View Full Version : University of London?
Kanamori
10-10-2005, 22:35
How good is the University of London? The Honors College here is offering study abroad courses there, and a week in Prague, and I am seriously considering the opportunity. Probably, regardless of quality, unless it's really awful which I can't imagine, I should go.
University of London is made up of lots of seperate universities. Should be pretty good. I have applied to two of them in fact... London is a good place, be a good experience. Prague is worth it too.
If you're in Prague head to the coffee shop in the art museum next to the old Jewish bit.
Big King Sanctaphrax
10-10-2005, 22:52
As BDC says, it's made up of several different Unis-which one are you going to? They're all good though, to be honest-I've applied for Imperial and University myself.
Kanamori
10-11-2005, 00:24
It doesn't specify beyond being in the bloomsbury district by the palace and tower. Would classes offered give you any idea which one, if the above doesn't help? They are pretty basic courses: British Culture, British Literature, British Politics, Art of the 20th Century, and Britain and the European Union. I don't know that quality really matters to me that much, as it is a really good chance to go to London for a semester! I hope to be enjoying superior Burger Kings next semeste and a good coffee shop near the jewish bit in Prague's art musuem.~:cheers:
Big King Sanctaphrax
10-11-2005, 00:44
I think Bloomsbury is inter-uni accomadation, so I'm still not sure. Imperial is all science, so you definitely wouldn't be there.
Kanamori
10-11-2005, 00:47
I guess I'll have to call them tomorrow, thanks for the info so far
:bow:
As others have said, the University of London is a college of fairly independent institutions. I'd say they are all good, but some are excellent at some things.
Probably the best indicator of the quality of a British university is the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) grading of the relevant department. This is a government initiative assessing the research output of departments - good research tends to go hand in hand with good courses, particularly for higher courses. A rating of 5* is supposed to be world beating (e.g. includes London School of Economics and University College London for economics, for example). 5 is very good. 4 is only so-so. 3 and below are not good.
There are other indicators - there's an Teaching Quality Assessment (TQA) score out of 25, but personally I think that's more a measure of how good the department is at talking the talk and form filling.
There's also a National Student Survey with standardised questions from surveys of students. On the internet, you can pull up average scores to particular questions from students in a department in any university.
Finally, various newspapers, eg the Times, put the above indicators together plus some more and create league tables.
A google search on some of the above key terms should throw up a mass of data. If you can't find them, post again and I'll dig them out.
To be honest, though, you might want to try to judge the particular courses you'll be taking rather the department as a whole. Sometimes there are module webpages you can look at, but typically those are password protected. The admissions people might be able to send you something about the course outline etc which you can see if it is any good.
English assassin
10-11-2005, 09:54
It doesn't specify beyond being in the bloomsbury district by the palace and tower.
The college of London University which is in Bloomsbury is University College London, which is good. I'd take that with a pinch of salt though since Bloomsbury isn't near the palace or the tower, and the palace and the tower are not near each other. Most importantly though it IS a good central district which would be an enjoyable place to spend time in in London.
I'm not aware of any college of London Uni that I would call "bad", and whichever college you go to you get the same London University award/credit at the end of the course.
And London is an education in itself.
How good is the University of London? The Honors College here is offering study abroad courses there, and a week in Prague, and I am seriously considering the opportunity. Probably, regardless of quality, unless it's really awful which I can't imagine, I should go.
You have not told us if there are any other study course options abroad. If that is the oly option you should take it. It really depends on what else is on offer. You have to have something to compare with.
London is definetly a great place for a course, very good experience. Very different from Madison for sure. I have 3 cousins in Madison and heard, read see a lot of pictures. London will offer you an experience in a really industrialised, commerical city. Business is what London does best IMO. Plenty of culture too, lots of cultural events and the ethnic diversity is incredible. Urban sprawl all over, but pockets of the original British culture survive.
Does sound like UCL. If so you'll be based right in between Westminster and the City.
London is well worth a year of anyone's life.
lancelot
10-11-2005, 19:33
@Kanamori
Not that Im bragging, but I go to Kings College, London (part of the uni of London) and that in many ways is considered quite an elite college.
(im told it has the top philosophy or psychology dept (I cant remember exactly which but Im pretty sure its the former) outside of cambridge in the country.
I take war studies there, which is the only (or 1 of 2) places in the country that do it. And my course has lots of oversea's students, which you might enjoy!
So I would recommend it...they only take you if they want you so if you can get a place Id advise you to take it!
yesdachi
10-11-2005, 19:50
I take war studies there, which is the only (or 1 of 2) places in the country that do it.
What's war studies?
if it's the study of war, paint stupid on my forehead.
Aurelian
10-12-2005, 04:47
Go. I had an internship in London for a semester, and I had a blast.
Go to your classes, make friends, and do a lot of sightseeing.
If you are interested in military history, go see: the British Museum, the Imperial War Museum, the British Army Museum, the Tower (with its collection of armor), Blenheim Palace (out of town), the Duke of Wellington's home, and the underground war rooms where Churchill ran the show. I'm probably forgetting a few stops.
Many other things to do and see.
Go while you have a good excuse.
Kanamori
10-12-2005, 20:50
It's not UCL, and I asked her which one it was, she said "the one w/ its campus in bloomsbury, University of London." Are there any besides Birkbeck and UCL that have their main campsuses in Bloomsbury?
Are there any besides Birkbeck and UCL that have their main campsuses in Bloomsbury?
SOAS? School of Oriental and African Studies. It's good for its field (area studies).
I think you do need to get the name confirmed from your source.
English assassin
10-13-2005, 10:55
It prob won't be Birkbeck, that's mainly part time.
The confusion may be that the main University of London offices themselves, senate house, are in Bloomsbury. But that's just for administration.
At least this means we are definitely talking about the University of London (which is good) and not one of the other universities in London (which are not so good, no disrespect)
Duke Malcolm
10-13-2005, 12:34
I am considering applying to Imperial College for physics, under the impression that it is very good for physics. Is this true, or are there better colleges of London for physics?
Also, what are more important, A levels or AS levels? We don't have these here, only Highers and Advanced Highers.
English assassin
10-13-2005, 13:42
Imperial has probably the best physics teaching in the country, Oxford and Cambridge notwithstanding.
Whether they value A or AS levels more highly I don't know (yes, I DO know that one is higher than the other) but the chances are you are going to need straight As in the lot.
Duke Malcolm
10-13-2005, 14:01
I was just wishing to know the A and AS thing for the Scottish equivalents, but it seems that the English way is more confusing...
Anyhoo, ta.
English assassin
10-13-2005, 14:05
Oh, right, well you get AS after one year and A after two I think, hope that helps.
Kanamori
10-13-2005, 15:27
Yeah, so it is apperantly just THE University of London (I feel kind of bad asking the same girl five times if was a different one:embarassed:). I'm still not one-hundred percent sure that I'll be able to go, because I technically haven't finished my first year, although I have the credits. But, chances are that I'll be in London next semester.
~:cheers:
English assassin
10-13-2005, 15:32
(I feel kind of bad asking the same girl five times if was a different one)
Giben the number of universities in London, as well as the coleges of the university of london, those were far from stupid questions.
Be sure to post asking where you should go if you do come to London. Eg pub recommendations, mainly.
Kanamori
10-13-2005, 17:41
Oh, I will~:cheers: No more sneaking around with bottles in meh backpack~D
Thanks for all the info again guys:bow:
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