Student Life Arrival FAQs

When will I find out about my housing placement?

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

Can I move into housing early?

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

Where is my residence?

Most of the residences are located in the borough of Kensington and Chelsea, within 10-15 minutes walk to Foundation House and at least one of the following tube stations: Gloucester Road, High Street Kensington, South Kensington, or Earl’s Court.

*Please note* that due to a significant increase in enrollment, some student groups may be placed in housing outside of the Kensington area. Just like students in FIE’s residential buildings, students in new accommodations will be notified within 30 days of the program start date and given details of their housing placements. These additional residences are of high quality and boast excellent locations in the city, with only a slightly longer commute to FIE’s Foundation House. Please contact our .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) with any questions. 

Is bed linen provided?

Yes. Bed linen is provided and you may choose to have your sheets changed once a week.

Where can I buy towels?


High Street Kensington (10 minute walk) offers a number of shops, Marks and Spencer’s and Argos being two of the best for towels. (Keep in mind the time you will be arriving as most shops close around 6:00pm, so have at least one towel for your first couple days.)

Where can I buy phone cards to call home?


International phone cards can be purchased at any newsagent, local markets on Gloucester and Cromwell Rd, as well as supermarkets such as Sainsbury’s and Waitrose on Cromwell Rd.  Please note that phone cards purchased in the States with 1 800 numbers may not work abroad. Please note that if you use a phone card from a cell phone, additional charges may apply.

Where should we go out on our first night?


We recommend that students stay within Central London on their first few nights before they become familiar with the city. For the first night, we suggest areas such as Covent Garden, Piccadilly, and Leicester Square where you will find a variety of bars, theatres, restaurants, and clubs.