Ask a UCL English student anything!

Hi all, so I noticed it's coming round to THAT time of year again, and wanted to offer help to anyone with questions about English at UCL :smile:

Go ahead and ask me anything, even course unrelated eg living out, etc.

I've currently been at UCL for 2 years!

Reply 1

ashkenazijung

what book shud i read to impress the birds who study english?

University College London

London

Reply 2

dancinginlimbo

I'm beginning this September (unconditional; post a level results) really excited! I've asked loads of questions to people over the last few months about it so I think I have most questions answered, but could I ask you for like just a general 'best things about th course' and 'worse things about the course' (hopefully a much smaller list of course) summary? Also, how are the one on one fortnightly tutorials? :smile:

Thanks for making this thread by the way, I'd have found it really helpful while I was making my decision a couple of months back. :smile:

Reply 3

itsConnor_

What do you dislike about UCL?

Reply 4

EllyJelly

Original post by dancinginlimbo

Thanks for making this thread by the way, I'd have found it really helpful while I was making my decision a couple of months back. :smile:

Hey, no problem! :smile:

Congrats on your offer!

First year is really great because it's just so varied. You do 4 compulsory modules: Narrative Texts, which includes major texts from the canon (get reading your Paradise Lost because it takes aaaaages) that are a great basis for your studies, as they influence so many other works around them. Old/Middle English, which is a bit of a marmite - personally I love it, but a lot of people find it the toughest module. Intellectual and Cultural Sources - which includes Greek classics, other major works like Dante - again a brilliant module as there's so many different things to suit individual tastes. And Criticism, which helps improve your analysis a lot.

The variety offered in years 2/3 is brilliant, and there's something for everyone. The lecturers are really passionate and knowledgeable, and it's a lovely friendly department. The two weeks tutorials are useful and allow you to discuss all your ideas and essay techniques - your tutor also offers personal support for any other subject-unrelated issues. You should also get an older student mentor in your first few weeks, and they're a great help.

The only downside to the course is that as with anything that's compulsory, some things probably aren't going to be your cup of tea. Like Old/Middle English - that's actually what I'm specialising in this year as I absolutely love it, but others hate it and it becomes a bit of a drag. Or some people really can't stand some of the narrative texts (watch out for Tristram Shandy). But where there's something you dislike, there's always going to be something you do like to balance it out. Hope this helps! :smile:

Original post by itsConnor_

What do you dislike about UCL?

To be honest, the admin side of UCL is pretty bad. We've had some major IT breaches and issues this year, and I've found student support services to be a bit lacking sometimes. Particularly stuff that's organised by University of London collectively as opposed to UCL on its own - like the intercollegiate halls - can be really disorganised and it can take weeks to get issues sorted out with them, eg halls problems. I also think UCL has a very different feel to other 'campus' universities. It's less of a community than campuses, I'd say, but then again there's a great social scene if you get involved in it. Studying in London isn't for everybody, but if you're attracted by London and it seems like your sort of place then go for it. It's not all that pricey as everyone makes out to be and it's pretty good fun. :smile:

Reply 5

EllyJelly

Original post by cheuk209

what book shud i read to impress the birds who study english?

Actually finish Tristram Shandy by Laurence Sterne. Good luck. :wink:

Reply 6

ashkenazijung

Original post by EllyJelly

Actually finish Tristram Shandy by Laurence Sterne. Good luck. :wink:

me fair lady, how doth i contact thy upon completion of skimming thru the literature

with baited breath

Reply 7

The Nightingale

How manageable is the workload? I've always been a hard-worker, but I also have a health condition and am already getting a bit concerned about the amount of hours required. I self-studied A-Levels and would guesstimate that I averaged about 33 hours a week doing that, which I found just about manageable. Is the UCL workload comparable or much more? Do you find the work-life balance achievable?