Reviewed on Jan 28, 2025(Enrolled 2023)
What Students Say
Likes
- Student population is quite diverse
- Location being close to London helps with socializing
- Teachers have practical approach towards teaching which is quite helpful
Dislikes
- Cost of living is quite high
- As they have multiple small campuses, it feels crowded sometimes
- Some administrative issues like admission processes were frustrating
Course Curriculum
6
- The course was moderately difficult. It had a mixture of theory, practical, and written exams. Out of it, the majority was based on the written exam at the end of the semester, while practicals and assignments had about 40-50 percent weightage.
- The positive aspect was the practical experience and the negative aspect was that it was based on a written exam.
Admission Experience
-
I applied to 2 universities viz. Kingston university , Queens university and Kings college London. I was accepted at Kingston University and Queens University (Queens university offered a scholarship as well)
I was rejected from Kings College because I was too late to apply as their course start dates were different and I was facing some issues with my visa at that point. -
I chose Kingston University because it had modules that aligned well with my career goals. The application process was pretty straightforward. Apply through the portal along with all the required documents, and then I received an unconditional offer from the university. After accepting that offer, I had an interview with the university officials. Once that was cleared, I got my visa and medical documents and sent those to Uni. After that, I received CAS, and that was it.
I had to appear for IELTS. They had a lower limit of 6 bands in IELTS.
As I mentioned earlier, it was quite simple. I had no issues whatsoever. - I applied for the September intake. All the people I spoke to and had contacted prior to applying to universities had told me that September is the major intake and it gives you the best student experience. Also, the September intake had a placement option as well. The admissions process starts with the application, receiving the offer letter, doing the medical testing and the visa interview and CAS interview taken by Uni officials.
Class Schedule
6
- I had classes 2 days a week. Each day I had 2 lectures of 2 hours each and a practical of 3-4 hours.
- 50-60 students were in the class. The number of Indian students was quite high.
Faculty
6
- The faculty-to-student ratio was not quite good, as there were too many students. But teachers tried their best to help all the students. Teaching methodology was decent enough. I was taught with a combination of video and practical in-lab approaches. It was sufficient for me to get a job.
- Teachers do not help securing a part-time job.
- My module leader, Dr. Stephen Barton, is who I admire the most, as he was incredibly knowledgeable and he was very nice to all of his students
Campus Life
4
- My university had 4 campuses. Pehnryn Road Campus, Kingston Hill Campus, Roehampton Vale Campus, and Knights Park Campus.
- Each campus had a library and medical services, with Pehnryn Road having the biggest library.
- There were not any major events or festivals. Only a few small social events.
- Student uni arranged social mixers.
- There were cricket and football games on the weekends
Part Time Jobs
- Out of the people that I know, nobody received a job as TA/RA or DA. Those jobs usually pay a bit more than the minimum wage which varies each year. (Minimum wage was 11.40 pounds per hour when I was studying.)
- There are a few more jobs available on campus, like in the cafes, in the student union and in the library.
- On my student visa, I was allowed to work 20 hours a week.
- Securing a part-time job was not very easy as they were looking for full-time workers.
- Part-time jobs will almost always offer you the minimum wage, which is what I was earning. Getting part-time jobs depends on your employment history and connections.
- If you have a referral for any part-time job, it is easier to secure a job. Otherwise, it can become quite hard. A part-time job also takes the same process as a graduate job.
- Look for a job on apps like Indeed; apply; if your CV gets shortlisted, you get an interview; if you pass that, you receive an offer letter. Students should try to find a referral.
Placement
4
- I, myself, finished my degree around 1.5 months ago so I cannot speak for securing employment within 6 months. But few of the students have secured a job placement through the program. The salary is not very good. It is around 25000-30000 pounds per annum.
- There is no campus recruitment at my university, at least for my course. In terms of placements, they do arrange workshops to prepare the students.
- Companies like Novartis and GSK have employed graduates from my university.
Accommodation
Off Campus
4
- I opted for student accommodation. I went through a few online platforms and Facebook. The rent was 750 pounds a month, which included all bills (electricity, water) and a gym.
- Finding accommodation fitting in my budget was quite difficult, but I eventually figured it out.
- I would suggest if a student is coming with friends, look for a flat and stay there instead of student accommodation. They are too small and very expensive.
- I lived 10 minute walking distance from the university campus
Exams
- I only had to take one exam, which was IELTS.
- The documents required were a statement of purpose, two letters of recommendation, and a CV.
- There was an interview in which the interviewer asked me questions about the university in quite detail, and they checked my command over the spoken English.
- If I had not performed as per their expectations, whether for knowledge or my spoken English, they wouldn't have let me join the Uni.
Fees
- My fee was 15800 Pounds for one one-year master's degree (which has increased now).
- It is charged annually or in installments as per your convenience
- My monthly cost of living was around $900. The rent was 750 pounds for a student accommodation, groceries were around 50-70 pounds (being very cautious with money), and I had very few transportation expenses as I lived 10 minutes from university, but usually it is around 30-40 pounds
Scholarship
- Unfortunately, I did not receive any scholarships. But there were a few scholarships (I was only eligible for the international student scholarship), and I had to submit a video application stating who I am and why I deserved the scholarship.
- The scholarship was worth 5000 pounds. One of my closest friends received that scholarship.
- The number of students receiving the scholarships each year depends on the available funding. When I joined the university, around 20 people received various scholarships that I know of.
