Life in KCL

LIFE IN KCL

How confident are you about going to uni?

This is an introduction to life in KCL, based on our 1st year experiences and what we think you should know beforehand :)

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CREATING A FORMULA

A drop of reviewing your knowledge

A period of studying

A sprinkle of free time

A dash of extra-curricular activities

at the end of it, you would've created your own formula for a work-life balance

MY UNIVERSITY LIFE

SLEEP

WORK

HOBBIES

EXTRA CURRICULARS

TRAVEL

FRIENDS

YOUR 2020/21 COMMITTEE MEMBERS

YOUR SCHEDULE

01

Unlike high school, you won’t have to wake up at 6 am to go to uni! WOOOO more sleep!!

• the earliest class starts at 9am! However, there is no official ‘last class’ time. This means some may finish at 5pm, others even later

• Wednesdays are half-days, mainly to accommodate practices for sports societies!
• This means uni should end by 1pm, but there are times where e.g practicals/workshops end later than this.

• Lectures, tutorials and workshops can last from 1 – 2/3 hours each, and may not necessarily be held on the same campus (majority are, but there are a few exceptions).

PRO TIP: do not let you work accumulate, spread it out and you will be able to make time to do your own activities!

EXTRA-CURRICULARS/SOCIETIES

02

With over 100 different extra curricular activities, you’ll probably find one that catches your eye!

From cultural societies, sports, arts and even a foodie society, you may find some new interests or further develop existing ones.

• Go to the society fair hosted by KCLSU!! Not only will you see what societies are on offer, it's freebie galore!!

PRO TIP: sign up for any society that catches your interest, because you’ll be able to filter and decide which ones you’ll want to dedicate your time to over the next few weeks.

FOOD AND DRINK IN KCL

03

Each campus has it’s own café/cafeteria equivalent area: The Shed (Guys), The Shack (Strand) and (Waterloo)

• There are also supermarkets and other take-away places nearby if you prefer to dine off campus.

• KCLSU has 3 bars – the Vault, Philosophy bar and Guy’s bar. These bars host various events throughout the week such as quiz nights, karakoke, and is a popular hangout for Wednesday’s sports nights.

LIBRARIES

04

For those of you looking for a quiet area to study/need to borrow textbooks, each campus is equipped with its own library.

• These are open for 24 hours and you can book study rooms if you’d like a more private space to study or to host group study sessions.

• Printers and computers are also available for you to use.

THE INSIDE SCOOP

FROM OUR CURRENT STUDENTS

"Challenging, but Rewarding."

'This new life experience is challenging but rewarding. You will learn to be more independent, street-smart and proactive because if you want something, you have to take the initiative to fulfil it. This may put you out of your comfort zone, but after a few weeks/months, you’ll get the hang of it! Always remember, we’re all on the same boat so if you’re having doubts, just ask – everyone in KCL (imo) is generally very nice, and will try their best to help you out. There will be some days where you dread going to uni, but I like to remind myself that at the end of the day, I got friends to look forward to and Korean dramas to catch up on heh. So I would say, life in KCL is initially about adjusting and adapting, it’ll be trial and error at the start, but once you’re comfortable you’ll want to make the most out of it.'

"It's a never easy, but enjoyable journey."

'Being in a new country, a strange environment and with no aspects of home, I was honestly terrified yet excited, with a tinge of nervousness. I worried about how I'd manage money, how I'd fit in and make friends, all while taking care of myself and my studies. Looking back now, I realise that I've done all of that and learnt so much. University is a game of trial and error, where you adapt slowly but you have fun whilst doing so. I think have a perception of university is great, but it truly is how you write out your journey. We know that it'll be hard at first but at KCL, we can guarantee we'll have your backs. I have a trusty group of friends I can fall back on and yet learnt that every experience I've had has played a life lesson. Whether it be a failed cooking attempt or not doing so well for an assignment, it's a process you'll relish in and have fond memories of. You'll make friends for life and a journey for decades.'

"Find the balance."

'I had mixed emotions before going to university, but I mainly felt nervous and excited thinking about how life would be living alone, whether I would make any friends and also all the opportunities to gain new experiences. I also had to seriously start thinking about my career aspirations, and how I could achieve it. Although university starts off as a daunting experience, it'll also be one of the best years of your life as long as you can find the balance between having fun and working responsibly. You'll always have something to do after a class and there are plenty of networking opportunities available for those who are more career oriented! Even if there will be some days where you feel homesick, overwhelmed or just dread going to class, just remember to take a step back and take some time off for yourself. But overall, London is a great place to be with all the friends that you'll meet, and the food scene is especially nice.'

YOUR 2020/21 COMMITTEE MEMBERS