London Travel Forum

I am an American student planning on getting my masters degree in London starting next fall (Spet. 2010). Currently, I am considering Kingston University, Univ of Bristol, Queen Mary (London) and Roehmapton. I plan on going over there during that summer to find flat mates/a flat, too. I'm looking at Zones 1 and 2, but only because I know they are closest to the city. I'm open to suggestions.

Any advice anyone can give me about the schools or the areas would be a tremendous help. London is so big that it is difficult to narrow down everything.

I live near Kingston University, and it's a very nice area. It's an easy trip into London, so that's one advantage. Bristol is also a school with a good reputation. You're right that London is a huge area, and taking a look at places with your own eyes will really help with your decision. It's also a very expensive place, so keep that in mind.

I remember going around with my kids to see universities in the States long ago. Being on the campus really made us know which might be the best choice.

OK, Alana, there are a lot of questions here.

First, the geography. Bristol (unless it has a remote campus in London I do not know about) is quite a distance from London, about 100 miles. Kingston and Roehampton are both in southwest London, roughly speaking, and both well outside zones 1 and 2. Queen Mary, I believe, has a number of sites around London including one a short walk from where I live. If it is this site you study at you would be in Zone 2 but rental here is pretty expensive.

Do the Universities not assist with finding accomodation? I am sure they must have some sort of service for overseas students.

London, like any major city, is a bit of a trade-off. The further from the centre you go, the cheaper (generally) rents are but you pay more for transportation should you want to get into the centre. Zones 1 and 2 are generally more expensive to rent. All these are obviously generalisations, but I hope it gives you an idea.

Why don't you decide where you want to go based on academic criteria, and then start to work from there. Please mail me if you want any more specific information.

Hope this assists.

My apologies. I said "Bristol" when I should've said "Brunel." I am looking at King's College, London Metropolitan and University College, London as well, but the ones I mentioned in my earlier post are universities that were recommended to me by a company that helps assist overseas students. Basically, I'd love to know which colleges are most highly esteemed/selective with admission and which ones are closest to the city center. Thank you so much for your response.

Look at the data on The Times Good University Guide:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/education/good_university_guide/

You will find rankings and data for individual subjects, and can check out each of the universities you are looking at. We never call them 'schools' here, by the way...you go to school from 5 - 18. There may be e.g. a 'School of Philosophy' within a particular university, but one never says one is attending 'school'. One is doing (or 'reading', although that's a bit old-fashioned and pompous-sounding now) whatever subject at whatever uni.

Many of the universities in the UK were originaly what were termed 'polytechnics'. That is, the have not actually been univerisites for decades. I think I am right in saying that all the universities you mention fall into this 'not originally a university' category in one way or another (although not all were actually polytechnics).

Queen Mary's is part of the federated University of London: http://www.lon.ac.uk/ The others are not.

Once you have decided which uni you want to attend and have been offered a place, you will find that there is assistance from both the university itself and the Student Union (of which you are automatically a member) with housing. London accommodation is extremely expensive, and you would do well to take the advice offered by both sources rather than simply come here and try to find something yourself.

Thank you so much! Your response (and the link) are extremely helpful!

Hope you find something to suit.

Do take the advice of the uni and Student Union about your accommodation before you actually come here (and after your have received the offer of a place, of course).

Most universities have university-owned accommodation available for overseas students, and you might find that this will suit your needs.

I certainly will. Can you tell me which (out of the unis I mentioned) are considered better universities, in your opinion? I have visited the Good University Guide and I believe I can tell by their entrance standards. It'd be nice to know how those schools are viewed by local residents.

I'm not a local resident .......and will tell you now that central London is in no way representative of England, or of the UK, so please do try to get out and see some of the rest of the country whilst you are here :-) ....... but my advice would be to a) check the entrance standards required for your subject (as you have done) and b) check the results of your department for undergraduate degrees.

You are correct in thinking that the higher the entrance requirements (especially for undergraduates) the more highly regarded is the course.

My feeling is that you should consider the data in relation to the course content. The area in which the university is sited should be of only minimal relevance to you at this point. Course content and the quality of teaching, as well as the overall reputation of the university for your subject (from the link I gave) should be your primary foci (the quality of research done within the institution will give you some indication of what standard of teaching you might expect).

A further consideration is how well your potential university is known in the US. From a job/further-degreee seeking point of view a better-known university (perhaps one affiliated to the University of London?) is bound to carry more weight.

I'm not a UK native, but UCL and Kings College both have very good reputations here in the UK. I know someone from NY who is studying at UCL, and he is very happy there, but I don't know what he's reading. Your 'major' probably is best served by finding the uni with the best department in that field.

Good luck!

Kings College in London (founded 1829) should not be confused with Kings College, Cambridge (founded 1441). Both have good reputations, but the latter is probably the one best-known world-wide.

King's College London (UCL) and University College London (UCL) are/were constituent colleges of the University of London, but are essentially independent institutions and are part of the Russell Group of research-intensive universities.

I'm probably prejudiced, as I work at UCL (also graduated from there) and have also worked at King's and London Met, but King's and UCL are definitely institutions with a good reputation. But the subject you are doing is relevant, sometimes there are excellent departments within universities that are not so generally highly-rated.

Many people above give you extremly good advices.
I just add that you have to look in the best program for you to do your Masters.
Generaly here in UK,students & postgraduates look into best program for what they want to study ,than make arrangments for accomodation.
BTW not nessesary "proper University" have best course for you.
For example, "Anglia Ruskin" University(Politehnic) has academicly better course on Comperative English Lit, than its "sister" Cambridge University, both are in Cambridge.
Or Loughborough University (politehnic) has exelent Mehanical/Aerodinamics engeenering Departmant, much better than one in London's Imperial Collage, but Imperial Colage is considered "proper" University & Loughborough not.
Of all you mentioned above, Brunell nas better raintings in most of the programs they offer to postgradustes.
I have few friends wich have been trough Brunell Postgraduate programs & they seems very happy with their choices wich ultimatly lead to best jobs.
Once you find program you want, and generaly make desision on the area to live in, than chek this website www.rightmove.co.uk
Will have lettings and for sale properties. You choose lettings, put poscode (like W12 is Sheperds Bushor W7 is Hammersmith,both zone 2) than you can see what in on offer in that neighborhood and how much it costs for rent.
MacedonianUK

Actually, Loughborough was a university pre-1992 (I thought about applying there back in 1985, but was put off by its reputation for sport, not being sporty myself.

It is not really a matter of whether institutions are considered 'proper' universities in the UK.....they all have university status now, and all have their own areas of strength. It is just that those of us who are older remember most of our present universities as other types of insitutions ,and that memory still colours the UK's perceptions, to some extent.

Elsewhere in the world (e.g. the US) UK universities which were originally established as universities are, I suspect, better known and more highly-regarded (rightly or wrongly).

Probably a generalization but most Americans know very little about U.S. universities and colleges, let alone any in the UK. It's a very small percent of the population in America that go to highly regarded and famous places.. the Ivy League schools, for example.

Most Americans have never heard of 'red brick' universities in England and probably can name Oxford and Cambridge and few others. Well, they might know St. Trinian's. :-)

Now that defintely wasn't a university.......

The OP should put course content above and beyond any other consideration, then check out the course/institution's standing using the Times guide. The decision should be based on this info, imo....consideration of anything elsecan come when and if there is more than one course which suits.

I think any student who is quite serious about thie academic advancment, will ceternly consider best Postgarduate program in the choosen field, regardless of the well known University or not.(as good marketing in not bases for good Academic course)at least that is the case in UK.
I do not know how everything works in USA though.
I do not know what is OP choosen Masters couse, but might be posibble that there are some courses wich are not based in London, but in one of the other Universities around the Country.
That might be another option as well.
I mentioned in above post, that first you choose Univesity course/postgraduate program, aply for it, if you are acepted than you look for accomodation.
This is good website to chek what is on offer in UK.
http://www.indobase.com/study-abroad/countries/uk/postgraduate-programs.html
Might give you some more food for tought.
BTW when I was student in the early '90 in London, accomodation was very expencive & I guess is only went up sice then.
I rented studio flat just off Uxbrige Rd in Sheperds Bush(West London, zone 2), near the tube station and I was paying £105 a week.
If you still set your hart on grater London, than chek
www.timeout.com/london/
will give you some ideas how expencive/cheap is London to live or visit.
MacedonianUK

I do agree that the cost of living and accommodation will be lower (often substantially lower) outside London.

If the OP is willing to look elsewhere in the country (Scotland too), and can find a suitable course, then this might well be a sensible option. It would certainly save some money.

The Times Good University Guide, which Leics has mentioned in an earlier response, also has details of the comparative costs of living as a student in different cities. London has the most expensive cost of living (excluding accommodation), followed (oddly) by Leicester. Housing is most expensive in London and Oxford and cheapest in Lancaster and Belfast.

But the quality of the department and course should be your first consideration.

We are assuming the OP might have a problem with money. For all we know, maybe this person is related to a Texas cattle baron. :-)

Ah yes....very true....... :-)

Returning to the OP's original question, of the universities mentioned, King's and UCL generally come highest in the rankings and are most central. I'm slightly puzzled by the list that was recommended by the company providing advice. Unless this was linked to very specific courses, it looks to me as if they are institutions with which the company may have some form of agreement or links.

Hadn't picked up the company recommendation thing before, but that is a good point and I agree.

The OP should make a decision based entirely on course content and personal suitability, not on recommendations by agencies or companies.

Thank you all so much for your help. Over the past few days, I have been investigating my program and UCL, Westminster, London South Bank and East London all have degrees related to my field of study or something comparable to it. I will be studying Psychology/Neuroscience/Cognitive Behavioral Therapy...something along those lines. I would like to study in London and for me, living relatively close to the city center seems ideal. Anymore information, suggestions or advice is welcome!

No more advice.....course content is all-important.....but be prepared for it to be an expensive year!

Get housing advice from the uni when you have accepted your place. The earlier you contact them the better.

Yes, I know it will be quite expensive. Won't be too much more than it is here, though. I pay almost $1000 in rent alone here in Houston. I'm hoping to pay about that much or a little more in London. Thanks again!

Thank you. No relation to the oil wealth in Texas, but I do just fine working and saving.

Of UCL, Westminster, London South Bank and East London, UCL and Westminster are closest to the city centre. UCL has the highest overall reputation.

Thank you. That's exactly what I needed to know!

Hi, i'm not sure about which universities are best, but i found this site had a lot of useful information about all the other things you come across when moving contures when i moved to london:

http://tntonline.co.uk/movingtolondon/default.aspx

hope it helps you too.

bb