7 Signs You Studied at UCL

The Jeremy Bentham pub in Bloomsbury on University Street is a local favorite with professors and students alike. Chances are you frequented the place and would rather dislodge it from your memory altogether. In fact, one night in particular stands out from the rest, that is, your department’s Christmas party… But what happens at the Bentham stays at the Bentham!

For most people, moving to London from their hometown or another city is a big step (and an expensive one). Overcoming the associated struggles of making ends meet as a student in a city as notoriously costly and overwhelming as London is basically like a rite of passage. Once you’ve made it past the one year anniversary mark, you’re in! And learning to love your hardships is quintessentially very London. “Oh you’re only paying £500 a month for a room in a flat-share! That’s really cheap! Do you have a double bed?”

The SOAS building is located very close to UCL, and students of the two universities often pass each other on the way to and from Senate House or Warren Street underground. Obviously, this is a massive stereotype, but one that probably rings true with many: SOAS is infinitely cooler than UCL (and most London universities, for that matter, except perhaps for Goldsmiths), and it’s not hard to see why… SOAS’s courses range from bachelor’s degrees in Persian to master’s degrees in Taiwan studies, and the school is generally known for encouraging inclusivity and avant-garde research. The SOAS bar of course has a jukebox – free to use – which regularly plays eclectic music ranging from Vivaldi to funk to bashment.

UCL students often have a rest or a snack on the steps of the spectacular Wilkins Building in between library sessions, classes or during the warmer months when the sun’s out… It *should* be a great spot to meet someone but it’s not, and no case of this happening has ever been reported.

Whether or not you’re still currently living in London, regularly visit or avoid the place altogether, this sentiment is probably accurate. You miss it! Regardless of how much you enjoyed your lectures, it’s probable that UCL fulfilled such a formative and foundational role in your life that you couldn’t help but love it. Or at least smile nostalgically when you look back.

Recognize any of the above, or have more to add? Share your own UCL memories in the comments below or on Twitter (#QSWUR). And if you studied at another of the world’s top universities, get in touch to share your own list of unique experiences.