Any experiences of QMUL?

[CoccinelleHeureuse]

DD was hoping to apply for economics at QMUL as her 'ambitious' choice as she favours a campus university, but ideally wants to be within 2 hours of home. We are in Essex.

The open day was fine and well organised, but it did not feel nearly as positive and happy as UEA or Essex, where the students were so enthusiastic about the university and their experiences and the subject talks were great. The UEA campus is particularly lovely, and Norwich feels like a nice-sized city.

She is not fazed about it being in Central London and the campus was nice, although now feels a bit 'meh' about QMUL as an option. She is a little worried about it being harder to make friends at QMUL as there are so many student living at home/ commuting, although sees it being near the City as an advantage for work experience. One big worry for her is not making friends to live with in the 2nd year, as she is autistic and has found this hard in the past, and she is already talking about living at home and commuting in. Another consideration, is that her predicted grades are AAA, which makes UCL or KCL options, but she's not sure about a non-campus university, and they are both very big. She is very aware that she needs to balance where is best academically with where is best for her wellbeing and personal development.

Anyone who can share their/DC's experiences of QMUL?

I assume it's 2A*s and 1A predictors? Could apply to LSE and UCL as well.

My YP commuted to QMUL for a different subject and had a fab time. If Ur DD commutes, it will be fine. Where in Essex are you?

UEA or Essex will be a more traditional uni experience and both good uni’s.

The London uni’s don’t have a traditional campus as such. Accommodation is expensive and can be difficult to find. Your friends may be scattered around London.

Economics courses are very competitive and there will be a fair number of international students on any economics courses in London. This can be a positive or a negative depending on how you feel about this. QMUL has a very ethnically diverse student population and is in the East End. It’s a trendy urban area but is still quite gritty. I would imagine a large proportion of students commute from home.

Most people do work experience in the long holiday so that shouldn’t be a reason for picking a London uni.

All that said, London is a brilliant place to be a student generally as there is so much on offer. They just need to be robust and not phased by the ‘busyness’ of it all.

There are plenty of QMUL students who live near campus rather than commuting home. You’ll find many of them having slightly awkward food shopping conversations with their new friends/flatmates in Whitechapel Sainsbury’s in October-November very year. It can be quite entertaining and makes me happy not to be a student again. 😜 Actually the area is well set up for students as there are lots of London Met students milling around Aldgate plus all the Bart’s & The London medical students in Whitechapel so from Aldgate through to Mile End it’s pretty much student central during term time.

Thanks for the messages, it is really helpful to hear different perspectives.
We are rural North Essex (nearest station is Colchester) so it's quite doable as a journey but not exactly around the corner. I wouldn't want to do it, but half the village does a similar commute each day and seem okay with it. I think she'd definitely stay on campus for the first year, the commuting is a back-up plan.

The reason we looked at QMUL is that it is campus based and has accommodation on site. I think that KCL and UCL have different set-ups which might not work as well. She is also worried about the level of drive and competitiveness on the course as this wouldn't suit her well at all (following a not great experience at a highly selective school.) I do think that UEA or even QMUL would suit her from that point of view.

It's good to know there are several students at QMUL living away from home. I think she'd be fine in the area. We know it well as Bow was home for several years, and the Sainsburys our local supermarket. I never felt especially worried living in the area, and it's very well connected to the rest of London.

Anyway, many thanks. Really helpful information.