University in the city - Mansi Vithlani

My first-year experience in London and my advice!

This post may come across a little biased as I love London so I will defend it a lot! I always knew that I wanted to study there. However, I was aware that I would have a very different experience to that of a campus university. I thought I would share my experience of studying university in the city.

Living in London regardless has its pros and cons. Although I felt as if I missed out on a lot of aspects of university life, I also adapted and made some incredible memories that I probably would not have gotten anywhere else. In essence, I had my own expectations and knew that I would have to try explore and be spontaneous to get the university experience that I wanted (although it was cut short).

Living in London – Student accommodation:

When it came to accommodation, I was a bit sceptical as London accommodation blocks tends to be smaller. They don’t have the typical layout that first years expect. Most universities have a large kitchen/living room area or are set out as separate flats. This was not the case for me. The day I moved in, I saw how small the kitchen was and that there was only one common room for the whole floor.

Essentially, I panicked as I thought I wasn’t going to get the stereotypical uni flat experience. The kitchen was a very small proximity so I knew I would have to find out who the people I was sharing with were to avoid awkwardness and to make friends! We made a group chat with everyone sharing the kitchen, got to know each other and created a bond I’m very thankful for.

My advice for student accommodation:

For many people in the block they had no idea throughout the whole year who the people in their kitchen were. My best advice is to put yourself out there. Have the courage to speak to your neighbours, people who live opposite you and people in the whole accommodation (ours was through parties in the laundry room).

Being in student accommodation is a daunting experience. You are forced to live with strangers and will have many moments where you will feel alone and miss home. It is important to make sure you surround yourself with people who will lift up your mood (even if it is through cake, pizza and lots of maccies).

Student life:

One thing I hated about being in London as a first year was that I would have to partly sacrifice the “student life experience”. My university’s student union wasn’t the best for a first year. They provided a few events for freshers which were enjoyable and great for bonding. However, throughout the year they didn’t really organise any socialising events which is the main purpose of the union.

Freshers however, although exhausting, was the same as most universities elsewhere. This is instead was not organised by the university but by London clubs and venues where they would host theme nights. So ensure that you make friends with your flatmates so that you have people to go with to these events. At this point I didn’t know many people on my course however most universities organise events that are course specific for freshers. This is something I felt like I missed out on.

Adapting:

Though I was satisfied with my freshers’ experience and the night life throughout the year, London is extremely expensive and don’t promote many weekly events for students. My friends who go to a campus university would have regular events weekly at a very reasonable price. This just isn’t a concept in London. If you want to go to an event you have to buy your tickets immediately as they increase to a ridiculous price. I guess I adapted to this, didn’t go out weekly to events and if we did it would be for a special occasion which made them more special. Not being at a campus university has its obvious disadvantages but if you are in the city you have to adapt.

London is EXPENSIVE:

This is a given because it is London. From your bread to your transport use, everything is overly priced. It is frustrating as at times you may feel like you are missing out on opportunities, networking and events. Sometimes you cannot afford to pay for the travel, the food or the event. I know lots of people say that London just isn’t a place for students because it is not feasible.

BUT… I do think people forget that there is so much more to London than just being a student at one of the many universities there.

You will NEVER get bored:

Living in London can feel like you are living your dream life. You have to become a tourist and explore. There is so much to see and you can never get bored of the city. London is full of culture, diversity and so many hidden treasures that you can explore. Surprisingly, a lot of activities in London are free. I thought I’d share my top favourite adventures from my first year!

COVENT GARDEN – AUTUMN, WINTER

Covent Garden is the perfect place for a day out with your friends and family. I took my parents when they came to visit and we explored the markets, shops and ate a lot. It is also beautiful to explore at Christmas time. This year there was a mini ice-skating rink and lots of magical decorations.

CELEB SPOTTING – MEETING OVIE

When living in London you never know who you will bump into. I was out on Oxford Street with a friend gazing at the Christmas lights on the John Lewis building when she noticed Ovie from Love Island. We had the opportunity to talk to him and also got to take photos. A few months later we realised we were in an instaxmini advertisement with him. It was a day I’ll never forget.

CHRISTMAS IN LONDON

Although already briefly mentioned, Christmas celebrations in London are magical. There are countless Christmas markets (I tried to go to all of them), the lights on Oxford and Regent street, ice-skating and Winter Wonderland. The best part is that you don’t even have to spend any money and can just go for the experience. And of course no other city does Christmas quite like London.

CANARY WHARF LIGHT FESTIVAL

In January Canary Wharf held a light festival that was completely free, all we paid for was the tube to get there! London has many free events like this one and you can make a full day out of it. We were lucky enough to explore the whole of Canary Wharf, looking for all of the light statues and also ended up having free pizza and prosecco!

SOUTH KENSINGTON

One of my closest friends studies in South Kensington so I was there a lot but it is also home to numerous, free museums. This is where tourist mode comes in and you just have to go and explore (even if you might be too old for the Science museum!) The most enjoyable days in London are those of which when you are spontaneous. We spent the day exploring Kensington and then hopped on a bus and ended up going to one of the tallest buildings in London to get views of the city.

FOOD

Anyone that knows me is aware that I am a big foodie. So occasionally I would go and try out new restaurants. No city does cuisine quite like London and they cater for everyone. Maybe I’ll share more on another post!

Opportunities:

London has so many opportunities. Whether it be networking with other universities and joining societies there, or being given unforgettable opportunities.

One opportunity for me was dancing. My friend goes to Imperial and I joined her dance group for a show held by their Indian society. Although it was a tiring experience because of the travelling I had to do, it ended up being one of my favourite memories of first year. I met a lot of new people, got to be part of an incredible show and got to do something I love.

Unforgettable moments:

Another highlight was being able to volunteer at ITV studios and also being an audience member at BBC. If I was anywhere else I wouldn’t have gotten these opportunities. I also got to meet Stacey Dooley at her show “Conversations with Stacey”. London is a place where you can network and gain work experience like no other.

Overall:

I had a great (and short) first year in London. It did take me a while to adapt and adjust. Although I had my fun moments, I went home a considerable amount, which is okay to do. So, if you are moving to the city or a campus university, be spontaneous and adventurous. Take every opportunity you can. If you are feeling nervous and miss home just remember that it is natural to feel that way. It took me at least until term two to feel settled. So give it some time if you are starting university soon!

And my best advice:

Shape your experience into what you want it to be. You’ll meet people who you know will be in your life forever. Despite London being a crazy and expensive city that can be extremely lonely; you really can make it feel like home. There is so much more I could share about the beautiful city and my year at uni definitely made me fall in love with London even more. I think this can be the case wherever you go!