City University London United Kingdom
About School

City University London

City University London is a university with more than a century in history. Apart from being in the top 5% of global universities, City University London is also ranked as one of the top 50 universities nationally in UK’s top universities 2015/16. It is made up of 5 schools, namely:

1.      Cass Business School
2.      School of Arts and Social Sciences
3.      School of Health Sciences
4.      School of Mathematics, Computer Science & Engineering
5.      The City Law School

City University is located in Central London, within close proximity to the UK’s global business and finance centre, Tech City and much more! This closeness provides City’s students with greater opportunities at securing high-quality placement and internship opportunities as well as school visits from leading professionals.

School’s Main Website | International / Exchange Student Website | CASS Business School’s website

Pre-arrival guide for International students and the International Students’ guide are available.

City’s International office can be contacted through this email!

Academics

The City University London offers 2 ways in which International students can study in London.

1. Partnership Exchange Programme that offers International students from partner universities an opportunity that allows them to study alongside existing students for limited time period.

2. Study Abroad Programme that requires students to stay for either a semester (6 months) or a full academic year enabling them flexibility for choice of courses

For more information on the above, click here!

Language of instruction:

English

GPA requirement:

Entry requirements vary between courses and programmes.

Partnership Exchange Programme
To be eligible for Exchange Programmes at City University, no minimum GPA requirement is needed. However, students must ensure that they are proficient in English reading, writing and speaking (i.e. IELTS 6.5 or equivalent). Some courses such as “Journalism and Business”, requires a minimum of IELTS 7 so take note! TOEFL certificates are not accepted. Students have to also be nominated by their home institution before being eligible for exchanges at City University London.

More information on signing up for City’s Exchange Programmes here!

Study Abroad Programme
City University London’s Study Abroad Programme requires students to have a minimum B grade or equivalent. Students from USA or from the US System should have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. On top of that, students are required to provide evidence of English language proficiency of at least IELTS 6.5 or equivalent.

More information on signing up for City’s Study Abroad Programme can be found here!

Do note the following Study Abroad application deadlines:

 Autumn Semester/Full Year (September 2016 start)

31 May 2016

 Spring Semester (January 2017 start)

30 October 2016

Late applications will be considered but not advisable as accommodations and some courses may already be unavailable.

Courses:

Partnership Exchange Programme
The list of courses provided for International students are only released upon arrival at City University London, same goes for courses registration processes. Nonetheless, you can click here to familiarize yourself with the full range of courses offered by City University London.

Depending on your area of study, a variety of teaching methods such as seminars, lectures and private study time can be expected.

More information on City’s Partnership Exchange Programme can be found here!

Study Abroad Programme
The list of subject areas available for international students are: “Actuarial Science”, “Business, Finance and Management”, “Computing”, “Cultural and Creative Industries”, “Economics”, “Engineering”, “Journalism”, “Languages”, “London and the UK”, “Mathematics”, “Music”, “Politics”, “Psychology”, “Sociology (including criminology and media studies)” as well as “Speech and Language Therapy”.

More information can be found here!

Flying Chalks’ Tip: Do note that if your English language proficiency does not meet the programmes’ criteria, you may register for preparatory programmes. More information here!

Besides academics, International students are also required to provide proof that they have sufficient funding to cover both living expenses and tuition fees. Should you meet difficulties at meeting your tuition fees, you can apply for scholarships at City University or other external scholarship schemes such as Chevening Scholarship and Commonweatlh Scholarship! More information on their guide here, page 13.

Amongst the 5 schools that City University is made of, CASS Business School is among the qualified global elites of business schools by Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the European Quality Improvement System (EQUIS) and the Association of MBAs (AMBA), ranking top 30% in the overall and top 10%, regionally (based on The Economist).

Course registration process:

Partnership Exchange Programme
After arriving at City University London, during the orientation programme, before course commencement, students will be tasked with a simple 2-step registration process involving applications for modules of interest. An email will be sent to students approximately 2 weeks after, to notify them of confirmation/ acceptance of the courses they will be enrolling in.

Flying Chalks’ Tip: As you get to customize your timetable, pick your modules wisely such that you’ll have long weekends for short trips!

Study Abroad Programme
Students are required to drop an email to City University London to obtain an application form regardless of where they are applying from, be it directly to City or through an individual home school agreement.

More information here!

Attendance policy:

For an almost-complete list of City’s policies, click here!

Flying Chalks’ Tip: Some seniors commented that out of 5 modules taken, only 1 professor took note of attendances.

My Campus

Campus map:

City University London’s campus map can be found here!

Facilities:

Being situated in one of the world’s most exciting and global cities, without doubt, there is more to City University London than its lecture theatres, laboratories and studios. City’s students are exposed to an abundance of facilities even outside of campus.

Apart from state-of-the art Computer Labs, Library, Study Corners and Laboratory facilities offered by City University, the following facilities can also be found in City campus:

IT Service Centre
City University’s IT Service Centre provide its students with 24-hour expert help and advice regarding issues stretching from device configuring, internet connections to providing computer workstations.

Sports and Leisure
CitySport, City University’s newly built sports centre and gym on Goswell Road spans across 3,000m² providing remarkable equipment and facilities for City members as well as the local community. Not only does CitySport provide equipment for daily sports such as court games, it also has purpose-built-studios, gym and an area that holds strength and conditioning.

Disability Services
City University employs a team of specialists to ensure that the special needs of disabled students are met. City’s disability services contacts can be reach via the following methods: telephone on +44 (0)20 7040 0246; fax +44 (0)20 7040 3070; textphone +44 (0)20 7040 5080 and email disability@city.ac.uk.

On top of that, City University’s Student Centre assists students, both current and prospective, in various aspects.

The City Law School Library (Northampton Square)
There are two law libraries within The City Law School; one located in the Innovation Centre, Northampton Square and another at Gray’s Inn Place. Within the library, students are able to gain access to Group Study rooms, Lawbore Lab, Photocopying and printing services. More information can be found here!

More information on City’s library services can be found here!

Food on campus:

Located in the heart of one of the most exciting places to live, students of City University are able to gain access to a variety of food and activities ranging from shops, cafes and restaurants to museums and arts galleries; night clubs to cityscapes and iconic landmarks.

Rhind Building:

Social Kitchen
Social Kitchen is located on the ground floor of Rhind Building, perfect for catching up with friends over coffee and/or snack. You can choose to pair their range of freshly prepared sandwiches and refreshments with speciality teas or triple-certified Aspretto Coffee here on weekdays, 9AM to 5PM (Closes at 5:30PM).

CASS Business School:

1. The Café

2. The Hub Restaurant

College Building:

College Building Café (Baxter’s)
Located on the ground floor of City’s College Building, you can find a range of croissants and muffins amongst the nutty coffee aroma during breakfast hours as well as homemade cakes during the afternoon hours. Fresh fruits, yoghurt and salads can be found here as well! They are open from 8AM to 4PM on weekdays.

University Building:

1. City Shop
Open from 8AM to 8PM on weekdays and located on the first floor of the University Building, City Shop provides quick grab-and-go’s such as pies, pastries and wraps. On top of that, a Costa Coffee machine is located right next to the store should you need a quick caffeine fix!

2. Costa Coffee
Costa coffee fills the main walkway of the University Building with its freshly made coffee from Mondays (8AM-8PM) to Saturdays (9AM-3PM). For our friends who require special dietary requirements such as Gluten-Free, Kosher or Halal, Costa Coffee has a separate fridge serving sandwiches that meet such requirements!

3. The Refectory
On the main walkway of University Building is also The Refectory which serves a range of hot and cold food. Similar to Singapore’s  “Coffee shop”/”Hawker Centre”, it houses 5 stalls serving Mix-and-Match salads (11AM-230PM daily), around-the-world street food, British Classics, Pizzas and Halal Chicken (Yardbird Chicken).

YardBird Chicken has an award-winning menu concept that is often described as the best.

4. The Hive
The Hive is the staff restaurant located in City University London. Expect Aspretto Coffee, freshly baked pastries, breakfast selections, hot jacket potatoes and homemade soup from 8AM.

Apart from the above, a number of restaurants, cafes and Grab-an-goes can be found around campus! More information here!

Campus transportation:

Getting around City University can be done by walking or cycling. Within campus, there are secure spots to park your own bikes or simply hire them at cheap rates for short journeys!

More information can be found here!

Student Life

City University is so much more than just books, exams and qualifications. It houses one of the most vibrant student life experiences both within and external to class rooms. Ranging from career, leadership and skills development courses, internship, global learning, summer abroad programmes to clubs, communities and student councils.

Do visit the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) for advice if you require!

Orientation program:

To help you ease into the new environment, on the first week of the school term, you will be welcomed by the school with an induction programme that will expose you to useful information such as banking details, school conducts, classroom venue and other administrative matters. On top of that, you will get to meet students whom you will be forming groups for projects with.

The orientation programme will span across a few days before closing with a wine and cheese event.

Buddy Programme:

CityBuddies is a society that matches current students with local undergraduates to help them ease into the new environment! You can apply for buddies through the link above!

Apart from the above, the UK has a National Union of Students (NUS) available for you to approach should you need help!

Student clubs:

1. Students Union
At City University, the Students’ Union is controlled by the student council who are elected by the students themselves. The roles of the officers in the student councils are to ensure that they meet your needs! As such, they are also the ones who oversee most of the clubs, societies and activities taking place around school.

The full list of student societies can be found here!

Flying Chalks Tip: Students from Singapore will be introduced to the close-knitted community of full-Time Singaporean students from the Singapore Society Club where they will be able to connect and offer support should you require. On top of that, the Singapore Society Club will also invite Singaporean exchange students to events such as festive and appreciation dinners or even simple outings around London!

2. Cass Business School clubs and Societies
Students are offered an opportunity to meet and network informally with academics and professionals from across the financial worlds. On top of that, Cass clubs and societies encourage sport and leisure activities. The full list of Cass clubs and societies can be found here!

University events:

City University holds an array of events ranging from public lectures and seminars to open days, concerts, and alumni events. Visit City University’s event calendar or Cass Business events calendar today!

[Help us improve on this section!]

Surrounding Environment

City University London is located in Islington in central London, within close proximity to central substations, Angel, Clerkenwell, Shoreditch and just minutes away from the city’s financial district. The location gives students access to a diverse range of entertainment, shops and departmental stores

The nearest substations (Tube) to City University main campus and CASS Business School are Angel and Barbican respectively. The nearest train stations (Rail) are Old Street, Moorgate and Farringdon.

Click here for more tips on exploring the UK as well as get your student starter pack now!

For Food:

From takeaway options to restaurants serving the best foods, London has it all.

Flying Chalks’ recommendation:

  • Visit St. John Street for more food choices ranging from cafes to restaurants. Along Goswell Road sits Kennedys Fish and Chips that serves excellent Fish and Chips! In case you’re missing the taste of Asian Food, there is a Vietnamese eatery, Pho, (Opens at 12nn daily. Closed on Sundays and between 3pm-6pm daily) on 86 St. John Street!
  • There is a restaurant called Sedap, located at Old Street that serves dishes similar to that of Singapore’s standard. Although it’s a little pricey that is as close as you can get for Singaporean food.
  • Exmouth Market is a 5 minute walk from London’s Sadler’s Wells Theatre. This area is bustling, with an abundance of independent stores ranging from design, fashion and lifestyle to health and beauty; unique gifts and books to exciting cafes, restaurants and bars.
  • Whitecross Street Market, a foodie pilgrimage as we would call, offers an array of food stuff, from Vegetarian, Pulses & Falafels to exotic meat burgers (in Tuckers Big 5) such as Ostrich, Buffalo, Zebra etc. Not forgetting that Jamie Oliver's - Fifteen is a short walk away. On Thursdays and Fridays weekly, the general Whitecross Street Market extends to a larger food market.
    • Visit The Two Brewers Pub and enjoy your market hauls! (Yes, they allow you to eat in there as long as you purchase a drink!)
    • General Market: Monday - Friday 10am - 4pm
      Special Food Market: Every Thursday & Friday, 11am - 4pm
    • How to get there: Tube station: Barbican, Moorgate or Old Street.

Do note however, that most stalls start packing up by 2PM. Hence, be sure to head down earlier and do visit other wonderful markets such as the legendary Borough Market, Leadenhall Market in London as well!

Flying Chalks’ Tip: Download Studentbeans and Toptable on your mobile to enjoy student discounts and cheap dining!
For Asian cuisines, you can literally find them everywhere around London while Chinese supermarkets and cuisines (or anything Chinese) can be found in Chinatown.

For nightlife and entertainment:

1. CityBar
Within City campus lies, the newly refurbished CityBar that offers a comprehensive drink selection ranging from draft and spirits to minerals and soft drinks. If you are not up for alcoholic beverages, barista-styled Aspretto coffee can also be found here.

2. XOYO
Located on Cowper St, London EC2A 4AP, United Kingdom, XOYO is the hip Shoreditch club for DJs and Live music. Nearest train station: Old Street Train Station

3. Cargo
The place where the sun never sets and the fun never ends. At times, gigs performed by students from other universities are held here as well.

Address: 83 Rivington Street, London, United Kingdom, EC2A 3AY

The closest Underground Stations: Shoreditch High Street Station, Old Street Station or Liverpool Street Station

Bus options are 26, 35, 47, 48, 67, 78, 149, 242 to Shoreditch High Street.
From Liverpool Street Station: Walk North from Liverpool Street Station and turn left to Rivington Street
From Old Street Station: Exit 1 towards Great Eastern Street

Apart from the above, visit Soho, where most the clubs and pubs are nestled in. Beers in pubs generally cost £3-£4 (SGD 9) per bottle while entrances to established clubs usually cost about £20 (SGD40).

4. Fabric (Closer to CASS Business School)
City University is also located near the famous night club, Fabric that holds live music by several familiar names.

Farbric is located at 77a Charterhouse Street, London, EC1M 6HJ.
Nearest Train (Rail) station: Farringdon Station
Nearest substation (Tube): Barbican

5. O2 Academy Islington (Closer to City University Main campus)
O2 Academy Islington is a venue that host events ranging from clubs, live music and comedy.

It is located at Angel Central, London.
Nearest substation (Tube): Angel, Highbury, Islington and King’s Cross St. Pancras.

Flying Chalks’ recommendation:
If you are the kind to avoid parties, immerse yourself in London’s extravagant art scene! Visit museums, catch musicals, visit galleries or even admire London’s architectural differences. Most museums in London are free! The Book of Mormons Musical is the one to catch, if available! There’s a Museum located right outside City University London, on St. John Street! Visit this webpage to purchase discounted tickets!

Otherwise, check out some free things to do in London or click here for more information! Here are a list of uncommon sights in London!

For daily necessities and groceries:

Tesco and Sainsbury are the to-go supermarkets for groceries! If you have time, visit the Farmers’ Markets (Exmouth Market or Whitecross Street Market) around the area for even cheaper fresh produce! Two of the cheapest places to buy homeware would be Argos or Primark.​

Flying Chalks’ recommendations:

  • Exmouth Market is a 2 minute walk from London’s Sadler’s Wells Theatre. This area is bustling, with an abundance of independent stores ranging from design, fashion and lifestyle to health and beauty; unique gifts and books to exciting cafes, restaurants and bars.
  • Whitecross Street Market, a foodie pilgrimage as we would call, offers an array of food stuff, from Vegetarian, Pulses & Falafels to exotic meat burgers (in Tuckers Big 5) such as Ostrich, Buffalo, Zebra etc. Not forgetting that Jamie Oliver's - Fifteen is a short walk away. On Thursdays and Fridays weekly, the general Whitecross Street Market extends to a larger food market.
  • Tesco Metro can be found located on St. John Street and Aldersgate Street.
  • As CASS Business School is located on Bunhill Row, the closest store to purchase groceries is Tesco Express located 24 Chiswell St, and Waitrose that is located in Cheery Tree Walk Centre, White Cross St.

For shopping:

Expect to experience the most takeaways in London, with a mix of history and culture to arts and entertainment. From areas like Chinatown, Nigerian community in South London, to the “Little India” in Southall, there is always something different to look out for. Click here to read more!

Visit both Clerkenwell and Shoreditch where boutique and designer stores are peppered at. Also, Convent Garden, Oxford Street and Carnaby Street house, reachable in a short bus or tube ride.

Flying Chalks’ recommendations:

  • Oxford Street is approximately 45 minutes’ walk away from campus.
  • Do visit Primark as well, for shopping.
  • Bicester Village is also another destination if you are into branded merchandises, discounts and do not mind last season pieces. However, it is not recommended that you visit on weekends.
Accessibility

Getting to campus:

Most international flights from Asia will land at either Heathrow or Gatwick airport. Both of them are about 1-hour away from central London. Here are a few options to get into London:

1. Rail / Tube:

Getting from Heathrow Airport to City University London (Main Campus):
Heathrow Airport Terminal 2 to 5 is on the London Underground system (Tube), on Piccadilly Line. The station Underground station nearest to the University (Main Campus) is the Angel Station (Northern Line) while the station closest to CASS Business School is Barbican station (Circle, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan Line).

After which the campuses will be within a 10-15 minute’s walk away.

Getting from Gatwick/ Luton Airport to City University London (Main Campus):
You can take the Thameslink train service (Rail) that connects Gatwick and Luton airports directly to Farringdon Station that is also available on London Tube (
CircleHammersmith & City and Metropolitan Line). The frequency of the trains is 30minutes and the journey takes about 45minutes.

Getting from London City Airport to City University London (Main Campus):  
London City Airport is on the London Tube system (DLR). Take the DLR to Bank Station and transfer to the Northern Line towards Angel Station.

Getting to CASS Business School: From Moorgate station, you can choose to continue on the CircleHammersmith & City and Metropolitan Line towards Barbican Station.

Alternatively, you can take the Express Coach that runs from Liverpool Street Sation.

Getting from Stansted Airport to City University London (Main Campus):
You can take the Stansted Express from Stansted Airport to Liverpool Street Station (Central,
CircleHammersmith & City and Metropolitan Line)

Interactive Map | PDF version of London’s Underground Substations |Plan Your Journey (You can also check what buses are available nearby)!

Flying Chalks' Tip: Do note that not all tube stations are equipped with elevators or escalators. There is a likelihood that you will end up struggling to carry your baggage up many flights of steps while trying to beat the crowds inside the station! Hence this method is not advisable if you are arriving with big pieces of luggage!

2. Bus
To find out what buses go where or what buses you can catch around the area, you can use the interactive transport map for London! There is also a handy app, London Bus, to use for this! On top of that, do visit City University’s guide for printable local bus maps to plan your journey to City.

Apart from the above, you can take the Taxi or Uber your way to City campus!

3. Private cab
Book a private hire car (from companies such as BA Transfer or Addison Lee) to pick you up from the airport to the university hall or any pre-arranged destination for a fixed price. The estimated cost of a trip from Heathrow airport to central London in a private car for four people would be about £40.

4. Taxi
Taxi fares will set you back anywhere from £45 to £70 depending on the distance between the airport and your final destination.

Flying Chalks' Tip: Booking a private cab would be the most recommended if you are arriving into London with friends, and would be bringing many pieces of heavy luggage.

5. Heathrow Express/Gatwick Express
Both services are the fastest option of getting into central London. Heathrow Express takes 15mins to travel from Heathrow airport to Kings Cross station for £16.50 if booked online in advance. Gatwick Express takes 30mins to travel from Gatwick airport to Victoria station for £17.80. However, you will still need to change to another mode of transport from Kings Cross or Victoria station to reach your final destination, so it might turn out to be more troublesome and expensive than other alternatives.

6. Thameslink Express
For those arriving at Gatwick airport, the Thameslink Express is a cheaper but lesser known option than the Gatwick Express. The train stops at St. Pancras International as well as London Bridge underground station, which is perfect if your residence is around the Kings Cross/Euston area or near London Bridge/Bermondsey.

By
2016-09-23 20:31:59
I’ve had an amazing exchange experience. London is a city with a little of something for everyone. Even after spending a few months there, I feel like it has so much more to offer that I have not yet experienced. There are so many things to do, be it visiting museums, catching a musical or watching a football game. The apps Studentbeans and Toptable also offer cheap dining and student discounts, and are useful to download! During class time, the local students preferred to work among themselves, so there was limited interaction with them. There is a Singapore Society club in City University made up of full-time students from Singapore. They organise events, and exchange students are also welcome to join.
By
2016-09-21 21:09:25
For City University, university accommodations are only available on 6-month leases, which aren’t very practical for exchange students. Myself and two other exchange students rented an accommodation on Airbnb that we thought was within walking distance to the school. The apartment was fully furnished and our landlord even helped us buy additional things that we needed, like a rice cooker. However, we didn’t realise that classes were conducted in the Northhampton Square campus (City University main campus) rather than the Cass campus, so our 20-minute walk turned into a 40-minute walk to school. Some other students also managed to find cheaper alternatives such as student hostels.
By Matilde Bonaccorsi
2016-08-29 17:54:44
What makes CASS unique is its multiculturalism: students come from all over the world. Furthermore, CASS undergraduates attend classes in City University's buildings: this allows them to meet and mix with people studying complete different degrees. The university's central location makes it easy to reach London's best landmarks and financial centre. Moreover, there is a lot of events going on throughout the year. Most of them involve speakers from global companies giving valuable insights on specific industries.