What to bring to UAL halls: the actual list

UAL's halls come in two kinds. Some are run by UAL itself, such as Archwood House, Gardens House, Sketch House and The Costume Store. The rest belong to partners such as Unite Students, YourTRIBE and Mezzino, and you book them through UAL's portal all the same. Which kind you're in changes a few lines of the list, so check before you start.

In a UAL-run hall the room is furnished, with bed, wardrobe, desk, chair and storage, plus internet access, and the rent covers the bills and contents insurance from Howden, with staff on site around the clock. The shared kitchens are fitted with a fridge and freezer, a hob and a microwave. What none of them have is anything that's yours: bedding, towels, plates and pans.

Partner halls run on their own terms. Your provider handles the contract, the rent and the deposit, and UAL's Halls Guide recommends arranging your own contents insurance, so check what your provider already covers. Some kitchens give you more: Town Hall Camberwell's and The Costume Store's come with a kettle, a toaster and a microwave, Signal House's with a dishwasher, and YourTRIBE cleans its shared kitchens every week.

Then talk to your flatmates before you pack the kitchen. UAL's guide suggests the same: share the extra kitchenware once you've arrived, and coordinate so you don't bring duplicates. A flat of eight needs one colander, not eight.

Bedding comes first, because it tops UAL's own list: a duvet and cover, pillows and pillowcases, and sheets that fit your bed. Many UAL rooms have a three-quarter-size bed, some a single or a double, so check your room type before buying. If you'd rather not carry it, UAL points you to UniKitOut, which delivers bedding and kitchen kits to your hall before move-in day, with a discount for UAL students.

For the kitchen, UAL's list starts with one small and one large saucepan, a frying pan and a baking tray, then mugs, glasses, plates, bowls and cutlery, a chopping knife and board, and the small tools: tin opener, peeler, grater, spatula, scissors. The Halls Guide's shorter version is a plate, a mug, cutlery and a pan for yourself, with the rest bought or shared once you're in. Don't forget tea towels, Tupperware, foil and bin bags.

In the bathroom, UAL's list runs to towels, a bath mat, a bin, toilet roll, toothbrush and toothpaste, soap and the rest of your toiletries, a toilet brush and cleaner, and a washbag, which it calls very useful if you're sharing a bathroom. Add a basic first aid kit, which UAL suggests too, and any medication you take, with its paperwork.

The rules are short and firm. No candles, incense or oil burners; no plug-in air fresheners or diffusers; no heaters, barbecues or gas canisters; no washing machines, tumble dryers or electric airers of your own. Electricals plug into the wall, never into cube adapters or unprotected extensions. Bikes live in the bike store, e-scooters and e-bikes not at all, and pets of any kind are out, fish and hamsters included, with registered assistance dogs by written agreement.

Living in a UAL hall means living in London, and the packing reflects that. UAL's own list says don't forget a raincoat or an umbrella. You'll walk and ride the Tube more than you think, so comfortable shoes earn their place, and a student Oyster card is on the Halls Guide's to-do list for after you arrive. Many halls have secure bike storage if you'd rather cycle.

The paperwork matters on day one. You need photo ID, a passport or driving licence, to collect your keys, and again for your UAL student card. Keep your university and accommodation documents, your bank cards and any discount cards such as a railcard together. UK students should have their National Insurance number to hand; students from overseas need their visa and travel documents, their health insurance details and copies of any financial documents, ideally in hand luggage.

And remember what's free. UAL halls run a September re-use fair stocked with last year's students' donations, and Here4U puts free laundry detergent, dry food and period products into UAL halls. And for your course, UAL's own arts shops sell materials on site.