I applied very late to UWL. This made my life so much more stressful and difficult that it would have otherwise been. I would advise anyone - especially International students - to apply as early as possible.

Overall, a good uni. You can have a personal relationship with lecturers since groups aren’t massive, and it is easier to access them in case of any questions or concerns. One downside is the options for accommodation. Since Paragon house closed the university has no student halls and only really provides students with the choice of student village or external accommodation halls. Personally I chose accommodation that is 10 minutes from the university’s main campus, but there are people having to live 20-30 minutes away by tube. I personally chose to join a sports society and that gives me quite a few options to socialize, but meeting new people is not difficult if you enjoy going out to the pub, or the student union bar. There are societies for everyone, including live sound and a radio station, as well as societies for those looking for a safe space such as LGBTQ+.

My course has been taught in-class and is only two days a week. At the moment I have one day where I’m at uni 9 - 6 with breaks in between and another where it is 3 - 6. The rest of the time you are expected to do independent study and work on assignments. During my foundation year I did experience online learning which was definitely not the best, but still acceptable considering the circumstances. Contact with lecturers is great, and so far they have been accessible and willing to help and support students.

Location is nice overall, it has a city atmosphere without the busyness of people everywhere. There are shopping malls, loads of restaurants and bars, and stores to meet most needs. One thing to keep in mind is that while the area is relatively safe, it’s not rare to hear about people being jumped or mugged, so just a reminder to stay safe at night. In terms of part-time work I believe there are many opportunities around considering the amount of restaurants and bars, and personally I found work within a month of moving into the area. The cost of living is quite high particularly if you choose to live in student halls, rooms start at around £200 and go up to £300 a week, so it’s quite a steep amount to pay for the amount of space you get. Aside from that, a decently sized flat can go for around £400 a week and if you split rent with a friend or partner it is a lot more manageable with you being able to pay as little as £600 a month. In terms of nightlife there is West Five in the Ealing area, a gay bar/club where some of the sports societies will occasionally go, and of course numerous pubs/bars. In terms of clubs, the main one is Pryzm in Kingston.