Any experience of UWL and other London unis for Media courses?

[Onceuponatime46]

Hello, does anyone have any experience of UWL (Uni of West London - Ealing). DD wants to go and is holding an offer, but we’re trying to get a bit more insight into the accommodation options, travels costs, general feel for the uni and area etc. we do not live near London so its a huge move. Any thoughts? Thanks

alternatively, any other London unis worth considering? Media/Comms/Marketing courses.

@Onceuponatime46 No real insight into this uni, but I’d look at Salford. I’d also suggest a Masters after an academic degree. City university is probably better. I’m not sure an undergrad degree in these subjects demonstrates real talent. Marketing is business - would a business course that’s broader be better?

I'm generally in favour of a university education being good for anyone & everyone. But ...

Low tariff universities running "Media" courses are as close to Mickey MOuse degrees that I'm prepared to go. YOur DD may learn useful critical skills, but then again, at a place like UWL, she may not be particularly pushed.

It won't get her a job in the media. She'll need to start again at the bottom, as a runner, an assistant, a marketing junior, whatever. If she's interested in the production and/or creative side of the media, it'll be a long road.

If she's interested in journalism, she should be getting out there now writing for her school magazine, being prepare to get involved with a university /student newspaper. She cannot be passive about this, especially at a marginal, low tariff university.

Probably not what you want to hear, but family members involved in TV production tell me this all the time (they know I teach in the arts at an RG university - main message from them is, don't think the degree gives you any sort of special leg up).

If she's interested in journalism, she should be getting out there now writing for her school magazine, being prepare to get involved with a university /student newspaper. She cannot be passive about this, especially at a marginal, low tariff university.

This from @ParmaVioletTea – if she wants to work in the media, it’s more possible than ever before to start NOW. You can do socials for a club or organisation, write a blog, write sports reports or theatre reviews for a local paper. I belong to a sports club and we have a group of YP who pull together our Insta posts and they are doing such a great job – but also gaining themselves great experience.

I don’t know the uni you mention but it is a lower-tariff one so I would be considering carefully whether it will be worth the ££ – especially as it is in London so the £££ will be huge. Does she hold any offers @Onceuponatime46 for unis with a lower CoL?

UWL is not considered particularly good, although I think their music courses use to be okay. Other alternatives in London are:

Ravensbourne
Westminster
Kingston
Kings
Brunel (quite far out)
Royal Holloway (not actually in London but party of University of London)

My dd did media, marketing and communications at St Mary’s University in Twickenham. It was an excellent course and when she graduated (nearly three years ago), she secured a place on a graduate scheme in a related field with a major company within a few months of graduating. She was pushed throughout her course and most of the teaching staff had extensive industry exper.

That’s excellent – big well done to her. I think actually St Mary's flies under the radar a bit as it is overshadowed by some of the other London unis, but this is not the first time I have read a really positive story about it.

@SomaOther alternatives for what? Brunel is really sciences and it’s Uxbridge. It’s the back of beyond in terms of London. Kings? What do they offer? Won’t be media I suspect.

The problem with individual stories is that they don’t show the whole picture. Most media types have degrees in other subjects and then do the appropriate masters. The pay can be ludicrously low too. I’d be checking the employment rate for all these degrees because one swallow does not a summer make.

Culture, Media & Creative Industries BA | King's College London
Media and Communications undergraduate courses | Brunel University of London - as I said, Brunel is quite far out.

Thanks for all the replies. Some a bit harsher than I was expecting! She likes UWL due to its connections with the BBC, Sky etc. But I take your point about media careers. She really wants to experience Uni so we’re being supportive……

I’m all for art courses at uni and quite up on London unis, but I’ve never heard of it.

I would think very carefully about it.

What qualifications/grades are they likely to get?

Not sure who was harsh tbh.

Most people have just commented that it’s not one of the most popular/highly rated/top universities – which you must know. That doesn't mean it should be avoided at all costs but the fact that it is in London (and you are not local) means that it will be a particularly expensive place to be a student, so it's worth considering whether it is a good choice.

I am not I suspect alone in knowing nothing about this uni and not knowing anyone who has gone there. And I have a lot of years' experience working in media and marketing, among educational roles. Again, that's not to say it's a poor choice. Just an observation.

What kind of grades is she looking at? What do the connections with Sky and the BBC mean? Do they frequently lead to internships or work experience or jobs for graduates – bc if so then that is worth a lot.

The connections through to media companies was mentioned several times on the
open day and website. Lecturers with industry experience, graduate role successes and work placements etc. I know it’s not a RG uni but they would likely be out of reach for DD anyway. UWL has asked for 120 ucas points. DD just likes the look of it I guess? We have done the finances and understand the costs. Was just trying to get some actual experience of the uni. Thanks again.

I went to uwl long before it became uwl. I have a high level job in comms via prestige grad scheme. If she likes the vibe and they really do have links to bbc and sky then go for it. Ealing is surburban london. very pleasant. 65 bus to kew gardens.
Otherwise westminster uni media harrow campus has great media and comms dept

@Onceuponatime46 She doesn’t need RG but all unis say they have links! They won’t be available to everyone and jobs will still be problematic. Dc will be applying for internships against huge numbers of other students! UWE isn’t special for these employers.

TBH I can completely understand wanting to go to London to study. If you and they understand the expense and the non-campus nature and still want to go they could have a great experience.

The lecturers at all unis will have links to industry. That’s how they’re lecturers-on a media course I suspect they’re more likely to be teachers rather than researchers as they may be at a uni that prioritises research, the sort of uni people may call RedBrick. . Not a bad thing, potentially advantageous but worth knowing.

https://www.londonmet.ac.uk/search/?query=Media

People are snobby about London Met and it is not without its issues but it’s worth looking at. I’ve got a bit of a soft spot for it and iimho its in an interesting area of London.

London College of Communication in Elephant and Castle would be the London uni I would think of for media. It’s in central South London not to far from Westminster and the Thames at Elephant and Castle . It’s undergoing a large building change at the moment. I’d suggest it may require a higher level
of portfolio than UWL or London Met but not necessarily high Level 3 (A levels and BTEC) results.

London College of Communication in Elephant and Castle would be the London uni I would think of for media. It’s in central South London not to far from Westminster and the Thames at Elephant and Castle . It’s undergoing a large building change at the moment. I’d suggest it may require a higher level
of portfolio than UWL or London Met but not necessarily high Level 3 (A levels and BTEC) results

LCC was my first thought as well. In terms of entry requirements, it's not necessarily that high - e.g. this course at 96 UCAS points
BA (Hons) Media Communications | UAL https://share.google/TxsV2EC7Gfz3jwSCL

I think I would worry whether there would be many students that are not commuting as I imagine this uni attracts a lot of local young people.
I don't think it will have quite the community vibe and I would worry about the social aspect.

UAL has shared halls with other London universities so making friends is very possible at LCC. Elephant and Castle is changing rapidly and has great transport links. I’d consider them.

Yes OP, I should have said that LCC is one of UALs colleges.

I imagine you learn just as much being in London and getting involved in extra curricula’s as you do on the course.

Thanks everyone. Some really useful feedback and food for thought.

I attended this university, lecturers where unprofessional and alot of students from other courses where complaining because their courses where not accredited. Micky mouse degrees comes to mind, the place had alot of bullies and teachers that joined in. I had high qualifications but chose it because it was close. Left with anxiety, deterioting mental health. The lecturers read off ancient slides, it is not very good and they do not care about the students, only the tution. I do suspect they take extra student finance as they lie about when students where last at the campus. The university is a scam and students are not pushed here, only left to feel fear, resulting in anxiety and depression.

If she has a bad time at this university which I suspect she might, there is no support offered, services are poor and they will try kick her out due to bullying in my case etc. I suggest you look at others universities before making that decision as student finance will not fund you again because they lie about the dates to get more money. I would look elsewhere because that university is toxic, again they read off slides and do not push students. They also state you as doing twenty hours a week but let you go home earlier meaning they dont teach you for twenty hours. Work ethic amongst other students is bad because no-one exactly wants to do their work and doing team work turns into a nightmare. I would run for the hills.

I’ve heard really good things about Media Arts (is that what it’s called, I can’t remember?) at Goldsmiths. I think they have a very good reputation. The reason we didn’t apply is because it was too broad-based in the first year (whereas my dc wants to specialise early on) - but the entry tariff is very reasonable. I don’t think they had places in clearing last year though - I will check though (I took some screenshots of relevant courses in clearing).

Just checked in clearing last year (from the screenshots that I took at the time)… Goldsmiths had some law related courses, but no media ones (i think because they are very highly regarded). Also saw that last year some of the RG unis were offering courses in clearing - Southampton was a good example, lots of courses at BBC (for the academic type ones) or BCC (for the less academic type ones, eg film and television etc etc). Might be worth considering a plan C of doing some research to see what is available in clearing in July (and in August, just before results come out), and seeing if your dc can actually ‘trade up’ through clearing? I don’t think UAL had courses in clearing last year (they have low entry requirements, as offers are based on portfolio, so it is less up to fluctuations after the exams). But some of the RG (and RG +) unis may have spaces in clearing, at less popular courses (media might fall into that category) - and some of them heavily discount their entry requirements - and some don’t (i think Bristol had some courses in clearing last year, but from memory, they were at same entry level). But Warwick (BA Film studies - so probably less popular) was discounted. Royal Holloway and Reading both discounted their courses in clearing too - and are very well regarded generally, and are very close to London.

I think that Warwick BA Film Studies is a highly regarded course that’s more like taking English at a high tariff uni than media at a lower tariff or spevialist arts uni. No judgement, just a very different course.

Do they have to go straight onto a degree? Some local colleges teach a one year UAL level 4 course and that counts as the third year of free level 3 education if taken as an under 18 year old. Even if it’s done in London you’d then only pay for accommodation and not fees.