Frequently Asked Questions

About LCF’s move

• Why are we moving?

  The fashion industry does not work by subject in isolation, we’ve been teaching collaboration across courses for a number of years now and it has become clear that there are increased opportunities in having all of us working closely together.

• Where are we moving to?

  We are moving to an area called East Bank on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford, east London, this sits within the London Borough of Newham. It is part of the Lea Valley, an area of London that has an extraordinary history of industrial invention and development that is of worldwide significance. Stratford is well served for local, national, and international transport links and is in London’s Travelcard Zone 2/3.

  For the 2023/24 academic year, all undergraduate and postgraduate students will be at London College of Fashion, UAL, 105 Carpenters Road, Stratford, E20 2AR.

• When are we actually moving - will there be any disruption to my studies as a current student?

  We have been planning to ensure that the disruption to staff and students is minimised. We are in the process of confirming many of the details so please read your emails from us over the summer. We will send another email near the end of August which will round up the key information from your course and what you need to know when coming on site.

  East Bank access update, July 2023: The finishing of the inside of the building was delayed slightly, though we were able to mitigate this delay with a recovery timetable. However, rather than risk a delay later in the summer where we might have less time to plan alternatives, we are pushing back the date that you can access the site to ensure we can embed and test on-site services. We will be allowing students on-site to the new building from 25 September 2023. Please do not come on to the site before that date.

  For learning and teaching:

  • New and returning undergraduate students will not have their term dates affected.
  • New postgraduate students will experience a one-week delay, the autumn term will now end on Friday 15 December. You will receive a new offer letter showing these dates.
  • For returning postgraduate students this will mean a two-week delay to when you are able to access the East Bank building. Your term dates will now be 25 September to 15 December 2023. We will extend the assessment deadline for impacted students to the week beginning 8 January 2024. This means that the new hand-in date for returning 15-month postgraduate students will be the week commencing 8 January 2024.
  • There will be no delay for new PhD students who will join 25 September.
  • For returning PhD students this will mean a two-week delay to your access dates. You continue to have access to the CCW PhD Baseroom until East Bank is open.

  Enrolment and ID card collection for students: Students will be required to complete registration online, then we will notify you to let you know to collect your ID card. ID card collection will be in Room 1.22 on the first floor of our High Holborn site.

  East Bank opening for students from 25 September: We will be allowing students on-site at East Bank from 25 September.

  Student welcome and induction and Big Welcome dates (open to new and returning students): Your course teams will still be working with you on your inductions and getting to know your classmates. The Big Welcome talks will now take place online the week commencing 18 September, and we will reschedule physical events such as socials later in the term.

  LCF Library closure: From Saturday 1 July the library will be open 10am to 4pm, Monday to Friday only, until Friday 14 July when the library will close to enable our library collections, fixtures, and fittings to be relocated to the East Bank campus. LCF's Library at East Bank will open on Monday 25 September 2023. During the LCF library closure, staff and students with valid ID cards can continue to access other UAL college libraries and learning zones at Central Saint Martins, London College of Communication and Chelsea, Camberwell and Wimbledon College of Arts for borrowing and returning library items, as well as accessing computers, photocopying and printing facilities. Please check their opening hours and locations.

  You can also use the Library Search to search the catalogue, check your library account, access eBooks and find articles and resources on your subject.

  Read more about LCF's Library summer 2023 closure and how you can continue to access library facilities on our website.

  A guide to the new building will be made available to students in due course and we will provide regular updates before you join us or return to your students at the new East Bank campus.

• What will happen to our existing buildings when we move out?

  The plan for LCF’s existing sites is varied but will not take effect until LCF has vacated the current buildings. Some of our buildings will be sold, whilst some will be handed back to UAL to be kept and used for other purposes.

  Life at Lime Grove is changing - It’s goodbye and hello. LCF’s move to a new site as part of East Bank signals a new era for this loved West London location steeped in history. For over a century, Lime Grove has been providing creative education and technical skills to young people. UAL’s pre-degree studies are now creating their new home at Lime Grove, with LCF’s own two courses paving the way from this September 2023, followed by all other pre-degree provisions from September 2024. For students across London and the world, these courses mark the start of their careers in the creative industries. Now, by bringing them together in one place, UAL can evolve its pre-degree offer ensuring more opportunities for students to access targeted support, excellent teaching, and relevant industry skills.

• What is East Bank and who else is part of East Bank? 

  East Bank is a cultural and education district being developed by UAL along with partners including the Victoria and Albert Museum, Sadlers Wells, BBC and UCL. LCF has been collaborating with these partners for some time, but this move has created lots more opportunities to work together; things like joint research and PhD programmes, joint exhibitions, easier access for our students to the work of our partners, and many other exciting projects.

  Take a look at our recent commission with the East Bank partners on LCF Stories, celebrating the 10^th anniversary of the London Olympics 2012, which culminated in a live pop-up performance 'Dystopia to Utopia: Reimagining our Future'.

Our students and the move

• How have students been consulted and involved in the move process?

  We will be actively engaging students in move plans over the coming academic year, where students can contribute through the college rep community, participate in creating and shaping social learning communities at Stratford, lead and participate in societies, clubs volunteering activities with Arts SU, take part in focus groups, events and sign up to become ‘Student Ambassadors’ and ‘Content Creators’ to contribute to the events and write stories about LCF’s move and much more.

  We have worked with Arts SU to include students on specific aspects of the development, and continue to include the student voice in research that has informed our approach to developing projects around the move with student involvement, for example, assisting with East Bank Summer Schools and events such as The Great Get Together on the park. We have also run student competitions to design elements of the project, including the hoardings next to the Aquatics Centre on the Olympic Park. Arts SU is represented on the Stratford planning meetings to ensure that student experience is being considered in all aspects relating to the move process.

  We’ll be sharing details about how you can contribute to the move in the monthly student newsletter, YOUR.LCF.

• If I’m not moving how does this affect me?

  The reputation of your College/University really matters in the world of careers. Potential employers are interested in where you studied, and LCF’s reputation will continue to be world-leading as we use the opportunity of the move to create more industry partnerships. Alumni are encouraged to return to LCF's new East Bank campus and welcome our graduates and alumni to benefit from our new home in east London. At East Bank, our graduates will have the chance to connect, build their ideas and access support, opportunities, events and an unmissable annual programme of exhibitions.

  We've outlined all the benefits and support for our graduates to find out how to reconnect, discover job and research opportunities and access UAL's world-class facilities, read more about these benefits on LCF Stories.

  We also intend to increase opportunities for our alumni to work with us in the new building. There will be potential for alumni to connect to the new Centre for Fashion Enterprise and Innovation, which will deliver world-class enterprise education for our student body and support our alumni community to realise their enterprise ambitions, providing opportunities through our incubation spaces and programmes to enable businesses to scale and grow. It will benefit from the networks and activities of the Fashion District, including innovation challenges, skills development, and access to finance through the London Fashion Fund. If you are graduating this year and will not be studying in the new building, you can stay up to date with all the latest information on LCF’s move by updating your details to receive information from the Alumni Association.

• How is information regarding the move being disseminated to students?

  Current students will receive updates via your monthly newsletter, the YOUR.LCF and any specific information by email as we approach the move in September 2023. We will also be capturing the student voice through focus groups and pop-ups.

  Your course teams can also support you with any queries you may have, and all information relating to the move will be posted here on the LCF's move webpage, please check back regularly for updates. Please also continue to check these Student  FAQs about the move which will be updated as we transition to the new East Bank campus.

  If you are thinking of applying to LCF in the next couple of years, you can find all the latest updates about LCF’s move on our website and at our online open days.

• When does East Bank open?

  We will be allowing students on-site to the new East Bank campus from 25 September 2023 for the start of term. Please do not come on to the site before that date.

  Important – you must go to High Holborn to collect your Student ID Card before traveling to the East Bank site. You will not be able to gain access to the building without the card and it can only be collected from High Holborn.

  Check your timetable before you arrive and we’ll show you how to get to your class on your first day. Visit UAL's website for more information on Student Timetables.

• Where do I get my student ID card?

  If you're a returning student who already has a Student ID card, you don't need to collect a new one. If your Student ID card is lost, expired or faulty, contact the Student Centre at your College or Institute for guidance.

  East Bank undergraduate and postgraduate students

  We are excited to welcome you to our new East Bank site, which opens on 25 September; the first day of term. This means that we cannot dispense ID cards from this site, you will need to collect your ID card from the UAL High Holborn site before going to the new East Bank site.

  Important – you must go to High Holborn to collect your Student ID Card before traveling to the East Bank site. You will not be able to gain access to the building without the card and it can only be collected from High Holborn

  Location: Room 1.22, first floor at High Holborn

  Opening times:

  • Collection before term, 11 September - 22 September (Monday - Friday), 9am - 4pm
  • Collection for later arrivals, 25 September - 16 October (Monday - Friday), 9am - 4pm

  If you have any concerns or need assistance, please contact student.admin@fashion.arts.ac.uk.

Travel

• What is the postal address of the new LCF Stratford building?

  The full address of the new LCF Stratford building is, UAL: London College of Fashion, 105 Carpenters Road, Stratford E20 2AR.

• Where is the nearest tube station – how do I get to the new building?

  Stratford is the closest tube station and is one of the best-connected places in London, in Zone 2/3. It is served by international, national, and local rail lines (and more train connections than Waterloo at peak), as well as several underground lines, now including the new Elizabeth line. It is also served by multiple bus routes.

  In this video, follow our guide which walks you through the route from Stratford tube station, through Westfields, onto the Park, and to our East Bank campus entrance.

  If you are exiting out of Stratford Underground Station – take the escalator or lift up to ‘The Street’ (which is the outdoor part of Westfield Shopping Centre) – follow it along and turn left at Fountain Square towards the restaurants. Head to the road (Westfield Avenue), then cross into the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park (QEOP) onto Endeavour Square. Now follow the directions outlined in the public realm access below, as there are two routes you can take to get to LCF's East Bank campus.

  The public realm refers to all of the publicly accessible spaces at Stratford Waterfront in front of LCF's building, our partner's buildings, and the river. This area is available to everyone to enjoy, spend time in, and move through. Connected to the bridge by the London Aquatics Centre, the Podium creates a new cultural route through which the public can move.

  East Bank’s Stratford Waterfront public realm is now open providing a fully accessible route across the front of the East Bank development to the front of our building and this opens two pedestrian routes on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park (QEOP).

  1. From Stratford tube station or Stratford International (follow the purple or blue line on this QEOP map): from the F10 bridge opposite the Aquatics Centre, pedestrians will be able to turn right onto the newly open public realm, passing in front of Sadlers Wells and BBC new building and arrive at LCF’s front entrance at ground level. Additional temporary wayfinding signage will be in place along the route of the F10 bridge directing you to UAL/LCF.

  2. From Hackney Wick or north of the park (follow the red line on this QEOP map): from the Park pedestrians will be able to cross the Tallow Bridge (F09 bridge) providing direct access across the public realm (waterfront square) and into the LCF waterfront entrance.

  Visit tfl.gov.uk for more information on student travel and save money on your fares.

• Can I cycle to LCF's East Bank campus?

  Stratford is one of London’s prime spots for cycling, running, and walking, with more than 300 bikes available for hire in and around the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. There will be cycle storage located in a secure, covered place in LCF’s new building, and the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park has 310 docking points for London's cycle hire scheme, Santander Cycles.

  The LCF cycle store located on the lower ground at LCF's East Bank campus will not be open until January 2024 as Carpenters Road will still be under Mace control as an active building site access road for our East Bank partner's buildings.

  The Park has 310 docking points for London's cycle hire scheme, Santander Cycles, and has 24-hour security patrols.

  Cyclists can also make use of the recently extended Barclays Cycle Superhighway from central London (Aldgate) to Stratford City.

  The docking points are spread across seven docking stations in and around the Park, including:

  • Lee Valley VeloPark
  • Timber Lodge Café
  • East Village
  • Here East
  • Copper Box Arena
  • London Aquatics Centre
  • Monier Road
  • The Podium
  • Stratford Station

  Find out more about the Santander Cycles programme at the Park here.

  For the locations of bike parking racks and Santander docking stations, please see the cycling map of the Park.

Accommodation

• I am starting my course or returning to study in September 2023 (in the new building), which Halls of Residence should I look at applying for?

  LCF undergraduate and postgraduate courses for the academic year 2023/24 will be delivered from the new East Bank campus. UAL recognises the need to supplement its provision of student accommodation in east London to coincide with LCF’s move. There are currently two halls of residence located within a 15-minute walk or a 4-minute bike ride to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park; Stratford One and Wick Park.

  The Lime Grove site will be home to the two pre-degree courses, International Preparation for Fashion and International: Introduction to the Study of Fashion, and the nearest hall of residence is the Costume Store.

  If you have any questions or would like further information on halls of residence, please contact us via the details on the UAL accommodation webpage, and a member of our team will be happy to help.

About our future LCF building

• Where are we now in the LCF Stratford building development?

  You can also check the LCF’s move webpage for regular updates on progress of the LCF Stratford building, including the recent features on library services and LCF Archives vision for the new building, and more leading up to the move in summer 2023.

  • Watch this tour inside the East Bank campus recorded in March 2023 on LCF's YouTube channel.
  • UAL sign is officially installed on LCF's new building - see more on LCF Stories.
  • See our 'In pictures - progress of LCF's new building on East Bank, March 2023' on LCF Stories.
• How is the building is being made?

  From utilising high volumes of recycled concrete for the frame, foundations, and shell of the building to making use of existing equipment where it’s needed, East Bank has been brought to life through resources that have been recycled and repurposed.

  On-site, we make use of biofuel which produces 90% less carbon emissions than diesel and, through working closely with London Legacy Development Corporation, who run the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, we have maintained UAL’s commitment to buy 100% renewable electricity and this renewable energy has been powering the pump.

  Aligning with our plans to connect to a site-wide, low carbon heat network to decarbonise heating by 2028, East Bank has been connected to a district heating system that is flexible and ready to move over to the most sustainable source as soon as the necessary technologies improve.

• Will there be the same or new facilities and technical equipment available in the new building?

  Yes – we are investing in new equipment. Not just for the move though, we have a capital bids project every year where we assess what we need and replace and maintain. For example, the Digital Learning Lab at Mare Street has all new equipment such as VR headsets and 3D printing and scanning, which all students and staff have access to, as well as technicians on hand to advise. This is all part of our commitment to using technology with our students to really innovate and experiment, and we are planning to expand this offering to other sites.

• Will students be assigned lockers?

  Yes, lockers will be available for both staff and students. More information will be provided on the lockers and how they operate in due course.

• Will I be able to open windows and control the light and heating?

  Giving staff and students agency in their spaces has been one of the core principles of the building design, so they can control their own environments. The building has been designed to be naturally ventilated wherever possible, although the nature of some spaces within the building means that mechanical ventilation is required. All rooms in the building will have openable windows even where mechanical ventilation is present. Many of the rooms will have window shutters to help prevent glare and manage light levels in the rooms.

• How does the new building contribute to UAL’s commitments to sustainability and climate action?

  BREEAM is the world’s leading sustainability assessment method, using standards developed by the Building Research Establishment and the design of our new building has received Outstanding BREEAM classification, scoring the highest at the design stage for:

  • energy efficiency
  • management (construction, commissioning, handover, and aftercare)
  • facilitating sustainable transport and active travel
  • water efficiency
  • sustainable land use including habitat protection and enhancement of ecology
  • And long-term biodiversity management.
• How will noise levels be managed within the building?

  We have given lots of consideration to the acoustics of the building and have carried out sophisticated acoustic modelling throughout the building design. In many rooms, acoustic baffles (free-hanging sound absorption) have been introduced.

• Will there be access to outdoor spaces in our new building?

  When designing the building we really wanted external terraces and the ability to ‘step outside’. We are working with the architects to ensure that there is as much greenery and planting as possible. Garden rooms with internal planting will be located on three floors, opening onto terraces and creating inside and outside rooms, while connecting terraces wrap around two facades of the building from the 10th to the 12th floor which will give us amazing panoramic views of London.

  Read more about the 'Hangout and socialising areas at East Bank' on LCF Stories.

• Will there be catering facilities in our new building?

  Yes, there will be excellent facilities where staff and students can purchase refreshments, such as the café and seating area on the Ground floor and the dining hall with a refectory, cafe and bar, and pizzeria on the 10th floor.

  Baxter Storey is an independent hospitality provider that provides all the catering services at University of the Arts London, with a focus on healthy, provenance and quality food, which is sustainably and locally sourced and caters for all requirements.

  At LCF's East Bank campus, there will be food destinations with signature dishes and experiences shaping a new environment for LCF students and staff. What to expect? Pizzeria throughout the day, exceptional barista coffees, an evening bar, guest chef invitations, bubble tea, and much more, let's take a look at the menus on LCF Stories.

• Will there be car parking or bicycle parking?

  There will not be provision for car parking, but there will be a generous provision for bicycle parking in the new building in a secure, covered place, as well as showers and lockers adjacent to the cycle parking. The Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park also has 310 docking points for London's cycle hire scheme, Santander Cycles.

  The LCF cycle store located on the lower ground at LCF's East Bank campus will not be open until January 2024 as Carpenters Road will still be under Mace control as an active building site access road for our East Bank partner's buildings.

• Will there be a quiet space designated in the new building?

  Yes, there will be designated quiet space available. There are two quiet rooms provided on the 10th floor and if you are looking for quiet study space, this will be located in the Library on the 2^nd floor.

• Will there be more opportunities to showcase our work?

  Showcasing the work of our students and staff is a priority, there are many spaces and opportunities for cultural programming in our new building, and we will be engaging students in the curation of these spaces. There is a new gallery, gallery foyer, and eight vitrines, and we will programme work into the many public foyer spaces. In addition, our building opens onto a new piece of public realm where we will hold cultural events, for example, we can use the colonnade walk-throughs where there is an infrastructure built in for power, data, and rigging to facilitate catwalks, performances and installations. There will also be the potential to work with our East Bank partners to programme across all our buildings. More details on this will follow as this programme is developed. You can see examples of how we have engaged students in the current showcasing space at our John Princes Street campus in the Fashion Space Gallery through the recent exhibitions ‘It’s A Work In Progress’ and ‘Melanin Modalities in Fashion and Culture’.

  We recently introduced LCF's new public-facing Cultural Programme on LCF Stories.

• How will students be familiarised with the new building, and health and safety procedures?

  The East Bank Building Guide for students provides information on all aspects of studying at East Bank and how the building functions. This information will be updated on a regular basis as we transition into full-time occupancy at East Bank, so please continue to regularly check this information and read your regular student newsletter, the YOUR.LCF where we will signpost the latest updates to this guide.

  When you arrive for your first day, there will be help on hand to show you how to get to your class. We also have a campus map available in the Building Guide to help you settle in and familiarise yourself with the new campus.

• How can I find out more about new LCF building and the surrounding area?

  Check out our East Bank area guide on LCF's website.

  For all the latest building information and updates on the building, please read your monthly student newsletter, the YOUR.LCF and follow our regular channels and LCF Stories.

  Find out more about East Bank in our area guide.

  Check our LCF student discounts page for all the latest discounts, offers, and tips created just for you.

  You can also ake a look at what’s happening on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park website.

• Is there an arts shop at the East Bank campus?

  Yes, there will be an arts shop at the East Bank campus stocking all the usual art, design, and specialist materials for students to purchase on-site.