University in London...

[Bonsoir]

DP and I want to give DSS1, who is 16 and in his penultimate year of French lycée, a tiny introductory idea of what university life in London might be like. We are going to spend some time in London over half-term and want to show him Imperial College, UCL, LSE and King's College - at this stage, it is about showing him the physical locations so he can compare and contrast with French grandes écoles. We would also really love to show him some halls of residence, as leaving home is a big deal for DSS1. Can anyone give me any useful clues?

ellisbell - yes, I know that quite a lot of French students go to Royal Holloway. TBH, I suspect that he will be more interested in Warwick for business studies than London anyway, but the idea is to start off gently with the main destinations he has heard of because friends/cousins have gone there! This is definitely not a final shortlist, but a reccy tour!

if you are doing any more reccy tours you could see if there is accommodation available to stay. Some universities do rent out rooms, although often only in the long vacation. A few do it for open days.

Bonsoir... There is a big difference between studying business studies and economics in the UK (vast gap in how the subjects are considered by the good employers) ... I seem to remember that that's not the case in France (or in Italy where I am). You may know this already but it was not clear from the post ...

Also, Warwick is "campus" based so perhaps not necessarily best option if collegiate system or similar would not suit. Also, for some subjects Warwick is not too far off LSE in terms of academic requirements so again it depends.
Nottingham very good for economics, as is Manchester...
If very focussed on business City University is also worth having a look at (and entry requirements seem to be OK)...

We did the tour today: King's, a quick look at LSE and walk past the High Holborn residence, UCL and then Imperial and then back to LSE for a guided tour and presentation. That was just plenty for one day (I had factored in some more halls of residence but that would have been overkill). DSS1 was very interested. Thank you for all your help.

The good thing about the central London University colleges is that Paris is only a few hours away on eurostar.

Bonsoir
there has just been a local London TV programme looking at London halls of residence. Apprently across all the London universities, only 13% of students get into university halls, at about £120 a week minimum. There are a lot of very fancy private halls of residence set up for the foreign student market, charging £300-£400 a week. The private rental market is getting squeezed as so few people can afford to buy, so there students are being priced out as well ... Sorry to be so gloomy but accommodation prices are very high.

The physical reality of life at Imperial is that for at least two years you are unlikely to live in South Kensington. I lived way out on the district line, and DH lived over a curry house in the East End. Perhaps things have changed now though...

TBH, accommodation isn't of serious concern to us - if DSS1 got a place, he can afford to rent or buy. But thank you for the thoughts!

How fortunate for his friends!

Very late to this thread.

My DS is at UCL and loves being in central London. He was unsure at first but turned into a cool Londoner overnight. The Bloomsbury area is very good for students. Everything they need is there and most of it is within walking distance.

Copper, last year DS was in a UCL hall - on Gower St @ Torrington. It was about £75 per week, and we live inside the M25.

I think the key thing is to apply. DS put proximity to department as the No 1 priority on his form, and he got a place right across the road. It was great because he could go home for lunch and breaks and didn't develop a £5 a shot Costa Coffee habit.

UCL seem to have more student accomodation available than Kings. DS1 is applying to both. He has friends at UCL who have all got into Halls in their first year and all live (family home) within about 5 miles, or even closer, of the university. However, when he looked at the Kings prospectus it said that they cannot promise halls if you live within the M25.

That's good to know - it was quite an alarming programme. So much university accommodation seems to be far too expensive though.

I was at Kings (and, as it happens, also spent a year at Paris I) and I would say that the London experience is very different from both the French experience of Uni and a campus based Uni. On reflection I would have preferred a campus Uni. French universities are, IMHO, crap for pastoral support or anything outside pure academics. Not much support if you're struggling with that either.

I would definitely recommend the Uk experience over the French, but I would also look at Unis other than London.

I now live in Exeter for example, which is excellent, with direct flights to Paris.

Bonne chance!

Bonsoir, I don't think Imperial does Economics or Business studies (am Imperial Alumnus), as they used to be called Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, they later changed to Imperial College London, but they still focus on science, medicine and engineering.

"So much university accommodation seems to be far too expensive though."

Oh please don't remind me of that Copper. DS's accommodation is £200 p.w. This is even more than my own mortgage.

And the annoying thing is that his accommodation is only 3 tube stops away from home. He wants to live outside like all his friends and I wasn't going to deny him the privilege of an independent free undergraduate lifestyle - something he has worked so hard for. With a new contract smart phone and an annual travel pass to boot (compliments from kind parents), DS really has the freedom of London about him.

I have gone off London since DS and his girlfriend got badly attacked in the small hours of this morning.

The police werent interested, A and E was full of stabbings. Ghastly.

Are they both ok funny?

I'm sorry to hear about this funnyperson. How bad is badly attacked?

I've made DS promise me not to retaliate in (God forbids) situations such as this but to surrender all the property and walk away if that's what they want.

Hope your DS and his girlfriend make a speedy recovery.

They were by a bus stop going home after a university arranged dance event waiting for the bus when a couple of girls threw lighted cigarettes at the girlfriend and asked her if she had a problem. DS remonstrated. 2 more arrived, pushed girl friend to the ground, kicked her in the head, stomach and spine , DS trying to pull them away, then 3 more arrived with knives, at which point D dragged girlfriend free, they ran across the road, got into a bus.Thankfully the bus driver, prompted by frightened passengers, did not let the pursuing gang on the bus. Medical students on the bus helped them to A and E. DS had the presence of mind to contact the police whilst they were in hospital, who came and took a statement. Police in fact have allocated a crime number, and an investigating officer (I rang to ask what action was being taken) and, as we now know, have visited the scene and are looking at cctv images which is good as DS and girlfriend are too shaken and don't remember exact details of the gang. No theft or intention of theft, only pure un mitigated violence and anger say DS and girlfriend who are both, as you can imagine, not only injured, but are extremely shocked and distressed (though from the sound of it, lucky to be alive) having both led sheltered (normal) lives. Girlfriend is badly hurt. I spent the day with them on and off. DS says A and E full of people who had been stabbed, presumably the majority who don't make the papers. I think people should be able to walk the streets in safety. Worst thing apparently was the mindless intention of violence, and the laughter and pleasure the gang took in the whole thing.

Anyway on the subject of London student accommodation, one of the things I did today was buy a kitchen table and chairs for their student house, which the landlord who is making £735 per week was too stingy to get, so the 7 students had nowhere to sit and eat, though the house and kitchen are large.
University recommended landlord btw.

Terrifying. I'm very glad they're both now safe.

Off topic, but you might want to warn your DD that there are highly organised rings operating in the heart of Oxford too, though they're after money for drugs and focus on bags. They operate with great stealth, so much less of a problem, but not worth tangling with as peterenas says. DD2 had her bag taken off her by the Rad Cam during interviews and spent the night talking to police - an unwelcome insight into a dark side of Oxford.

yellowstone thank you.
Will warn DD. Sorry it happened to yours. Always stressful.