Category Archives: Undergraduate

Top 8 places in London for an international student on a budget

Posted on May 10, 2018 by Michelle Sarkisyan

School of Arts and Social Sciences, Undergraduate advice, budget, lifeinlondon, london, undergraduate.

Whenever I ask somebody for a piece of advice about what student-friendly things I can do in London, it is always kind of all museums and galleries. I love culture and art as much as the next person, honestly, I do. But if I had to go to free museums and portrait galleries every time I needed to distract myself from my assignments, I would have poked my eyes out. So I have made this list of five “on a budget” places you can go whenever you find some free time from your studies.

Number one: The London Eye… is, in my opinion, incredibly overrated. I know it’s a favourite with tourists and it’s just one of the most iconic images of London. But, to be honest, it can be quite expensive for a ticket and around the 10-minute mark it can get quite boring, as you are looking at the same view all the way around. Instead, if you would like to do something different, you can go to The Shard. Although there is an admission fee, there is no time limit on your stay, you can purchase drinks and snacks and, most importantly, enjoy the breathtaking view from Level 72 whilst walking amongst the clouds!

The Shard (image: Michelle Sarkisyan)

Number two: London is home to many fictional and non-fictional characters. If you are a nerd like me, you will enjoy the following places:

1. Probably one of the most well-known fictional characters is Harry Potter. I would really like to suggest the ‘Harry Potter: Warner Brothers Studio Tour’, however, the ticket price is not necessarily budget-friendly! A “muggle” substitute is the Harry Potter Shop at King’s Cross Station, where you can see Platform 9 3/4 and pretend to push a trolley through the wall.
2. Shakespeare’s Globe has been reconstructed – this is not the original. However, it is beautiful! You don’t have to go inside, just take a picture and then visit the pub next door, or walk down South Bank to the Tate Modern and swing on the fun group swings.
3. Sherlock Holmes. You can visit his house-museum at 221B Baker Street, take pictures in his Victorian apartment and enjoy a waxwork exhibition of his most popular adventures. The gift shop is free to go in and explore all the unusual objects and souvenirs that are available for purchase.

“COME IN WE’RE very OPEN minded” (image: Michelle Sarkisyan)

Number three: The markets! There are so many in London! My favourite is Camden Market. It is located relatively close to City and it is the collective name of several large markets selling crafts, clothes, jewellery and food from all over the world, as well as a huge variety of weird and wonderful things. The Borough of Camden itself is a lively base in London for the alternative crowd. The non-conformists who you will meet there are as interesting as the market itself.

Number four: Walk, walk, walk! London has so many hidden gems that you cannot discover just from riding on a double-decker bus. One of my favourite areas is the South Bank, right beside the River Thames. It’s a tree-lined riverside walkway with many restaurants, pubs and iconic landmarks like Big Ben and St. Paul’s Cathedral. You can enjoy street performers, frequent fairs at the Southbank Centre, and incredible photo opportunities.

Number five: Travel! London can give you so much more than the usual tourist destinations. Hop on a bus or the tube and explore! I will share with you two of my favourite places I have discovered from my journeys.

1. God’s Own Junkyard. Take the N56 bus from the bus stop outside City Bar, and for an hours’ time and £1.50 less in your bank account, you will be in one of the most incredible places I have ever been. It is bright, vintage and free. It has good music, food, neon signs and such a lovely staff.
2. Junkyard Golf Club. This time, take the N205 bus and 30 minutes later you will arrive at these crazy 9-hole golf courses. The ambience is more than incredible – UV lights, loud music, food, and weird cocktails!

My weekly life as a City Law School student

Posted on May 4, 2018 by Brooke Mcneil

The City Law School, Undergraduate course work, international student, Law, schedule, UG student life, work.

A typical week at City for me is two one-hour tutorials a week, along with four two-hour lectures a week. As an international student, my attendance is taken so the university can ensure I am attending classes and adhering to the requirements of my Tier 4 visa. My personal tutor also checks in with me once a semester, and I also attended a mandatory Tier 4 visa session in October.

In regards to work and volunteering, because I am limited to working 20 hours a week as an international student, it was difficult to secure part-time work outside the university. Unitemps, City’s in-house temporary recruitment agency, is an attractive option for students as it has the needs of students in mind. I have been lucky enough to secure work with Unitemps for a short period. In terms of volunteering I am an online peer mentor, where I respond to enquiries from young people about higher education. I also volunteer with the Blackfriars Settlement, a legal advice clinic, with a time commitment of only two days per school year. I also regularly sign up for events through the Careers Portal, which can consist of information sessions from law firms. Recently there was a full-day mediation training session I attended, which resulted in a certificate and allowed for socialisation with other students.

In my course, there are only final exams in terms of summative work. There is one optional formative assessment for each class, therefore course work does not take up too much time. On the other hand, readings can take up to 10 hours a week, between the five classes to do the required reading. If you plan on doing the optional readings I would estimate adding another five hours to your reading time for these. Doing the questions for tutorials and participating when you are in the tutorial is helpful in facilitating memory, and helps you focus in on the more important sections of the readings if you are having issues deciding what is important.

Applying to City as an international student from within the UK

Posted on April 19, 2018 by Sukirtha

School of Health Sciences, Undergraduate already in the uk, application process, IELTS, international student.

It may come as a surprise to some but every year, there are international students who apply to university whilst already living in the UK. This could be due to many reasons. Here is my journey of applying to City from within the UK.

I came to the UK straight after completing school in India. My father’s company had landed a new client in the UK and wanted him to relocate for a couple of years. After much deliberation, we decided to move to the UK as a family. I then completed my A-levels in mathematics, biology and psychology in a UK state school.

When making my application to university, a few sections I had to fill out were different than for my UK classmates, like passport details, fee status, etc. Important to note, make sure you check what fee status you are by clearly reading all the rules. Do not simply assume that you are a home/EU student or an international student. If you’re unsure, send an email to the university clearly stating your visa type, date of entry, etc. and they should be able to help you.

Although I had been living in the UK, I still needed to complete an IELTS exam. One may assume that this exam would only be offered abroad. But, IELTS is held in the UK in numerous places and a lot of people write it for a variety of reasons. I suggest you book one as soon as possible so that you have the option to re-sit if required.

When I started receiving interviews, a couple of universities offered me telephone interviews believing I was applying from India. Personally, I feel a face-to-face interview is better and gives more opportunity to articulate your thoughts clearly and effectively. I emailed them explaining that I lived in the UK and they were happy to put me along with the other students for face-to-face interviews. I would strongly suggest anybody in a similar position to do so as well. If you’re already here, use it as an advantage.

Once I had received and accepted my offer to study at City, I had to make the decision on whether I was going to continue to study on my current visa or get a Tier 4 student visa. Another important thing to note – make sure to do your research about this too. Check whether you are able to study on your current visa and if it covers your entire course duration. I decided I would stay on the visa I already had.

I hope this is of some help to you. Wishing you all the best in your journey to university.

A day in the life of a Cass student

Posted on April 13, 2018 by Nina Wanjala

Cass Business School, Undergraduate UG student life.

What does my typical week look like?

Due to the numerous contact hours I have on my course, the BSc (Hons) Actuarial Science, most of my week is spent in school. I have compulsory lectures each day of the week, some days having fewer and shorter ones than others. I have also taken part in some optional sessions, such as example classes and tutorials, which are intended to supplement the learning and act as a chance for students to bring up questions or issues not raised during lectures.

Assessments

We’re continuously assessed in various ways during the term. For each module, I have either class tests, online quizzes, group projects (assignments or presentations) or a combination of all or two of these. In addition, before starting the second term in January there are written assessments that carry higher percentages than the coursework aforementioned. Some of these are in the form of progress tests and others are exams (higher percentage than progress tests). Final exams take place at the end of the school year and carry the most weight percentage-wise.

Although quite demanding, I have come to appreciate this assessment structure as it keeps me on my toes and makes it hard to procrastinate, which is important because the content constantly piles up and increases in difficulty. This way, I get to understand concepts and get a hang of what we’re currently doing, while monitoring my progress. The exam period is also less daunting because of the practice that is gained.

Extracurricular activities

Apart from academics there are many activities that students can take part in, such as societies or relaxing in one of City’s social spaces such as City Bar. There, you get to have drinks, food, play pool and generally just hang out at school in a relaxed environment without the constant air of revision and deadlines.

I am also member of the Afro-Caribbean Society which has allowed me to meet new people I wouldn’t ordinarily see every day. I also get to meet qualified actuaries and other related professionals through the student-run Actuarial Society. Sometimes the university also hosts guest lectures by invited speakers. These opportunities are great because I get to receive relevant insight by those currently in the profession of actuarial science.

Outside of university there is a lot to do, especially considering the fact that City is located in central London. I live in student halls of residence and this has the advantage of provided shared spaces (such as communal kitchens and common rooms) which are a great and convenient way of bonding with people and relaxing, especially after a long day of school. Some days I spend enjoying what this vibrant city has to offer, while others are spent Skyping with my friends and family who are in other parts of the world or back home, because as an international student living alone, diaspora blues can exist!

All in all, I try to achieve a balance of academics, fun and sleep so that I enjoy a well-rounded university experience – since I believe that what you get out of university is proportional to what you put in!

Journey across the pond: my journey to City

Posted on April 9, 2018 by Brooke Mcneil

The City Law School, Undergraduate Accomodation, application, Canada, Law, visa.

I am from Toronto, Canada and I decided to move overseas to study because I enjoy travelling and believe one should take the opportunity to obtain a well-rounded education while diversifying oneself. In North America, a four-year bachelor’s degree needs to be obtained before attending law school. I achieved my four-year degree in Vancouver, Canada where I had discussed with lawyers who obtained their qualifications internationally the difficulty they had in qualifying in Canada upon return. Many said attending a two-year fast-track programme required them to do more schooling in Canada upon return. Therefore, I decided to study on a three-year law degree (LLB).

An advisor from Canada Law from Abroad helped me through the application process and was very on top of dates and reminders and definitely wanted to help and see me be accepted into one of the schools of my choosing. I attended an information session day where 12 universities had representatives available to talk to, including Professor Chris Ryan from The City Law School. He had been listening to the types of questions I was asking other schools and had all the information written out for me, on top of more information he thought I may be interested in. He had a genuine interest and engagement, which many of the other school representatives did not.

I applied for accommodation upon acceptance and got my first choice at Liberty Court, which I received early July. When I arrived to my residence there were people to help me with my bags, I was shown around and introduced to my flatmates. There were activities to participate in during the first week, with prizes such as gift cards. I actually won a Nando’s gift card and cleaning supplies for my flat!

For my Tier 4 visa application I went to Toronto in early August and everything was mailed to my house upon completion in late August. When I flew over to the UK for the first time I picked up my biometric residence permit (BRP) card from my designated post office near Farringdon Station, which I now show with my passport every time I travel. I applied for a national insurance number and bank card right away as I knew there might be a wait and I would need them at some point. Luckily I applied for them early because I did not actually receive either of them until the beginning of November.

I got involved in societies and various volunteer opportunities to feel more engaged which I would suggest to everyone, so you can make the most out of your time at City. As my first year at City is coming to a close, I can say that I made the right choice in choosing this university.

Insights into my undergraduate experience

Posted on April 3, 2018 by Michelle Sarkisyan

School of Arts and Social Sciences, Undergraduate advice, events, Journalism, schedule, studentlife, UG student life, undergraduate.

When you are a student, something always comes up. The luxury of knowing what will happen to you after a week is already something difficult to achieve. As a first-year journalism student, I have to always be active, going and exploring. Because I want to know more, and City, University of London always encourages its students to be curious. I am excited about the following five journalistic questions: What? Who? Where? When? Why? My job is to reveal them. Turn them into text and picture. To turn the truth into creativity!

My university schedule and assignments:

My typical week consists of four days at university and three days for story and memory making. However, percentage-wise I have 28% scheduled learning and 72% independent learning. My modules include digital, audio and video journalism and thorough coverage of basic principles of journalism, the history of journalism and politics and current affairs. We were also given the chance to learn another language, in my case – Spanish!

Personally, the best advantage so far is that I do not have to spend my free time working on assignments I am not interested in. In fact, our tutors give us the opportunity to write about topics we have chosen and I am fortunate enough to simultaneously learn essential journalistic skills and gain a better understanding of topics I am passionate about. At times contacting interviewees, researching, filming, editing and working on two or three projects at once can be nerve-racking. Especially if things do not work out the way you have imagined them to be. However, finally being able to see or hear the fruit of your labour is the most rewarding feeling I have ever experienced!

When it comes to entertainment and meeting up with new people:

City hosts a wide range of events, which cover not only political topics but also music-related events and panels with topical issues such as “Respect at work: how to command it and when to demand it”. I enjoy participating because we should always strive to learn more, but also – this is an amazing chance to meet up with people sharing your interests and ideas. However, if you are not into panels I can recommend going to City Bar, a multi-functional social space designed to cater to students’ needs. You can order drinks and food at a student-friendly price, play pool or table tennis and enjoy the great music. But there is always a “Plan C” when it comes to socialisation at university – your accommodation! When you share a kitchen with four other people, participate in pre-drinks or decide to go to the common room to play pool or a quick ‘Murder Mystery’ game, you undoubtedly will feel part of a community!

The course has been everything I have expected and even more. It taught me the importance of teamwork and cross-cultural cooperation!

A piece of advice:

Sleep more than you study;
Study more than you party;
Party as much as you possibly can!

More on how to use London to your advantage in my next blog!

The BSc Speech and Language Therapy at City

Posted on March 26, 2018 by Sukirtha

School of Health Sciences, Undergraduate India, international, speech and language therapy, UG student life, undergraduate.

Hello there! I am a 2nd year student on the BSc (Hons) Speech and Language Therapy course here at City, University of London. I come all the way from Chennai, India and hope to you give you some information about the course if you’re already interested in pursuing it, or maybe even inspire you to look into it further!

This course is hands-on and prepares you to enter the working world as a qualified speech and language therapist. It has a really great, positive vibe to it. We are always working hard and supporting each other. Here is some information about what to expect from the degree!

A typical week

A typical week would be three days at university and one day at placement. We usually have an average of seven lectures a week, each two hours long. Some days can be as long as 9am until 6pm, whilst others are shorter with just one lecture. We also have a tutorial every other week or so. In tutorials (my favourite), we are in small groups where we get to chat about our placement experiences and problem-solve any issues. Our tutors sometimes bring in biscuits and chocolate!

Assessments

The course has a variety of assessment methods to incorporate everybody’s strengths. We have oral vivas, presentations, group work, class tests, essays, videos made in placement and of course, the exams. This not only keeps you on your toes at all times, it also equips you with a wide range of skills like team work, time management, clinical writing, etc. It can sometimes push you out of your comfort zone, but there’s always loads of help available.

Placements

The most exciting part of the course! There is a dedicated team at City who are responsible for finding and allocating all your clinical placements. Before each placement, you will fill in a form with your preferences – setting, client group, travelling time, etc. and the team try and find you a best fit. Being in the centre of London, there is a whole plethora of placements in every possible setting. My current placement is in a special school for children with moderate learning difficulties and I absolutely love it. I don’t only shadow the therapist there, but I actually run 1:1 therapy sessions, groups, assessments, the whole lot! It can be quite daunting in the beginning, but it’s important to remember you’re there to learn and it’s okay to make mistakes.

Modules

The course has a real mixture of modules. From easy to hard and interesting to…well, more interesting! You could be learning noun phrases in the morning and, next thing you know, you’re in a lecture about cerebral circulation! Anyways, as you progress through the course, everything starts to connect and link with each other. Some of my modules so far are: Articulatory Phonetics, Linguistics, Developmental Psychology, Biomedical Sciences, Acoustic Phonetics, Dysfluency and Dysphagia.

The course has been everything I expected and even more. We learn so much in and out of university and are supported throughout every step. More to come on my application process and decision to come to City!

My journey to City

Posted on March 21, 2018 by Nina Wanjala

Cass Business School, Undergraduate.

My name is Nina Wanjala, born and raised in Kenya and currently a first-year undergraduate student studying the BSc (Hons) Actuarial Science programme at Cass Business School, City, University of London.

The reason I chose to study at Cass Business School was primarily due to my chosen course. The subject of actuarial science is quite a niche discipline, therefore it was important for me to choose a reputable university which had the necessary resources to enable me to obtain the most from my degree. Cass Business School’s BSc (Hons) Actuarial Science is a relatively established course compared to other universities and I really liked the way the degree was structured.

Regarding why I chose to study the subject of actuarial science, it all came down to the fact that I wanted a degree that offered me a level of intellectual satisfaction and the tools to practically apply mathematics to the real world and to my areas of interest, such as finance and risk management. Although I enjoy mathematics and its principles I feel that the interdisciplinary nature of actuarial science creates a balance between the abstract and social sciences, which is one of the things that attracted me to the course.

As an international student, the application process involved applying through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), about which all information can be found online and on City, University of London’s website. This part was quite straightforward – the UCAS website was very easy to use and clearly outlined all the steps and guidelines for the application process. At this stage, all I required were my IGCSE and AS grades, A2 predicted grades, personal statement, an academic reference and other details such as personal information and previous educational background. Because I studied the British curriculum at an international school in Kenya my application journey began here, but it is different for students who study their country’s own national curriculum – in this case, gaining a place on a course may involve studying a foundation course first.

After applying directly, receiving my offers and selecting my firm and insurance choices through UCAS, I then utilised an agent for the rest of the application process. Applying for my visa was the most stressful stage, even with early preparation and comprehensive information – I would therefore advise everyone to begin this process early enough. Also, ensure you know what City specifically requires as some universities do not require you to take an English proficiency test while others do, so this should also be handled early on.

After this I applied for accommodation through City’s website, where I selected my preferred choice of halls of residence. Finally, in order to prepare myself for the move I conducted thorough research of Cass/City and London, the vibrant city in a country I had never visited before, as well as countless reading of student blogs and watching of university videos on City’s YouTube channel.

I cannot say my journey here was completely smooth or consistently difficult but there were certain things that could have been done differently to ease the process and some of which were quite simple. All in all, I am grateful for my experience.

How the adventure began

Posted on March 8, 2018 by Michelle Sarkisyan

School of Arts and Social Sciences, Undergraduate application, City University of London, course, events, Journalism, undergraduate.

My story started about six years ago in the capital city of Bulgaria, Sofia. I was always a curious child, but this did not help me acknowledge my talent at an early stage. I compared myself to groups in which one was good at chemistry and the other could sing; but what about me? My passion to communicate and explore made me later realise that the most important thing for me was to understand; not only myself and the people surrounding me but also the world as a whole. The pursuit of this particular knowledge laid the foundations to apply for a degree in journalism.

To be honest, choosing a vocation, a university and making decisions that will reflect on your future is really stressful. My goal was to be a witness at the heart of world-changing events as they unfold, to create an unbiased story that can live under the skin, inspire and induce social awareness. Thus, finding a university with a course that could help me gain the requisite skills and relationships in order to grow as a professional was one of the most important tasks for me. I wanted a course that would give me a profound knowledge of every career path I may decide to follow, whether it would be broadcast, digital or print journalism.

College Building at City, University of London. Photograph: City, University of London

Televison studio at City, University of London

Television studio at City, University of London. Photograph: City University of London

City, University of London caught my attention with its incredible academic facilities such as a television studio, radio broadcast newsrooms and production newsrooms. I was amazed at the chance of working with tutors, who are active journalists, as we could receive first-hand experience and not limit our learning process to just textbooks and presentations on a whiteboard. The university was the only one with such a professional network and practical independent learning.

The application process was quite easy. I worked through an agent, as I did not have any previous experience. My job was to write a personal statement and have grades applicable to City’s standards, together with an IELTS certificate. One of the greatest moments was when I was shortlisted for an interview. I talked with Tom Felle, who helped me forget my nervousness and successfully become part of the journalism family at City.

And when I say family, I do mean it. From our course officer David Buckley, the tutors we can always email for help, to events created with the sole purpose of making students feel valued, always learning and not homesick, I feel as if I belong to a community… but more on that to come.

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