University College London (UCL), University of London

To live in London is to experience one of the great cities of the world. Students at UCL benefit from our location in the centre of the capital, the hub of culture, arts, politics, government, the media, the law and the great financial institutions of the City of London. The capital also offers a scene and status unrivalled by any other city.

UCL is at the heart of what has been described as ‘the knowledge capital of the world.’ London is an education. The capital is home to over 200 museums (twice as many as Paris or New York), 150 theatres, 34,000 shops, 3,000 parks and open spaces and four UNESCO World Heritage Sites (Kew Gardens, Maritime Greenwich, Tower of London and Westminster Abbey and Palace).

London plays a part in the academic life as well as the social life of being a student at UCL. Surrounded by libraries, archives, galleries and the headquarters of the professional associations, London’s students have access to an unrivalled range of cultural activities and influences.

Yet, for many students considering university in London, worries about the cost of living and studying may deter them from choosing to study here. Although it is a fact that studying in London can be more expensive than in some other parts of the UK, the true picture is often exaggerated.

According to the NatWest Student Living Index (2010), London is the most cost-effective city in which to study in the UK. The research analysed weekly expenditure including rent and living costs against earnings from part-time work. The results found that hard-working and resourceful London students are earning, on average, a massive £5,024 per year - a substantial £167.48 per week.

Above all, when it comes to entering the careers market, London graduates start with a real advantage, with so many of the country’s leading employers in the worlds of law, finance, business, media and communications on their doorstep.

The student experience involves a lot more than study. At UCL there are many activates to get involved in and numerous clubs and societies to join. If you are a University College London student you are automatically a member of UCLU (UCL Student Union), unless you opted out on registration. We are led by six full-time student officers who are elected by you in a cross-campus ballot each year. UCLU exist to provide you with a range of services to support and help you develop your skills and interests while you are at UCL.

Student Union UCL has over 200 clubs and societies covering a wide range of sporting, cultural and artistic interests. We have a number of bars, cafés and shops providing high quality products at low prices, which along with The Study are convenient places on campus where you can relax and socialise.

At UCLU you can get involved in campaigning, or volunteering in the local community; find part-time work; or develop your employability skills. You can also stand for election to a range of positions which would allow you to influence directly the way UCLU operates.

The Bloomsbury Theatre, which is owned by UCL, creates part of the university environment. It is spacious and welcoming theatre close to London's West End with 535 comfortable seats, each with plenty of room to stretch your legs and no pillars to block your view! The Theatre hosts student productions for 12 weeks annually, whilst hosting professional productions for the rest of the year.

Embarking on a degree is an exciting challenge, and for many students may mean living independently for the first time. You need not be concerned about finding a place to live, as UCL can offer accommodation and advice. UCL Student Accommodation's aim is to provide agreeable accommodation in a friendly environment at affordable prices. Three-quarters of our accommodation is within 10 or 15 minutes' walk of UCL. All single first-year undergraduates guaranteed a residential place (please check terms and conditions on the UCL’s website).

UCL Halls of residence

At UCL the phrase ‘Hall of Residence’ is used to describe catered accommodation. There are two Halls of Residence at UCL, Ifor Evans Hall and Ramsay Hall, which provide breakfast and dinner from Monday to Friday excluding Bank Holidays and six UCL closure days.

UCL Student Houses

These are UCL residences in which students are responsible for providing and cooking their own food and cleaning their own rooms (and common areas if living in flats). Kitchens are provided in which students may prepare their own food, or meals may be bought from the various food outlets on the UCL Bloomsbury Campus.

Intercollegiate Halls

As part of the University of London, UCL has access to approximately 800 places for its students in the catered Intercollegiate Halls. These Halls, all within easy reach of UCL, are available to students attending UCL and any college of the University of London.

Accommodation is in twin or single rooms sharing communal bathrooms on a corridor. Breakfast and dinner are provided daily and brunch or lunch is available at weekends. All are independently administered, not by UCL, and students preferring catered accommodation must include these Halls in their preferences when completing their online application.

Alternative Accommodation

UCL Student Accommodation is able to offer limited assistance to students seeking privately let flats and lodgings, through suitable agencies and by means of the UCL guarantee scheme.

Whether you are thinking of working in the UK during or after your studies, returning back home or are considering postgraduate study, the Careers Service is here to support you. We have developed a bespoke programme of careers talks and events that address your specific needs. Throughout the year you can attend careers talks on subjects such as:

• writing effective CVs and applications for the UK
• understanding the UK job market
• visa options post-graduation
• marketing your UK experience at home and internationally
• succeeding at interviews and assessment centres in the UK
• postgraduate study and funding
• working while you study

You can also attend specific events that bring you in contact with UK and international employers.

A series of Careers Consultant led information sessions and workshops aimed at the needs of students of Masters programmes at UCL. This will be useful to you whether your aim is to get a job on completion of your course or if you are aiming to stay in academia. A range of topics are covered and you are welcome to attend all or some of them.