Overall score

I've chosen this course to broaden and deepen my knowledge in literature and literary theory, to experience the studies abroad, in a multicultural uni and surroundings and to enhance my perspectives for getting a nice job. It was a great pleasure and honour to be accepted to study at the 4th uni in the world. But the actual life hire is, on all levels, very chalenging. The course is (1) exciting, but extremely (2) demanding and, from the perspective of an overseas student (3) very expensive. This course runs for one year full time, and two years part time, and I would strongly recommend to everybody, especially to students comming from the university background different than UK, to take the part-time option. However, visa students are not allowed to take the part time course, which is a pitty.

Study experience

The course itself is a bit hectic, with enormously big amount of the coursework (for example, I had to write about 32,000 words for the various coursework - essays etc. during the year plus the 15, 000 words for the dissertation during the summer) The good thing is that the course covers many fields, theories, approaches, but the bad thing however is that you might get lost in this schizophrenic conglomerate of doctrines and demands. The other good thing is that, although it is a taught course, you have the opportunity to focus on your own interests, and this opportunity is strongly encouraged by the teachers. The lectures were mainly 'very academic' i.e. with not much space for the debate and discussions. The seminars with the course faciliators (usually phd students) were however amazing, and it is A+ for them. Some of the lectures were breathtakingly brilliant, and others were rather boring, but I guess it largely depends on your own preferences within the field. Financial support for the international students is barely available. I suggest applying for the uni as early as possible (january/february) in order to be elligible to apply for the scholarshisps available for international/overseas students. Once you enroll the uni, it is impossible (or extremely difficult) to get the financial help if you're not domestic/eu student. The UK bank loans are not available for the visa-students. I funded my course by myself with the crucial help of my family: personal and bank loans of my parents secured the paying of the fees, but it was very difficult to raise all the money, due to the high amount of the fees and no other financial facilities for the international students, and of course due to the fact that my family is not rich. Plus I had to work part time to pay the rent and the food, and I do not recomend at all working part time and studying full time at the institution such as UCL. I thought that I had super powers of managing everything, but my academic performance was inevitably affected. So if you are PG at a big institution such as UCL, if possible focus on your studies only, please!

Facilities

The library is lovely and in May it was open 24hours, which I found very convenient. I would be happy if l ibrary had this opening hours during the whole year. I would give the 5 stars to the IT facilities, but please bare in mind that the previous uni I attendend didn't have ANY computers for students, so UCL in a way was a space ship for me.

Postgraduate life

London is a vibrant city and having the uni in the heart of London is a blessing. Personally, I could never study in an 'isolated', solely student areas, such as Cambridge, Oxford etc. The problem with London is however that it offers too much, so you might easily neglect your studies, unless you are perfectly organized Friends that I met on the uni I consider the bigest and life-lasting capital. Meeting all this wonderful people from so many different countries is absolutely the best thing that happened to me this year. If you want to get t uni's acoomodation, the early application is crucial. I have used the serveces of the London housing which are available to all students of the University of London. I have found a beautiful and affordable place and I would always recomend LHS.

Job prospects

I still do not know, since I am currently applying for the internships and work placements. It is more difficult for international students to find a job anyhow, because of the very competitive graduate market and the visa issues they are facing, but I would give 5 stars to the UCL career services and outher career focused departments. All people that work for these departments are very friendly, supportive and helpful.

This review is the subjective opinion of a postgraduatesearch.com reviewer and not of postgraduatesearch.com.

Overall score

Terrible, expensive and bolted onto a business school for IWT who can't get into ivy league but have loads and I mean loads of money. I have never seen so many designer clothes or bag! All the very good staff have left and the Head of department has been there less than five years. I'm sure it was great once but it is no longer. Run out of Regent's College London, validated by UoW.

Study experience

Very poor standards vary wildly, foundation course is excellent and fools you into believing the MA might be similar, very very wrong

Facilities

Terrible, library is overcrowded, eating, drinking, talking on the phone is not discourage, books all have pen marks in them. there is a post grad room in the basement but the basement is vile so no one goes there

Postgraduate life

No no no no no amazing spot in the middle of Regents Park, but that is it.

Job prospects

Placements are a nightmare, placement officer doesn't seem to do anything at all and Regent's college will not let us speak with other graduates, I wonder why.

This review is the subjective opinion of a postgraduatesearch.com reviewer and not of postgraduatesearch.com.

Overall score

I thoroughly enjoyed studying at St Mary's, Twickenham. The quality of the course is really first rate, aided by the fact that all staff are passionate about what they teach and are engaged with pertinent bioethics issues. The course is ideally suited for those who have been interested in bioethics for a while as well as for those who may have only recently had their interest level piqued. The flexible approach to study (full-time or part-time with the option of distance learning) adds further to the course's attractiveness, making it a real and viable option alongside full-time employment.

Study experience

The quality of the course material is strong with a good mix of contemporary material as well as more established texts and resources. The support and tuition by members of staff is really good and there is a genuine sense that staff want students to learn and grow in their understanding. The use of guest lecturers is also very good further aiding the learning process by providing engagement with leading specialists in the field. Not only does the online study environment provide a meaningful and excellent way for distance learners to engage in the course but also provides a stimulating environment in which discussion of key bioethics questions can take place and flourish. Given the comments above the course is very good value for money!

Facilities

The standard of teaching was superb supported by excellent and well produced module resources. The library at St Mary's provides access to a good range of key texts in bioethics but is relatively small. However the library is part of Sconul and other inter-library loan systems and bioethics students can also access other private bioethics collections which the university has connections with. This is helpful not only in terms of expanding the range of resources on offer but also for long distance students who may not be able to call into the library so readily. The library staff at St Mary's are among some of the most helpful, diligent and supportive that I have come across. Nothing is too much trouble! IT support and resources are also very good and modern.

Postgraduate life

The course provides an excellent forum in which to connect with people who have similar interests. This helps to create an experience conduicive to learning and growth. Alongside this there is also good opportunity to mix socially and form lasting friendships. Most of the bioethics postgrad students do not live on site but travel in.

Job prospects

Aside from equipping you with the keys to engage with pertinent bioethics issues of the day, the course allows you to develop a variety of skills. These include verbal reasoning and the ability to undertake synthesis of information or ideas and create responses to problems as well as evaluate alternative approaches and articulate justifications for such evaluations. This in turn allows you to develop robust skills in writing for a variety of audiences and communicating key and sometimes complex ideas effectively. This is especially so in terms of writing the dissertation. Growing in ethical reasoning and analysis allows you to be able to reach ethical conclusions, grounded on sound and justifiable reasoning. Given the interdisciplinary nature of many of the issues within the field of bioethics, you also develop skills in being able to use and analyse various research and study techniques and identify and interpret technical medical and legal language.

This review is the subjective opinion of a postgraduatesearch.com reviewer and not of postgraduatesearch.com.