a private bedroom to yourself. Depending on the property, the bathroom may be either shared or private. The kitchen is shared with other tenants from other rooms.

Entire Place is an accommodation that is fully self-contained, and you won’t have to share any living facilities with anyone. You’ll have your own bedroom, bathroom and kitchenette.

Are bills included in the total price?

Bills are included in the rent in most of the properties we list. You can check the property page to make sure if this is the case with the property you’re interested in.

Are the apartments fully furnished?

Most of the apartments we list are fully furnished. You can use the filter at the top of this page to see which properties are listed fully furnished.