London Student Guide
London is the largest city in the UK and one of the leading cities in the world. There are over 412,000 students studying at one of the many universities in the city.
Nightlife
The abundance of students and young people means that there is no shortage of options for a top night out, any day of the week. The various districts of London all cater for different tastes so it is advisable to know roughly in which direction to head.
The Shoreditch area of London’s east end is the trendy area and very popular with students. There are many late bars and clubs stretching from Old Street Tube Station to Shoreditch High Street including XOYO, a live music and events space that regularly hosts club nights. Look out for the ‘Bugged Out!’ parties as they are not to be missed!
There are countless clubs in the Soho area of central London, although many of these tend to be tourist traps and can be very overpriced. Highlights in Soho include Café de Paris, Zoo bar and Ruby Blue. Mayfair is where you will find the upmarket clubs and bars like China White, Funky Buddha and Mahiki. Expect strict door policies, expensive drinks and maybe a celebrity or two.
Camden is home to the alternative, indie and metal music scene and the bars, shops and clubs along Camden High Street reflect the crowd. The Electric Ballroom and Koko make for great club nights and often host live music events.
Cuture
London is arguably one of the best cities in the world for art and culture. There are hundreds of galleries and exhibition spaces. Tate Modern is the most visited modern art gallery in the world and is housed in a former power station next to the River Thames. Check out the Turbine Hall in the Tate Modern as there is usually something exciting (and free) happening there.
Top Things to Do
London can sometimes appear very grey and concrete so it is a good idea to get to know the parks and open spaces in the city. Regent’s Park can be found in the centre of the city and includes a boating lake, sports fields and gardens. Hampstead Heath is in North London and is one of the capitals best sunbathing locations. The Heath is also home to three swimming ponds (men, women and mixed), which provide the perfect opportunity to cool down on hot summer days.
Cost of Living
London is one of the most expensive cities to study in the UK and world. Expect to pay a premium for accommodation, transport and general tourism/entertainment.
Where Can I Study?
There are 43 universities in London, the largest concentration of higher educational establishments in Europe. Many of the universities are located on the outskirts of the city in Greater London.
Imperial College London is a public research university in the centre of London and specialises in science, engineering, business and medicine. The university has an internationally renowned reputation and was positioned as 8th out of the top 400 universities in the world by The Times world university rankings.
The London School of Economics and Political Science (often referred to as LSE or London School of Economics) is based in Westminster and conducts teaching and research across a range of social sciences. The library at the university contains over 4.7 million volumes and is the world’s largest social and political sciences library.
Middlesex University can be found on the outskirts of London and has a strong reputation in the fields of business, computing and the arts. The university is spread across three campuses, in Hendon, Archway and Trent Park. Middlesex has a good student exchange programme in place with over 100 universities in more than 22 countries around the world.
Kingston University can be found in Surrey on the London border. The university is spread across 4 main campuses. Penrhyn Road is the largest campus and is home to students in the fields of social sciences, civil engineering, mathematics, geography and computing. Knights Park is home to the Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture and includes a photography studio, ‘Middle Mill’ halls of residence and the university’s Stanley Picker Gallery. Kingston Hill and Roehampton Vale campuses are a bit further from the centre of Kingston and offer places of study for nursing, law, business, engineering and social science students.
Royal Holloway, University of London (often abbreviated to RHUL) is spread over 135 acres of beautiful woodland in Egham, Surrey. The campus is around 30 minutes from Waterloo by national rail and has a strong academic reputation in the fields of art and social sciences, management and economics, and science. The Times World University Rankings placed Royal Holloway 107th out of the world’s top 400 universities.
University College London (UCL) is located in central London and was the first university in England to admit women on equal terms with men. The university is organised into 10 faculties ranging from arts and humanities to biomedical sciences and law. UCL is a major centre for biomedical research and forms 3 of the 11-biomedical research centres established by the NHS. University College London was placed 17th in The Times World University Rankings.
Queen Mary, University of London (often referred to as just Queen Mary) is a public research university and constituent college of the University of London. The main campus at Queen Mary is located in Mile End, in the east of London. The university has three other campuses located in Holborn, Smithfield and Whitechapel.
Queen Mary is organised into 3 faculties: the Faculty of Science and Engineering, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences and Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry. Queen Mary has a strong reputation for academic excellence and was placed 127th out of the world’s top 400 universities by The Times World University Rankings.
Birkbeck University of London (known as BBK or just Birkbeck) is a public research university and forms part of the University of London. Birkbeck offers Master’s and Bachelor’s degree programmes on a full-time or part-time basis. The university has a strong reputation in the fields of English, History, History of Art, Psychology, Philosophy, Science and Crystallography. The Times World University Rankings placed Birkbeck 149th out of the world’s top 400 universities.
Goldsmiths, University of London is a public research university specialising in the arts, humanities and social sciences. The university forms part of the University of London and can be found in New Cross, southeast London. Goldsmiths Faculty of Art is famous for producing a high standard of artists and can boast over 20 Turner Prize nominees. Notable arts graduates from Goldsmiths’ include Lucien Freud, Steve McQueen, Antony Gormley and Damien Hirst.
King’s College London (known informally as KCL or King’s) can be found spread over several campuses in central London. The Strand Campus is the largest campus and is located in Westminster. The Strand campus is home to the schools of arts and humanities, law, social science, physical science and engineering.
Kings College offers the largest healthcare-learning centre in Europe and incorporates 3 teaching hospitals, including Guy’s Hospital in London Bridge and St Thomas Hospital in Lambeth. Kings College has a reputation for academic excellence in the fields of law, humanities and social sciences. The Times World University Rankings placed King’s College as 56th out of the world top 400 universities.
Should I Study in London?
A student’s honest opinion:
“I studied at King’s College London and had a great university experience, particularly during my first year. This is because London is a great place to study due to its diverse and multicultural background which makes meeting people from different walks of life very easy and because London is THE entertainment capital of England.
Whether it’s shopping, sightseeing, eating or partying, the city is always alive and vibrant and full of opportunities.
Different areas of London are also hugely varied with their own charms and ‘must sees’. Boredom is thus not an option. The disadvantages of studying in central London, however, would be the cost of living and travel. Rent and social spending are some of the highest in the UK and because London is such a large city, getting from one place to another can also be frustrating and difficult due to the journey time.
My advice for those wishing to study in London is to make the most of what the city has to offer before it is too late (i.e. once in employment). Explore the many boroughs, eat the varied cuisines, make the most of student club nights and seek the internships where possible to get ahead in life.” – Eva, 24
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