A University for Londoners.. (University of North London in general)

Member Name: vhart

Product:	University of North London in general
Date:	17/07/00 (317 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: good mix of people

Disadvantages: poorly resourced

UNL is very much a product of being one of the new batch of universities (ex-polys) but this is one of it's greatest strengths. It is not as well-resourced as some of the more traditional universities (which have more money) but I've found the learning environment, mostly as a result of other students, and not necessarily the tutors, to be a positive experience on the whole.

The university is based on three sites in Holloway Rd/Islington, with two libraries and a newly built computer building. There are chances to follow modular programmes and a lot of the courses are very much focused towards 'employable' subjects at the expense of more purely academic programmes, or at least, this is where the universities strengths lie.

Another of UNL's strengths is the level of integration with the local community in North London. There isn't really a feeling of the university being a separate entity from the 'town'. There is a decent social programme, but then again, if you study here you have the whole of London in which to find entertainment so you aren't necessarily so reliant on the university to find you things to do and certainly, it doesn't 'hand-feed' you with entertainment and 'meeting-new-friends' type things, that I found happened at my first university.

They have a lot of international links and it is not hard to find a way onto a study abroad programme if that is what one wants to do, both in Europe and in the US, and there are lots of international students.

On the negative side, I would emphasize resources. It is clear that the university does not have the money that some do and the libraries are not the best, but the new computer building is really good, it's just the libraries that leave a little to be desired. However, I found the 'London Plus' scheme a godsend (it's a scheme amongst the ex-polys in London where you can use the other libraries if you
are a student at one. Definitely worth investigating, I moved into the library at Middlesex Uni as a result!).

It's not the university to go to, I don't think, if you want everything mapped out for you, including lots of clubs to join etc, but it has a lot of mature students and has a high proportion of students from non-traditional university-going backgrounds which adds to the richest of the experience, and because of this, it caters very well for 'non-traditional' students, with emphasis on elements like 'return to study' skills and child care arrangements and is child-friendly.

It is very much a university of London, and reflects the city in a far more realistic light than some of her more academically based cousins and in some ways has the feel of somewhere that is much more inclusive, which I definitely found beneficial.. you certainly aren't closeted away in an ivory tower, and the anti-discrimination policies are admirable in their inclusivenes, which I feel is a very important point, lost on some other places.


The university has adequate sports facilities (although that's an area I never took a very great interest in!). It has had a reputation for left-wing student politics and radicalism but I didn't see any great evidence of anything except distinct apathy on the political front.

This is not a university that will lay everything down for you on a silver platter, but for providing a more realistic take on the world outside the ivory tower of academic life, it can be a useful introduction.

Summary: