Politics and Sociology - BA (Hons)

Queen Mary University of London

The University supports students, and the communication is quick. On top of that, there are numerous opportunities for students to engage in extracurricular activities, and to explore job opportunities.

The university has great student support systems which are simply not publicised enough. They have some facilities but many of them are outdated with buildings most used for my degree not being equipped with a functioning WiFi connection, meaning that logging attendance is a bigger hassle than it needs to be. The students’ union is also not as strong as it should be, it is quite passive due to students not giving it much attention or notice, which is partly a fault of the students themselves but more so of the union itself because it is their responsibility to maintain a good relationship with the student body. Despite the university being in East London, it’s not that far from central London, and it is safer than people lead on. There’s also a lot of stores that are within walking or reasonably commutable distance from the campus so students have a lot of options for shopping (including Westfield Stratford and Stratford city centre at a 30 minute bus, or a 12 minute walk and tube commute). The students’ union Ground Cafe and Drapers bar and kitchen, and the university’s QM Social are fantastic for socialising with other students and the reslife team is incredibly supportive and friendly. Additionally, the staff for my course are amazing and very supportive, often beyond the scope of their responsibilities. They genuinely care about students and that relationship is quite valuable as a student as it ensures that you are able to get the most out of your degree.

As a commuter student, balancing personal responsibilities with a rigid schedule is tough. However, the support at Queen Mary is outstanding. They are genuinely understanding of individual circumstances; for example, they adjusted my timetable to fit my specific needs. It’s a relief to be treated as a person rather than just a number.

I think the university has a great social atmosphere but could work more on making the campus feel more like a university

I’ve loved my experience at QM! The Students Union is super active and there are always events going on and opportunities to meet new people. My professors have been great, they’re all easy to get in contact with. The campus is under construction so it’s a little rough right now but I’m excited to see what it’s look like in a few years.