Monthly Archives: February 2019

Choosing your university accommodation

Posted on February 21, 2019 by Nina Wanjala

Advice Accomodation.

As an international student going to first year, you are guaranteed accommodation and this process is quite easy. City, University of London normally pays a fraction of the rent of some student accommodation options so it tends to be affordable, for London’s standards anyway.

The issue begins once you have to move out of the place you’ve learned to call home because it’s only for first-year students and to do this quickly before you run out of accommodation options. There are many factors to consider and I want to explore some of them.

#1 Cost

The nearer your student accommodation is to the school, the more expensive it will be. This is especially because it is located in Zone 1, which is quite central and pretty much the most expensive zone. The difference is quite significant because I remember when looking through two of my most viable accommodation options, the difference between a place in Zone 1 and Zone 3 was literally £100 per week!

#2 Proximity to university

Living next to school is a big win. You get to save on transport costs, you can make it to your 9 am class even if you have overslept, you can go back home for lunch, when your classes end late you’re not caught up in London’s rush hour, it’s just all very convenient. However as aforementioned, you pay for this convenience.

#3 Living among people

An en-suite, shared bathroom, shared room or studio?

As much as selecting a shared place will be cheaper, you might not be as tolerant of other people’s behaviours and hygiene levels. A studio will give you your own space and the comfort of doing things your way, but it might be lonely as your interaction with people is limited.

An en-suite – with a communal kitchen – is cheaper than a studio to an extent, but would be more expensive than a shared room/bathroom. These are the factors you need to consider and ultimately it comes down to your personality and what you’re used to.

#4 Private student accommodation vs public-sector housing

With private accommodation, utilities and other extras tend to be included in the rent and therefore you won’t have to worry about no electricity or dealing with a landlord, like you would for the public-sector housing.

If you have friends who share a mutual understanding with you, it might be better to get a flat together, share the rent and get a better deal than you would with private halls for instance. It would be more enjoyable and you’d benefit from a bit more freedom too. With public-sector housing, there is private accommodation and thus you would benefit from more time to choose a place.

I picked these as the most important factors and that should be considered early enough so that you can start evaluating your options holistically, under no pressure, and so after your first year you end up at a place that you’re happy with.

6 student perks you should know about

Posted on February 21, 2019 by Brooke Mcneil

Advice, London discounts, international student, services.

There are many opportunities available to students to help them succeed during school, and long after university has ended. These opportunities can come in the form of discounts as well as extra support. Here are some services and discounts students should be aware about during their short time at university.

#1 Career services

Available to students to help them in a variety of ways, they are available to help with CVs, interviews, job searches, and provide various events throughout the year. These events generally include potential employers delivering information sessions.

#2 Unitemps

Offered to students as a short-term fix for jobs. Jobs outside of university are sometimes not understanding of a student’s schedule. Unitemps is created for students which allows them to work around their schedule. The Widening Participation scheme for mentoring younger students is also another opportunity for students to make some cash while working around their busy schedule.

#3 City Sport

City’s sport facility available to all students to help them stay active and take fun classes or participate in sports at discounted rates in comparison to regular gyms.

#4 Amazon

The shopping allows for students to enjoy a Prime account for free for six months and then at a discounted rate thereafter.

#5 Student Oyster

The travel card provides 30% off of travel rates to make travelling to university more affordable as well as exploring London more plausible.

#6 ISIC card

International students should also take advantage of the ISIC card which provides discounts on rail, hotels, food, clothing, subscriptions, and memberships. The card does cost an upfront fee so check out where the card can be used first to see if it will be put to good use if you decide to buy it.

The services and discounts listed above are just a short list of the perks of being a student. Take a look at the Student Centre for more services and discounts for City, University of London students.

How joining a university society makes you more employable

Posted on February 21, 2019 by Michelle Sarkisyan

City Student Union advice, employability, jobs.

Student societies are a diverse collection of groups and organisations ranging from sports teams to hobby organisations to political and religious groups. They definitely take up a huge portion of the socialisation aspect of the university, but are they truly needed or not? Take my virtual hand and let me guide you through the minefield that the world of societies can be.

University experience depends heavily on what you make of it, and joining a society is one of the main activities you would like to consider early on. City Students’ Union is the place to go!

It is at the heart of City, University of London campus and it exists solely to support the progression and development of each student. They offer an array of opportunities for you to get involved: leadership academy, sports, societies, RAG, and Student Media.

Contrary to the common understanding, the main purposes of student societies are not only to expand your network and create a bubble for you to feel comfortable in. It is for you to feel as you belong, and create a university spirit that you would not find anywhere else. Student societies are inclusive, open-minded, fun and beneficial for your overall development.

They are also a key factor in terms of your employability!

Committing to a responsibility

In order for a society to work smoothly, you need to be good at planning and organisation when finding a venue, negotiating a good deal for your members or advertising the event you are putting up together.

If you are an organiser or officer of your society (there are elections every year and you can even create a society of your own), you will develop experience and expertise in skills, such as time management, decision-making, and research.

Employers want to see that you have had a position of responsibility, and good communication when working in a team.

Desire for more

Even if you do not have the leading role in your society, being a member will act as a proof for your ability to be a proactive well-rounded individual. Participating in an extracurricular activity will present your need to develop and learn outside the usual lecture hours.

Activities, like planning ahead and implementing it, committing to a society, managing budgets and being considerate to everyone’s suggestions for events and meetings, will make your more attractive to an employer.

Being a member of a society is one of the many opportunities the City Students’ Union has to offer. In my mind is the one that you will not only benefit but also take pleasure of it. Participating in societies will not only give you the opportunity to write something more, something different than everybody else in your CV and cover letter, but it will teach you important skills while socialising, going to events and surrounding yourself with people with the same ideals and goals in life.

Studying a law degree in the UK vs North America

Posted on February 21, 2019 by Brooke Mcneil

The City Law School, Undergraduate CV, international student, Law.

Going international to obtain a degree or even just a year abroad is popular among young people as a means to not only see the world but to have a competitive CV. However, being an international student has its challenges like anything else and some are talked about more than others such as missing your family. My personal challenge was adjusting to the cultural norms of the British education system from the American system.

In North America it’s common for 24-27 years old students to remain in school pursuing a second degree. They are told one degree is not enough to be competitive in today’s society or that the educational requirements are different for certain degrees.

To obtain a law degree in North America, a candidate would have to choose a four-year undergrad degree in any discipline followed by a three-year law school – totalling it to seven years in higher education.

In Britain, students can apply to law school right out of high school and graduate by 21/22 years of age with the LLB in hand and either the LPC, LLM, or BPTC. When I tell people in London that I am a 24 years old student it is a surprise to them.

Why? London is a fast-paced business district where working life is encouraged relatively earlier compared to in North America. People pursue other avenues besides university, such as internships, because the sooner they can get into work the better – especially in the competitive London job market.

The cultural outlook towards long consecutive years in education is recognised as a necessary achievement in North America. I am very proud of my seven years of education, achievements and all the wonderful opportunities I’ve been given so far.

Why I chose to study law in London

If I were to repeat the process for applying to law school I would still choose London as my ideal location. Being a solicitor in a commercial law firm in London is the end goal and I particularly enjoy the London working lifestyle. It is worth noting that your educational requirements should only matter to yourself and your future employer.

Being a City, University of London law student specifically has offered me the opportunities for more educational achievements to help my CV stand out and build skills needed to be an outstanding solicitor. Mooting at City has helped with preparing bundles – experience needed for when I become a certified solicitor.

The option to be trained for the National Centre for Domestic Violence and act as a McKenzie Friend has provided me with the opportunity to not only help people but learn how to draft witness statements, fill in non-molestation orders and occupation orders, as well as appear in court.

The law society at City has given me the chance to be the blog coordinator for the society and do three posts a week which helps with my commercial awareness. There are many fantastic events provided by the Careers Service post as well such as getting your CV checked over by a barrister at Keating Chambers.

As an international student you have an advantage over domestic students in the sense of life experience and you are not limited in the opportunities you can participate in, you just have to be willing to seek them out. The staff at City are always helpful in providing students with the tools necessary to succeed and if you would like to stay in the UK to work after school, City will provide you with every opportunity to make yourself employable. You just need to be open minded.

5 life hacks for university students in the UK

Posted on February 12, 2019 by Nina Wanjala

Advice discounts.

Here are five life hacks every international university student should know about when living in the UK.

Get a Nando’s card

Trust me, just get it.

When I first came, I was really confused as to why the legendary Portuguese restaurant chain (famous for its PERI-PERI chicken) is a bigger deal here than it is from where it originated (South Africa). I quickly joined the masses and stopped asking questions.

If you end up going there every now and then, you might as well get the card and benefit from a free meal ever so often. There’s nothing to lose.

Online grocery shopping

This depends on how much you shop at a go. I prefer shopping in bulk so that I make few visits to the store as possible. In the beginning, I remember struggling from the store burdened with very heavy bags and my walk home seeming much longer than it was. This can be felt less when done with friends, but still it takes a lot of manpower and people’s schedules often clash so at times you suffer alone.

Online grocery shopping is great if you’re doing it in bulk. You get to shop from the comfort of your home and have your heavy baggage delivered right to your door!

Pack early when moving out to a new accommodation

No, you do not have as much time as you think you do so just start early.

It’s easy to underestimate the number of things that have accumulated in just one year and waiting for the last minute is one of the worst things you can do to yourself. I moved out of my accommodation on the last day of my tenancy and I can’t forget the high stress levels that I experienced!

Travel around Europe (cheaply)

Coming from a continent where travelling to different countries is mad expensive, seeing the travel costs here is honestly surreal. If you save and plan early enough, you can actually ball on a budget and get to enjoy Europe on your holidays.

There are some very cheap airlines and cheap Airbnb homes as well, so there should be no reason to not plan such trips and live a full life, especially as an international student where such opportunities may not present themselves as easily as they do here. Make the most of your time here!

Travel back, on time

If you went back to your home country during the holiday, please just come back early enough. Especially if it was the summer break and you’re moving into a new accommodation. Speaking from experience, give yourself enough time to settle in and safeguard against inconveniences that may occur.