Postgraduate Reviews of Courses at UCL (University College London)

AVOID UCL read full review

I love all the student deals. However, I feel like many of the student activity processes could be streamlined as it seems so overwhelming as a foreigner/first-year.
Like, having to book a ticket, but then still waiting in line or an event being overbooked via ticketing that people are dissuaded to come. Then, when the event takes place, the ticket holders don’t even come. read full review

Almost no student life, dismissive staff, uninterested educators read full review

My overall experience at UCL has been mixed. While the university benefits from a strong reputation and a central London location, the day-to-day experience is affected by a number of structural and organisational issues that often made studying here more frustrating than it needed to be.

Administration is inconsistent. A simple assignment delay request (sickness) took forever, and I ended up doing most of my assignments in that period while under heavy duress; the personal tutor system is conceptually strong, but not especially helpful in practice, with very little interaction (even though my tutor was great). Course leadership is largely invisible, and module coordination often feels siloed. Feedback delays were common, assignment briefs were often super vague, and expectations sometimes unclear. Timetabling was also frustrating (e.g. a single lecture at 9am followed by another at 4pm, with nothing in between).

The campus is functional, though it feels more like a corridor network than a cohesive space. Some lecture halls are a solid 15-minute walk from the main campus. Study space is limited; the computer science section of the library could use an upgrade (some of the textbooks feel like artefacts, and several important titles are missing entirely). The Waterstones Café nearby is a highlight, although pricey.

I didn’t engage much with the SU or broader student life, so I can’t really comment on that; from what I saw, it wasn’t especially visible in the postgraduate context.

Overall, there’s a sense that UCL rests on its historical and academic prestige without fully delivering a smooth or well-supported student experience. With more investment in facilities, timetabling, and academic coordination, it could offer much more.
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Whilst there, the main building was a construction site for the entire year. Construction workers were constantly drilling and hammering during seminars, and whilst the tutors complained, nothing was done to prevent this and it continued throughout the year.

Communication from the university is extremely poor, very little information was given to applicants prior to the course, people with conditional offers were constantly chasing up admissions to no avail.

Quality of teaching was mixed, some was great, others asked us to preorder their book in our first session (then gave us 5 minutes to do so). Guidance was poor, which they took our feedback on only to provide the exact same guidance for the next year's students. They have no idea how to help with Visa laws for international students, despite taking as many international students as they can, for the increased fees.

Every time I tried to reach the mental health support, no one was there, with no message left.

Graduation dates were released 4 months before graduation, making it extremely hard for working parents and international parents to attend. On top of this there is a £35 per guest charge (no attendees free with student ticket) and gown hire takes this over £100 for just 2 guests.

My whole experience at UCL was marred with admin, communication and simple planning issues. I would not recommend it to anyone.

I had a significantly more enjoyable undergraduate experience at a supposedly worse university, and would avoid UCL like the plague if given the opportunity.
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The location, diversity of student population and the ease with which international students can apply and be accepted read full review

The course was completely over-enrolled meaning we did not get attention from professors and we weren't able to enroll in all of the modules that are promised on the website. It is also very theory based and not practical - I didn't feel prepared at all when it came time for my dissertation. The advisors are not allowed to help us for very long, so you are mostly left alone for your dissertation. I would not recommend. read full review

Lack of preparation for pertinent skills in teaching; esp. behaviour management, employment law and employment rights, union advice.

Dogma and irrelevant theory is plugged rather than practical skills to ready students for a career in a tricky field of work.

Unpaid PGCE placements can often be horrendous and punitive for many enrolled on the course. Financial worries can pose an issue meaning SCITT is more viable. read full review

Best is the people and the quality of the education, worst has to deal with who runs UCL, administration has quite a few dirtbags. Facilitates aren't the greatest. I prefer more of a traditional campus feel and prefer KCL and LSE campus. Still considering coming back to UCL to apply for a LLM, alongside the other London unis, and maybe throw my shot at oxbridge. read full review

A lot of multi-tasking involved read full review