The City University

City University has buildings around central London with the main campus at Northampton Square in the North London Borough of Islington. There are smaller enclaves in Holborn, the City of London, Smithfield and Whitechapel.  

Background and History

City began life as the Northampton Institute, named after the Marques who donated the land for its buildings in Islington. Originally the University had quite a narrow range of subjects, drawing mainly from applied physics and chemistry. The Institute then grew and expanded into the fields of aeronautics and as the result of a merger, into nursing and midwifery. The Institute received its charter in 1966 and changed its name to City University London. Recent developments have included the construction of the Cass Business School near the Barbican.

Location and Accessibility

By Road: Travelling by car to City is not advisable as parking is strictly limited and the congestion charge is in force. The University is well served by local bus routes, and national bus services arrive at nearby Liverpool Street station.

By Rail: The nearest tube to the main campus is Angel on the Northern line. National rail services are available from Liverpool Street and Farringdon rail. Most facilities are wheelchair friendly and accommodation is available for people with disabilities.

What's on Offer

BA, BSc, MA, MSc, MBA, Graduate (Conversion) Diploma, Graduate Diploma, Postgraduate Diploma, Postgraduate Certificate, MRes, MPhil, PhD.

Entry Requirements

Entry requirements vary from course to course but examples include: Economics: AAA/B at A-level with B or above in Maths and English GCSE, 35 points in the IB or DDD at BTEC. Sociology: AAB at A-level, 35 points in the IB or DDD at BTEC. Business Studies: AAA at A-level, 35 points in the IB or DDD at BTEC.

University Accommodation

City offers a mixture of post/undergraduate halls and guarantees accommodation to first years as long as they firmly accept their offer from the university. However, prices are not cheap (even for a London university).  

Private Accommodation

The university runs workshops to help students find private accommodation and these are a good start if you're venturing out in your second and third years. The areas immediately surrounding city aren't too overpriced and a good deal can be had if you're willing to look hard enough.

Faculties and Departments

City University London is comprised of three main faculties: The Faculty of Actuarial Science and Insurance, the Faculty of Finance and the Faculty of Management.

Academic Strengths and Research Profile

City has strong links with the London business world and aims to prepare its students for professional life. The Law and Business schools both have excellent reputations and strong links with their respective industries, as has the department of Journalism. Over 80% of the research output of City has been judged to be of international standard by the Research Assessment Exercise.  

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees for both undergraduate and postgraduate courses vary, so for an accurate picture it is best to contact the University directly or visit their website.    

Financial Support

The National Scholarship Scheme will allow City students to receive a means-tested reduction in fees. Further grants and awards are available on a competitive basis including a number of research council studentships.

Academic Facilities

There has been a recent refurbishment of lecture theatres and seminar rooms at City,bringing them up to the standard you'd expect from a modern university. Other facilities include a teaching and research centre in Optometry, a centre for energy and the environment, a radiography research unit and facilities in Canary Wharf aimed at educating senior managers.

Other on-site Amenities

The Students' Union has a social space called ten squared' featuring food and evening entertainment. Sports facilities were refurbished in 2011 to bring them up to Olympic standard and the university has funding fromSport England to develop an inter-college sports tournament across London.    

Medical and Social Care

City hosts a student medical centre, services for disabled and dyslexic students, a counselling service and an onsite chaplaincy. Prayer facilities are available forMuslims and a multi-faith centre. The University has active Christian, Muslim, Sikh,Hindu and Jewish societies.

 

What's on in the Area

Islington is a vibrant area known for its theatres, restaurants and live music venues.The nearby Barbican Centre hosts dance, classical music and performance art throughout the year and attracts international stars in many fields. In terms of nightlife there is nearby Upper Street in Islington fora more relaxed night out and also the more franticly paced Shoreditch andBrick Lane, with some of London's trendiest venues.

Moving On

City tries to focus on preparing people for professional life and runs numerous skills courses to improve graduate employability. Many of its courses have strong links with companies in the City of London so the chance of gaining experience through placements or internships is high. As part of the University of London, graduates can also use their extremely large central careers service.

Notable Alumni of City University London include two former Prime Ministers; Clement Attlee and Herbert Asquith.

Is City for you?

If you want a finance-focused course in the heart of the City of London you'll benefitfrom the strong business links at the college. Although highly regarded in the business community in the UK, City does not havethe international reputation of some of its peers in London. If you're unsure about City why not consider LSE or Imperial?