Arts Students' Union

Well, Tumblr, it’s with a heavy heart that we’re here to announce that we’re leaving. 👋

Please don’t fret - we’re all over the Internet elsewhere! You can find us:

On our Instagram

On our Twitter

On our Facebook

On our website

We may delete the rest of this blog at a later date, but you can find our archive here! Our ask and submit functions will be turned off.

Hey all,

Happy August! Didn’t that come around quickly.

Back in June the SU Advice team hosted an online housing festival, discussing all things housing and private renting in these uncertain times. For some of you this may have come a little early and your housing hunt may have only just begun.

The lovely team at Black Katz Estate Agents hosted a Q&A session with us on Instagram Live and have since put together a write up of the questions which you guys asked:

How much do international students need to pay for a deposit?

The deposit is 5 weeks as normal. To make an offer selected properties have a £99 holding deposit and on others 1 weeks rent. This also goes for UK Students.

Do all students need a guarantor?

All students need UK based Guarantors or the other option would be to pay 6 months rent up front with the second instalment taken at month 5 of the tenancy. This also goes for international students.

What fees can and can't students be charged? (deposit, inventory etc.)

Alongside rent and deposits, agents and landlords will only be permitted to charge tenants fees associated with:

·         A change or early termination of a tenancy when requested by the tenant.

·          Utilities, Communication services and Council Tax.

·          Payments arising from a default by the tenant where they have had to replace keys or a respective security device, or a charge for late rent payment (not exceeding 3% above the bank of England base rate)

They can not charge tenants for:

·         Inventories

·         Check outs

·         References

·         Administration

·         Credit and immigration checks

·         Renewing your tenancy when your fixed term contract ends

If I want to move-in in October when do I need to start looking for a house?

I would always suggest looking as early as 3 months prior, it is always good to get yourself registered, so as and when properties that meet your criteria come available our agents can call you.

How are viewings working in light of Covid-19?

If tenants are uncomfortable with meeting in person then a viewing via video is also possible. We will maintain social distancing where possible during viewings and advise tenants not to touch anything in the property.

Should I rent somewhere without viewing it first?

This is on a tenant by tenant basis. A lot of tenants are happy to take properties via video, and some tenants would like to see properties in person. So whatever you feel comfortable with.

How much rent should I expect to be paying in London?

Anything from £150pw to £250pw per person.

What are the cheapest areas in London?

Areas in Zone 3 are usually cheaper but then you will spend more in travel, Wood green, Crouch End, Finchley, Barnet, Turnpike Lane, Bounds Green, Kilburn , Willesden, Kensal Green, Archway, Tufnell Park, Peckham, Elephant and Castle. Negotiators will advise you on a cheaper area when you register.

Once I find a house online that I'm interested in what are the next steps?

My best advice would be to register with the offices that cover the areas that you would like to be in and as and when properties come available, they can call you. If you do see a property that you like online give us a call and book a video or face to face viewing immediately. Properties tend to go very quickly and viewing the same day would be advised.

Are bills normally included?

Bills are not normally included and students bills usually do not amount to much. The biggest bill is council tax which full time students do not need to pay.

Does renting through an estate agent mean I won't have to deal with a landlord?

Some properties are managed by the landlord directly and some are managed by Black Katz. The initial dealings will be with Black Katz firstly and then once you move in you will deal directly with the landlord if the property is not managed, but we are just a phone call away if you have any questions.

What things do I need to think about when private renting that I didn't need to think about in halls?

Register yourself for utilities and pay your bills on time, be mindful of your neighbours, pay your rent on time, make sure your landlord is aware of any repairs or problems with the property and enjoy yourself!

I just wanted to take the time to thank Black Katz for putting this write up together. Hopefully it has been useful and answered some of your burning questions.

As well as offering academic advice the SU Advice team also offer housing advice so if you have any queries do not hesitate to reach out to us via our email: [email protected] or by booking a telephone appointment here.

On behalf of the Advice team I wish you the best of luck with your housing hunt.

All the best,

Tegan :)

PS. Black Katz did not pay us to feature in this post or vice versa. There are other estate agents available in London.

Hey all,

Schools out for summer!!!

The summer ahead of us may not have been the one we had planned, with holidays and festivals potentially cancelled but we can’t let that stop us from having a good time.

Here are some tips and tricks from the SU Advice Team to keep yourself healthy, happy and safe during this once in a lifetime summer.

New Hobbies

You know that hobby you’ve been meaning to take up for years? Well there is no better time than the present. Whether it be a new art form such as oil painting or film photography or a new sport such as cycling or tennis now is the time to dedicate some time to try out something new! You never know, you may have a hidden talent, this new hobby may be what you were destined to do! For this I recommend Youtube tutorials, learning with a friend or housemate or just giving it a go.

New Jobs

For many of us students, summer is the time to make a little bit of extra money to help fund our studies or to help us buy more clothes!! I understand that it is not currently the easiest time for finding employment so I thought I’d put together a few resources which may help you to land that perfect summer job.

My first port of call would be UAL’s new online series called ‘Starting Out’. This consists of a series of online workshops and webinars aimed at assisting you climb the employment ladder. I have chosen two of the many sessions and added the sign up details below:

Virtual opportunities and remote working

22 July (11am-12.30pm)

In this session we will cover practical approaches to working remotely as well as strategies for seeking out opportunities in uncertain times

Strategies for job hunting during a pandemic and beyond!

18 August (11am-12.30pm)

Looking for work but need help knowing where to start? Understand different approaches to job hunting and identify relevant jobs for you

Before you start applying for jobs it is best to make sure your CV is up to date. If you need some guidance on what makes a good CV check out the following advice from UAL here there's also a handy guide on writing cover letters here.

Now that you’ve attended some seminars and made sure your CV and cover writing ability are up to scratch, it's time to actually apply for some jobs!

I’d recommend seeing if any of your local pubs, shops or cafes are recruiting. This means you won’t have to use public transport to get to work thus reducing your commute time. It can also be nice to work locally as you can get a sense of the community around you.

If you’re looking for a more creative role then have a look at the UAL Jobs board Creative Opportunities.

New Habits & Routines

We have all picked up new habits and routines during quarantine, some good, some bad! How about you make a list of these and decide which ones you’d like to continue and which ones to drop. Maybe you’d like to keep your morning yoga but not keep your habit of drinking 9 cups of coffee a day. This is all about reflecting on your decision through these difficult times and deciding what works best for you moving forward. Personally I’ve got into the habit of setting my alarm in the morning  for 8 hours after I’ve gone to sleep, this is something I’ve found great and beneficial for my energy levels. Sleep is super important and shouldn’t be sacrificed if you need that extra hour in bed one morning go for it!

Wellbeing Resources

It’s super important to look after your wellbeing at all times, even  over summer. It's not always fun and games and that’s okay but it’s good to be self aware! Our returning Welfare Officer Pinky Has written a lovely blog post which has links to some great wellbeing zines. You can check out her post here.

Everyone from the SU wishes you a fabulous summer. We hope you stay safe, well and enjoy the sun while it lasts. Our service continues running throughout the summer break so please do not hesitate to get in touch if you have any academic or housing queries. You can reach us by emailing [email protected] or booking a telephone appointment online here.

Big Love,

Hi! I’m Pinky, your Welfare Officer at Arts SU, representing you again for 20/21! Here’s a look at some of the things I did in 19/20, and some things I want to get done in the year ahead…

What I’ve been doing  - some highlights…

Committed the SU to covering visa finances for international sabbs

As an international UAL graduate I understand firsthand the barriers facing students with visas, which is why I’ve persuaded the SU to cover all visa costs for international sabbatical officers. The SU will also now provide hands-on support for visa applications and paid leave for visa-related appointments. All of this hopefully will pave the way for many more international sabbs!

I also worked with the SU to push for UAL to increase financial support specifically for international students, many of whom are unable to access student loans. The UAL Hardship Fund is now open to all international students (as well as Home students)!

The STEP UP mental wellbeing scheme! I partnered with the mental wellness charity Rethink to set up a peer-led wellbeing initiative, recruiting students to be paid wellbeing champions! These students were trained to create and deliver original workshops, however, sadly, due to the pandemic, these workshops couldn’t be carried out in person. The scheme has since been repurposed into a Covid-centered wellbeing zine, featuring content from Rethink champions (and illustrations from your new Education Officer Dylan)! You can check out the issues so far at these links:

https://online.flippingbook.com/view/655999/

https://online.flippingbook.com/view/809245/

https://online.flippingbook.com/view/518273/

A wellbeing podcast is also in the works!  

This is definitely an initiative I want to continue this year, hopefully carrying on both the online resources and bringing back the original in-person workshops once it’s safe to do so.

Advocated for important training for both staff and students

Carrying on my predecessor Katayoun’s priorities, I’ve committed UAL to developing consent training online with Rape Crisis, the organisation that has been carrying out in-person consent training for students. This definitely won’t be replacing in-person training, but the last few months have definitely demonstrated the need for training and development that can be accessed virtually!  

I’ve also tried to do my bit to improve support for student sex workers, successfully advocating for UAL’s Student Services to get sex worker sensitivity training. The training was delivered by UAL alumni from the organisation SWARM, and was really well received by staff! I’ve already pitched for the training to be extended to more UAL staff, and will keep pushing for this in 20/21.

What I want to do next

Help UAL become anti-racist

As a woman of colour and non-native English speaker, I understand fully that UAL as an institution runs on white privilege and systemic change is an active lifelong battle. The university already committed last year to delivering racial bias training to all its staff, it’s now our responsibility as officers to see that they fulfil their promise. I also believe this training would be really valuable for the student body as well (similar to consent training), this is something I’ll be looking at in 20/21.

Make self-certified Extenuating Circumstances permanent!

Before the lockdown I met with UAL’s Academic Registry to propose that students should be able to apply for self-cert ECs (extensions without evidence). The Registry were sceptical – but less than two weeks later everything shut down and UAL put this very policy into effect on account of Covid 19. The goal now to embed this policy into EC procedures for the long haul, coronavirus or no.

Make UAL commit to a central student helpdesk  

Once again because of Covid, UAL established a “student comms” inbox for all student enquiries, apparently in an effort to centralise information relayed to students. This is something which I believe should be available regardless of the pandemic – imagine if you could always directly get the help you need through just *one* central point of contact. I’ll be working this year to try to make that happen, alongside UAL’s Director of Student Support Services Pat Christie!

In summary…

It's been a very strange, very dark year (but it’s always darkest before dawn). If you’re reading this a continuing student, chances are you did not get the year you signed up for. I’m sorry for what was lost and I thank you for continuing to engage with your Union.  

The worst part of being an officer is that you can’t promise anything – the ground-breaking changes you want to achieve have a crushing prospect of failure. What I can say with certainty, though, is that I read every single email you send to me; and when I can bring about a quick solution to your problems, I do. You can reach me at [email protected].  

Hi all,

It's your Student Advice Engagement Assistant, Tegan!

I’m writing today's post as part of the SU Advice Service’s Online Housing Festival, which kicked off yesterday and continues for the rest of the week.

We have organised a week full of housing related talks and activities to ease any worries you might have about housing and to answer any of your questions regarding private renting.

Before I start talking about my personal renting experience, I thought I’d share with you the timetable of events we have planned for this week:

Wednesday: Contract tips with Helen and Evelyn

Two of our lovely advisors will be posting stories on the @artssulondon Instagram answering questions and giving advice on what to look out for in your housing contract.

Thursday 4pm-5pm GMT : Flatmate Mixer hosted by Monica and Tegan

This will be hosted on Zoom and will be a great event if you're looking for like minded people who want to live in the same area as you for the next academic year. This event is open to students across the whole of UAL.

You can drop me an email if you want to attend the mixer and I’ll get back to you with the meeting details.

All week we encourage you to post on instagram using the hashtag #homeiswheretheartis sharing your house and/or your creative space within it. We will be sharing our favourite posts on the @artssulondon Instagram on Friday. If you don’t have Instagram but would like to submit an image or two you can email them to: [email protected] (please include in the email how you would like to be credited).

Now onto me and my housing experience!

I was lucky enough to live in UAL halls last year so I was able to meet lots of other students who could be potential flatmates. When it came down to deciding who to live with I knew it was important for us to have shared interests and similar budgets.

The biggest challenge for us when we began house hunting was location. We are a mix of CSM, LCF and Chelsea students so we all had to make a bit of a compromise and commit to a 40 minute commute to uni. This actually turned out in our favour because we live in an area we all really love! I’m the sort of person who enjoys living in the city but really needs green space. I love escaping the hustle and bustle of London and exploring my surrounding area, places such as: Hackney Marshes, Victoria Park and the Canal.

I personally love cooking so having a nice big kitchen was a must for me. One of my flatmates and myself have very similar tastes so we tend to cook and do our food shop together which halves the workload for both of us. Here are a few of our favourite meals, not always elegantly presented! Having a garden was also a must so we can grow fresh herbs and vegetables, if we ever get round to planting anything.

Having a garden also means we can sit outside in the sun which has been bliss during this time of self isolation, we’ve also used the garden to house a paddling pool and build a tiki bar out of recycled wooden pallets.

In light of the our Online Housing Festivals hashtag #homeiswheretheartis, I thought I’d share some images of how we make our house feel homely. We decorate the house for every possible occasion: Christmas, Easter, Summer (with bunting in the garden). This is 1. A fun activity to do with your flatmates;  2. Reminds you what time of year it is and 3. Makes the house feel more fun and festive.

I wish you all the best with your house hunting and hope that you get engaged with our Online Housing Festival. I’ll be sharing some housing tips on our flatmate mixer on Thursday so I hope to see some of you there!!

All the best,

Hi everyone,

It’s your SU Student Advice Assistant, Tegan, again!

In today's post I wanted to introduce the lovely team that I work with. During these uncertain times you won’t get to meet the advice team face to face, so I asked them to write a little piece about themselves and how they are occupying themselves in lockdown. 

We are all still working from home and here to provide you with any academic or housing advice. You can book phone appointments online here or email the advice team at [email protected] .

I’m Colum, the Advice and Policy Manager. My favourite part of working at the Arts SU is hearing directly from students and working with our elected officers to lobby on your behalf to UAL.

Working from home has taken a bit of getting used to; I miss seeing people in person but it does give me more time to cook and look after my plants.

We’re really keen to hear how we can help and what you need from UAL, you can let us know by filling out our survey. 

As always, our advice team is on hand to help when you need us.

 I’m Helen and I’m an Adviser for the Students’ Union. My favourite part of the job is attending meetings with students at UAL and providing support for them in difficult situations.

It’s definitely an unusual and challenging time at the moment, but I’m enjoying working from home as it gives me a chance to look at my beautiful plants and the view from my window! (see photo)

You can still book phone appointments with me via our online system and I’m answering emails as usual. Please do contact us if you're having issues. If we can't help, we'll be able to signpost you in the right direction.

I’m Monica and I’m an Adviser for the Students’ Union. My favourite part of the  job is meeting new students and helping them find a resolve around their academic issues. I also have a passion for providing support for students in difficult situations.

It’s a challenging and unpredictable time at the moment, but I’m enjoying working from home as it gives me a chance to spend time with my wonderful son, and together we have fun baking (when we can get hold of eggs!) and recently our favourite cake to make has been in a space cake design.

I can tell you it was as yummy as it looked.

Even though we may not meet on campus you can still book an appointment with me through the online booking system.

I’m Evelyne, an advisor with the SU Advice Service.

I hope you are all keeping well during this time of adversity.

Although I can’t advise you in person at the moment, (which I really miss), I am advising by phone and email on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

I hope you are finding things you enjoy doing. I am enjoying teaching myself the guitar and attempting to sing!

Take care of yourselves and remember to contact us if you need advice.

I’m Calum and I’m the Senior Policy and Research Officer for the Students’ Union. I really enjoy working on research projects that give me an insight into what students at UAL are passionate about, and using that insight to help those students improve their time at university. 

During lockdown, I am enjoying being able to use it as an excuse to make all kinds of delicious food that I normally don’t have the time to make. Recently myself and my partner made a Lotus Biscoff cheesecake (see picture)

I’ll be organising some paid focus groups with students about the transition back to study post-lockdown. If you would like to be a part of this, look out for details on our Twitter and website.

Last but not least it's my turn…

I’m Tegan and I’m the SU Student Advice Assistant.

I’m a first year student at CSM and am currently getting to grips with online learning, as I assume many of you are too!

I recently set up the Advice Team’s Companion Scheme, an initiative which aims to encourage interaction and collaboration by pairing you up with another UAL student. I think it’s a great way to keep UAL united, you can sign up here. When the sun is shining you’ll either find me escaping London on my bike or reading in the sun (in the safety of my garden!!) 

I hope you’ve enjoyed finding a bit more about our team and we hope you’ll reach out to our service whenever you need us.

All the best,

Morning Everyone,

It’s your SU Student Advice Assistant, Tegan. I thought I’d come on here today to address the subject of housing.

We know that many of you have had to move out of your private rented accommodation, leaving rooms across London empty, or you are struggling to pay rent because of job-losses. In this post I hope to provide you with information about your rights as a tenant, and some tips for negotiating early release of your tenancy or rent reduction.

The government is encouraging tenants and landlords to negotiate and find solutions that work for you both. If you have moved out of a property but are still paying rent or plan to move out soon, you won’t want to be still paying rent. The best place to start is by getting in touch with your landlord and kindly asking if there is any way you can end your contract early without penalty.

Bear in mind that if you’re on a joint tenancy, a contract for the whole house, and not all of your housemates are wanting to move out this is where it can get complicated. It is super important that during these times you work together with your housemates and all communicate clearly. If it is only you wishing to move out then you should ask if the landlord can release you from the contract early. However make sure that the landlord doesn’t just transfer your costs to the rest of your housemates. That wouldn’t make you too popular!

If asking the landlord nicely doesn't work here are a few hints and tips:

1. Check your contract

Hopefully you’ll have a copy of your contract saved, printed or somewhere in your inbox. If you don’t get in touch with your landlord or letting agency immediately to get one. Most likely you’re part way through a fixed contract making it difficult to leave early, without penalty, but there are some instances where tenants are able to. Our advisers can look through your contract to assist you with this but this is what you need to look for:

· Break Clause: 

if you have a break clause in your contract, and you are within the timings outlined in it (normally half way) then you can simply ask your landlord to break the contract early.

· Force Majeure: 

Some tenancy agreements have a “Force Majeure” clause. 'Force Majeure' means an event or sequence of events - beyond a party's reasonable control - preventing or delaying it from performing its obligations under the Agreement. If you have this in your contract, it's worth attempting to use this as a reason to end the contract, particularly if you can’t access the property or if the landlord has failed to make repairs or other upkeep.      

2. Check where your deposit is being held

Your landlord is required by law to register your deposit in a Government approved Tenancy Deposit Protection Scheme, and must inform you what company it has been registered with. Check your deposit has been registered in one of these schemes.If your landlord hasn't registered your deposit within 30 days of you paying it you can take legal action, which may result in financial penalties for the landlord.

3. Ask for a Payment Plan

If you genuinely can’t pay your rent but are staying in London, ask your landlord to negotiate a payment plan with you. This could be a reduction in rent costs (if your landlord is nice!) or a longer payment plan, spreading the cost over a longer period of time. Remind your landlord that the Government has asked landlords to show compassion and allow tenants who are affected to remain in their homes where possible.

4. Beware of going on Rent Strike

· If you stop paying your rent, the landlord may take action to get the rent from you, or from your guarantor, if you have one. This is most likely a parent/carer so this wouldn’t go down too well! They may take some of this money from your deposit. If the amount you owe them exceeds your deposit, they may write to you to formally request the money. You might be charged interest on the amount owing which should not exceed 3% above the bank of England base Rate. If you still don’t pay, they may start a court claim against you.

· If your landlord starts court action against you for unpaid rent, this is not a criminal trial or a criminal offence, and you won’t get a criminal record. You will be asked to attend court, and if you don't attend the hearing will go ahead in your absence. If the judge decides you should have paid the money, you will be asked to pay it as part of the judgement. You may also be asked to pay the landlord's court costs.

· If you still don’t pay the money after the court has decided you should, you may receive a further judgement that can negatively affect your credit rating in the UK. This may make it difficult for you to borrow money or pass reference checks for rented accommodation in the UK in the future. We wouldn’t recommend this!

· Between 26 March 2020 and 26 September 2020, your landlord must give you three months’ notice before issuing you with an eviction notice.

· Government has made it clear that your landlord should be working with you to come up with a realistic payment plan where the tenant has told them that they are struggling to pay rent. If your landlord has refused, it's likely that the court will not look favourably on that.

Sorry for a more wordy blog post today! I thought it was important I gave you as much information as possible but each situation is different and we’d recommend speaking to our expert team of advisers before you make any decisions.

Immediate Financial Support

The UAL hardship fund is available to eligible students, during these uncertain times and can help support students struggling to finance themselves due to the impact of COVID-19.

Free, independent, expert housing advice

The Students’ Union Advice service is still open; you can make a phone appointment with an Adviser through our online booking system here or email [email protected]. Our advisers can talk you through your housing contract and what options might be available to you.

All the best,

Afternoon all,

It’s your SU Student Advice Assistant, Tegan, I just wanted to come on here to talk about a new initiative the Arts SU Advice Team has launched. We understand that during these uncertain times it is easy to feel disconnected from university life and it may be difficult for you to reach out and meet new people. Some of you may be back home with family and friends whilst some of you may still be in student halls or houses in London. Due to government restrictions, and us all being dispersed across the world, physical human interaction is nigh-on-impossible. Thank goodness for technology!!

Our companion scheme aims to pair you up with another UAL student so you can interact via video or just converse over email. Let’s use this time to connect with other like minded people. Sign up for the scheme here.

Here are a few ideas of conversations or activities if you’re feeling a little nervous about chatting to another UAL student, you may not have met before.

Talk about your course and/or your practice! We are all at UAL because we have a passion for the arts in one way or another, so share this. You will likely find you have a lot in common. Whether this be fashion, a favourite artist or an exhibition you've both been to.

Set your companion a challenge, which you can complete whilst on the call or during that day. Challenge them to do a self portrait in 3 minutes with their left hand. Challenge them to bake a cake. We’d love to see what you challenge each other so feel free to send what you come up with to [email protected]. We may even feature your work on our blog in the upcoming weeks.

Take part in the Arts Active live streams. So far there have been live yoga sessions on the @artssulondon Instagram, so keep your eyes peeled for details of the next sessions.

Choose a programme or film from Box of Broadcasts or watch a National Theatre play and follow it up with a conversation with your companion discussing your favourite scenes or characters of whatever show you choose. You could even be on a video/audio call whilst watching the play simultaneously.

We hope you make the most of our Companion Scheme and use it to stay connected with other UAL students though the current difficult circumstances.

Let's keep the UAL family united.

Take care.

Tegan X

Just a note, this isn’t a support service. If you need to speak with someone about emotional or welfare issues UAL Mental Health Advisers offer free advice and can refer you to a counsellor if you need one. You can find their info here

Hi Again,

Hi everyone,

This is your Student Advice Assistant, Tegan. I am a current student at CSM and work on the advice team making sure you guys know where, when and how you can get advice. We advise on two main areas: academic advice and housing advice.

Firstly I hope you’re all well and not getting too bored practicing social distancing or self isolating in your home. How about you use this time off to familiarise yourself with the house hunting jargon and get your head around the process?

Whether you’re a fresher or a third year, at some point you’re going to have to find somewhere nice to live. If you’re looking to live in one of UAL’s lovely student halls please bear in mind that as a returning student (anyone who is already studying at UAL) there are limited spaces, as new students are prioritised. The application for returning to halls opens this Thursday (26th March), so make sure you’re on the ball.

If you're looking to rent privately then stay tuned. I’m going to jot down some pointers for you to try and help you on your journey into house hunting. These are things I wish I knew when I started searching for my own house last year, I hope they help.

Tip 1: Act fast

With so many potential renters out there, rooms and properties in London don’t tend to stick around for long. If you find a place you like, try to go and pay a visit as soon as possible by arranging a viewing with the Landlord or Letting Agent.

Tip 2: Educate yourself

The University of London Housing services have put together a handy guide for everything you need to know about housing. You can pick up one of these at your student halls or find it online here.  I’m not saying read this cover to cover everyday and learn it off by heart, but it's definitely worth referring to when you start your house hunting process.

Tip 3: Don’t Panic

Many students think they need to have their housing sorted already but do not panic. Unlike other places in the UK the London housing window for students is a lot later in the year. You only need to start looking for a place 1-2 months before you want to move in. That being said there's no harm in being prepared.

Here's a few things to think about:

Who would you like to live with?

What makes these people compatible housemates?

How many people would you like to live with?

What is your budget?

What area would you like to live in? Is this within your budget? Is there a good route to uni?

When would you like to move in? Would you like to be in London over summer?

What things do you want from your house? Garden? Double bed? Communal space?

Now for the house hunting jargon: (in simplified easy to digest form!!)

Holding Fee: Secures the property/room for you. Usually deducted from your first month’s rent or other fees.

Guarantor: A person or business who promises to pay rent or any other fees on the property if you can’t pay.

Upfront Rent: Usually around 4 weeks rent, this is used to ensure a minimum amount of rent is paid. If you can’t find a guarantor, this can be anything up to 6 months rent.

Deposit: An amount of money securely stored in a Tenancy Deposit Scheme (more here), which is used to pay repair or replacement bills if you damage anything.

Tenancy Agreement: The contract listing all the details and rules regarding your property. Key contact details are also on this document. Keep it safe.

Renewal Fees: If you decide to stay at the property after your tenancy ends, the Landlord or agent will usually charge a fee to cover their work of renewing your contract.

I hope that’s helpful and wish you the best of luck with your house hunting. Please refer to our website here for more information.

Please note that with the current climate we are having to deliver our service a little differently. We are still providing advice but there are no face to face appointments available.

Email us at [email protected]

Or Book a telephone appointment here

We aim to respond within 3 working days

Please look after yourselves during these uncertain times. Stay hydrated. Regularly wash your hands. And check up on your friends, families and peers.

Kindest,

Dear University Senior Management and Governors, 

The sabbatical officers at Arts Students Union are extremely concerned that the union has received very little information regarding the University’s COVID-19 crisis plan. We are frustrated to be finding out all information second hand and in a fragmented way from our other university meetings. We need real consultation for our students. 

There has been a lack of communication given to final year students with regards to their end of year hand-ins and assessments; many students rely on these weeks during Easter to fabricate and make works for their final projects. Without clear guidance on what will be expected for their final assessment, students risk losing time and money. In addition, the assumption that students can continue to make work without studio access will put many students at a disadvantage. The mounting uncertainty is sure to continue to worsen mental health, as it is an added and unnecessary source of stress to add to current events. 

There is a recognition that for many students, the degree show is their final submission and therefore an integral part of their learning. The degree show for many is a first debut as an artist or a designer and what they have been working towards throughout the duration of their course. We are supporting students in campaigning for their right to a degree show, and expect the university to allow students to show their work when it is safe to do so. We also recognise that many students expect to leave UAL with a portfolio of work demonstrating practical skills; we are encouraging UAL to make a commitment to helping students catch up on this aspect of their teaching. This could come in the form of a commitment from UAL to give students access to studio space when the campus reopens, even if the student has graduated. 

We demand to know what the university's plan is for international students at this time, where travel may be restricted or where it may be impractical for students to return to London for assessments. Although the university’s latest communication to those students said they will not be expected to return, the uncertainty that surrounds the assessments makes it hard for students to plan their workload and other practicalities of their study. We are also aware of the added financial uncertainty that comes with studying abroad. International students deserve clear and direct support during these uncertain times. We are asking the university to provide a clear timeline and an official term date. 

We believe that all students should be allowed to defer their studies should they wish to do so. International students who wish to defer should receive every support measure available regarding visa sponsorship, visa application fees, security of accommodation and living costs. 

We want to ensure that amongst the worries for students, both home and international, that money isn’t one of them. We would like to see the university commit to allocating more funds for students who are affected by COVID-19. We have seen increasingly that unemployment or lack of work for those in the gig-economy or with zero-hour contracts have rocketed, leaving many students struggling. We insist there be an easier system for students to receive money quickly during the crisis. 

We are suggesting that the university extend the tenancies in halls, at no cost to the student, for those who are unable to return home, and to ensure that students left homeless during the pandemic are rehoused quickly, whether that be in halls or with support via the hardship funding. 

We demand an honour system in allocating extensions, allowances, and funding for students who are affected by the pandemic. With many countries, including the UK, reluctant to test every suspected COVID-19 case, it may be difficult for students to prove that they have been affected by the virus. 

We are calling for compensation for final year students whose studies have been majorly disrupted. Many students who are working towards hand-in have had their studies impacted by the global crisis that has suspended teaching. Although online teaching is being developed, this greatly differs from the education to which our students have invested and committed. For those students who sought to learn practical skills, the closure of the technical resources during this time will have a major impact on their experience. How will UAL ensure the quality of teaching is upheld? We are also demanding that students are promised clarity on how their work will be fairly marked, and that changes to the grade boundaries are generous considering the year they have had already. 

We would also like to be included in conversations about how new students will be allocated offers. It is recognised that BAME and working class students will be at a disadvantage as they are given lower predicted grades at A level. We would request that contextual admissions are expanded to all courses for this year's application, and that spaces are allocated fairly with this in mind. 

The global pandemic teamed with financial burdens, uncertainties about degree outcomes, and social distancing will be major causes of student stress and anxiety. There are many students at UAL who rely on the counselling and support mechanisms on campus. How will UAL guarantee provisions are being made for disability and mental health support? 

It is disappointing that UAL says they will not cover full pay for all outsourced workers if they are unable to work for any reason associated with COVID-19 including closure. For many of these workers, this is their main source of income and without it, they cannot provide for their families. We want assurance that all outsourced workers and agency staff at UAL will receive full pay. We also ask that they are included in all UAL staff correspondence. 

We are urgently requesting that the university be transparent about the conversations they are having behind closed doors regarding their action plans for COVID-19. We are shocked that none of the elected representatives from the student body have been consulted as the university makes seismic structural changes to how it delivers education and services.. We feel as though we are relying on rumours and leaked details from university staff about what is happening, rather than official notification. Other universities around the country are working with their Students’ Union to do what is best for students during this time, whilst our union and are students are left in the dark. Students should be recognised as equal partners and conversations about their future at UAL need to be had as openly and efficiently as possible. 

 As Sabbatical Officers, University of the Arts students have elected us to represent them in matters regarding their experience at university. We have been given these roles to work with UAL and the students to ensure that their voices are heard and actions are made with their welfare and student interest at the core. We would like to work with Senior Management going forward and request to have a representative at any future meetings regarding the forthcoming term and COVID-19. 

We look forward to your response and we hope to meet in the next week to discuss how the union will be consulted in key decisions. 

Arts Students’ Union Sabbatical Officers, 

Anita Waithira Israel (She/Her) Education Officer

Amber Goneni (She/Her) Campaigns Officer

Pinky Latt (She/Her) Welfare Officer

Eleanor Louise West (She/They) Activities Officer 

On Behalf of the Student Body at The University of the Arts London 

In focus interview with our 2020 Xhibit selection judges; Hannah Walker

A lot of your role at the Evening Standard has been about championing new opportunities and developing an editorial understanding of the creative future of London, what would you say are the issues that matter to creative students in the city?

I think being able to afford to live and work in our wonderful city is a big one, but also ensuring that our door is always open and we maintain everything that is about our innovative, internationalist and radical spirit that we are so famous for – after all that is what encourages our creativity.

What creative projects which have interested you the most in recent years?

Wow, in London there is so much, can I mention anything coming out of the Roundhouse and the Bloomsbury Festival is pretty marvellous. Our own Future London Culture City project was fantastic with huge reader engagement – loved that.

Lastly, we’re always keen to try and gain advice or tips from our panel of experts - if there was one thing you could say to your student-self what would it be?

Take more risks.

Read more about our Xhibit judges and apply here

At UAL, Black students and students of colour are being confronted with systemic racial challenges. The term “decolonising” is repeatedly used across institutions in an effort to be “seen” to be doing the work, but what is essentially being done to address racism at UAL?

During my time as Education Officer a main project focus has been campaigning to close the attainment gap. It’s been an extensive journey, one which involved using policy to lobby the university to prioritise an anti-racist agenda. I recall the heaviness of being a Black woman in an environment dominated by whiteness, and I still see myself reflected in the marginalised students directly affected by institutionalised racism. Regardless of having to meet the same entry requirements, Black students are experiencing a very different UAL in comparison to white home students. Race, gender, sexuality and class go hand in hand with wellbeing. In order to create an anti-racist environment, there must be an acceptance of intersectionality at course level.

Last year I worked in collaboration with a member of Arts SU staff to write a report on student experiences of racism at UAL. We began by pushing out a survey, asking for Black students and students of colour to anonymously share their experiences of discrimination. We received over a hundred responses. Naturally, it was frustrating reading the familiar experiences of micro-aggressions and witnessing the absence of cultural representation.

“There’s a lack of understanding as to how socio-economic background impacts on education, I feel my tutors sometimes stereotype me or are intimidated by me, and they fail to understand that being a minority group in UAL is often sad and a lonely student experience.” - UAL Student

Collating the student testimonies helped us form an evidence based report. The report identifies several key areas of concern: The experience of Black students and students of colour, Admission, The Learning Environment, Representation: Curriculum and Staff and Assessment and Feedback. By comparing case studies and areas of best practice, we were able to produce a list of recommendations for UAL. Placing a focus on the student and staff testimonies has forced senior members of staff to confront the racism and inequality that our students experience at university every day

We presented our findings at the last Governors meeting of Term 1 and there was an overwhelming amount of positive and constructive feedback.  The Governors committed to delivering on one of our key recommendations: to design and deliver face to face anti-racism training. It was also agreed that UAL would prioritise a university wide strategy, aimed at tackling racism at UAL, placing the student voice at the forefront!

UAL has committed to eliminate the gap between the number of first degree BAME home students achieving a 1st or 2:1 and the number of first degree home white students achieving the same. UAL aims to fulfil this commitment by 2022; just 2 years from now.

A network of “BAME” teaching staff exists, yet there are very few in senior leadership positions. Without these voices playing a significant role in the decision making at UAL, these ambitious targets will be challenging to reach.

All quotes are taken from our Attainment gap report which you can access via this link.

If you want to be involved in the campaign or have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact me at [email protected]

If you have been impacted by racism at UAL please get in touch with our advice team: [email protected]

Thank you to all the students who shared their experiences and made this work possible.

In focus interview with our 2020 Xhibit selection judges; Olivia Ahmad

As this is a student-led opportunity which was created by Kit Hammonds and Angela Robinson two Chelsea (formally London Institute) students in 1997 it’s good to remind ourselves why student-led activity is required in our Universities, looking back at your career can you explain a little more about your experience in coordinating and curating art projects either during your time at University or upon graduation?  

The first exhibitions I took part in were at the gallery at my university when I was an undergraduate studying illustration. Putting together exhibitions is a creative endeavour, but it also needs to be underpinned by tight organisation and sensitivity to exhibiting artists and to the people who eventually see your show – university spaces and collective projects are a great way to test new approaches, as well as to learn these practical skills.

Students often look for advice which might help shape their career, looking back at your own creative trajectory what piece of advice would you have given yourself either during your studies or upon graduation?

Just to be kind to yourself, especially in those early months and years after graduation. When you graduate you go from a really intense period of making your own work in what is hopefully a mutually supportive environment, and it can be really difficult when the time to do that, studio spaces and support networks become more remote. I can remember doubt creeping in hard! It takes time to build your practice - keep going and try not to compare yourself to other people.

Utilising your interest and knowledge in graphic design and illustration, can you discuss in more detail what you’re hoping to see in this year’s applications?

I’m hoping to see people who have found their own voice through rigorous investigation of their practice and by pursuing their own research interests.  What’s exciting about illustration and graphic design is the way that it ‘lives’ very closely among us – this gives it power and potency, and I hope the work we see will recognise and harness that.  

Links

Find out more about Olivia on her Instagram  account

House of Illustration website

Association of Illustrators

In focus interview with our 2020 Xhibit selection judges; Eleanor Louise West

As this is a student-led opportunity which was created by Kit Hammonds and Angela Robinson two Chelsea (formally London Institute) students in 1997 it’s good to remind ourselves why student-led activity is required in our Universities, can you explain a little more about your experience in coordinating art projects and why you think they’re important. Feel free to discuss your creative background as well.

Student lead activity was key to my university experience, the opportunity to work across colleges with students from other specialisms and ways of working was invaluable and has greatly impacted my practice. During my three years of University I was privileged to run two student societies LGBTQIA+ and Arts Fems. It was these networks which enabled me to feel most comfortable to be my authentic creative self. Working in student lead projects meant we could all learn from each other and work towards exhibitions and projects that we felt were important to our contemporary issues. As a Queer student I often felt isolated on my course, as such it was through the programme of LGBTQIA+ Society projects which empowered myself and those around us to make visible our experiences and prove how they mattered. Without those student lead activities my practice wouldn’t have evolved in to the activism that it’s become today.  

Xhibit is an exhibition platform and professional development programme – why is the opportunity so important for students?

Professional development is so important for students to find out where their practice inside the studios will operate and survive beyond graduation. To be able to give students the opportunity to showcase their work alongside their peers off campus is great exposure outside of the ‘art school bubble’ and challenges artists to think differently about their works. Xhibit contains work from 6 different colleges and a variety of specialisms which means artists still finding their practice at University can be introduced to new ways of thinking and learning.  

As a Sabbatical Officer what is your role on the Xhibit selection panel and what are you looking forward to seeing in the applications?

As the Sabbatical officer sitting on the judging panel for Xhibit it’s my job to provide student voice and representation to the conversation. I’m especially looking forward to seeing works from underrepresented groups that can challenge our personal outlooks. I want to know what UAL Students are thinking and feeling right now, and I’m continually inspired seeing students make work that is necessary to our time. Throughout my university experience I’ve been witness to incredible works from foundation to PHD, our students are resilient, resourceful and brave.  

Links

Visit Eleanor’s Instgram account here

We are pleased to announce that our 2019 Summer Residency recipient is Wimbledon Fine Art Painting graduate, Tobi Alexandra Falade! The 12 week Residency is a fantastic way for artists to develop their practice further by ensuring that they still have a place to work post-degree and a space to think.

Here, our artist in residence explains their work in their own words. 

Hi everyone,

This is your current Welfare Officer, Katayoun 👋

During these past two years at the SU, we have achieved some very exciting goals this year and I wanted to let you know about a few of them:

Consent

Consent was a big priority of mine this past two years, we worked collaboratively with UAL to tackle harassment and sexual violence. There have been some exciting changes so far, such as the reposting system which has been up and running for the last two years. Students can now report anonymously or non-anonymously. They can report a variety of stuff, such as discrimination, sexual harassment, problems on their course. You can access this here.

We have also worked collaboratively with UAL on two poster campaigns that promote consent and celebrate our diversity as a university, whilst taking a stand against discrimination, you will be seeing these around your campus.

A very big part of my campaigning was mandatory consent training. In the past two years, we have been implementing mandatory training for both sports and societies as well as foundation year students.

And I’m super stoked to let you know that UAL is now launching mandatory consent training for all foundation students and first years at one college. This will be growing over the years, and I’m so excited to see all the positive impact on the culture at UAL.

Zero Tolerance

In our Students’ Union, we care about the safety of our members. Which is why this year we have created a zero tolerance policy and poster campaign. As a Union, we now have an official zero tolerance policy against any forms of discriminatory behaviour at UAL and at our events, sports and societies. The policy will up on our website in September.

Cultural sensitivity training

We are now providing a cultural sensitivity training for clubs and societies. This is followed by the induction period as well as tour training. The training explores various conversations around race, institutionalised racism, attainment and cultural appropriation.

Trans Officer

We created a new role for a Trans Officer in 2018. This was result of a motion passed in student council, leading to a referendum. And in our latest elections, we elected our first ever Trans Officer which is super exciting and we can't wait to see all the exciting work they do.

You can find out more about Al our first Trans Officer here

Student Sex Workers

Following a motion which was passed in our student council, we have started working towards a policy that is inclusive of our members who partake in sex work.

We organised a talk with sex work activists and discussed ally ship and politics of sex work and decriminalisation. It is really important for us that student sex workers know we’re on their side and support their rights.

Pregnancy and student parents

We worked with UAL to make sure they were hearing the voices of students who are parents or pregnant whilst studying. As the result of this I’m very excited to say that UAL have now added pregnancy on the Extenuating Circumstances (EC’s) form. They’re also in the process of creating a policy to help the access to study for students that fall under this category.

Another EC’s win this year has been changes made to medical evidence and time out policy. UAL has now extended the deadline for taking time out, and students are now allowed to provide EC evidence from private counsellors (as opposed to limiting it to UAL counsellors) - YAY!

Healthcare

We now have sexual health clinic regular visits at all UAL colleges. They are advertised on the website. For more information you can refer to the college coordinator at your college.

We’ve also created a map to help you find the clinics in your area, which you can access here

This year I also created info packs to help any trans identifying individuals who make be in need of further information regarding healthcare and wellbeing. This info pack includes information on healthcare, mental health services and activists groups in London for trans people.

This info pack also has information on sex workers rights and reproductive justice and abortion rights. It will be going live soon on our website and can be found on the advice and campaigns tabs.

The past two years have been some of the most exciting moments of mms student activism career, and I’m so excited to hand over my role to my successor Pinky, and to see what amazing things all the new officers have in the bag for the future of Arts SU.