Law at UCL or Kings?

OP

Universities Forum Helper

Original post by cksiu

UCL is more appealing. But of course your preference should take the lead.

Okk thanks! When you say UCL is more appealing do you mean because of ranking, or more the course or the campus etc?
I very briefly visited the UCL campus, and had a friend show me around King's so I have to admit that, in terms of campus, I much preferred King's but again I didn't really have the opportunity to look around UCL and campus probably shouldn't be the decisive factor in my decision...

Reply 3

cksiu

14

Original post by … . ..

Okk thanks! When you say UCL is more appealing do you mean because of ranking, or more the course or the campus etc?
I very briefly visited the UCL campus, and had a friend show me around King's so I have to admit that, in terms of campus, I much preferred King's but again I didn't really have the opportunity to look around UCL and campus probably shouldn't be the decisive factor in my decision...

Because KCL's PPL is a 4-year course and a significant portion of the credits are "diverted" from law.

Reply 4

Wired_1800

20

Original post by … . ..

hi everybody! I have offers from kings for ppl and from UCL for law and French law, does anyone know which I should go for? Thanks!

UCL

Reply 5

OP

Original post by Wired_1800

UCL

Ok thanks, may I ask how come though? Is it the prestige? Because in that aspect KCL is still highly ranked I think.. I really can't seem to make up my mind but time is pressing on for accommodation...

Reply 6

Wired_1800

20

Original post by … . ..

Ok thanks, may I ask how come though? Is it the prestige? Because in that aspect KCL is still highly ranked I think.. I really can't seem to make up my mind but time is pressing on for accommodation...

UCL has an overall better reputation and prestige.

Reply 7

thegeek888

18

Original post by … . ..

hi everybody! I have offers from kings for ppl and from UCL for law and French law, does anyone know which I should go for? Thanks!

One word...UCL!!! 🙂

Reply 8

Original post by … . ..

hi everybody! I have offers from kings for ppl and from UCL for law and French law, does anyone know which I should go for? Thanks!

Not really an answer to your question, but I've put down UCL for Law and French Law as my firm!

Reply 9

OP

Original post by TDxx

Not really an answer to your question, but I've put down UCL for Law and French Law as my firm!

Ohh cool!! I still haven't made chosen between UCL and KCL but we might be on the same course next year then! What did you put as your insurance? and also how do you feel about the course/ucl in general?

Reply 10

Original post by … . ..

Ohh cool!! I still haven't made chosen between UCL and KCL but we might be on the same course next year then! What did you put as your insurance? and also how do you feel about the course/ucl in general?

My insurance is Sheffield, Law with studies in Europe - looks like an amazing community with great facilities but UCL graduates seem to come out with better job prospects + I love working/studying in London.

The course at UCL looks great - I'm also a huge fan of literature and there's an optional module in the 4th year that's "Shakespeare + Law" which is so unique and I haven't seen anywhere else. Plus I love the look of a bunch of the societies that they have, it seems like there's always smth to do. Obviously, they partner with Pantheon-Assas too which is another amazing uni from the looks of it. Tbh though, when I went there for open lectures and open days, some of them seemed a bit disengaging and it looks very clinical which I didn't love plus the vibe at Sheffield seemed a lot more friendly but I wasn't surprised about that.

Are you leaning more towards KCL or UCL so far?

Reply 11

OP

Original post by TDxx

My insurance is Sheffield, Law with studies in Europe - looks like an amazing community with great facilities but UCL graduates seem to come out with better job prospects + I love working/studying in London.
The course at UCL looks great - I'm also a huge fan of literature and there's an optional module in the 4th year that's "Shakespeare + Law" which is so unique and I haven't seen anywhere else. Plus I love the look of a bunch of the societies that they have, it seems like there's always smth to do. Obviously, they partner with Pantheon-Assas too which is another amazing uni from the looks of it. Tbh though, when I went there for open lectures and open days, some of them seemed a bit disengaging and it looks very clinical which I didn't love plus the vibe at Sheffield seemed a lot more friendly but I wasn't surprised about that.
Are you leaning more towards KCL or UCL so far?

oh wow that really is an original module! But yeah the amount of societies rly looks tempting - any in particular you would be going for? I don't know where you're from so maybe you already know Pantheon-Assas but in case you don't (bcs I go to a French school so surrounded by lots French people haha) it's really well ranked and it's a really pretty building in the centre of Paris! Only thing to know though is that most French unies are quite politically orientated so Assas would be more right-leaning whereas for example Sorbonne is more left-leaning (although that's not to say that it's only right or left leaning people but it is a general stereotype ).

Yeah, I really don't know what to choose yet tbh, the thing is as both are in London it really hinges more on uni and course and other specifics which I feel I don't know enough about to choose between. I'm also a bit scared that UCL will be more impersonal bcs it's really big and in London, but I don't think it would be much better at KCL. Do you happen to have any views on what I should choose?

Reply 12

Original post by … . ..

oh wow that really is an original module! But yeah the amount of societies rly looks tempting - any in particular you would be going for? I don't know where you're from so maybe you already know Pantheon-Assas but in case you don't (bcs I go to a French school so surrounded by lots French people haha) it's really well ranked and it's a really pretty building in the centre of Paris! Only thing to know though is that most French unies are quite politically orientated so Assas would be more right-leaning whereas for example Sorbonne is more left-leaning (although that's not to say that it's only right or left leaning people but it is a general stereotype ).
Yeah, I really don't know what to choose yet tbh, the thing is as both are in London it really hinges more on uni and course and other specifics which I feel I don't know enough about to choose between. I'm also a bit scared that UCL will be more impersonal bcs it's really big and in London, but I don't think it would be much better at KCL. Do you happen to have any views on what I should choose?

Yeah, I've been looking at a bunch of different societies - they have Intellectual Property law society (which I love for some reason - didn't think I would but went to an open lecture about it and it was awesome) diplomacy society, a bunch of newspapers which I love, amnesty international society, Francophone society (I am English, so not a native speaker but I hope I could improve and maintain my French) The only one they really lack which I would have wanted (and I know KCL offers) is MUN but diplomacy society seems to be similar, just less official and probably with fewer opportunities for travel.

I've done a bit of research about Pantheon-Assas and I study French and we learn a bit about the education system there but I didn't know about unis being political, thanks for letting me know! I did find out recently though that Marine Le Pen graduated from Pantheon-Assas for criminal law which I thought was interesting.

In all honesty, I actually went to both KCL and UCL open days and applied to both but got rejected from KCL :frown:

But that does mean I know a bit about both so might be able to offer some useful input (hopefully)

UCL seemed bigger but also more impersonal than KCL from my perspective, that also meant that they seemed to offer more opportunities and a wider range/more numerous amount of societies. When I went to KCL I thought everyone seemed really friendly and I liked the campus but was underwhelmed by the amount of extracurricular opportunities - seemed very busy at UCL, not so much at KCL (though they're both in London so idk if it makes much difference)

I've met a lot of people who went to UCL (though not for law) and they are all lovely, but I haven't met anyone who went to KCL, so can't really say much about the difference in communities but I doubt there is much. They're both London research unis so the vibes are largely similar.

I've been to a lot of open lectures from UCL and only the open day for KCL so I don't have a lot to go off for the teaching quality at KCL but the lecturers seemed a bit more enthusiastic there and the rooms were also less clinical. That being said, I know that UCL is slightly higher ranked because the quality of their research (and I would assume quality of the content of the lectures) is so good. Keep in mind though that all of this was for Law, not PPL so I don't know if there is a lot of crossover between courses + professors there.

Personally, I haven't looked at a PPL course - I just know that you will have to do a conversion in order to practice law (if that's what you want) and obviously that removes the year abroad in France. I think those are probably the biggest things to consider when making your decision but they're also down to personal preference: which degree you would prefer to have and qualify with? which do you enjoy studying most? how important is travel to you? do you mind having to convert?

Hope that helps!

Reply 13

OP

Oh well actually PPL at Kings is a qualifying course! But thanks so much for your advice!! It's actually really helpful bcs I didn't have the opportunity to go to either open day (I did visit King's but not on an open day and didn't really get to visit UCL) and so I had no idea about a lot of this! I also hadn't noticed Kings had MUN which actually is really tempting tbh. Also would love to join newspapers so I think my next step is gonna be really looking gin depth at societies and all

Reply 14

Original post by … . ..

Oh well actually PPL at Kings is a qualifying course! But thanks so much for your advice!! It's actually really helpful bcs I didn't have the opportunity to go to either open day (I did visit King's but not on an open day and didn't really get to visit UCL) and so I had no idea about a lot of this! I also hadn't noticed Kings had MUN which actually is really tempting tbh. Also would love to join newspapers so I think my next step is gonna be really looking gin depth at societies and all

Oh my bad! Sorry about that!

Yeah, I'm head of MUN at my school and I can't lie, the opportunities for travel are brilliant and the debate is fantastic too.

Sounds like a good plan, I'm sure you'll love it wherever you go 🙂

Reply 15

nwar

Study Forum Helper

13

Original post by … . ..

hi everybody! I have offers from kings for ppl and from UCL for law and French law, does anyone know which I should go for? Thanks!

Hi, just to preface: I have no experience studying at either (I went to both open days and the UCL offer-holder day, this is purely based off that). It’s completely down to personal preference but I would pick UCL because of their pro bono opportunities. Look into their legal advice clinics, because they have some pretty unique things available there.

The lecturers I met at UCL were incredible, as were the law education leads (not sure what exactly they’re called, but the people who look after the law undergrads). Their moot court is also very nice and their law building is lovely.

Other factors — I considered applying to PPL but was put off it after talking to a current student at KCL. She said that the degree was actually quite limiting because it really restricted the optional modules you could pick. But I don’t know how this compares to the course you want to study at UCL.

I believe one of the posters on TSR, Stiffy Byng, lectures part-time at UCL? Also, have you tried going on Unibuddy and talking to current students? If you want reliable info, that’s probably your best bet. Massive congrats on your offers btw, it’s a great achievement to be able to choose between such incredibly competitive unis!

(edited 1 month ago)

Reply 16

Stiffy Byng

19

I teach part time on the LLM course at UCL. The UCL Faculty of Laws lives in Bentham House, an interesting 1930s art deco building that used to be the headquarters of a major trade union. The building is close to Euston Station and is a few minutes walk from the main quad of UCL, and from some of the interesting streets of Bloomsbury, with bookshops and cafes.

I am a big fan of UCL. But I also rate KCL. I prefer both to the LSE, because I think that UCL and KCL provide better experiences for students. Friends who were undergraduates at UCL tell me that they loved it there, although they studied there many years ago.

Reply 17

OP

Hiya everyone, thanks a lot for all your advice, it was genuinely really helpful and factored in to my decision! I'm just talking to one last person about it today and then I'm pretty sure I'm going to firm UCL (and insure King's)!!

Reply 18