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. 

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.