Tag Archives: UG student life

A day in the life of a Media, Communications and Sociology undergrad

Posted on July 15, 2019 by Joon Ha Park

School of Arts and Social Sciences, Undergraduate a day in the life, UG student life, undergraduate, work life balance.

BSc (Hons) Media, Communications and Sociology student, Joon ha Park, gives us a glimpse into what a typical day at City, University of London is like for him.

10am

All of my lectures and tutorials started after 9am this year, this meant that waking up early wasn’t required much and I could sleep in.

Being a Media, Communications and Sociology student (or generally a social sciences student, for that matter) means that you have to be clued up with what is happening around the world. So, the first thing I usually do after waking up is to check my phone for the latest news. I use Twitter, and follow a number of news accounts, political commentators and journalists so that my feed informs me of what is happening in different corners of the world.

I shower and prepare brunch, either an omelette with some toast and tea or a nice little Korean breakfast with a bowl of rice and some soup. I don’t usually have lunch, I like to have a big breakfast or brunch to kick-start the day.

After I finish my meal, I go back to my room and check my email to see if there is any reminders or changes that I should be aware of before classes. Today’s lectures are “News and Society” and “Sociology of Race and Racism”.

I leave my flat at around 11.30am, making my way to the Rhind Building, where most of the media lectures and tutorials are held.

11.50 am

I arrive at the lecture hall and there’s always a few early birds with earphones in, or just reading a novel. I sit at my usual row, and wait for my friends and the lecturer to begin her class. As the clock ticks, more and more students and my friends walk in to the lecture hall (most with a Sainsbury’s meal deal in their hands or a beverage of some sort). After a while, the lecturer comes greeting everyone as she walks in with a smile, and turns on the projector and says,

“Okay guys, good afternoon. Let’s start.”

She starts a lecture on current issues in the news such as ‘Fake News’ and raises questions for us to answer during the tutorials. I’ve acquired a habit of note-taking since secondary school, so I open my Mac to take notes of the lecture, highlighting the interesting bits she says. I also link in some of the news that I read in the morning to some of the theories that she points out.

12.50 pm

Lecture ends and we make our way to the next lecture “Sociology of Race and Racism” which is located all the way in the Drysdale Building.

My lectures and tutorials take place at various different locations on campus. In total, four different buildings. The Drysdale building, the Rhind Building, the University Building and the College Building. So, there is a lot of walking and talking with friends in between going to different lectures and tutorials.

Sociology lectures are great, they really get you thinking about the world around you and this one was no different – the topic under discussion was the growing number of refugees in our world today. It’s always satisfying to sit through a lecture where the academic exudes so much passionate about the topic.

Tutorials are the best time to digest the information from the lectures. Usually my media tutorials are filled with debates and discussions on current world events, where people from all different backgrounds voice their opinions on an issue and the tutorial leader asks us to link it back to the theories. It’s always different. One day you’re debating if journalism is dying and the other you’re discussing the role of gatekeeping in world politics. That’s why it’s so important for a media student to know what is going on in the world.

My sociology tutorials are filled with debates on the readings and the theories rather than world events. Since it’s more of a theory-based course, our discussions in class usually turn into questions that we need clarification from.

I love my course, it’s a mix of the things that I love: media, debates and social relations.

5pm

I’m done for the day and I usually head back to my flat and make some warm dinner and maybe watch a TV show episode while I eat. After eating, I review some of the material that we went over today and do some reading.

More or less, that’s the day in the life of a Media, Communications and Sociology undergrad here at City.

Till next time! – JH

A day in the life of a Journalism undergrad

Posted on July 15, 2019 by Mariana Marques

Undergraduate a day in the life, Journalism, UG student life, undergraduate, work life balance.

City, University of London BSc (Hons) Journalism student, Mariana Marques, writes a candid account of what a typical day at University is like for her.

Morning

I wish I was one of those students that gets up, puts on whatever comes first in the closet and runs to university. Instead, I wake up at least two hours before (around 7am), have breakfast calmly (two cups of coffee is a necessity), check emails, spend 20 minutes enjoying snuggling in bed, and only then start to get ready.

Morning conversations in my flat are very rare, mostly because I am currently living with strangers. There are pros and cons to it: we don’t share much of our day, so I have forgotten what it is like to run to my flatmate’s room when something exciting happens, or when I’m having a hard time. In the morning though, I am quite thankful: I need my time alone.

Like most students, I don’t sleep much (7 hours maximum, don’t follow my lead). However, unlike most students, I enjoy getting up early and taking advantage of my time, so morning classes aren’t that much of a pain for me.

The most common morning text is “Where is the class?” because, you know, humans have the memory of a goldfish – students included. There is often a generous soul who will even tell me exactly HOW to get to that room. Fortunately, it only takes me about 10 minutes walking to university- I would absolutely hate to take the tube in the morning and so I admire those who commute to work every day.

When in class, I always try to find my best friends to sit next to and we often catch up then. With the classmates I’m not close with, the conversation goes as it follows: “How are you?”, “Good and you?”, “Tired”, “Yeah, me too”. It stops there, but I believe if I needed their help, they would be there for me.

I’m a busy person with two part-time jobs and because I do fashion and beauty blogging, I’m often attending events in the evening. That leaves me with no time to catch up with friends or for alone time, but I wouldn’t change it for the world.

The reality is that having a coffee by myself (I love spending time by myself, weirdly, or not) has become a luxury, but who doesn’t like little luxuries? It makes us realise that time is precious.

Afternoon

After a morning class, I’ll head home for a quick lunch while I keep updated with my latest TV series. I love multi-tasking and watching TV Series while eating.

Trying not to fall asleep after lunch is a real issue, but one more cup of coffee after (and resisting the temptation to sit on my bed), and I’m ready to head to my other job. My job is flexible so I can choose which days I work and if I want to work morning or evening shifts. If I’m not working (lucky me!), I’ll go for coffee with a friend, shopping, or binge watch a good TV Series. If I am working in the evening, then my free time is non-existent.

Evening

I’ll have dinner at work, head home around 10-11pm, make myself some tea and scroll down on Instagram for the next half-an-hour or so because no matter how busy I am, I’m young and wild and free, and there is always time for a quick scroll (being a millennial is an excuse for this, I suppose).

Studying Journalism means I am not required to do much independent study as there are many more writing and in-class projects than exams. Evenings are a good time for me to put a relaxing music playlist on and do my coursework.

I often go to bed around midnight – I will never be the kind of student who works overnight to meet a deadline. Organising may well be my middle name as I try to stick to my agenda as much as possible and hate leaving things until last minute.

Once in a while there is an exciting event to attend, and I’m always up for socialising, meeting people, having a drink (or more than one, depending on the day of the week)- I’m a lucky one for having incredible people around me.

I hope you didn’t get bored while reading this (the word “work” might appear too much, but I guarantee you I have lots of fun). I have to admit being a Journalism student in London is quite cool.

A day in the life of an LLB student

Posted on July 15, 2019 by Vladyslav Shutko

The City Law School, Undergraduate a day in the life, UG student life, work life, work life balance.

Hello, my name is Vladyslav Shutko and I am studying the LLB (Hons) at City, University of London. Here I share what a typical day at university is like for me and I’ve added from practical advice too.

6.00 am

First alarm on my phone goes off. Very first thought: hit the snooze button.

Nah, it’s not an alarm clock, but an alarm on my phone, it would be too costly to throw it across the room.

I make an effort to roll out of bed get dressed. Then, I either go out jogging or head to the gym pool for a morning energising swim, or I walk the dog/s as part of one of my part-time temporary jobs. A fine law student should keep active to maintain energy levels, I would suggest checking out the City Sport – it’s a great choice for those who live near the uni.

7.15 am

I begin reading the latest news, at least briefly, so I am commercially aware. It is a vital part of a law student’s day, especially at the time of ‘Brexit talks domination’.

I would recommend reading The Guardian to stay informed. Having said that, the dose of politics and business-related news MUST be kept to a minimum, otherwise it might have a negative impact on my sanity.

7.30 am

I start reading, preferably in Ukrainian or Russian, anything really, apart from English. It help’s refresh my memory and language skills – an attractive skill to have to increase my chances of employment – as knowledge of various languages puts you at an advantage (law students must always keep their employability in mind).

A bit of supplementary literature would never harm, I quite enjoyed and would recommend ‘Stories of the Law and How It’s Broken’ by The Secret Barrister (audiobook is FREE with Audible trial).

8.00 am

Quickly and rather unintentionally, but out of a survival instinct, I grab some kind of breakfast, take a shower, and take off to run errands.

9.00 am

I attend morning workshop. The classroom is half empty but might start filling up by the end of the term, right before the exam period commences. Those brave ones who made it for the class, normally tend to look akin to zeks in USSR’s types of prisons, unless they manage to grab a cup of coffee.

Morning classes are difficult but try not to skip any, instead try getting to bed early so you’re focused and making those small steps to becoming a successful lawyer.

11.00 am

Depending on the day, a good law student should head to the library to wrap everything up. Regular studying is the formula of success; revising leading up to exams is not enough because the amount of information to memorise for the LLB is far too much to memorise.

6.00 pm

By the evening I normally have different meetings scheduled. It is worth signing up for various types of events, such as meetings with lawyers, judges and academics, to build connections as well as receive practical advice from legal practitioners.

This is what my typical day looks like but your’s may look different. Embrace university life, strike a balance between study and social activities and enjoy this transitional time in your life.

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.

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!

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!