Study London Guide

8/14/2019 Study London Guide

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Study

in LondonFind out why more international students chooseLondon than any other city in the world

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Boris JohnsonMayor of London

London is a great city and there is nowhere better to come and study. Youwill be studying at universities ranked amongst the best in the world withfirst-class teaching and research being undertaken by academics fromall over the globe. London has over 40 universities and higher educationcolleges to choose from one of the largest educational clusters in theworld. There are a vast range of courses; around 30,000 are on offer fromanthropology to design, management to zoology.

More international students choose to study in London than any other cityin the world. With students from 200 countries, London truly is a world inone city. It is a place for you to establish a g lobal network of friends andcolleagues that will last throughout your lifetime.

London is also a multicultural city. With 300 languages spoken in the city,there are few communities that arent represented. This is demonstratedin our cultural richness and wide range of attractions and events takingplace throughout the year, in film, music, art, design, fashion and sport.Preparations are already underway for the London 2012 Olympic Gamesand Paralympic Games, the biggest sporting and cultural extravaganza inthe world.

Nowhere else can rival London as a place to study. It has the combinationof academic excellence, a rich artistic and cultural heritage and it is at thecentre of global business. I hope you enjoy reading this guide and findingout more about what this great city has to offer.

This guide is brought to you by:

A welcome fromthe Mayor of London

London is an exciting multicultural city. In the first half of this guideyou can read about the range of academic activities offered by Londonsworld-class universities and academic institutions. In the second half,we share some of Londons highlights, from free events taking placethroughout the year to world famous attractions.

Visit www.studylondon.ac.uk to search 30,000 courses taught in over 40of the citys universities.

Study in the worldsknowledge capital

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NotonlydoesLondonhavesomeofthemostworldrenownedhighereducationinstitutions,butitprovidesabroadrangeofculturallydiverseexperiencesandentertainments.AsastudentinLondonIhaveopenaccesstohistoricallyrichmuseums,theatres,marketsandresearchlibrariesatthetipofmyfingers.Andasaresearchstudent,Icouldntaskformore!

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Studying in LondonWelcome to London 1

Business, Finance 2-3& Management

Arts, Design 4-5& Architecture

Science, IT & Engineering 6-7

Humanities, 8-9Law & Media

Medicine, Healthcare 10-11& Veterinary Science

Teaching and Learning 12-13

Living in LondonAttractions 14-15

World in one city 16-17

Shopping 18-19

Eating out 20-21

Sport and 22-23the outdoors

Entertainment 24-25

London, a gateway 26-27to the world

Calendar of events 28-29

Planning your stay 30-31

Why students 32love London

www.studylondon.ac.uk1

Disclaimer: Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of material published in thisguide, London Higher cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions. All material is strictly copyrightand all rights are reserved.

This document is available in large text format at studylondon.ac.uk

Designed by Footprint Advertising

Cover image Pawel Libera, www.liberadesign.co.uk

Photography www.visitlondonimages.com, www.britainonview.com, David ODriscoll,James OJenkins, London Fashion Forum, Royal Institution, Morely Von Sternberg, LOCOG


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Business,Finance &

ManagementLondon offers you the opportunity to undertake an internship,project or placement with some of the worlds top banks orconsultancies. You could be on your way to making your firstmillion, or being in demand for your business acumen. Over 300,000people are employed in financial services in London - more thanthe total population of Frankfurt in Germany, Europes next biggestfinancial centre!

London is at the centre of the global economy. It is theplace to be successful in the business world.

Experience it...The cornerstone of the Britisheconomy, the Bank of England, can befound in a building on ThreadneedleStreet. It also houses a fascinatingmuseum. Explore the history ofthe bank and national financing bybrowsing through the many books anddocuments collected since its inceptionin 1694.www.bankofengland.co.uk

Hop aboard the Docklands LightRailway to Canary Wharf. Spot

highfliers from the business world asyou stroll through streets dwarfedby the towering, shiny offices ofinfluential financial and commercialcompanies. www.canarywharf.com

Londons financial district, the Cityof London, was established by theRomans in AD 43 and was namedLondinium. It has been tradingever since.

Every major bank has a presencein London with 254 overseas bankslocated in the city. As the internationalfinancial capital of the world, Londonis a renowned world-leader fortrading in a broad range of financialservices. These include foreignexchange, international equities, fundmanagement, international insuranceand bonds.

The London International FinancialEuronext Futures Exchange (LIFFE)

is the world centre for euro moneymarket derivatives trading, and is theworlds biggest electronic exchange.

2 3www.studylondon.ac.uk

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Find your course at:www.studylondon.ac.uk/business

Did you know? London is Europes principal business

centre and offers unrestricted accessto over 500 million consumers inthe EU, making it the biggest trading

bloc in the world.

Consider yourself in safe hands London is the worlds leading marketfor internationally traded insuranceand is the home to the famousLloyds market.

The London foreign exchangemarket is the largest in the world,with an average daily turnover of$2,096 billion or 32% of the globalmarket - more than New York andTokyo combined.

London is the worlds largest fundmanagement centre, with almost $7

trillion of funds under management- 25% of which are from abroad.

Tempted to try your hand playingthe markets? The London StockExchange is the most internationalof all stock exchanges, with morethan 470 trading companies fromover 60 countries.

75% of Fortune 500 companieshave London offices

London is an economic enginegenerating 19% of the UKs totalGDP.

There are more than 20,000

overseas-owned companies inLondon, which is a magnet forinternational organisations. Thatmeans plenty of employment forbilingual graduates.

With some of the worlds topbusiness schools, London offers anamazing range of MBA programmes one or two years, full or part time.There are also Global-MBAs where

you study in a number of citiesthroughout your degree.


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London is truly dynamic, drawing inspiration fromthe diversity and multiculturalism that is at its heart.

London has the largest community of artists anywhere in Europe.Graduates from the city dominate the worlds of fashion and art.Damien Hirst, Stella McCartney, Alexander McQueen, the Chapmanbrothers, Chris Ofili, Ozwald Boateng and John Galliano are just a fewof the citys famous names.

If classical music interests you, many famous composers spent timehere, from Handel to Haydn and from Mendelssohn to Mozart, leavinga rich classical heritage.

A panorama of stunning buildings takes your breath away andLondon is where you will find some of the most famous architectural

institutions. There is the Royal Institute of British Architects,www.riba.org, and the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors,www.rics.org, which promote professional excellence with lectures,exhibitions and events.

Take a trip back in time at theGeffrye Museum. This much-lovedLondon museum contains collectionsof furniture, textiles, paintings anddecorative arts displayed in a seriesof period rooms from 1600 to thepresent day. Be amazed at the skillsof craftsmen of old.www.geffrye-museum.org.uk

Shakespeares Globe, rebuilt after400 years, is a unique internationalresource dedicated to the explorationof Shakespeares work throughhistorically-authentic performancesand exhibitions. Guided tours bringthis fascinating space to life.www.shakespeares-globe.org

Tate Modern and Tate Britainrepresent London evolution at itsbest. These museums hold thefinest national collection of artand sculpture. Their ever-changingexhibitions of famous artistscontinue to inspire the crowds.www.tate.org.uk

The waterside location of Kings Placemakes it a perfect setting to listen toLondons top orchestras. The LondonSinfonietta and the Orchestra ofthe Ageof Enlightenment are bothbased here.www.kingsplace.co.uk

Did you know? London has 300 museums, over 250

art galleries, over 200 theatres, 6 fulltime symphony orchestras, and over600 cinema screens, including the

UKs largest at the BFI IMAX. The creative industries employ over

450,000 people and generate around21 billion in output - great for a jobwhen you finish your studies.

London and the UKs advertisingagencies win more internationalawards for creativity than the nextnine European countries combined.A country brimming with talent.

London is home to the worlds topspecialist collections, such as theVictoria and Albert Museum theworlds greatest museum of art and

design. www.vam.ac.uk The Annual Proms is one of the

worlds greatest classical musicfestivals and consists of 70concerts in the Royal Albert Hall.www.royalalberthall.com

London has 200 arts events takingplace every day. Unbelievable!

The Royal Academy of Arts holdsits internationally famous SummerExhibition every year. It startedin 1769 and continues to this daydisplaying 1,300 works by new andestablished artists from around theworld. Perhaps you would like tosubmit one of yours?www.royalacademy.org.uk

Looking for inspiration? Then pay avisit to the National Gallery oneof the worlds greatest museums forWestern European paintings.www.nationalgallery.org.uk

Head to the Southbank Centreand marvel at one of the largestarts complexes in Europe. Itencompasses the Royal FestivalHall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, PurcellRoom, Hayward Gallery, NationalFilm Theatre and the Poetry Library.www.sbc.org.uk

The Barbican, Europes largest multi-arts and conference venue, includesthe Barbican Theatre and the Pit.With a year-round programme ofart, music, film and theatre, you arealways assured a great evening ofentertainment. www.barbican.org.uk

For students of classical music, theRoyal Festival Hall is an experiencein itself. It hosts internationally

renowned orchestras, including theLondon Philharmonic, who performthe highest quality music rangingfrom the 10th century to the presentday. www.rfh.org.uk

Youll find more than mummiesat the Petrie Museum of EgyptianArchaeology. There are 80,000objects including the worlds oldestpiece of cloth, dating from 2800 BC.www.petrie.ucl.ac.uk

The Building Centre is a vibrantvenue and meeting place forpeople within the architecture andconstruction industries. It is home toNew London Architecture and theirregularly changing exhibitions. Checkout the scale model of London andchoose your favourite building.www.buildingcentre.co.uk

Experience it...

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Find your course at:www.studylondon.ac.uk/creative

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Londonisacitywheredifferentculturesandthoughtsmeet.Livinginthiscity,Ineverfeelbored.EverydayIcanfindsomethingnew.Music,art,thepubandpeoplefromallaroundoftheworld,allofthesemakeLondonsuchauniqueexperienceforme.

London Fashion WeekLondon Fashion Week


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Experience it...

There is plenty of scientific proof that London is the placeto study.

London has a history of scientific exploration and applied engineering. Thecity is Europes IT and telecommunications capital. It is also home to theworlds leading learned societies, professional bodies and institutes.

Many of these hold seminars, events, courses and conferences that areopen to students. So there is plenty of scope for aspiring scientists andengineers to expand on their studies.

Science, IT &Engineering

The Faraday Museum, housedat the Royal Institution, hasrecreated the lab where MichaelFaraday discovered the laws ofelectromagnetics. Historic apparatusare also on display. www.rigb.org

Take in a lecture or exhibition at theRoyal Society. It is the UKs nationalacademy of science and it plays acrucial role as the champion of topquality science and technology.www.royalsoc.ac.uk

See over two million items relatingto seafaring, navigation, astronomyand time measurement at the

National Maritime Museum inGreenwich. www.nmm.ac.uk

Established in 1818, the Institutionof Civil Engineers has over 80,000members in 150 countries. It has themost in-depth civil engineering andconstruction library in the world.www.ice.org.uk

The Royal Academy of Engineeringpromotes excellence in engineering,supporting education and researchthrough a range of publications,lectures and conferences that areopen to students. www.raeng.org.uk

The Biochemical Society runsa lively programme of scientificmeetings and conferences open tostudents studying biochemistry andlife sciences. www.biochemistry.org

The Institute of Engineeringand Technology has 150,000members in 127 countries. If youreinterested in electrical, electronic

and manufacturing science orengineering, attend one of theirseminars and you may find yourselfsitting alongside a highly qualifiedmember of the profession.www.theiet.org

For a wide range of technologiesand industries in fields as diverseas lubrication, satellite launching,surgical implants and power stations,visit the Institution of MechanicalEngineers. It was founded 150

years ago by George Stephenson,known as the Father of the Railwaysand famed for his locomotive, theRocket. www.imeche.org.uk

Seeking clarification of scientificformulae? Visit the BritishAssociation for the Advancementof Science. Its annual events theFestival of Science and NationalScience Week aim to help make

science and its applications moreaccessible to all. www.the-ba.net


Find your course at:www.studylondon.ac.uk/science

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Did you know? A must for anyone on a quest for

scientific knowledge, the ScienceMuseum library has 600,000 itemsof international importance in itscollections of books, periodicalsand microfilms.www.sciencemuseum.org.uk

The Thames Tunnel, one ofthe worlds greatest feats of

engineering, was the first tunnelever built under a major waterway.Constructed between 1825 and1843 by Sir Marc Brunel and his sonIsambard Kingdom Brunel, its stillin use today as part of the LondonUnderground network.www.brunelenginehouse.org.uk

Sodium, the electric generator andthe atomic structure of crystalsare just a few of the scientificbreakthroughs that have beenmade at Londons Royal Institution.Fourteen of its resident scientistshave been Nobel Prize winners

and it has borne witness to thediscovery of 10 of the chemicalelements. Definitely a place forinspiration. www.rigb.org

London talent is behind many ofthe most famous computer gameicons Lara Croft is one suchexample. London has the largestcomputer software market inEurope and there are many courseswithin Londons universities todevelop your skills and market

your talent.

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Experience it...

Judge London by its range of libraries, academies,societies and law courts.

From the mighty Houses of Parliament to the esteemed judges atthe Old Bailey, London has been at the centre of politics and the legalsystem throughout its history. More recently, the city has been at theforefront of the media revolution. The city now has one of the worldslargest concentrations of media outlets making it a major hub forjournalists. And students have the opportunity to undertake placementsand projects with the best organisations in the business.

Did you know? If you want to become a lawyer,

London is the city for you. One thirdof all the UKs practising solicitorsare employed by companies in

London. Also working in London are60% of the UKs large solicitorsfirms and barristers.

As international trade and financehas concentrated in London overthe years, a specialised industry ofcommercial lawyers has grown toan unrivalled size and scope.

London is home to the Law Society,the Inns of Court and the GeneralCouncil of the Bar.

There are 150 courts in Londonincluding magistrates courts,county courts, the High Courts,

and the Court of Appeals. You willalso find the judicial division of theHouse of Lords the UKs highest

judicial authority.

The Foreign Press Association is oneof the oldest clubs in the world. Itsmembers include journalists fromover 1,000 news agencies from 70countries.

London has one of the largestclusters of advertising agencies inthe world attracting talent andbusiness from around the globe.

London is home to the UKsparliament, which is housed in the

Palace of Westminster, sectionsof which date back to 1065.Experience this hub of power

yourself with a free tour.

Catch up on some reading at the

London Library. It contains overa million books in all Europeanlanguages, covering a subjectrange across the humanities. www.londonlibrary.co.uk

The British Academy, establishedby Royal Charter in 1902, is thenational academy for the humanitiesand the social sciences. It holds anumber of lectures each year, aswell as conferences, symposia andother events, all of which are open tostudents. www.britac.ac.uk

Enjoy the Royal Geographical Societysrenowned annual programme of 150

lectures and conferences. Foundedin 1830, it is one of the largestgeographical societies in the world,supporting research, education andtraining. www.rgs.org

For a real eye-opener to the past, pay

a visit to the Womens Library. Hereyou will find an extensive collection ofpublished material on womens history.The archive includes over 60,000 booksand pamphlets, including first editionsand rare items, as well as popularmagazines and academic journals.www.thewomenslibrary.ac.uk

Join a debate at the Royal Instituteof Philosophy which hosts a series ofseminars and conferences bringingphilosophers of international standingto London.www.royalinstitutephilosophy.org

The Royal Historical Society awards

prizes that recognise outstandinghistorical scholarship and alsopromotes discussion of history througha programme of public lectures andconferences.www.royalhistoricalsociety.org


Humanities,Law & Media

TheHousesofParliament

Find your course at:www.studylondon.ac.uk/humanities

IchosetostudyinLondonbecauseofitsuniqueness.Itisacosmopolitancitywithdiverseculturesandfriendlypeople.Ienjoythesaleseasonandlocalmarketswhenyoucanshopatdiscountratesandthenightlifeisespeciallyentertainingwithalargechoiceofcinemasandrestaurants.LondonhasalotofrecogniseduniversitieswithqualifiedandexperiencedtutorsaswellaseasyaccesstolocalandinternationallibrariesliketheBritishLibrarywhichmakesstudyingeasierandfuntoo.

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Experience it...

Doctor, nurse, dentist, vet if you aspire to join one of these worthy

professions you cant go wrong studying in London. Half of all Britishdoctors undertake at least part of their training here, so you will certainlybe in good company.

The city has a long history and a unique status as a medical centre. Andit is a focal point for teaching and research in medicine, healthcare andrelated disciplines. The concentration of world-famous hospitals (manywith links to Londons universities), specialist medical services, medicalcorporations, and renowned consultant physicians and surgeons hasensured that British medical education is exceptional.

Aspiring vets can investigate the Institute of Zoology (and a fewprime species of the animal kingdom as well) at the ZSL London Zoo,www.zsl.org. Or learn more about botany and conservation at the Royal

Botanic Gardens at Kew, one of Londons four World Heritage Sites,www.rbgkew.org.uk.

If you are interested in medicine, there is a healthyrange of options.

The Wellcome Collection is theworlds finest museum of medicalscience with 1,300 exhibits ranging

from ancient amputation saws toAztec sacrificial knives.It also contains the Wellcome Library,home to one of the worlds greatestcollections of books and manuscriptsdetailing the history of medicine.www.wellcomecollection.org

Founded in 1673, the Chelsea PhysicGarden is a centre of education,beauty and relaxation.Today it

continues to research the properties,origins and conservation of over5,000 plant species focusing onnatural medicine.www.chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk

From a mummified hand to thefastest-selling drug in the world, theMuseum of the Royal PharmaceuticalSociety covers all aspects ofpharmaceutical history.www.rpsgb.org

Medicine, Healthcare & Veterinary Science


There are over 68 million itemscovering palaeontology, entomology,botany, mineralogy and anthropologyat the Natural History Museum. Dontmiss the newly-opened Darwin Centre,devoted to the museums zoologicalresources. www.nhm.ac.uk

The Royal Veterinary College wasfounded in 1791 as the first of its kindin the English-speaking world. Today

its Museum of Veterinary Historycontains thousands of books andartefacts relating to the developmentof veterinary education and science.www.rvc.ac.uk

There is something for everyone atLondons Museums of Health andMedicine from rare plants, heartsurgery and helicopter emergencyservices to pharmacies and false teeth!www.medicalmuseums.org

Intrigued by psychoanalysis? TheFreud Museum, once home to theeminent psychologist, now containshis enormous collection of antiquities

and books.www.freud.org.uk

The Kings Fund is a resource foranyone working in health and socialcare whether in policy, management ordelivery. It houses a large public librarydedicated to improving health and isfree for students to use.www.kingsfund.org.uk

The Lady with the Lamp iscommemorated in the award-winningFlorence Nightingale Museum. Viewrecords of her heroic work in theCrimea and her creation of the firstmodern nurse training school.www.florence-nightingale.co.uk

As a scholar you will want to findout more about the Royal Society ofMedicine. It offers a broad range ofeducational opportunities for doctors,dentists, veterinarians and students inthese fields. Plus, it holds the largestpostgraduate biomedical library inEurope. www.rsm.ac.uk

The pioneering surgeon, John Hunter,established the Hunterian Museum in1783 to share his extensive knowledgeof anatomy and surgery. Today youcan visit it at the Royal College ofSurgeons. www.rcseng.ac.uk/museums

TheScienceMuseum

Did you know? The Royal College of Surgeons

runs educational and practicalworkshops for surgeons and othermedical professionals at all stagesof their careers. www.rcseng.ac.uk

Years ago the cure for an ingrowingtoenail was amputation! The OldOperating Theatre carried out suchoperations and can be visited today.Youll find it in the roof space of anEnglish baroque church besideSt Thomas Hospital.www.thegarret.org.uk

The British Dental AssociationMuseum collections include adigital library of over 4,000 dentalimages for professional and publicuse. www.bda.org

St Bartholomews, or Barts, is oneof the oldest hospitals in the worldand dates back to 1123.www.bartsandthelondon.org.uk

London has five medical schools- more than any other city in theUK and there are 110 health andmedical libraries in London.

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Find your course at:www.studylondon.ac.uk/medicine


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Did you know? You will be in good company

studying in London, nearly 400,000

students are studying at more than

40 universities in the city. Keen to expand their horizons,

more than 500,000 students attend

Londons 55 further educationcolleges each year.

London has 1,657 primaryschools, 672 state schools, 410private schools and 168 special

schools. Regardless of the typeof educational establishment,

wherever you choose to teach,your contribution to education will

be invaluable.

More than one million childrenof almost every creed, colour andrace are educated in the city. As

a teacher you can reach out tothem all.

London has over 350 publiclibraries, meeting the needs ofnursery school children right

through to learned professors.

Not only can you be taught in London, you can also learn how toteach. Londons universities and colleges will train you to share your

learning with a wide range of pupils and students from pre-schooleducation through to adult education.

How about passing on your expertise as a teacher?


HydePark

Experience it...

School kids on the South Bank

Get familiar with childrens educationat Bethnal Greens Museum ofChildhood. This branch of the Victoriaand Albert Museum displays a vastcollection of objects from all overthe world, some dating back to the16th century.www.vam.ac.uk/moc

Experience Victorian education

first-hand at the Ragged SchoolMuseum in Londons East End.See how Victorians taught childrenfrom poor backgrounds. Visit therecreated period classroom and take inone of the changing exhibitions. Theyreveal the stories behind the history,industry and life in this part of London.www.raggedschoolmuseum.org.uk

Learning EnglishEnglish is one of the most commonlyspoken languages in the world. Wherebetter to study it than in London, oneof the most exciting citiesin the world?

Whether for work, study or pleasure,the best possible way to learn thelanguage is to spend some time inthe city. Here you will find a choiceof school for every need and everybudget. You are guaranteed to have agreat time too.

Search for a course in Floodlight,www.floodlight.co.uk

Evening classesIn addition to degree courses, Londonalso offers a vast range of evening,vocational and general interest coursesthat you can join.

Perhaps youve always wanted to l earntap dancing. Or maybe youd like totake a course that explores the historyof Londons diverse neighbourhoods.

Further education colleges andadult education centres are spreadthroughout London.

For more information searchwww.londoncolleges.com

Semester studyand summer schoolsLondon is one of the most populardestinations for international students,especially students from the USAwho gain credits that count towardstheir final degree. Using London asyour base, Study Abroad programmesoffer great opportunities for studentsseeking a high quality academicexperience in an English-speakingsystem. And depending on whichuniversity you choose you will beable to study abroad for a summer,trimester, semester or year.www.studylondon.ac.uk/studyabroad

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Teaching and Learning


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The British Library

Visit the British Library, one of theworlds largest and greatest libraries,with books in every conceivablelanguage. The existing content of 150million items is added to continuously,growing at the rate of approximatelythree million new items each year.www.bl.uk

AttractionsLondon has enough to see and do to last a lifetime.

One of Europes cultural capitals, London never stands still. If yourelooking for fine art, music, and entertainment, this is the city for

you. And with over 200 attractions plus 90 museums and galleriesthat are completely free to enter, theres no better place to soakup some culture.

Top tips... Relax in one of Londons 143

registered parks and gardens.Open space accounts for 30% ofthe city area.

Sing along to a concert at theimpressive O2 Arena.

Re-enact the gruesome eventsin British history at the LondonDungeon.

Watch a football match atStamford Bridge or the EmiratesStadium, home of Chelsea andArsenal football clubs.

Be captivated by the skill and poiseof dancers at Sadlers Wells.

The British MuseumOne of the great museums of theworld, with an extraordinary displayof historical artefacts. Examine thefamous Rosetta Stone, and take awalk in the Great Court of the BritishMuseum. Its the largest covered publicsquare in Europe.www.britishmuseum.org

The National Gallery

With more than 2,000 WesternEuropean paintings, this is one of thelargest galleries in the world. One ofits greatest masterpieces is Da VincisVirgin and Child with St Anne.www.nationalgallery.org.uk

The Natural History MuseumTravel back in time and experiencethe awesome dinosaurs. And whileyoure there you can see some ofnatures other marvels. Highlightsinclude a life sized model of theblue whale, an earthquake simulatorand an Ecology Gallery with areplica rainforest.www.nhm.ac.uk

Tate BritainTate Britain houses some of the mostimportant British art from 1500 to thepresent day. It includes work by artistssuch as Constable and Turner andeach year hosts the much talked aboutTurner Prize.www.tate.org.uk

Tate ModernThe home of international modern andcontemporary art. Explore the TurbineHall, a space for some of the largest artinstallations in the world. And view thework of Rothko, Lichtenstein, Matisse,Hirst and Picasso.www.tate.org.uk

London EyeThis spectacular observation wheel

offers breathtaking views of over 55 ofLondons most famous landmarks - allin just 30 minutes.www.londoneye.com

Science MuseumSee, touch and experience the majorscientific advances of the last 300years at the largest museum of itskind in the world. Get interactive inthe Launchpad Gallery, visit the IMAXcinema and virtual reality simulator.www.sciencemuseum.org.uk

Victoria and Albert MuseumStep into this magnificent Victorianbuilding and lose yourself in one of the

worlds greatest applied arts collectionsspanning over 3,000 years in art,fashion and design.www.vam.ac.uk

Madame TussaudsThis renowned waxwork collectionremains one of Londons most popularattractions. From Shakespeare to theDalai Lama, Her Majesty the Queento Justin Timberlake; here youll comeface-to-face with some of the worldsmost famous figures.www.madametussauds.com/london

Tower of LondonMarvel at the breathtaking CrownJewels and stand on the site where

three queens were beheaded.www.hrp.org.uk/toweroflondon

National Maritime MuseumOne of the greatest maritimemuseums of the world containingdisplays from every continent.Whilst youre there, make sure youalso explore the Royal Observatoryand the other fantastic attractions ofGreenwich, a World Heritage Site.www.nmm.ac.uk

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Wallet friendly Chill out in one of the worlds

grandest public places,

Trafalgar Square, which is alsohost to regular special events

including concerts.

Take a trip to Buckingham Palace,

the official residence of theQueen. Pack yourself a picnic and

sit in St Jamess Park. And dontmiss the changing the guard,

which takes place at 11:30am oncertain days of the year.

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Meet people from all over the planet in a truly cosmopolitanmetropolis.

About seven and a half million people live in London, so its no surprise that

over 300 languages are spoken here. Our city also plays host to over 90,000international students so you wont be on your own. Where else in the worldcan you order breakfast in Farsi, book a taxi in Urdu, ask for afternoon coffeein Arabic and spend the evening chatting with your friends in Mandarin?

As youd expect with all this diversity, London is also a capital for multiculturalevents and festivals. Some of the biggest celebrations can be found here andthe city has no shortage of places of worship.

Celebrations include: Places of worship include:

World in one city

Chinese New Year

(January/February)Chinese New Year is the biggestfestival of the year in Chinesecommunities and is sometimesknown as the Spring Festival. Thecelebrations in Trafalgar Square andChinatown see the city come alive witharts, entertainment, decorations anddisplays.

St Patricks Day Celebrations(17 March)

Enjoyed by Londoners as much as it isby their Irish brothers and sisters. Thisfestive and fun day celebratesSt. Patrick, the patron saint and

national apostle of Ireland. Theweekend before St. Patricks Daytheres a festival in London with eventsacross the city featuring music, songand dance.

London Mela (June)

Mela is the Sanskrit word to meet andcelebrations usually take place duringthe summer months from June throughto August. The London Mela is one ofEuropes leading outdoor South Asianevents held in Gunnersbury Park. Itfeatures chart-topping entertainers,community stalls, cultural exhibitionsand opportunities to sample SouthAsian food.

Cyprus Wine Festival(June)

This takes place every year atAlexandra Palace. Wine, food, music

and most of all a warm Cypriotwelcome and a joyous atmosphere

awaits you.

Rise Festival (July)

The Rise Festival is Londons annualmajor open-air free music and danceevent. It celebrates the capitalsdiversity in a day-long festival.

The Notting Hill Carnival (August)

Europes largest street festival ofmusic, dance, drama, food and streettrading. It comes to town in Augustand over one million people attend toexperience one of the most diverselycultured, fun and colourful events ofthe calendar year.

Black History Month (October)

Black History Month is a month-longcelebration of the contribution madeby black men and women to Britishheritage. It is a unique opportunity tolearn about, discuss and honour therole that they have played in shapingLondons history.

Latin American Film Festival(November)

This festival showcases Latin Americanfilm culture ranging from magicalrealism and historical epics to heartfeltromances and drama. The programmeincludes screenings of short films andvideos, poetry readings, drumming anddancing sessions.

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Shri Swaminarayan Temple

Visit the largest Hindu temple outsideIndia. You can enjoy hours of peaceand discovery in this masterpiece ofexotic design that rises aboveLondons skyline.

Wat Buddhapadipa Temple

This was the first Buddhist templein London and its grounds cover amonastic area of approximately fouracres. Youll find the Uposatha Hallsituated on an ornamental lake, as wellas a small grove, flower garden and anorchard.

St Pauls CathedralHere youll find the capitals largestchurch dome, and one of the mostfamous buildings in London. Its heldthe funerals of Lord Nelson, the Dukeof Wellington and Winston Churchill.And miraculously it avoided beingbombed during World War Two.

The London Central Mosque

This is visited by up to 50,000 Muslimsduring the festival of Eid. Its strikingGolden Dome and minaret dominatethe areas skyline.

Shri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara

This newly built Sikh temple is thelargest outside India. Its a stunninglandmark with its gilded dome, stainedglass, marble and granite finish.

Top tips... Try Trehantiri Music Shop, the UKs

largest Arabic music stockist. Italso stocks over 5,000 Greek music

titles and has even been used by thesingers themselves to obtain rarerecordings.

The largest Asian shopping centre

in London is in Southall. Take a tripthere for saris and samosas.

Jewish art can be found at the Ben

Uri Gallery, Europes only dedicated

Jewish Museum of Art.

Read up on Irish literature at FourProvinces Bookshop. They stockan extensive range of Irish history,

politics, literature, language andculture titles.

Dine out Kurdish, Greek or Turkish

style in Green Lanes in north London.Fine flavours can be found in manyrestaurants here.



TheLondonEye

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Notting Hill CarnivalNotting Hill Carnival


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Whatever your budget, there is no shortage ofshopping in London.

When it comes to shopping, London has it all. With over 40,000

shops and over 80 markets, the variety is amazing. Stop off at thefamous department stores such as Harrods. Or hunt out catwalkcopies at very low prices in some of Englands best high streetstores. For a cheaper alternative, London offers some of the bestvintage fashions in the world. If you dont fancy the big departmentstores, you can pick up eclectic and unique vintage items from manyfashion markets and areas, such as Carnaby Street.

If youre in the mood for shopping, try:

Shopping

Top tips... Young British designers

There is a new generation of designers springingup in the city. London Fashion Week takesplace twice a year. In February it is the autumn/winter collection, and in September, the spring/summer collection. The creations of Britishfashion houses regularly make headline news.It is followed by a huge sale of clothes andcosmetics at the London Fashion Weekend.

Alternative Fashion WeekThis weektakes place in March at SpitalfieldsMarket. Free to the public, this is where you canspot the new talent which London has to offer.

Wallet friendly Several exciting markets

(including the original CamdenLock Market) make Camdenone of Londons top tourist

attractions. There you will findvintage clothing, leather jackets,band T-shirts and everything elseincluding furniture, antiques andgreat food.

Portobello Road, Londons mostfamous street market, is goodfor bargains in trendy handmadeclothes and antiques.

To see young fashion designerstout their wares, be sure to visitSpitalfields Market on Sunday. It isopen every week in a huge indoorspace in the heart of the city.

Every Sunday in LondonsGreenwich villageyoull findunusual clothes, crafts and antiquesin the boutique markets.

Go shopping in the January andsummer sales or during LondonFashion Weekend and pick up acatwalk bargain.

Offering a real mix of stores andstalls, there can be few placesbetter to shop for a gift thanCovent Garden.

Oxford Street

Along this two-mile stretch youll findhundreds of independent shops andfamous chains catering for all stylesand tastes. Youll also find several large

department stores, most famouslySelfridges, John Lewis and House ofFraser.

Harrods

With over 330 departments to choosefrom you could get lost in this worldfamous department store. No wonderso many customers employ personalshoppers! The food halls are a realhighlight.

Waterstones

With branches all over London, thePiccadilly flagship store is Europes

biggest bookshop. There are six floorsof fiction and non-fiction, a cafe andeven a bar where you can unwind aftersome serious browsing.

Kings Road and Dukeof York Square

Perfect for browsing, filled withindividual boutiques and stylish cafes.

The Cinema StoreThe Cinema Store carries a selectionof classic and contemporary filmmerchandise, including magazines,original posters, books, soundtracksand DVDs.

Selfridges

The funkiest of Londons one-stopshops, the cosmetics hall is the largestin Europe.

Westfield London

A brand new shopping destinationhousing all the top fashion names

under one roof.

Carnaby Street

This legendary pedestrianised streethas been at the heart of the Londonfashion scene since the 1960s. Forthe hippest shops, look no further. TryKingly Court for a treasure trove ofunique boutiques.

Seven Dials

The alternative shopping destinationfor hip boutiques and specialist shops.Every bit as unique as nearby CoventGarden, Seven Dials is renowned forshoe shops and independent fashionoutlets.

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Spending time in a big city doesnt mean sacrificing fresh air.

In London there are plenty of green and open spaces to enjoy. Kick back and relax in one of Londons manyparks or take a cruise on the Thames and see the city in a new light. Whether you prefer watching or taking

part, theres also a wealth of sport on offer.Sport:The outdoors:

Sport and the outdoors

Wallet friendly Londons student unions offer

a full range of sports and are agreat way to keep fit and meetnew friends. Choose fromfootball and fencing to taekwondo

and tennis.

Wimbledon Championships



WembleyStadium

Athletics

The Flora London Marathon takes placeevery April and is the worlds largestmarathon. Major athletics meetingsalso take place at the Crystal PalaceNational Sports Centre during thesummer months.

Rowing

Boat races take place on the riverThames during spring and summer.The most famous is the annual racebetween Oxford and Cambridgeuniversity teams. It starts at PutneyBridge and finishes at Mortlake.

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Parklife

London boasts an abundance of greenspace and with eight Royal Parks, yourereally spoilt for choice. With everythingfrom boating lakes, golf courses,outdoor theatres and historic buildingsto stripy deckchairs theres somethingfor every outdoor enthusiast! Feed theducks on the lake then listen to musicin the bandstand in St Jamess Park onsunny, summer weekends. The areaaround the Serpentine in Hyde Parkis a lovely place to get away from it

all, as are the benches at the top ofGreenwich Park where you can soak upthe fantastic views.www.royalparks.org.uk

On the waterfront

The river Thames is the citys artery andits banks are perfect for a gentle strollor brisk jog. If youd prefer something alittle more leisurely a cruise on the riveris an ideal way to take in Londons mostfamous and inspirational sights.

2012 Games

London has begun preparations for the2012 Olympic Games and ParalympicGames when 10,500 Olympic athletesand 4,200 Paralympic athletes will visitthe city. But you do not have to waituntil 2012 to get involved in someworld-class sport:

Football

London boasts 13 professional footballteams, more than any other city in the

world. So its not surprising that thecapitals most popular sport is football.The season runs from August to Maywith top games almost every week.There are a number of London teamsthat play in the Premiership, includingArsenal, Chelsea, and Tottenham.Tickets can be hard to obtain but keepan eye on the websites. Or for a similaratmosphere why not try one of thelower league fixtures? Try Millwall,Queens Park Rangers or Watford.

Cricket

For cricket matches, head to thefamous grounds of the Oval in

Kennington, or the home of Englishcricket, Lords in St Johns Wood.

Rugby

During autumn and spring, internationalmatches take place at Twickenham inSouth West London. You can search forrugby tickets on the websitewww.rfu.com. You can watch aHarlequins game at Stoop MemorialGround, also in Twickenham.

Tennis

London is the home of the mostfamous of all the Grand Slamtournaments Wimbledon. The worldsfinest players come to play in lateJune/early July every year. Queuingfor tickets at Wimbledon is a tradition,with people sometimes waiting all nightfor the best seats, though some ticketsare held back and sold during the day.

Top tips... If you prefer participating in sport to

watching it, theres plenty to choosefrom no matter how short your stay.To find a team to play with checkgym notice boards or contactSport England.

Embark on a cycling tour with theLondon Bicycle Tour Companywww.londonbicycle.com orFat Tire Bike tourswww.FatTireBikeToursLondon.com

In winter head to one of the outdoorice-rinks that spring up all overLondon, including Somerset House,Kew Gardens and Hyde Park.

If you feel the need for speed, tryRevolution Karting at Mile End Park,or try the F1 City Racing Circuit atthe Royal Docks.

Make a splash at the Docklands

Sailing & Watersports Centre. If climbing is your thing, select from

numerous indoor climbing venuesincluding the Westway ClimbingWall. With over 2,000sq metres ofwalls, its the largest indoorclimbing centre in the UK.

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Lords Cricket ground


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EntertainmentEnjoy high culture, club culture and everything in between.

With an amazing variety of entertainment and artistic choice, London is alivewith productions in every possible type of venue, for every taste. In fact,with so much going on you may wish you didnt need so much sleep!

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Going Out in London

Ronnie Scotts

The O2A world of entertainment under oneroof! The O2 is home to indigO2 astate of the art live music club, an 11screen multiplex cinema, Londonsnewest super club, Matter - and mostbreathtaking of all The O2 arena, a20,000 seat venue hosting the mostsought after names in rock, pop andclassical music, as well as must-see sporting events and theatricalproductions.

Jazz CafBoasts some of the best jazz gigs inLondon. There are late-night livesessions worth a look too in thisintimate, classy venue. A must visit.

RoundhouseA venue like no other, this formerengine shed has a strong performanceprogramme of arts events includingmusic and circus.

Sadlers WellsThe premier London venue for touringballet, dance and opera, celebratingstyles from tap to tango.

Royal Albert HallOne of Londons most famous musicvenues, which hosts everything frompop concerts to lavish banquets.

English National BalletExpect dramatic recitals from thisclassical ballet company founded inthe 1950s.

Royal Opera HouseThis stunning 18th Century buildingbegan as a playhouse and now hostsopera and ballet. Guided tours are alsoavailable.

Southbank CentreEncompasses the Queen ElizabethHall, the Purcell Room and the RoyalFestival Hall performance venuesshowcasing work by world-classdancers, musicians and orchestras.

National TheatreThree separate theatres stage classicplays and avant-garde new work.Backstage tours are also available.

Ronnie ScottsSet in the heart of Soho, Ronnie Scottsis one of the oldest and most famousjazz clubs in the world.

Wallet friendly Tkts in Leicester Square is the

official half-price booth for greatdeals on theatre and musicals forperformances that day.

Most cinemas and music venues inLondon offer student discounts witha student ID card.

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MusicLondon is home to four of theworlds largest orchestras and twoopera companies. London has athriving jazz scene and offers a widerange of rock and pop venues fromBrixton Academy to WembleyArena and the spectacular O2.

DanceLondon has five major dancecompanies and a host of smallerones. Watch the Royal Ballet

perform at the Royal Opera Housein Covent Garden.

TheatreThe National Theatre stages aspectacular range of classics,musicals and new plays. And forthe greatest of English languagewriters take a trip to ShakespearesGlobe. There are also many smallerindependent theatres around thecity.

MusicalsGo to Theatreland in the heart ofLondons West End. Over a dozen

West End musicals are playing atany one time, often starring thebiggest Hollywood names. Theyinclude such favourites as the LionKing, Chicago, Billy Elliot, Phantomof the Opera and The Sound ofMusic.

PubsSample the astonishing range ofbeers in a traditional English puband relax with your friends.

ComedyTheres more live comedy in Londonthan in any other city in the world.For a great laugh, head to theComedy Store orJongleurs.

FilmMovie buffs can enjoy a blockbusterin a plush independent cinema, ora 3D experience at BFI IMAX. Manyfilm premieres are held in LeicesterSquare, where top Hollywoodcelebrities rub shoulders with fans topromote their new films. And witha cinema in almost every corner ofLondon, you can always get closer toyour favourite star.

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Royal Albert Hall

Street performer


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Destinations


TowerBridge

Its the perfect base for exploring the rest of Britain and Europe.

Theres so much to do in London that youll certainly never be bored. But if yourestaying here for a while, a trip out of the city will make a refreshing change.

The beauty of London is that its a gateway to other great cities in the UK and alsoEurope. (If you are not an EU passport holder, make sure you check your visa andpassport requirements in advance of travel.)

Britains other capital cities Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast have heaps to offer both shortand long-term visitors. And the nearby countries of Europe, with their rich and diversecultures, have something for everyone. The good news is that many of these places areonly three hours away from London.

London, a gateway to the worldUnited Kingdom

BrightonOne of Britains most famous seasideresorts is just a short train ride fromLondon. Be sure to visit the amusementpier, the opulent Royal Pavilion andsome of the many fantastic bars, shopsand clubs.

EdinburghScotlands magnificent capital cityhas a majestic castle and a stunningmedieval Old Town. Its easy to exploreon foot, the people are friendly andthere is plenty to do.

Cardiff

The capital of Wales is a modern citywith an ancient heart. The medievalcastle rises in the midst of the hustleand bustle of urban streets.

BelfastOffers all the buzz and vibrancy of acapital city whilst being a gateway tothe rural retreat of Northern Ireland.

Europe

Dublin IrelandIrelands most vibrant city, Dublin ismodern and cosmopolitan, boastingtrendy bars and shops while stillmaintaining its Irish appeal.

Paris FranceChic and elegant, Paris is a journey ofdiscovery. Stretching out along theRiver Seine, each area has a characterof its own. Visit the brilliant museums,explore the world famous galleries andenjoy a meal or two.

Barcelona SpainFamous for the architecture of Gaud,Barcelona is a vibrant city of surprises.With a coastline of beaches and barsthere are also plenty of interestingmuseums and attractive shops.

Brussels BelgiumBrussels is easily accessible by trainfrom London. Be amazed by themagnificent architecture around thecity and particularly the Grand Place.Then sample the deliciouslocal beers and indulge in exquisiteBelgian chocolates.

Rome ItalyRome is a city of great beauty andwhen you visit youll walk through2,000 years of history. While yourethere try some authentic Italian food,pizzas will never taste so good.

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Getting there

By AirSTA Travel specialises in discountedflights for students and independenttravellers. Many of the tickets areflexible, so you can change yourdates, or even your route as youtravel. They have over 65 branchesin the UK and over 450 worldwide.Budget airlines with no frills services

are cheap. Book well ahead for thecheapest deals. Start with www.ryanair.com and www.easyjet.com

By RailLondon has nine mainline railwaystations, linking all corners of the UK.The Channel Tunnel makes a greatlink to the Continent. Catchthe Eurostar from the stunningand newly refurbished St PancrasInternational station.www.eurostar.com

If you want to see more than oneplace, a railpass is a good way totravel around. www.raileurope.com

By CoachFor great value travel, Victoria CoachStation offers connections to all themajor towns and cities of the UK andEurope.www.nationalexpress.com

By SeaCatch a ferry from Englandssouth coast to mainland Europe.Ports include Dover, Newhaven,Portsmouth and Poole. www.ferries.co.uk


Brighton Pavilion


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JANUARY

New Years Day ParadeLondon Art Fair

FEBRUARY

Chinese New Year CelebrationsLondon Fashion Week

MARCH

St Patricks Day Parade and FestivalThe Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race

APRIL

London Marathon

The London Book Fair

MAY

Chelsea Flower ShowFA Cup Final

JUNE

London MelaWimbledon Lawn TennisChampionships

JULY

Rise Music FestivalThe Proms Classical Music Festival

AUGUST

Notting Hill CarnivalLondon Triathlon

SEPTEMBER

London Design FestivalMayors Thames Festival

OCTOBER

Frieze Art FairThe BFI London Film Festival

NOVEMBER

Lord Mayors ShowBonfire Night and Fireworks Displays

DECEMBER

Christmas Tree in Trafalgar SquareNew Years Eve Fireworks


Whats on?From open air ice skating in winter to the summer seasons picnic events, Londonbuzzes with energy all year round. Dont miss these annual key events.

For more information go to:www.visitlondon.comFEBRUARY

Chinese New Year celebrations

APRILLondon Marathon

DECEMBERChristmas Tree in Trafalgar Square

NOVEMBERLord Mayors Show

AUGUSTNotting Hill Carnival

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TheLondonSkyline


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Before leavingGo to www.studylondon.ac.ukanddownload the London Study Map.This will show you where all Londonuniversities are located as well as thecitys major attractions and transportinterchanges.

Read the Study London blog atstudylondonblog.wordpress.comto findout what is taking place in the city.

Register with the Study LondonFacebook group. You will be able tocontact current students and make

friends before you leave home.

International groupsInternational Students House (ISH)provides accommodation and acts as aclub for international students. It helpsinternational students experience life inthe UK and brings together people ofdifferent nationalities and backgrounds.ISH also organises subsidised tripsthroughout the UK, as well as sportingactivities, theme nights, debates, andtopical lectures. You can try dance andart classes, plus language classes andcareer workshops. You can even catchblockbuster movies in their free weekly

cinema. Club membership is open to allinternational students at a reasonablecost. www.ish.org.uk

Visa issues & immigrationIt is important that you research thevisa requirements necessary for study inthe UK. A good place to start is at theUK Council for International StudentAffairs (UKCISA), www.ukcisa.org.uk orthe British Council websitewww.educationuk.org.

AccommodationThere are several accommodationoptions available to newcomers toLondon. One of the best is to try hallsof residence. This means staying in

university accommodation and isusually available through universityaccommodation offices.

Health & safetyIf you are on a course lasting six monthsor more you can get treatment from theNational Health Service (NHS) fromthe beginning of your stay. You will nothave to pay for hospital treatment, butyou may have to pay for some dentaltreatment and a standard charge formedicines prescribed by a doctor. First,you will need to register. Go towww.nhs.uk and get a list of local NHSregistered doctors.

BankingAsk for advice from the bank in yourhome country. Many have agreementswith banks in the UK and they can helpyou set up an account before you leavehome. To open a bank account you mayneed to complete a bank applicationform and provide your passport, aletter from your university and proofof your address.

Working in LondonWhile studying, you can work part-time (up to 20 hours a week) duringterm-time and full-time throughout thevacation. London offers a diverse choiceof employment. The web is a greatsource of part-time work and be sure tocheck university notice boards and buylocal newspapers such as the EveningStandard, and free newspapers Metroand London Lite.

Getting around LondonLondon is divided into 6 zones and

the prices will change depending onthe zones you travel through. Zone1 is central London and zone 6 willtake you to the edges of the city. As astudent, you can save almost one thirdon the cost of getting around London.With a student photocard you can buyTravelcards (weekly or longer), buspasses and DLR season tickets, all ata fantastic 30% discount. For moreinformation check out www.tfl.gov.uk

With a bit of preparation, you will feel at home the moment you arrive.

Making the decision to study in a new city can be daunting. The good news is that London isfull of international groups, so youll never feel far from home. Here is some practical advice onhow to get started and set yourself up in London.

Planning your stay

Young Persons RailcardIf you are a student or between theages of 16-25 you can save a thirdon most rail fares throughout Britainwith a Young Persons Railcard. For asmall cost the card lasts a whole yearand can be purchased from majorrailway stations.www.16-25railcard.co.uk

ISIC cardISIC (International Student IdentityCard) is an internationally recognisedform of student identity thatprovides you with access to 1,000s

of discounts in hundreds of countriesworldwide. In London an ISIC cardcan get you discounts on everythingfrom the Eurostar to retail outlets.www.isiccard.com

Stay in touchMobile telephones are very muchpart of everyday life in London. Ifyou are buying a phone, there aremobile phone shops throughoutLondon. Pre-pay SIM cards areavailable from 5 and can be boughtfrom any mobile phone outlet. Theyallow you to top-up your creditwithout signing a lengthy phonecontract. For cheap calls home, buyan international phone card availableacross London.

Next steps...

First decide which course you wish tostudy, and which university you wishto study at, by searching the coursedatabase at www.studylondon.ac.uk.Once you have chosen a course, theuniversity will be happyto answer your questions.Alternatively you can visit Londonto attend an open day and talk totutors direct.

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For more information go to:www.studylondon.ac.uk

LondonUnderground

Wallet friendlyIf you are thinking of coming tostay in London for a short time,go to www.visitlondon.com foraccommodation at affordable prices.

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Documents

Study London Guide