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University College London (UCL)
From The Student RoomTSR Wiki > University > Choosing a University > University Guides > UCL
 UCL is the largest and oldest college of the London Universities. It was founded in 1826 to be a radical alternative to Oxbridge, and became the first institution of higher education to admit women, ethnic minorities, and others who would previously have been denied. UCL has been ranked as the world's 9th best university by The Times. UCL's size and location at the heart of London helps the students there enjoy a fantastic social life and working environment. Nightlife, sport, music, arts and culture are all as plentiful as one would expect from a capital city.  Oh and don't be put off by the allegedly nightmarish prices! It's really not that bad, plus you get a bigger loan if you come to London! FacilitiesLibrariesThere are about 16 libraries at UCL, although you will only probably use one or two according to what subject you study. As a student at UCL you will have access to all these libraries:
Useful link: http://www.ucl.ac.uk/Library/
IT and ComputingUCL provides several open access rooms containing groups of computers that are accessible to all members of UCL. Each room is called a cluster. UCL also has a free wireless network over parts of the campus, called RoamNet (Map of Hotspots). This is available to all students and staff of UCL.
Map of computer rooms at UCL: http://www.ucl.ac.uk/is/clusters/map.htm SportsThere are great sports facilities, both at the uni and in the wider area and this is reflected in the the huge number of sports clubs that the SU runs - both for fun and fitness and for competition at different levels. Sports clubs include:
WelfareHealthcareUCL students benefit from membership of the Gower Place Practice (located on campus) which will meet most of your everyday healthcare needs. In the same building is a dental practice. In addition the spectacular University College Hospital has an A&E department and is across the road from the main UCL site. Very useful for those freshers who can't iron properly! ShopsUCL is situated roughly between Euston Road and Tottenham Court Road, a 10-15 minute walk from Oxford Street and 25 or so minutes from Regents Street. The immediate area in and around UCL features a number of small student oriented cafes and cafeterias, as well as a large branch of Waterstones catering to essentially all needs with regards to text books. Tottenham Court Road, a 5 minute walk from the majority of the campus plays host to what remains of daily student needs. A combination of small cafes and fast-food chains such as Subway and McDonalds grace the top of the road, with a Tesco (Metro) and Sainsburys the closest supermarkets to the main campus. Further down the the assortment of shops caters to more than the everyday needs of any student. The Brunswick Centre is also located close by, playing host to more shops and a branch of Waitrose. Further-afield, Leicester Square and China Town are within walking distance, albeit consideration for time is a must, with buses or the Tube being favourable when time is limited. RestaurantsWithin UCL itself, the most popular 'restaurant' is the Refectory, offering fair priced & fair quality food for students and staff alike. There are also various Union shops which provide cold food such as sandwiches, bagels, sushi and microwavable Indian dishes. That aside, the proximity of UCL to the very center of London puts it in a very advantageous position, given its location relative to the main arteries of Tottenham Court Road and Oxford Street as well as Euston and King's Cross stations. BanksIf you're particularly bothered about having banks nearby, then UCL again excels. The nearby Tottenham Court Road boasts branches of pretty much every major bank in the UK! TransportUCL is well connected to London's transport network, with several bus stops and underground stations located near to the main Bloomsbury Campus. The nearest tube stations are Euston Square (northwest corner of the campus) and Warren Street (a short walk to the northwest corner of the campus) with coverage of several underground lines. The university's website covers the various public transport links on this page. UCL students are able to apply for Oyster 18+ Photocards, giving them 30% off period travelcards and bus passes (possibly to become 30% off pay-as-you-go travel in the future). Students can pick up application forms in the student union or even easier, apply online here. For detailed information on getting around London, see Transport for London's journey planner. Careers servicePart-time jobsA number of job opportunities are usually available as part of the University itself (i.e. working for the Student Union in bar work, reception assistance, etc). A number of retail stores also hire students due to a high turn-over, and are apparently sympathetic to applicants who require holidays during non-term time. Religious facilitiesThere are many pubs with screens in the nearby area, so religious fans of football will be satisfied. SocialBars, Pubs and clubsThe Uni is located in central London so travel a short distance in most directions will show you a huge number of clubs bars and pubs for pretty much any taste. But if you want something a little close to home so to speak why not try '2nd Floor Bar' a studenty place during the day and often a place to watch sports events. There is also Phineas which has recently been done up and can have cheap pints for a little as £1.60 - pretty much unheard of in London. You also have Huntley Street Bar which proves popular and is another place you can catch sporting events. They also have regular live comedy (including the Ministry of Comedy) and other events too. EventsThe Freshers Ball isn't really a Ball, it's just a club night. In 2007 it was at Ministry of Sound and sold out a week before the night. The Summer Ball is most definitely a ball however, and it's fairly spectacular. Also, RUMS organise a few, and a couple of the larger societies have balls (e.g. Rugby Boat Ball, EFS Penthouse Party). Also, some halls organise balls, for example, the Ramsay Social Committee just did a Valentines Ball (basically black tie in an upmarket club) and we're also organising a Summer Boat Ball for after exams. Law students have their own summer and winter ball, and also a sort of black tie dinner thing during freshers week- this year it was on a boat on Thames. Clubs and societiesThere are loads of societies, perhaps more than most other unis in the country. The list includes:
AccommodationThe university describes itself as having "agreeable accommodation in a friendly environment at affordable prices." Housing about 4000 students, the institution guarantees all first year students housing (exceptions apply), a selling point being that over 70% of which is within a 10-15 minute walk from the main campus. UCL's Student Residences Office is located at 117 Gower Street, and their main website is http://www.ucl.ac.uk/accommodation Types of AccommodationUCL breaks down their accommodation as follows:
Types of roomsUCL offers a choice of single and twin rooms (i.e. sharing a room with one other person at a significantly lower rent price). Some residences also offer self-contained flats for one person with their own private kitchen (at a much higher rent). This is normally set aside for couples and/or mature students. However, one cannot choose "single" or "twin" on their accommodation application form, but can add preferences under areas like "washbasin in room" or "proximity to main campus". If an offer is given and a student is not satisfied, UCL does not have to offer them an alternative allocation unless under certain circumstances. One should consult the UCL accommodation website for a list of the different residences, which includes lists of facilities for each house and a more concise pricing list. This information can also be found in the main student accommodation booklet which is often sent to students who have been made an offer, as well as to schools. PricesAs mentioned, prices vary dramatically depending on your facilities, and should be calculated weekly as a 37 week let including Christmas and Easter holidays. Prices vary considerably beyond residences, and also rise and fall slightly each academic year. Twin rooms are typically around the £70 a week mark (about £100 for some intercollegiate halls), with single rooms at around £90-110 for self catered, and up to £145 a week for catered. 1 bed flats can cost between £150 up to and beyond £220 a week. Student unionThe Union is led by 6 Sabbatical Officers: UCL students who have been elected during the previous academic year. They are full-time Union staff and are there to ensure the UCL Union provides the best service possible. For the 2008-2009 session the Communications & Services officer is Charlie Clinton. I suggest you direct all complaints to him, even if they're not about communications or services. Student PublicationsThe Cheese Grater was founded in February 2004 as an alternative to UCL's more mainstream publication, Pi. The magazine features investigative, satirical and humorous content and is published approximately twice a term in the form of an 8-12 page photocopied magazine. LocationLocation is great - right in the very heart of central London, a short walk from areas such as Euston Station, Camden town, Regents Park, Tottenham Court Road & Oxford Street, Leicester Square and Covent Garden. It's about 20-30 minutes walk down to the Strand, and it's a pretty nice walk, but obviously the tube might be a better option for those in a hurry. There are no shortages of underground stations either with Warren Street station, Euston Square and Euston station to name a few. Environment and AtmosphereWith its central London location, it's not surprising that UCL has a buzzing urban atmosphere. Atmosphere of the university varies as in all universities, depending on where you have your lectures, what your classmates are like and who your lecturers are. What can be said, is that the central quad of UCL (which smells of puke when you first enter) with its collumned, domed exterior certainly makes you feel like you are at a highly respectable university, and this is only strengthened by the number of leading experts working within the university. There is a friendly feel to UCL and its students often develop a long-lasting fondness towards the university.
ArchitectureThe UCL Portico's impressive architecture is worth seeing for yourself.
Local areaTeaching qualityNowadays UCL is still going strong. It was awarded the Sunday Times University of the Year 2004, and consistently ranks among the top 5 universities in the country, usually following Oxbridge and tying with other London Universities such as LSE. It is frequently regarded as 'the best multi-faculty university after Oxbridge' (Sunday Times University Guide 2004). Applying to UCLThinking of applying to UCL? Why not read some Personal Statements which were used for applying here? Other UCL ArticlesWhy not read these other UCL Articles? Links |
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