UCL Information Studies student Aoi Kato shares what a typical day in her life looks like studying the Information in Society BSc at UCL East. 

My uni day starts in a small, cozy room in Stratford. Sharing a flat with three housemates and three cats means their meowing for breakfast is my unofficial alarm clock. I quickly grab a cup of tea and enjoy a 10-minute reading session with Years of the Monkey before heading to the UCL East Campus.

Wednesday is the best snapshot of my university life. The day kicks off with the Ethics of Information seminar. With only 27 students in my course, our small-group discussions are something we all value. Everyone makes space for others to speak, creating a truly inclusive environment. Each week, we dive into a new topic, and our lecturer skillfully guides the conversation, making students an active part of the learning experience.

After the two-hour class, my friends and I head to the common room at One Pool Street, where one of them lives. For half an hour, until our next coding session, we have lunch, watch movies, chat, or just relax to give our buzzing brains a break. At 12:30, we return to campus to face our biggest challenge—coding! With the help of our PGTA, we work on the tutorial sheet for the lab session. Sometimes, it takes us six hours, leaving my brain completely drained. But this Wednesday, I have a photography society darkroom session, so—praying for my future self—I log out of the desktop and take the tube to the main campus.

During the three-hour session, I learn how to develop my negatives—one of the most thrilling moments for someone like me, who has been diving into photography with an old film camera gifted by my aunt. It’s also great to catch up with other members who love photography in their own ways.

After a long day, I finally head home. Some evenings, I cook dinner with friends at their places or eat out with them, while other times, I enjoy making a meal on my own, listening to my favorite music or catching up with friends back in Japan. Then, it’s time to wrap up my studies for the day. I prepare for tomorrow’s lectures, finish coursework, or work on an essay—usually until the cats wander off to their bedrooms for the night.

This is what my typical Wednesday looks like. It might sound busy, but I love the mix of excitement and spending time with my besties. My schedule varies depending on the day, but I always try to balance academics and social life to make the most of my university experience. Go at your own pace, find your balance, and enjoy the journey.

Instagram: @aoi_137

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

This blog is an example of one day in the life of a student at UCL. Each day looks different for each student depending on the programme, department, year of study, timetable and modules chosen. Head to our online prospectus to find out more about our programmes.