UCL

[lifeturnsonadime]

After being rejected by Oxford post interview earlier this week Ds has received an offer from UCL for History. We didn't manage to attend any open days but this is where he wants to go, and I can't find out any information about offer holder days. So I wondered if anyone has DC there who could help me with some information?

Does anyone know if they do hold offer holder days?

Any tips on first year accommodation, I can see there is a portal but I was wondering if it is all based in Bloomsbury and if there is any particularly good accommodation he should be aiming for in the first year?

Where have your DC tended to live in the subsequent years?

Regarding history specifically DS has not applied for the year abroad option but this is automatically offered at another university he has be offered a place at, is it easy to switch to a year abroad option if he wants and should he do that now?

How have people found the history course, the website suggests small class sizes, has this been the case?

How have DC found UCL generally, have they found it easy to make friends, are there plenty of sports and other social opportunities?

Really pleased for DS as this is where he wants to go but feel that I knew loads about Oxford but not so much about UCL!

My DS had UCL as his insurance choice for another course last year and he didn't have an offer day so may be subject dependent. Think he had an online group seminar 1 hour with staff and current students they could attend if they had any questions.
In the end he went to his firm university also in London and has really enjoyed the international vibe of the place. 1st year accommodation is guaranteed only if you have UCL as your firm choice not insurance so bear that in mind as private accommodation costs are very high and sought after.

This was my son a year ago and he’s now just gone back for his second term at UCL. He’s in Ramsay Hall by the BT Tower (fun fact: that’s where Coldplay met) and loves it. If you look on UCL’s website it lists all their accommodation and facilities, I think they’re in Bloomsbury stretching up towards Camden. It felt like they’re all much of a muchness, except Ramsay Hall is catered so kitchen facilities are more limited (he doesn’t have a cooker, only a microwave).

Unite Students also have a block for UCL students at Stratford

He’s looking at Camden or Archway for accommodation next year, apparently that’s where lots of them go. My sister studied at UCL 25 years ago and lived in Kings Cross and then Haringay for her second and third years.

No idea what class sizes are like but he hasn’t complained about them being too large.

He is really enjoying it (particularly the nightlife that central London has to offer 😆) so no complaints.

@mumofthree22 thanks he will firm UCL so should be guaranteed accommodation.

@mrssquidink I'm glad your DS is enjoying it. I'll have another look at the accommodation online. It might be that my son has to join a portal to access it. Interesting about the catered halls. That could be good, what's the food like? My son's not a picky eater but I wonder if it could be restricting in any way? What has he thought about that?

Oh and @mrssquidink another question, the term dates seem a bit later than the other London uni that DS has an offer from. Looks like around the 22/23 rd of September, was that right for your DS last year or do they go a bit earlier than that?

Ds attended a residential last summer and stayed for 3 nights in a small single, non en-suite room on the 3rd or 2nd floor (can't remember which) at Ramsay Hall. He didn't like the room, it was dark and very hot as the window only opened a little bit. It was noisy with the window open and he didn't get a lot of sleep over those nights. However, he is a bit fussy and doesn't like sharing a toilet/bathroom (although he'll need to get used to this if he gets the offer he wants)!.

It's very well located and in a great part of London.

My youngest was at UCL. He lived in Astor in his first year on Charlotte Street. It’s nicely refurbished, convenient and security was good. He self catered and the kitchens were decent. After first year they need to move out so he lived in Camden in a house share with three other students from his course which worked well. Quite a few students live at home and commute in and they only guarantee accommodation to those who live outside London, I think. There were also some shared rooms in some halls which were cheaper but you need to filter those out in your application if you don’t want to share.

Thanks, my DS has disabilities which means he should be able to secure an ensuite room. Something else I need to look into.

LIghtsabre the noise point is important because he is very noise sensitive due to being autistic and has sensory processing issues.

I perhaps need to look specifically at whether they can advise on quieter options as this will affect sleep.

@lifeturnsonadime There is a portal to apply but UCL’s website has details of all the halls. https://www.ucl.ac.uk/accommodation/ucl-halls

From memory he had to say whether he was happy with catered or self catered, maximum weekly rent, en-suite or not. And a preference for which halls. But (a bit like schools!) UCL then allocated a place and it was take it or leave it.

Thanks for that link, I don't know why I couldn't find it. Just what I was looking for.

Also to add on term dates, yes he started on 23 September but I think the first week had no teaching for him, it was just freshers week (wonder what second year will be like?!). He didn’t seem to be starting much later than his sixth form mates going to uni.

Hi, as I remember with UCL, there was a form where you can specify the price band you want to pay, whether they want a shared room, en-suite, catered or not, etc etc. They will allocate them something, but you couldn't choose an actual accommodation block. Some are obviously much nearer to the main uni than others. Some are more modern. As I remember, they don't find out where they are allocated until after results, so a bit last minute in that respect.

In addition, there were intercollegiate halls which are shared with other London unis - Garden Halls is one, I'm afraid I can't remember others. I think for those, you can apply direct though, or it's a slightly different system?

There was an online UCL History open event last week which I listened in on. This as the second he had received an invite (both before the offer was made). The first he was unable to attend as they only gave a days notice! I am sure there will be more of you haven’t had the opportunity yet.

They did mention small seminar groups, but more impressive than that was studenyw get one on one in person feedback for every written piece of work submitted.

@lifeturnsonadime my son is in year 2 at UCL. He was at Connaught Hall in Year 1, which is on Tavistock Square, and he loved it. It was his first choice. Connaught is one of the inter-collegiate halls, which means there are some students from other UoL colleges there, such as SOAS and LSE, though mostly UCL.

On the accommodation form you can specify preferences for the inter-collegiate halls by name, whereas for UCL's own halls you can only specify parameters such as budget, catering preference, room type. They do try to match everyone's preferences as closely as possible, but if your preference is for "UCL hall, en-suite, max budget x, catered" that could just as easily be satisfied by a hall in Camden as one in Bloomsbury, whereas preferencing a named inter-collegiate hall is unambiguous. That was my DS's logic, and it worked for him.

Now he's in Year 2 he's in a flatshare in NW1 with friends. He was lucky to get something so close though - a lot of his friends have to commute from further away.

DD is yr4 on a UCL course (STEM).
She has a very vibrant social life.
UCL was her 1st choice, she wanted tto make friends with people not just on STEM courses.
Freshers' accomod'n is located all the way out in remote London zone4+ iirc. DD lived centrally in yr1 because I stupidly thought she might have in person lectures (she didn't, covid).
She has lived in a 3 different shared-with-friends flats in each of following years. Islington & Camden for yrs2 & 3, she's close to Hampstead Heath this year. The central London flat market for students/young adults is wild... flats go within 72 hours of being listed, it's super fast & competitive. Being an estate agent in central London must be a high-adrenaline dream. There are some 2nd year students in halls too, mind, esp. if disabled.
A lot of DD's friends have family living in London but these students live in student flats anyway, they come from rich families, I have banned my younger kids from going to a London Uni, omg so expensive to live there.

One of DD's boyfriends was from a global-elite super rich family. I'm not kidding about wild super rich people. DD bagged free holidays in French villas (friends' parents owned) 3 summers in a row, we just paid for her flights.

DD likes being in charge of all shared flatmate expenses, so has learnt a lot of adulting skills (how to get wifi, utilities, contracts, etc)

DS1 was in Garden Halls - another who likes the ability to name an intercollegiate hall rather than a type of UCL hall. But oh my goodness expensive.

Make sure your DC is aware of the accommodation deadline for a guaranteed room - sometime in May as I recall.

They do start back early. A complication is that the accom opens even earlier so soem students are in weeks of freshers' mayhem

Hi, thanks all, regarding the intercollegiate halls, they sound like they might suit DS better (ignoring the cost) because he would probably like to have choice over where he is allocated.

I don't think they are listed on that accommodation list above so how do I find out about them? Sorry if I'm being thick I just wonder if someone could easily signpost me?

They're definitely on the accommodation form. You can find out about them here: https://www.london.ac.uk/about/services/halls

@BrassCeiling my son was very complimentary about the catering at Connaught Hall (and presumably other inter-collegiate halls are similar). He has a big appetite and they kept him well fed.

I bought him a portable fridge for his room for snacks, because the fridges in the communal areas are small.

He had this room type: https://www.london.ac.uk/about/services/halls/connaught-hall/single-shared-bathroom.
There was a sink in his room, but toilets and showers were shared for the corridor.

I think you can book appointments for a tour of specific halls at certain times of the year.

Also, UCL itself has a self-guided tour you can download from their website.

@Lightsabre If he’s not happy with noise, it is a fact that London is noisy! Everywhere. You can easily visit UCL at any time. As he has needs, you might be well advised to do your own visit and have a look around the area.

2nd year students can be all over London. Camden has become very expensive. Many students have to go much further out. Is DS ok with tube or bus travel? It will be necessary to get to uni or sports. Obviously no sport at Bloomsbury that I know of.

I wonder if you have tagged the wrong person?

Yes he's fine with travel and the hustle and bustle, my main worry will be the impact on his sleep as he doesn't sleep well even without noise due to his neurodiversity. It's possible that a white noise machine or decent ear plugs will be adequate.

He's spent a lot of time in London as we have family there and he frequently visits for museums etc. He's very excited for the fact that it is busy. It is me that's concerned about the impact on sleep.

Thank you I hadn't thought to look on the UOL website and had only looked at the UCL one.

That room looks great, he needs ensuite though because of his needs.

Obviously no sport at Bloomsbury that I know of.

There is some indoor team sports at the Somerstown sports centre near Bloomsbury. Outdoor team sports are a tube ride away. UCL are developing more sports facilities at their new campus in Stratford. They have a stated aim in their sport strategy to make UCL a university students choose "because of the sport" rather than "in spite of the sport". I'd say the latter is definitely the case currently, but there are plenty of non-university sports facilities around. My son uses a non-university gym.

My son places tennis, Garden Halls appears to have tennis courts and UCL appear to have a large tennis club!

As a general rule, the older halls have better locations. In my third year I lived in Ramsey (a sort of LSE/UCL swap) and my brother (UCL) lived in Astor. Both probably purpose built in the 60s so smallish rooms and no ensuites unless some have been retrofitted. DS was in an Intercollegiate hall (International) which was similar. (I did not know about the Coldplay link. Back in the day it was notable for being next to the clap clinic.)

They did a massive refurbishment of the three intercollegiate Garden halls (Connaught and a couple of others) to bring them up to modern standards. I understand they are now expensive but lovely, and also in a great location. Newer halls have been built further out - some as far away as Olympic Park, and there are lots of private halls which can be very high spec/expensive.

Though all are urban, the older halls are not on main thoroughfares and Congestion charge, ULEZ, better public transport and the 20mph zone, have reduced traffic in Central London considerably. I personally would forget about the ensuite and go for the central location but obviously different DC will have different priorities. Location, quality and price are the three key variables when looking for University accommodation. Unless you are very lucky you normally need to flex one to get the other two.

@lifeturnsonadime Apologies. I hadn’t appreciated it was just sleep related.