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Posted May 15, 2017

The pros and cons to postgrad study in London

Pros and cons of LondonIs the fabulous life in London just made for you? Or do you look at the associated costs and Londoners’ general attitude that London is the centre of the universe and think ‘no thank you’?

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In this article we are going to weigh up the pros and cons of choosing the capital city as the base for your postgrad studies.

London's upsides

FreshLondon has one of the largest student populations in the world with over 45 universities and higher education institutions being based in this capital city. This means there is a large range of postgraduate courses to choose from being taught out of some exceptional world-class institutions, making London a great place to base yourself.

Add to this the availability of part-time work when you are studying and easy access to travel around the world, Europe or to any part of the UK, anyone can see there are massive upsides to living and studying in London.

And of course, it doesn’t need to be explained that London’s nightlife is amongst the best in the world. With thriving live music and theatre scenes, as well as access to the world's most prestigious museums, art galleries and libraries… There is so much to do with your free time, why would anyone want to live anywhere else?

And don’t forget, if you do opt to do your postgrad studies in London and need some fantastic student accommodation whilst you're studying, our accommodation partner Fresh has a great selection of purpose-built flats which are safe, secure, modern, reasonably priced and well located within the city – find out more.

London's downsides

However, there are some negative aspects to living and studying in London, for example the steady stream of fashionistas walking down the streets could make you feel inadequate and unstylish, and trying to keep up with them unrealistic on a student budget.

Which brings us onto one of the main issues of student life in London – the expense! Rent and travel costs in London tend to be higher than in any other part of the UK, which means you need to make those student finances stretch that much further.

And speaking of the travel, when TFL (Transport For London – responsible for running London’s public transport system, including the London Underground and the buses) is on strike, the entire city gets gridlocked and you could be forgiven for wishing you had chosen to live and study anywhere else, as getting anywhere in a hurry can prove near impossible.

Plus, with the amazing pub and club scene, music scene, theatres and the millions of other things to keep you entertained – you still need to find time to study and the gnawing sense that you are missing out when it’s time to knuckle down and get on with your studies will be really difficult for all but the most studious.

Pros and cons of postgrad study in London


Reasons to do your PG studies in London

As we’ve already seen, there are both pros and cons to choosing London for your postgraduate studies. There are many reasons why being a postgraduate student in London is a great idea – it’s a vibrant cosmopolitan city with plenty of students and plenty to do. Here are our top 10 reasons to be a postgraduate student on London – in no particular order.

1. You’ll receive premium tuition from world-renowned universities.

2. It’s a fantastically cosmopolitan city, home to thousands of students from over 200 different countries, making it a great place to be an international student.

3. By living and studying in London as a postgraduate student, you will be able to fully immerse yourself in the English language ­– thus gaining an invaluable skill for life, fluency in the English language.

4. Home to over 900,000 students, London has a very exciting and lively social scene.

5. Hosting many top universities, businesses, law practices and companies, London is the ideal city for networking – this could result in some fantastic job opportunities once you have finished your London masters.

6. London is a cultural phenomenon – with over 150 theatres, 200 museums and 120 historic buildings and monuments, there is so much to see and do in London as a postgraduate masters student you will simply never get bored. 

7. England’s capital city is a foodies’ paradise, with cuisine from over 70 different countries in over 11,000 eateries (be they restaurants, cafes or takeaways), there really is something for everyone, whatever the budget.

8. Despite its reputation as being expensive, London plays host to a plethora of exciting, unique free events, festivals and offers free entry to many galleries and museums.

9. London masters degrees are recognised worldwide as being a symbol of academic excellence and the qualification you gain in London will open up a whole world of career opportunities .

10. With efficient and cheap transport links to Europe and the rest of the world, London is a great city in which to base yourself for your postgraduate program.

Things to do as a postgrad in London

Postgraduate student in LondonIt’s not just about the world-class universities, academic excellence and networking – there are other essential activities that you can do as a postgrad student in London. Once you’ve ticked these off your list, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a true postgrad student in London.

Embrace your inner tourist – the time will come when you’re jaded with London tourists and will roll your eyes every time you see the gigantic queue outside of Madam Tussauds,  before that time comes, make sure you enjoy some of the city’s fascinating sites, buildings and monuments.

Find out where to go – London offers a great nightlife for students, but its best clubs and bars are not necessarily where you think they are, and they are definitely not where Freshers’ ticket sellers want you to think they are. Ask around, but as a general guide, anything on the Overground (Shoreditch, Dalston, Camden, etc) is likely to be far better (and probably far cheaper) than anything based right in the centre.

Find out where not to go – equally, finding out the worst places to go out will save you from terrible evenings of over-priced drinks, sticky floors and obnoxious bankers. London newbies will want to take you to the West End clubs, but be warned they many of them are sweaty, overpriced hellholes.

Get up high – the best way to see London is from above and at night. If you can afford the small fortune that is the viewing platform of the Shard or the London Eye they have a lot to recommend them, similarly stunning views can be seen on the cheap from The Monument (£6) or Primrose Hill (free).

Eat everything – British food has a (historically deserved) reputation for being terrible, all overcooked mush and carbohydrates en masse. London definitely bucks this trend, with culinary delights for every occasion – from Michelin-star dining to international street food trucks, a godsend after a big night out.

Dive into some culture – what makes London pretty much unique as a student city in the UK is its abundance of culture. Sure, other cities have great theatre, gigs and exhibitions, but no other city has so many of all three and so much more. Chances are, if you’ve read about something in the culture section of the newspapers or online, it is either on its way to London or is already there!

Find a green getaway – despite being known as “The Big Smoke”, London has huge areas of green space, offering great places to work in the sunshine and/or escape from the confines of the city and the stress of your postgraduate course. These spaces often have something else on offer too, for example, Regent’s Park has a zoo; Victoria Park, a boating lake; Richmond Park has hundreds of deer; and Hampstead Heath, bathing ponds, a lido and a stunning view over London.

Cross Waterloo Bridge ­– perhaps the simplest and greatest pleasure a new Londoner can enjoy (and it’s completely free) is simply walking across Waterloo Bridge. From there, you can see all of London’s landmarks spread out on either side of you, and the realisation will hit that you know live in one of the world’s greatest cities. Just don’t stop to take a selfie – after all, you’re not a tourist anymore!

Explore a market – sure, you could go to a supermarket or shopping mall to get food and furniture, but what’s the fun in that? Instead, take a trip to one of London’s many specialist markets – from vintage clothes at Brick Lane, flowers at Columbia Road and fish at Billingsgate, the options are endless.

Pros and cons to student life in London

Overall, we would recommend London for your postgraduate studies, particularly if you have found the perfect course for you and it’s only taught out of a London-based university. This table summarises the pros and cons to student life in London.

Pros to the fabulous life in London

Cons to the frivolous life in London

Number 1 student city in the world

Expense of living costs

40+ HEIs to choose from

Not as relaxed a student experience

Work opportunities

Competition from other graduates

Culture, art galleries, museums, libraries

Campuses can feel impersonal

Live music scene and theatres

Lack of university sporting facilities

Work opportunities

FOMO

 

Make sure it’s the right choice for you

As you can see, London is fabulous city to live and study in and you should be able to find the perfect postgraduate course, great friends and all manner of enjoyable activities to do. But it's not for everyone.

Searching for the right university is as important as the postgraduate course itself, and if you can't ignore the temptation of an amazing night out or you’re worries about your bank balance, it might be worth considering choosing somewhere with a bit less going on as the UK has a fantastic choice of universities located in many other destinations.

Our advice is to make your own pros and cons list and you should be able to work out if London is the perfect place for you to do your postgrad studies.

Fresh is one of many potential private accommodation options for international postgraduate students. Other private student accommodation options are available and Postgrad.com advises you to research all your options thoroughly before making such a commitment. Postgrad Solutions accepts no responsibility for your choice of student accommodation and does not endorse or support Fresh. Fresh Student Living Ltd is registered in England and Wales under company number 07268209. The VAT number is 142920528.

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