Not For Tourists Guide to London 2017

Colleges & Universities • Central St Martins

General Information

King’s Cross Address: Granary Building, 1 Granary Square, London, N1C 4AA

Phone: 020 7514 7000

Website: www.arts.ac.uk/csm or @CSM_news

Overview

Though hyped to infinity, and often lazily editorialised as the one vital source of all things up-and-coming in London, Central St Martins nevertheless has an undeniable history of producing graduates that tend to rocket to international fame upon leaving. The frequently cited list of alumni reads like a Who’s Who of European art-and-design talent, and includes past superstars such as Alexander McQueen, Gilbert and George, and Anthony Gormley, as well as recent fashion darlings Christopher Kane, Gareth Pugh and Kim Jones, to name a few.

Central St Martins is part of the much larger University of the Arts London, made up of CSM, Chelsea College of Art, Camberwell College of Art, London College of Fashion, London College of Communication and Wimbledon College of Art. The school as it is today was formed in 1989 through the amalgamation of two prestigious 19th century institutions, the Central School of Arts and Crafts and St Martins School of Art. Since then it has annexed the Byam Shaw School of Art in Archway, and as a result offers a huge range of courses covering most areas of the visual and performing arts. St Martins has a particularly formidable reputation for fashion design—it is the only university to show student collections as part of London Fashion Week—but it is well respected in all departments for its hyper-progressive ethos (expect to hear words like ‘challenging,’ and ‘risk-taking’ liberally thrown around on open days). Whether you find the whole thing pretentious and overrated or are waiting in breathless anticipation for the next St Martins wunderkind, CSM is very difficult to ignore.

Campuses

The swish renovated warehouse building in Kings Cross, opened in 2011, centralises programs and student life in a way that was once difficult. The massive campus anchors the redevelopment of Kings Cross, formerly known for its transport links and general seediness. The facility allows students of art, fashion, design, and drama to be in one location, to interact cross-discipline, and form more of a united front rather than being scattered across the capital. Anyone who has walked the corridors of the old Charing Cross Road building will tell you that however charming the decaying archaic halls of academia may be, a brand spanking new building with technology to match is more than welcome. Occupying the Grade II listed Granary Building, architects Stanton Williams have integrated such wonders as an internal street, the Platform Theatre performance space, and an open-air terrace.

The Byam Shaw School of Art in Archway is a relatively recent addition (2003) to Central St Martins. Devoted solely to fine art, it runs a BA and a more skills-based 2 year FdA as well as a variety of short and post-graduate courses. CSM also has facilities in Richbell Place, Holborn.

College Culture

As is the case with most London institutions, the university community is massively subsumed by the bright lights of the city itself, but this is no bad thing. Though the college puts on frequent exhibitions, talks and events, there is no independent bar or central hub. The Student Union is not particular to Central St Martins but provides services for and represents all the art colleges in London (University of the Arts London) as a whole, and various services and societies (such as sports clubs) are run at this level. As far as the education part goes, it’s not always easy being in the midst of the constant search for the next-big-thing, but at the same time the idiosyncratic slant of the teaching makes for a unique experience, and the generally high talent level of the students fosters a fantastic creative and social atmosphere.

Tuition

Fees are £9,000 a year for UK/EU applicants taking an undergraduate or Foundation level degree. Some courses require payment of an additional course fee for materials. International students can expect to pay approximately £16,000 depending upon the type of course taken.

Short Courses

Central St Martins also runs a large number of short courses for all aspirational (and rich) non-students wanting a piece of the action. Prices are high but the courses very popular, partly because of the college’s reputation and partly because there are many interesting options to choose from. The courses run in evenings, weekends, or can be taken intensively as a Summer, Easter or Christmas school.

Phone Numbers:

Reception (Granary Building): 020 7514 7444

Drama Centre London: 020 7514 8760

Admissions—Degree Courses: 020 7514 7023

Admissions—Short Courses: 020 7514 7015

International Office: 020 7514 7027

Lethaby Gallery: 020 7514 9897

University of the Arts Students’ Union: 020 7514 6270

Press Office: 020 7514 8098

Colleges & Universities • City University

General Info

Address: Northampton Square, London, EC1V 0HB

Phone: 020 7040 5060

Website: www.city.ac.uk or @CityUniLondon

Overview

In London, a place rich with academia, City University often gets overlooked. Unlike King’s or LSE it has no grand halls, secret-handshakes or old-boys’ networks. Its facilities are modest and its library short on fusty books. But it has carved out a reputation as a supplier of professionals, cementing its place in the top five for graduate employment.

Located on a pretty park on the edge of the City of London—the ‘Square Mile’ that itself has emerged at the centre of the global economy—the university is overwhelmingly diverse, with many coming from abroad to study at the Cass Business School. It’s that section of the university that churns out workers for the finance industry—students who are so hell-bent on business success that they go to school in suits. The other five schools comprising City are the School of Arts & Social Sciences, School of Health Sciences, School of Mathematics, Computer Science & Engineering, School of Informatics, and The City Law School.

The university’s first incarnation came in 1894 as an industrial college for the working classes. The on-site swimming pool was used when London hosted the 1908 Olympics, although it wasn’t until 1966 that it gained full university status. It has maintained strong links with industry, with alumni including the founding father of budget Euro-travel, easyJet’s Stelios (like Sting and Madonna he chooses to use only one name). Students at City may be lined up for good jobs when they graduate, but it comes at the cost of having to explain what their less well-known university is whenever they mention it.

Tuition

Annual undergraduate fees are £9,000. International undergraduate fees can be upward of £15,000.

Student Life

City offers on-campus housing, including a guarantee scheme for first-year undergraduates. The uni hosts some heavyweight lectures. The Students’ Union offers limited clubs and societies with all the usual fare—tennis, chess, Christian Union. CitySport is City’s state-of-the-art sports and fitness centre. ‘Ten’ (10 Northampton Square) is where the kids hang out, the social hub of City.

Departments

Cass Business School: 020 7040 8600

Admissions office (undergrad and postgrad): 020 7040 8716

Library: 020 7040 8191

CitySport: 020 7040 5656

Students’ Union: 020 7040 5600

Colleges & Universities • Imperial College

General Information

Address: Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ

Phone: 020 7589 5111

Website: www.imperial.ac.uk or @imperialcollege

Overview

Imperial College really did have imperial beginnings with Prince Albert setting up the college as a research and learning centre of science, maths, medicine and engineering to enhance the image of the British Empire in 1887. In the Victorian age, and to this day, the college attracted the most enquiring of minds and was the central feature of what was once Prince Albert’s successful push to create a centre of culture and learning, encompassing the nearby museums, Royal College of Music, Royal Geographical Society and the Royal Albert Hall. The university remains one of the best in the world, and as such remains one of the most selective institutions in the UK with the application to admissions ratio hovering around 7:1. Famous alumni include clever clogs Brian May (Queen), HG Wells and Alexander Fleming. In 2007 Imperial College became independent from the University of London and now awards its own degrees.

Departments

The pride and soul of the college are three faculties, each headed by a principal: engineering, medicine and natural sciences. Imperial also has a business school with Departments of Finance, Innovation & Entrepreneurship, and Management. The main purpose of the Humanities department is to provide elective subjects and language courses for the science students. For medical students Imperial is also associated with various London hospitals including St Mary’s Hospital and Charing Cross Hospital.

Campus Culture

Imperial may have a ‘heads down’ atmosphere but there is still that unwritten rule that if you work hard you play hard. Imperial College Union (www.imperialcollegeunion.org) offers numerous clubs and societies from belly dancing to wakeboarding to backgammon. The Union Bar is also well used, and is particularly lively on an afternoon when a football or rugby match is screened. The free student paper, Felix (felixonline.co.uk), is a popular and useful resource for keeping up to date with campus life and aims to be independent from the College itself. Imperial also has its own student TV station, Stoic, and radio station ICRadio (www.icradio.com). There are also regular public lectures on a variety of subjects.

Facilities

Imperial’s main campus in South Kensington is surrounded by many of London’s best museums including the Natural History Museum, Science Museum and Victoria & Albert Museum. Being in the thick of it also means a close proximity to the shops and cafes of South Ken and High Street Kensington and being a stone’s throw from Hyde Park.

The main campus boats some of the best facilities of the London universities. As well as the usual on-campus shops (including bookshop, cafes, travel agents and bank) there are some impressive sports facilities on offer. The Ethos sports centre contains not only a fully equipped gym but also an inside climbing wall, swimming pool, squash courts, sports hall and a treatment room offering massages and physiotherapy. On top of that there’s a boathouse and a 60-acre athletic ground. Naturally, there’s a well-stocked central library and various smaller departmental libraries.

Tuition

Home students’ (UK/EU) annual fees are £9,000 for undergraduate programmes. International students pay upward of £25,000.

Colleges & Universities • King’s College

General Information

Address: King’s College London, Strand, London, WC2R 2LS

Phone: 020 7836 5454

Website: www.kcl.ac.uk or @KingsCollegeLon

Overview

Although it grants its own degrees, Kings College is one of the 18 colleges that make up the colossus that is the University of London. King’s (or KCL, as otherwise known) has nearly 20,000 students and five campuses—the Strand, Guy’s, Waterloo, St. Thomas’ and Denmark Hill. In 2011 the school of law moved into the East Wing of the magnificent Somerset House. It has an excellent academic reputation and ranks among the top UK universities. Unlike some of the other University of London colleges, King’s is equally well known for its arts and science courses.

Its religious affiliation is now less central, but back in 1829 King’s was founded as a Church of England institution to counter University College London, or “the godless college in Gower Street.” The beautifully designed chapel at the Strand campus testifies to its pious beginnings, though few students would consider it a motivation for attending the college. The student body is diverse, as the societies list reflects—it includes a Catholic society, a Christian Union, a Krishna Consciousness group, and a Nomads society, among a myriad of others.

King’s boasts a number of famous alumni. Keats studied apothecary there (he didn’t like it much), and Florence Nightingale set up the world’s first school of nursing at St. Thomas’ Hospital, now the Florence Nightingale School of Nursing and Midwifery. In the 1960s, Archbishop Desmond Tutu spent time in its halls.

London prices may take their toll on the student purse, but King’s students at least benefit from a prime location. As well as the nightclub, the college has two bars, one at Guy’s Campus and one at the Strand. The Waterfront bar at the Strand looks directly onto the Thames, giving a view of everything from Westminster to the OXO Tower. It’s also a great gig venue.

Sports

The college’s sports facilities are impressive. It caters to almost anything—it has a swimming pool, gym, and even rifle range. Although King’s cannot rival the Oxbridge rowing tradition, its sports do have a history—two of the men’s rugby clubs, Guy’s and St. Thomas’, are the oldest in the world. To access the sports grounds students must leave Zone 1; the grounds are in Dulwich, Surrey, and South London.

Culture

Kings has numerous dramatic societies where amateur thespians can hone their skills. More unusually, its classics department stages a play in ancient Greek every year, and is the only classics department in the UK to do so. The college’s religious origins are evident in its wonderful choral music. 25 choral scholars uphold this tradition.

Tuition

Annual undergraduate fees are £9,000. International undergraduate fees are upward of £15,000.

Contact Details

Admissions: 020 7848 7000

International Students: 020 7848 3388

Students’ Union: 020 7848 1588

Colleges & Universities • LSE

General Information

Address: Houghton Street, London WC2A 2AE

Phone: 020 7405 7686

Website: www.lse.ac.uk or @LSEnews

Overview

The London School of Economics and Political Science, or LSE as it is commonly known, is a single faculty college focused on the social sciences, world renowned for its highly prestigious programmes and distinguished alumni. Located amidst a hub of academic activity with UCL, King’s College, SOAS and Birkbeck nearby, the college is affiliated with the University of London and stands apart due to its high proportion of postgraduate students.

LSE was founded in 1895 by the intellectual socialist movement the Fabian Society with the aim of bettering society through the education of Britain’s business and political elite. Today it remains a strongly political institution, with considerable influence in government through both its research programmes and campaigns. Its alumni are also highly represented in business and law spheres. While best known for its economics and politics degrees, the broad range of social science programmes offered complements the international ethos of the school and it remains at the cutting edge in terms of research.

The college enrolls around 9,500 students from over 140 different countries; over half of these are postgraduates who rarely leave the library unless attending high-brow seminars on globalization and inequality. Its starry alumni includes Nobel laureates, international Heads of State, outstanding academics, and a notable proportion of British MP’s. And of course Mick Jagger.

Campus Culture

Despite its reputation for academic excellence, LSE’s social activities are mainly fuelled by a lively undergraduate population who also know how to enjoy themselves. With over 170 eclectic student societies ranging from Anime to Beekeeping to Catalan to Philosophy to Swing Dance, the broad international and diverse facets of the student population is encompassed. An atmosphere of work hard/play hard prevails and nightly events lure the undergraduates from the libraries and keep the campus buzzing. The large postgraduate population tends to shuffle by, however, books in hand; the days of cheesy music, luminous drinks in shot glasses and ill-conceived experimental fashions behind them while they actually do some work. LSE also hosts numerous public lectures with acclaimed speakers at the forefront of the subject discussed. Past speakers have included Noam Chomsky, Kofi Annan, David Cameron and architect Richard Rogers.

Sports

Not to be let down by its central, and somewhat geographically limited campus, LSE manages to maintain a thriving sports culture through the Athletics Union. Football and rugby seem to top the bill, with provision for some of the less mainstream athletic pursuits such as capoeira and Ultimate Frisbee. The college makes use of its affiliation with the University of London Union, which broadens the scope for sports participation alongside students of other universities.

Tuition

2013/14 undergraduate fees are £9,000 and international undergraduate fees are upward of £17,000.

Contact

Undergraduate Admissions: 020 7955 7125

Graduate Admissions: 020 7955 7160

Library: 020 7955 7229

Students’ Union: 020 7955 7158

Colleges & Universities • University College London

General Information

Address: Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT

Phone: 020 7679 2000

Website: www.ucl.ac.uk or @uclnews

Overview

UCL, a constituent college of the University of London, has been a place of diversity from the word go—living very much up to its status as “London’s Global University.” University College London was founded in 1826 as a progressive alternative to Oxford and Cambridge’s social exclusivity and religious restrictions. Thus, it was the first university in England to admit students of any race, class or religion and welcome women on equal standing with men. International students have been a part of the college’s fabric since day one and it was the first English university to offer the systematic teaching of law, architecture and medicine. UCL is strongly associated with philosopher Jeremy Bentham, the university’s so-called “spiritual father,” perhaps in part because Bentham’s clothed skeleton is on display in UCL’s South Cloisters.

UCL consistently ranks among the top universities not only in the UK but also worldwide. The science, law and medical departments remain some of its strongest. 29 Nobel prizes have been awarded to UCL academics and students, a large portion of which in Physiology & Medicine. That said, UCL degrees in anthropology, history and the arts are also very highly regarded in their fields.

UCL’s many networks of libraries are impressive and an easy place to get lost. The Main Library, designed by William Wilkins, who also designed the similar National Gallery building, focuses on arts and humanities, history, economics, public policy and law. The Special Collections include medieval manuscripts and first editions of works by George Orwell, James Joyce’s Ulysses, Newton’s Principia and Darwin’s Origin of the Species.

There’s no such thing as a typical UCL student, as it’s such a diverse place. The only thing students have in common is their intelligence and London. Because it’s a university with great academics right in the heart of Bloomsbury, it makes for some pretty interesting alums. Where else can you have such diverse graduates as Alexander Graham Bell, Mahatma Gandhi, Ricky Gervais, and all four members of Coldplay?

Tuition

Undergraduate home student (UK/EU) fees are £9,000 per year while International students should expect to pay upward of £15,000 (or upward of £20,000 for science-related programmes).

Sports

UCL’s sports are as diverse as its students—everything from hockey, rowing and women’s rugby to Kung Fu, skateboarding and water polo. The UCLU (University College London Union) is your one-stop shop for campus sports teams and clubs. If you’re looking for football, The 90-acre UCL sports ground at Shenley, Hertfordshire, has very high quality pitches. Watford football club even train there. The Union gym (Bloomsbury Fitness) offers facilities for activities such as basketball and personal fitness programmes.

Culture

Being right in the centre of London means that you’re never short of something cultural to do. However, UCL stands up quite well. It even has its own museum—the Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology—accessible from the Science Library. Here you’re even given your own torch to explore the collection of over 80,000 rare objects DIY (or Indiana Jones) style. UCL also has its own West End theatre, the Bloomsbury Theatre, wedged into the maze of main buildings. It’s a must-stop for top comedian tours. Jimmy Carr and Ricky Gervais have been known to shoot their stand-up DVDs there. The UCL Union has access to the theatre for at least ten weeks a year, where it is dedicated to student drama and music society performances. Although neither drama, music nor dance are formally taught at UCL, this does not stop the Union’s drama club from making it to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. At UCL, despite the fact that students can really go out just about anywhere in London, many stay loyal to the bars within the Union, and it’s usually a great place to meet before a bigger night out.

Contact

Admissions: 020 7679 7742

UCL Union: 020 7679 2500 or uclu.org

Bloomsbury Theatre: 020 3108 1000

Petrie Museum: 020 7679 2884

Colleges & Universities • SOAS

General Information

Address: Thornhaugh Street, Russell Square, London WC1H 0 XG

Phone: 020 7637 2388

Website: www.soas.ac.uk or @SOAS

Overview

School of Oriental and African Studies is a specialist college which focuses on the languages, cultures, law and social studies of Africa, Asia, and the Near and Middle East. SOAS, as it is commonly known, is part of the University of London and is the only institution of its kind in the United Kingdom. It has an excellent reputation as one of the leading authorities on African and Asian studies in the world and ranks highly in university charts on the strength of its programmes. Originally founded in 1916 to educate and inform British citizens bound for overseas postings, the school began with an Oriental studies’ focus and later incorporated African studies. SOAS is nestled in the corner of Russell Square, with another campus up close to King’s Cross; its diversity complements the hotbed of academic activity that makes up this part of London.

The college enrolls over 5,000 students, with more than half coming from countries outside of the UK. They are often seen sitting in Russell Square eating their organic lunch, and chatting (in Swahili or Taiwanese) about their UNICEF internships. SOAS’s alumni include members of parliament and royalty of a range of countries from Ghana to Burma. The Crown Princess of Norway went here. Well of course she did. The Norwegians are so PC. Except for whale hunting.

Culture On Campus

One thing to be said about SOAS students is they are serious. The Students’ Union has a reputation of leaning heavily to the left and is very politically active. SOAS students have been a notable presence at anti-war protests, and they are also now rather concerned with environmental causes—campaigning for the reduction of carbon footprints, among other issues. Societies at the college, unsurprisingly, have a very international, ‘right-on’ flavour: the Decolonising Our Minds Society, Student Action for Global Internationalist Justice Society, Urdu Conversation Society are just a few.

Tuition

Undergraduate home (UK/EU) fees are £9,000. International undergraduate students can expect to pay £16,090 per year.

Contacts

Undergraduate Admissions: 020 7898 4301

Masters Admissions: 020 7898 4361

Research Admissions: 020 7074 5117

Library: 020 7898 4163

Students’ Union: 020 7898 4992 or soasunion.org

Colleges & Universities • ULU

General Information

Address: Student Central, Malet Street, WC1E 7HY

Phone: 020 7664 2000

Website: www.studentcentral.london or @UoLondonSC

Overview

Students are the same the world over and in London they ain’t no different. In amongst the banter over Bronte and misunderstandings about Marx stands beer, boogeying and burgers. Luckily, for over 120,000 of the University of London’s students there’s a central place to go to make your university years active and sociable—Student Central.

Formerly the student-run University of London Union, or ULU, in 2014 the University of London took over the entity and renamed it Student Central. You will need to be a member of to get into some of the events, although grabbing a cheeky cheap sarnie in the café shouldn’t pose too much of a problem for clued-up Londoners. There are 18 University of London colleges that are eligible for membership including Kings College and UCL, as well as ten other smaller institutions.

Practicalities

You cannot really get more central. There is a plethora of tube stations and lines within a five – to ten-minute walk, not to mention Oxford Street. The nearest tube, however, is Russell Square (Piccadilly Line) or Goodge Street (Northern Line).

Clubs & Societies (non-sport)

The range of clubs and societies on offer change more often than Europe’s borders. Reason being the turnover of students and the lure from students’ own colleges—all the more reason to get down there and sign up now! You’ve got the usual suspects such as Drama club but it would not be Londontown without a few obscure offerings—Revelation Rock Gospel Choir anyone? Hell, yeah.

Sports

Student Central has to cater to thousands of students, but also attract students away from sports clubs in their particular college. Sports, and the bar afterward, is the place to mix with students from the other colleges. Sportswise there’s the usual fare—tennis, football, swimming and martial arts. There’s also Energybase which contains a gym and pool. Amongst other things take your pick from salsa, breakdancing, fencing or rifle club. Now there’s one for the CV…

Food & Bars

Lunch Box is Student Central’s coffee shop, conveniently located on the ground floor for those who want to grab a quick (fair trade) coffee or a bargain meal deal. The Library is the main bar, with a lively atmosphere and live acts. The Gallery Bar is a low-key alternative to The Library, and also serves food. The Venue hosts a club night on Fridays, live music acts (up-and-coming unsigned bands as well as the odd better-known act) and cinema events during the week. For gigs enter Student Central on Byng Place.

Facilities

Copycats Print Centre will resolve all your reprographics and binding troubles. The Student Shop carries everything from lab coats to University of London-branded gear.

Colleges & Universities • Continuing Education

Learning in the capital has a long and venerable history. University College London (UCL) was the third university founded in England after Cambridge and Oxford and the first to admit students of any race or religion. Now there are hundreds of universities, colleges and adult education centres offering a mindboggling array of courses.

The first port of call for those with a lust for learning or even an empty Tuesday night to fill is Floodlight (london.floodlight.co.uk), which lists tens of thousands of courses. Fancy brushing up your motorbike maintenance skills at Hackney Community College, getting an NVQ in sugar modelling at the National Bakery School, learning how to create the ultimate kitchen garden at the English Gardening School or studying the nonsense verse of Lear and Carroll at City Lit? The sky is your oyster.

Continuing Education and Professional Development

University College London

Gower Street, WC1E 6BT

020 7679 2000

www.ucl.ac.uk or @uclnews

City University

Northampton Square, EC1V 0HB

020 7040 5060

www.city.ac.uk or @CityUniLondon

London South Bank University

103 Borough Road, SE1 0AA

020 7815 7815