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Why I Chose UCL: Moving from New York to London for My Year Abroad

By UCL Faculty of Arts & Humanities, on 6 February 2025

Student Ara Kim talks about her experience of moving to London and studying at UCL as an American Student. She is currently studying English Literature, and in her third-year of college

Moving from the US to London felt like a natural transition. I normally live and go to school in NYC; both cities share an electric energy, but London has its own unique rhythm that I’m still discovering in my second term here.

The biggest adjustment has been the academic pace– UCL runs on three terms instead of two semesters, with the third term dedicated entirely to exam season. We also get reading weeks the first couple of terms, which are perfect for catching up on work, exploring the city, or even travelling around Europe.

As an English major, I’ve found the tutor system incredibly helpful. Having one-on-one feedback sessions on your essays creates this personal academic relationship that’s hard to find elsewhere. The structure of our classes is unique as well. While there’s a main professor (called a course convener) in charge, we get different expert professors each week teaching their specialties. In my Modern Period class alone, I’ve had fascinating sessions on Edwardian Literature, Charlie Chaplin, and the Avant Garde, each taught by a different person.

One of my favorite aspects of the program is its flexibility. While I’m taking mostly English classes, I get to choose one class from a different department. Last term I tried the psychology course Conversational Analysis, and now I’m taking an anthropology course called Experimental Cinema & New Media. It’s a great way to branch out while still focusing on my major.

Generally, I would say the workload is very manageable. Besides biweekly tutor essays, most of my time is spent on readings for seminars. Sometimes we’ll have preparation work for class, but generally, I’ve found there’s more space to really dive deep into what interests you.

For future US students thinking about UCL, don’t worry too much about the transition. The city is easily navigable (I recommend downloading the Citymapper app for the most accurate directions)! London is an amazing city that reveals itself slowly, and that’s part of the adventure. It takes time, but it’s important to balance exploration with finding your own routine in a new city. London makes this easy– there’s always something exciting happening and an endless amount of places to visit, but also plenty of cozy spots to make your own.

My advice would be to take advantage of everything UCL and London have to offer. Join societies that interest you, explore different neighbourhoods, and don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone academically and socially. It can definitely be hard at times, but the fact that you had the drive to challenge yourself and move to a new city is already something to be proud of. Moving abroad is a big step, but if you’re looking for a new adventure in a place rich with history and culture, UCL might be exactly what you’re looking for.

A Day in the Life of a Slade Student | UCL Arts & Humanities

By UCL Faculty of Arts & Humanities, on 3 February 2025

UCL Slade School of Fine Art student Heddwen Campbell shares what a typical day in her life looks like studying the Fine Art BA.

As a Slade student I have no set number of contact hours but your schedule varies as you progress through the course e.g. in the first year of the BA Course you attend Art History & Theory lessons on Thursdays from 10am until 1pm, in second year you attend Elective Module classes whenever they are set for, in third year you attend no weekly lectures and have monthly check-ins about your dissertation. 

This is in addition to weekly events hosted at the Slade that students are strongly encouraged to attend such as the Contemporary Art Lectures on Wednesday’s, bi-weekly discussion groups such as the Poetry Shed and the Art & Ecology network. Students are also expected to spend most days fully in our studios or within Slade so we can take advantage of the workshops which are usually open from 9am-5pm and tutors who frequently stay around the areas to be there for students wanting meetings/tutorials.  

I am in the third year of my four-year course and this year I am writing my dissertation which will be completed in the Spring. So instead of attending History & Theory of Art lectures this year I spend a lot of time studying at different libraries across campus in addition to using the Academic Communication Centre writing retreats for structured writing sessions and technique workshops.  

So as talked about above, each day is vastly different for me but here is an example of a day in my life.  

7.30am: Wake up and shower, on days when I have events on at 10am I usually give myself an hour and a half to get ready as well as an hour for transport as I can only get buses from my area into university.  

8am: Make breakfast, feed my cats, unload the dishwasher. If I know I won’t have much time in the morning I’ll try to make some overnight oats (white chocolate with raspberries) the previous evening so I can grab it and go, if not I’ll have an avocado bagel and tea. My cats’ names are Cheese and Crackers. (Pictured)

9am: Head on the 73 Bus into university, I always grab a banana from the corner shop and sometimes get off the route early to cycle from King’s Cross if traffic is bad. Sometimes a 30-minute journey can turn into an hour-long journey if I’m unlucky! I occasionally have enough time to pick up a sweet treat (pictured) the deli around the corner from me has the best cookies and sweets, this was a blood-orange gingerbread star!

10am: I arrive at university and this morning I had a tutorial with a visiting artist, we discussed the themes of my work, correlations with the research they’ve done throughout their career etc. I really enjoyed this tutorial; we shared many thematic interests, and they gave me some great advice on the future of my works (I’ve included a picture of their work).

11am-1pm: After my tutorial I headed to the Academic Communication Centre to do a writing retreat, this is a session of intentional, continuous writing where students use the presence of other participants to motivate them. I have also used their academic writing workshops to help with my dissertation prep and learn about the processes of editing, drafting and referencing, which I found really useful.  

2pm-3pm: I usually schedule in a fitness session at the UCL Gym doing Yoga, Pilates or whatever is on that day around this time, but today I’m going to my Pole Fitness class which happens weekly. I’ve been going to classes on and off since 2023, having learnt a bunch of different spins I’m now working towards doing inverts (going upside down). Sometimes I quickly grab a coffee with some of the girls from the class afterwards, I love that we’re all from different departments so we can ask what different degrees are like. 

4pm: I did some planning for my Friday volunteer sessions at a Welsh primary school such as researching what materials I’ll use and thinking about ideas for the Welsh national arts competition (the Eisteddfod) they plan to compete in this summer, this year’s theme is ‘Roots’.  

5-7pm: A few students from the Slade media area arranged for a performance night called “Irradiance” to happen in one of the studios this evening so I went to support my friends and see what they made. It was so much fun, and people did everything from getting us to sing the polish national anthem to debating which countries would win in a World War 3. It was a really relaxed and fun night giving all of the first years a good chance to socialise with everyone else in the department, our tutors even set up food & drinks for everyone as well!

8pm-9pm: Went for some drinks with everyone from the performance night at the Institute Bar, I love that the university has so many places to socialise and have fun outside of studying. The staff are really friendly, and I love the different cocktails they do especially the Strawberry Daquiris! I didn’t have any pictures of this, but I included a picture of all of our area on our annual trip, this year we went to Cambridge and went punting!

 

 

Find out more about UCL Slade School of Fine Art and the programmes they offer. 

A Day in the Life of a School of European Languages, Culture and Society Student | UCL Arts & Humanities

By UCL Faculty of Arts & Humanities, on 3 February 2025

UCL School of European Languages, Culture and Society student Sofia Buffoni, shares what a typical day in her life looks like studying the Spanish and Latin American Studies BA.

Ever since I’ve started university, I’ve realized the importance of having a strong and consistent routine which has allowed me to fit in all my studying as well as time for socializing and joining societies. Below is an example of a typical day in my life as a student in the SELCS department.   

8 am – I wake up and eat breakfast which is usually a yoghurt bowl with fruit, or I choose porridge. I am definitely an early bird and most productive in the morning, so I like to wake up early. 

9 am – I really enjoy a slow morning so around this time I workout, shower and allow myself plenty of time to get ready to leave for university. 

11 am – This is usually when I have my first lecture of the day. This year I have chosen Latin American Cinema which is one of my favourite ones. Since I am a language student, I am very lucky because I can choose most of my modules.  

1 pm – After my lecture, I have my lunch which I prepared and packed the night before. I meet up with my friends in the SELCS Common Room and chat until roughly 2 pm.  

2 pm – I go to the library to do some reading for my modules. Sometimes I have some coursework to do or some academic articles to get on with. I usually stay in the Student Centre for around two hours.   

4 – 6pm – My final lecture of the day. Since I do a joint degree, I also have some modules in the School of Management and today I had Accounting where we learned and discussed the relevant costs in decision making for businesses.   

6-8 pm – Every Tuesday, I go to the events organized by the UCL Taylor Swift Society, of which I am a committee member. It is a great way to switch off from classes and see my committee friends for a while. The society is so welcoming, and the events are always unique and very creative.  

8 pm – Time to head home on the bus and start making dinner. I like to do all my uni work on campus so when I come home, I can relax and chill. To unwind, I also usually watch some Netflix or listen to music.  

10:30pm – This is when I usually start getting ready for bed. I like to read a bit, instead of going on my phone, and I then go to sleep!  

This is what a typical day looks like. For my degree specifically, I don’t have a lot of contact hours, so I try to make the most of my time on campus, whether it is by joining societies or having study sessions with friends.  

Find out more about UCL School of European Languages, Culture and Society and the programmes they offer. 

Instagram: @sofia.buffoni 

A Day in the Life of a Philosophy Student | UCL Arts & Humanities

By UCL Faculty of Arts & Humanities, on 3 February 2025

UCL Philosophy student Hector Sheppard, shares what a typical day in his life looks like studying the Philosophy and Economics BA. 

Tuesdays are without a doubt the most revealing snapshot of my week as a second-year student living with four housemates in Kilburn. There’s something about the rhythm of the day that perfectly encapsulates the chaos, fun, and occasional existential crisis of student life.

I wake up to the usual buzz of morning activity in the house. With five of us sharing a kitchen, breakfast is always a bit of a frantic affair. Some of us are scrambling to get out the door, others are in more relaxed moods, but there’s always a sense of shared energy. Whether it’s toast, cereal, or fried eggs, the breakfast rush is loud, quick, and in the best possible way, a kind of collective madness.

After a couple of stops on the Overground, I’m at uni. Tuesday is my busiest day — back-to-back lectures and seminars from morning to evening. This term, I’m diving deep into some fascinating philosophy modules, with a focus on Nietzsche and 17th/18th-century philosophers. These discussions really get my mind going, though I often leave questioning everything — including my own existence. Alongside philosophy, I’m tackling some compulsory economics modules, which provide a sharp contrast and help me stay grounded (or at least a bit more practical) throughout the day.

By 5 pm, my brain is buzzing, and I’m usually pretty ready to escape the whirlwind of thoughts and theories. Assuming Nietzsche hasn’t sent me into a full-on identity crisis, I often meet up with friends for a drink or two. There’s a few great pubs near campus where we unwind, decompressing before heading back to our respective houses.

The evening kicks off back at the house in Kilburn, where I throw together dinner and catch up with my housemates. It’s always nice to relax and chat about the day, swap stories, or just mess around together.

At 9 pm, I head out again for football training with UCL’s 3rd XI. It’s a great way to work on tactics for the upcoming match on Wednesday and get in a bit of team bonding. We’re not a Premier League squad, but the camaraderie and shared focus make it an important part of my week. Plus, there’s nothing like a solid workout to clear your head after hours of lectures.

Post-training, it’s back to Kilburn, where we finish off the night by trying to watch something on TV together, though it’s often interrupted by random conversations, jokes or maybe a quick game of chess. Eventually, it’s time to crash, ready to do it all again the next day.

That’s a Tuesday in my life — busy, social, thought-provoking, and a little bit chaotic. But it’s exactly what I love about being a student in London: every day is a balance of intellectual curiosity and friendship.

Find out more about UCL Philosophy and the programmes they offer. 

A Day in the Life of a Hebrew and Jewish Studies Student | UCL Arts & Humanities

By UCL Faculty of Arts & Humanities, on 3 February 2025

UCL Hebrew and Jewish Studies student Niamh O’Connor, shares what a typical day in her life looks like studying the Hebrew & Jewish Studies BA. 

Welcome to a day in my life! As a Hebrew & Jewish Studies student, I take a mixture of language modules and history, politics, and culture modules. This term, I have 12 contact hours a week and study at the main Bloomsbury campus on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Last term I had classes every day, so it really depends on which modules you’re taking!  

06:30: Drive to the train station. I travel to London from Hertfordshire, so I like to give myself plenty of time to arrive on campus for a 9am lecture! 

06:45: Take the train and then tube to Euston Square or Warren St. I normally listen to music and revise language flashcards, today was Aramaic.  

08:00: Grab some breakfast on Tottenham Court Road and head to the HJS Common Room to avoid rush hour and prepare for the day. We are lucky to have a Departmental Common Room in Foster Court which we share with some of the SELCS departments. It’s a great space with computers, tables and sofas so it’s perfect for either relaxing and catching up with friends, eating lunch, or studying somewhere that isn’t totally silent. I really appreciate having somewhere to come that’s free and warm since I can’t go home between classes. 

09:00 – 11:00: Lecture on the establishment of religions and the separation of faith communities and the state, particularly the principle of ‘laïcité’ in France.  

11:00: Coffee and catch up with a friend to discuss a proposal for a Hebrew language café, where students across the department can come and speak with each other informally outside of the classroom setting.  

11:40: Meeting with my personal tutor to discuss study abroad plans. 

12:00: I eat lunch in the common room and then head to the Wellcome Collection, the free museum and library right behind the main Bloomsbury campus to do some reading before my next meeting.  

13:00: Weekly appointment with my mental health mentor where we talk about finding balance between studies, other responsibilities and rest! 

14:00: Head back to the common room for the last time to finish some reading before this evening’s lecture. 

16:00 – 18:00: Lecture. I’m taking a module with the Institute of the Americas on the History of Sexuality in the U.S. and Beyond which has been really interesting so far.  

18:00 – 20:30: Dinner with my friend at Rudy’s Pizza and then get the train home. 

20:30 – 22:30: Movie night at our house! We watched Good Will Hunting, contemplated moving to Boston, and then it was time for bed. 

Today was busy but I find that the structure helps me to maintain momentum with studying and means that I have time throughout the week to dedicate to a variety of activities. For me, being out of the house helps with concentration more than studying at home so sometimes I head to the UCL Marshgate Campus in Stratford which has great views!

Find out more about UCL Hebrew and Jewish Studies and the programmes they offer. 

A Day in the Life of a Greek and Latin Student | UCL Arts & Humanities

By UCL Faculty of Arts & Humanities, on 3 February 2025

UCL Greek and Latin student Polly Chan, shares what a typical day in her life looks like studying the Classics and the Ancient World BA.

As a second year BA classics student with a 10-hour contact week, I therefore have quite a bit of time on my hands. Although there is a lot of reading and translating to do, I still have time to do many other things and sometimes even fun things! It’s very important to fill up your time as best as you can at university, especially if you’re an Arts and Humanities student with lower contact hours, it can be easy to feel unmotivated. Whether that’s studying with friends or joining a society, it’s good to keep yourself busy and, you’re in London, the world is your oyster! There are so many opportunities and things to do, make the most of it! 

My alarm goes off at 9am but I lay in bed for 10 minutes before I eventually get up and face the day.  

At 10am I have a 2-hour Latin Palaeography lesson. Today we are learning about Latin abbreviations so we can decipher the exact Latin which monks speedily copied over. 

I meet up with my friends at around 12pm to study in UCL’s building on Bernard Street. It is what I like to think of as my hidden study spot. There are a mixture of study spaces and classrooms and if you’re lucky you can find an empty classroom and use the whiteboard and talk as loud as you want! I prefer studying here during the day as the student centre gets rather busy. It’s also conveniently sandwiched between a Pret and a Tesco, so I tend to pop down and get myself a sweet treat to help study. 

I pick up a ‘Too Good to Go’ for lunch around 2pm. Today’s lunch is some baguettes from a store inside Kings Cross station. This app is great especially for uni students as it allows you to get good food for a much cheaper price.  

At 4pm I have an hour-long Ancient Greek seminar, where we go through the grammar and translations we had to complete for this week.   

I head to a Classics Society meeting at 5pm in our department’s common room. We typically organise both social and careers-related events in these meetings. It is fun to be on a society committee because you get to meet new people who have the same interests as you and create fun events for your peers to attend.  

I dash home around 6pm to quickly cook myself dinner. Lately I really enjoy making orzo as it’s super quick and easy with a rice cooker. I tend to make a big batch so I can eat the rest for lunch tomorrow.  

At 7pm I have a jazz big band rehearsal. This year I wanted to pick up the trumpet again, so I decided to join Jazz big band. I really enjoy it because it is quite chill, it doesn’t matter what level you are, so everyone is welcome.  

After rehearsal I head over to the IOE bar to meet up for drinks with some friends. The UCL student bars are very handy as drinks in central London tend to be quite expensive. Student bars are a great way to meet up with friends without spending all your life savings!  

Living in London comes with a lot of different opportunities, but it can also be expensive. To manage this, I have a part time job, luckily my workplace is quite accommodating and is willing to fit around my uni schedule. UCL does not only offer you your degree, it also offers many jobs and extracurricular activities and the chance for you to develop yourself as a person. It is important to maintain a balance at university, keep your days filled but don’t push yourself too hard. But most importantly of all, make sure you enjoy yourself! 

Find out more about UCL Greek and Latin and the programmes they offer.

Instagram @polchan 

A Day in the Life of an European & International Social & Political Studies Student | UCL Arts & Humanities

By UCL Faculty of Arts & Humanities, on 3 February 2025

UCL European & International Social & Political Studies student Stella Kemppi, shares what a typical day in her life looks like studying the European Social & Political Studies BA. 

One of my favourite aspects of my degree is the variety of subjects and the opportunity to learn with students from other departments. As a European Social and Political Studies (ESPS) student, my timetable looks nothing like my peers. We all major in different languages (me in French and German) and specialize in different fields (in my case, IR), meaning we can take modules with EISPS, SELCS, geography, law, and many more departments.  

My timetable varies each year, depending on requirements and availability, but this is what a Tuesday in the first term of my final year (!!!) typically looks like. 

8:00-9:00: I usually wake up at 8, even if I have a later start. I’m very slow in the mornings and need enough time to get ready. 

9:00-10:00: I’m fortunate enough to live in central London, but it still takes me 40 minutes to walk to uni. I don’t mind walking because I save the cost of a TfL ticket, and it gives me time to listen to music or talk to friends and enjoy some fresh air. 

10:00-11:00: I like arriving an hour before my lecture to finish some last-minute work or get ahead on readings. 

11:00-13:00: My ‘Principles of Public International Law’ module is a lecture-seminar combined, and although it wasn’t in my original choice of modules, it has become one of my favourite courses. 

13:00-14:00: Straight after, I have my ‘French Oral 3’ class. Luckily, it’s in the same building. 

14:00-16:00: I meet my friends for lunch in the SELCs common room. During these two hours, we prepare for our next course or worry about master’s applications. Although intense, I look forward to sharing the stress with my friends.  

16:00-18:00: As final-year EISPS students, we write a dissertation (yikes, I know). Part of the process is a presentation. Every week, we hear from our peers about their topics (which are all so different btw). The class is great because it’s one of the only times most of the cohort is together, and since we were all abroad last year, it’s nice to catch up/see new faces. 

18:00-20:00: Uni is officially over for the day, and it has become a weekly tradition for us to go to the pub after class. My friends and I head to one of the (many) Student Union pubs (so much cheaper) to have a pint and chill.  

20:00-23:00: I typically get home after 8 and will catch up with my flatmate over dinner. I then try my best to get ready and be in bed by 11. 

I know it seems like I didn’t study much (even if it’s my most contact-heavy day), but it’s so important to find time to have fun. And no worries, I don’t have classes on Wednesdays, so I get to spend my day in the library 🙂 

Find out more about UCL European & International Social & Political Studies and the programmes they offer. 

A Day in the Life of an Arts & Sciences Student | UCL Arts & Humanities

By UCL Faculty of Arts & Humanities, on 3 February 2025

UCL Arts & Sciences student Anna Ionescu shares what a typical day in her life looks like studying the Arts and Sciences BASc.

For me, balance in my day is really important. At school, I used to be able to spend the whole day in classes and then go to the library and do more reading, more studying and more writing…let’s just say former Anna would be ashamed of me. Now I take a more relaxed approach to my day. I make an active effort to make time for not only my work, but also exercise, friends, and exploring London.

My course is called Arts & Sciences, it means that I will graduate with both a science and humanities degree. The way I tend to explain my degree is that it’s designed for capable people who might not quite know initially what they want to do. So, through the course, you get exposed to lots of disciplines and the hope is that by the end of your degree, you will have an idea of where you want to go next. You will be asked to choose a major pathway (I choose Health & Environment) and a minor pathway (I choose Societies). Your two pathways have to be a balance of science and humanities, so you remain interdisciplinary.

The degree is designed for you to foster key skills, such as research and language skills, so you will also be automatically enrolled in certain core modules. So here’s what a day in the life of a BASc student might look like!

10am – This is normally when I start pressing the snooze button on my phone. Around half past, I will finally roll out of bed and grab some breakfast. Ok, sometimes it’s quarter to 11…If I’m having an especially productive day, I might meet a friend for a breakfast coffee in Russell Square at Cafe Tropea. It’s always nice to breathe in some park air and be greeted by the lovely Italian staff who work in the cafe!

12pm – 2pm – Off to Finsbury park to attend the tennis society’s intermediates training session. You can get there directly from either Russell Square or Euston station so it gives me no excuse not to go! I’ve also made a lovely little group of friends there, so I am always keen to go. Tennis is honestly 50% playing, 50% gossip for me! Can you tell why I’m not in the advanced session?

2pm – 4pm – Knowledge Economy seminar (core module). Still not 100% sure what the knowledge economy quite is, but what I do know is that I love my group and after the seminar we have started to go out for a drink all together. Our favourite spots are either the IOE bar or Marlborough Arms (10% student discount, I believe).

4pm – 6pm – During these hours I am normally tutoring secondary school children online, I teach maths and biology. I started doing it in 6th form and have kept it going ever since, even when I went on my year abroad in Colombia! It’s a great way to make a little extra cash and I have found myself really enjoying it.

7pm – Dinner and winding down from the day. My days usually end up being back to back, so I like to take a minute after cooking dinner to watch one of my favourite series and drink a cup of tea. Sometimes I will also go collect a surprise bag from a cafe nearby with an app called Too Good To Go. It’s a way of buying food from restaurants or cafes that would otherwise go to waste. The other day I got a bag with a cinnamon roll, croissant, pan au chocolate, lemon tart, and coffee muffin for only £2.50!

9pm – This is usually when I actually start doing any reading or assignments. I am a night owl, through and through!

I hope you enjoyed hearing about one of my days at UCL and that you check out some of my favourite spots 🙂

Find out more about UCL Arts & Sciences and the programmes they offer. 

Tips on how to make the step towards postgraduate study

By UCL Faculty of Arts & Humanities, on 13 January 2025

UCL English Linguistics MA first year student Jingqi He gives her tips on making the step toward postgraduate study. 

Making the transition from an undergraduate to a postgraduate student, especially as an international student, could be challenging. Apart from the increased academic demands, it also means you need to adapt to a new culture and take care of yourself alone. To help you navigate these processes more easily and effectively, there are several tips on how to make the step towards postgraduate study as an international student based on my personal experience: 

Prepare for the increased academic demands. In postgraduate study, students are expected to undertake significant amount of independent study (at least 5 hours a day in my discipline). That is why in postgraduate study there are more student-centered seminars which require extensive reading before class and discussions during class, instead of teacher-centered lectures. Postgraduate students are also expected to submit work of high quality and originality. Especially if you plan to pursue a PhD degree after postgraduate study, it is quite important to get a distinction for your postgraduate degree. Therefore, before starting your postgraduate study, it is always recommended to know your course structure well, brush up on any academic skills that could be important for you study, and even do some reading in advance.

Prepare for your financial planning. London is an international mega-city, and its cost of living is not low. Before starting your postgraduate study in London, it is important to estimate the total cost of your study, including the tuition fees, rent, travel costs, health insurance, and other personal expenses. There is a wide range of scholarships and funding offered by the university, government, and private institutions. All the relevant information are available on the university website. Please remember to apply early and meet the deadlines. If you are considering to take up a part-time job to expand your budget, please remember that students are only allowed to work 20 hours per week in the UK. 

Prepare for living in a brand new city. Personally I had done lots of preparation for moving to London because I always want to be organized and prepared. If you never come to London before, I recommend you to get familiar with things in London like public transportation, healthcare system, weather (you’ll see:)), visa stuff, etc. Language barrier is also an important problem to solve for international students. Prepare for and take English proficiency tests well in advance. 

Remember to keep work-life balance. With the increased academic workload, it could be hard for postgraduate students to balance their academic studies with personal lives, internships, part-time job, etc. Prepare for managing the stress and pressure, and always remember to seek support from the outside world. Mental health and well-being support is available through university.

Find out more about postgraduate study at UCL.

A Symphony of Growth: Reflecting on My Time as a UCL Student

By UCL Faculty of Arts & Humanities, on 13 December 2024

UCL International Social and Political Studies (ISPS) fourth year student Chun-Yi (Leo) Chen reflects on his time at UCL. 

“The end of a melody is not its goal: but nonetheless, had the melody not reached its end it would not have reached its goal either. A parable.” – Friedrich Nietzsche 

On the precipice of graduation, I find myself reflecting on the unique composition that has been my journey at UCL. From the unexpected virtual prelude to the transformative movements of my year abroad and final year on campus, my time at UCL has been a symphony of resilience, growth, and connection. 

The opening notes of my UCL melody were struck in the midst of a global pandemic. As I began my studies in ISPS from the confines of my home country, I feared that the physical distance would create a dissonance in my university experience. UCL’s unwavering support and commitment to fostering connection quickly resolved any tensions. Through virtual ensembles of interactive online sessions, group projects, and regular tutor check-ins, I found myself harmonising with my peers and professors, creating a sense of unity despite the distance. 

As the melody of my journey progressed to my year abroad at Waseda University in Japan. This movement introduced new themes and variations, enriching my composition with invaluable cultural insights and experiences. Despite being geographically farther from UCL, the consistent communication and support from my home university ensured that I never felt disconnected from my academic journey. 

Returning to UCL for my final year was a crescendo of excitement and anticipation. Stepping into the main quad and gazed upon the iconic portico, I felt a rush of emotion, a powerful realisation that I had finally arrived at my other home. The familiar campus and warm welcome from faculty and peers served as a resonant confirmation that UCL had been with me every step of the way, guiding and shaping my melody. 

As an ISPS student, I found myself part of a tight-knit ensemble within the grand orchestra of UCL. The intimate nature of our department allowed for personalised attention, fostering meaningful relationships with tutors and peers. Yet, the beauty of UCL lies in its ability to bring together diverse instruments from various departments, creating a rich atmosphere of cross-disciplinary collaborations and university-wide events.  

Approaching the final cadence of my UCL symphony, I am filled with gratitude for the resilience and adaptability that this journey has instilled in me. Each challenge, each unexpected note, has contributed to the unique composition of my growth. I now understand that the goal of my UCL journey was not simply to reach the end, but to embrace every measure, every phrase, and every rest along the way. The COVID-19 pandemic may have altered the melody, but the lessons, experiences, and connections I have gathered are the true essence of my symphony, shaping me into the person I am today. 

As the final notes of my UCL melody resonate, I am proud to be part of a community that nurtures resilience, inclusivity, and a lifelong passion for learning. And though this particular movement may be coming to a close, I know that the skills and memories I have gained will continue to inspire and guide me as I embark on the next chapter of my life’s composition. 

Find out more about UCL International Social and Political Studies (ISPS)