The City University

Summary

History 

In 1891 planning began for the Northampton Institute, to be built on what is now the main part of City’s present-day campus. The land was bequeathed by the Marquess of Northampton and the Earl of Compton and generous benefactors included The Worshipful Company of Skinners and the Worshipful Company of Saddlers.

In 1894, the Northampton Institute was founded to “promote the industrial skill, general knowledge, health and well-being” of young men and women belonging to the poorer classes'. The first departments established in the Institute were Mechanical Engineering and Metal Trades, Artistic Crafts for Industry, Applied Physics and Electrical Engineering, Horology, Electro-chemistry and Domestic Economy.

From 1946, the Institute began a period of expansion that would set the stage for its transition into City University London in 1966, when it was granted a Royal Charter. In 2016, City joined the University of London, becoming a self-governing College with a new supplemental Charter.

University Environment

City’s main Northampton Square campus sits between three of London’s most popular districts. Islington offers tantalising dining and shopping options, Shoreditch buzzes with entrepreneurial creativity and lively nightlife, while Clerkenwell is a hub for trend-setting design and cosy bars.

Academics

Schools, Faculties & Departments

Case Business School

• Faculty of Actuarial Science & Insurance
• Faculty of Finance
• Faculty of Management

School of Arts & Social Sciences

• Department of Economics
• Department of English
• Department of International Politics
• Department of Journalism
• Department of Music
• Department of Psychology
• Department of Sociology
• Centre for Language Studies

School of Health Sciences

• Division of Health Services Research & Management
• Division of Language & Communication Science
• Division of Midwifery & Radiography
• Division of Nursing
• Division of Optometry & Visual Sciences

School of Mathematics, Computer Science & Engineering

• Department of Civil Engineering
• Department of Computer Science
• Department of Electrical & Electronic Engineering
• Department of Library & Information Science
• Department of Mathematics
• Department of Mechanical Engineering & Aeronautics

The City Law School

Research

75% of City’s submission to the Research Excellence Framework (REF) in 2014 was rated as being of world-leading (4*) or internationally excellent (3*) quality, while their place in the University of London federation allows them to connect with a wide network of research-intensive universities and international research bodies extending their reach and impact.

International & Industrial Opportunities

Due to its location, City enjoys close links with an extensive network of global academic partners, industry and organisations. These ties allow the University to offer students opportunities to study or work abroad during their degree and exceptional international employment prospects once they graduate from City.

The University currently has 130 partner universities in 29 countries around the world. This means that as part of your degree you may have the option to study abroad for a term or full year.

In addition to the City Exchange programme, there are many other international opportunities open to City students. These include summer schools or language programmes.

There is a range of scholarships and grants available to support your stay abroad, and most partner institutions will have support available for students with disabilities.

Fees & Finance

Scholarships

City, provides a number of scholarships and bursaries to help eligible students meet the cost of studying in the University. Below are some examples available to the UK/home students.

The BMus Performance Scholarship is a merit-based scholarship worth £2,000 available to applicants for the BMus (Hons) Music undergraduate course, and are typically offered to advanced performers beyond Grade-8 level. Scholars are expected to be leaders in their respective fields throughout their BMus studies, and actively contribute to, and enhance, the musical life of the department and the University.

The 1st Formation Business Scholarship is available to undergraduate and postgraduate students to help with some of the additional costs of studying. The scholarship awards up to 10 successful applicants with a bursary of £600 each and will be assessed on a number of different criteria, namely; a demonstrable enthusiasm for studying and pursuing a career in business, as outlined in their 500 word statement; the quality of the academic recommendation and grades provided; and their circumstances and need for further financial support as outlined in their statement.

Bursaries

The City Cares Bursary is for UK/Home undergraduates aged 25 years old or younger, who have experience of being in local authority care, are irreconcilably estranged from their family or have unpaid caring responsibilities, and with a residual household income of £42,611 a year or less as assessed by Student Finance England (SFE). The bursary is £3,500 per progressive academic year, for a maximum of three years.

The Walcot Foundation offers grants to low-income Lambeth residents to assist with the costs of undertaking education and training that has a strong likelihood of leading to work. Beside living in the Lambeth for at least one year, applicants must live in a low-income household (receiving income-based benefits or working and receiving a very low wage), and be aged 18 or over.

Facilities

Learning Facilities

City recently carried out a multi-million-pound refit of their learning spaces, library and IT infrastructure. They provide an integrated learning experience for their students, combining physical and virtual learning spaces for lectures, seminars, tutorials and personal study. Students have access to a breadth of online materials, tools and activities, including their own personal learning spaces and many courses are structured to facilitate flexible learning.

City’s libraries contain more than 240,000 printed titles, augmented by 60,000 e-books and over 90,000 electronic journal subscriptions, on and off campus. In addition to books and access to electronic material, the libraries contain software packages, DVDs, musical scores and CDs. Facilities include around 1,500 individual study spaces, group study rooms, equipment to help you prepare presentations and print and photocopying facilities.

There is a campus-wide wireless network provision enables you to connect to the University’s services from your own devices. You can choose from PC, Mac or Linux computer laboratories with more than 140 different desktop applications.

Cass Business School undergraduate students have access to a Financial Resources Suite, which provides a range of Bloomberg, Thomson Reuters and Morningstar Direct terminals, as well as Bloomberg and Thomson Reuters dealing rooms, where students can gain experience of the highs and lows of simulated trading in a non real-time environment.

For Health Sciences students facilities include simulated hospital wards; optometry laboratories; a dedicated Radiography Clinical Skills Suite, with x-ray units, ultrasound and digital imaging facilities; and an in-house speech and language therapy clinic.

Students in the Department of Journalism have use of extensive facilities, including a television studio, four radio studios, two radio broadcast newsrooms, two digital newsrooms.

Sporting Facilities

CitySport is the largest student sports facility in central London. It is open to students, staff and alumni, as well as the public. Fitted with the latest and most sophisticated fitness equipment across 3,000m2 of floor space, it provides 120+ station gym includes the latest cardiovascular and resistance equipment from Matrix and an extensive range of free weights and functional training rigs.

At the heart of the centre is the Saddlers Sports Hall, an elite, Olympic-standard competition space adapted to Sport England standards and able to accommodate basketball, badminton, five-a-side football, volleyball, cricket, netball and other court sports. With bespoke seating for up to 400 spectators and separate team changing rooms, the Hall is a hub for City’s representational sports teams and social sport.

For those that prefer group exercise, there are purpose-built studios for mind and body classes, indoor studio cycling, martial arts and student team sports.

Students' Union

Students’ Union

The Students’ Union supports social, academic, political and cultural clubs and societies that reflect the diverse interests and origins of the City student body. It also handles the representation and social activities of the University’s sports teams. From Amnesty to Anime and musical theatre to mountaineering, there is something for everyone and if your interest is not catered for, the Students’ Union can support you to create a new club or society.

City Students' Union currently supports several autonomous media outlets, these are led by students, and all content is produced by students. They include: a student-led online radio station, Carrot Radio; a student-led online TV, N’Square TV; and a classic newspaper-magazine with online content, The Beacon.

City Students’ Union is independent from the University and provide free, confidential and impartial academic advice to all students at City. Their advisers work all year around, including the summer break and are experienced, fully trained and non-judgemental. The advice on all of the academic issues and self-help guides to help empower you through the process are also available online.

There are numerous opportunities to volunteer at City. It is a great way to help others while developing relevant skills, knowledge and experience for your future career. The Students' Union has free training sessions for students for a range of skills, whether running student societies, being an effective Programme Representative or public speaking. The City Students' Union Leadership Award is an accreditation offered by City Students’ Union where students can utilise leadership roles and voluntary activities/achievements to develop competencies, including Leadership and 9 others.

There is a range of places to eat and meet friends at the University, including coffee shops and sandwich bars, the student refectory and the Students’ Union bar, CityBar. During the day CityBar is a great place to eat or relax between lectures. In the evening it becomes a vibrant social space, hosting a range of events.

Student Support

Religion & Spirituality

The Chaplaincy and Faith Advisory team, a multi-faith team provides support and guidance to students and staff of all faiths and none. Here you can explore questions of faith, meaning and purpose; learn about world religions; find out about spaces for prayer and reflection; and find information on local places of worship and how the University supports your religious practice.

Health & Wellbeing

The Student Health Service is a nurse-led advisory service available to all students. They provide a daily drop-in clinic for advice with minor illnesses and injuries and general health information. They also offer Meningitis C and MMR vaccinations and help you to register with a doctor (GP) close to your accommodation.

Professional and confidential counselling services are available to all students. You can discuss any issues you might have, such as relationships, loneliness, study worries, sexuality and depression. They provide group and individual counselling sessions, cognitive behavioural therapy, workshops, mental health advice and mentoring.

City has a dedicated team to support you if needed with specific learning differences, such as dyslexia and mental health difficulties. They offer screenings and diagnostic assessments, one-to-one support, advice on funding and liaison with departments across the University to recommend adjustments, including examination arrangements.

The Mental Health team offers confidential, specialist emotional and practical support and guidance to students with a diagnosed mental health condition(s), those referred by the student counselling service and care leavers.

Career Facilities

The Careers, Student Development & Outreach team assists students in planning the steps that they will need to take to get the graduate job they desire. They help them clarify their aspirations, research the sectors and employers that interest them, understand the skills and experience that are important to be successful and come up with a plan to gain those skills. They offer students a range of developmental opportunities, including helping to prepare for the selection process by reviewing their CV and applications, and conducting mock interviews.

City’s Professional Mentoring offers students personal and professional advice and support from an industry professional.

Major employers visit City regularly throughout the year to give presentations, attend careers fairs and run skills sessions. In addition, careers consultants and employers frequently hold workshops on subjects such as successful interviews and presentation skills.

The Snapshot scheme offers City students an opportunity to gain first-hand insight into career paths of professionals (known as guides) with experience and knowledge in the industry and sectors they are interested in.

Unitemps, City’s internal temping agency, helps students and recent graduates find part-time and temporary work at the University.

There is a multitude of events for students who want to start their own company, alongside funding opportunities. The CityStarters team runs a wide range of extracurricular Enterprise Education events, programmes and activities which are free of charge and accessible to all students and graduates studying at City, regardless of their course. CitySpark is a “business design and doing” competition where City students can win up to £3,000 to develop a new business idea, test it out with potential customers and then make it happen.

Accommodation

City’s undergraduate accommodation is split out across five areas, each of which is easily reached from the University: Liberty Court in the historic Smithfields area; Liberty Hall in lively Islington; East Central House near the world-famous Barbican Centre; The Gardens Halls near the British Library; and Tufnell House located near leafy Tufnell Park.

The University operates a Guarantee Scheme for first year undergraduates, which guarantee you a place in one of the City's affiliated Halls if you meet the Scheme's criteria.

All halls of residence are self-catered halls with private, modern study bedrooms (en suite or non-en suite) and communal living spaces where you can cook, relax and feel at home. Each of the halls is managed by a team of Accommodation Service staff.

International

English Language Requirements

If English is not your first language, typically you are required to have achieved IELTS at 6.0 overall or above, or PTE Academic at 58 overall with a minimum of 51 in each component or an equivalent qualification. Please see the University website for more information.

International Scholarships

A number of scholarships are available to international students. The Aviva Scholarship covers 20% of overseas tuition fees for selected courses in the School of Health Sciences, School of Mathematics, Computer Science and Engineering and School of Arts and Social Sciences. It is aimed at applicants from China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Singapore, Taiwan and Vietnam who are, or whose parents are, current Aviva customers.

The Global Leaders Scholarship is aimed at international and EU students starting an undergraduate course for the first time. Scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic merit and applicants' personal statements. The scholarship is worth £1,000 and is payable in year one of the course.

International Support

City students and staff come from over 150 countries, creating a uniquely supportive and cosmopolitan academic community.

City’s team of International Student Advisers, based in the Student Centre, is on hand to provide expert advice on visas and immigration through the decision-making and application process, as you plan your travel to London and for the duration of your studies.

The University runs full-time courses in English during the summer to help you improve your English before your course starts. 

Media