The University

Queen Mary, University of London is one of London and the UK's leading research-focused higher education institutions. Amongst the largest of the colleges of the University of London with 16,000 students, Queen Mary's 3,000 staff teach and research across a wide range of subjects in Humanities, Social Sciences and Laws, in Medicine and Dentistry and in Science and Engineering.

London is a leading destination for Study Abroad students and the Queen Mary programme offers you a fully integrated academic experience in this most exciting of world cities. You can choose to between a full academic year or an Autumn (Fall) or Spring semester. A full course load is four modules for each semester of study. All subject areas are open to Study Abroad students and you can choose to concentrate in one area or choose modules from up to four different subject areas. All departments offer pre-registration and there is seldom any problem in getting into any required classes.

You will be offered on-campus accommodation. Our accommodation is of a high standard and you will, typically, be housed n a modern, self-catered, single study bedroom with shared kitchen and bathroom facilities. You will be fully integrated, both in class and in your accommodation, with students from the UK and from the many other countries around the world from which we recruit students. You will be one of around 150-200+ Study Abroad students that we welcome each semester.

Our fully integrated campus where you will live and study is located at Mile End, part of London’s historic East End district and the main site for the 2012 London Olympics. The campus is served by two underground stations – Mile End and Stepney Green – allowing you to get around all parts of the city quickly and easily. Surrounding the campus are many vibrant neighbourhoods rich in history and today some of the most interesting and fashionable areas to visit in London.

At Queen Mary you won’t have to spend half your life travelling from site to site to attend classes and seminars – you will be able to find everything you need on campus. We are one of the few colleges of the University of London to have a completely self-sufficient campus. More than 2,000 students live in high-quality, affordable accommodation either on campus or within a few minutes’ walk, making it a great place not only to study but also to relax and socialise. Although some College buildings date back to the 1880s, the campus has benefited enormously from substantial investment and expansion in recent years.

The Student Village contains residences, a shop, a launderette and a central reception as well as a 24-hour security office. Located in the centre, is the ‘Curve’, a 200-seat restaurant offering hot and cold meals and coffee bar. The catering facilities and shop in the Students’ Union building add to the choices available.

Academic facilities include an extensive library, a purpose-built building for Medical Sciences, and our award-winning Informatics Teaching Laboratory. The Faculty of Arts building provides comprehensive teaching facilities for over 1,000 students. These include the Harold Pinter Drama Studio, a flexible performance space seating up to 80 people, a modern computer network, satellite and videoviewing rooms, a film-editing suite and language laboratories.

Other campus amenities include a bookshop, health centre and an Advice and Counselling service. All in all, Queen Mary’s extensive urban campus will provide you with most of your day to day needs – allowing you to spend less time traveling from place to place and more time doing the things you want to do.

For more information, visit the Queen Mary website located at: Queen Mary, University of London

Modules (Courses) Available

Astrophysics, Biochemistry, Biology, Biomedical Sciences, Chemistry, Comparative Literature, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Drama, Economics, Electrical Engineering, Environmental Science, Film Studies, Geography, Hispanic Studies, History, Law, Management, Mathematics, Physics, Political Science, Psychology, Zoology. For more specific information on courses, please navigate here: Directory of Modules

Module Load and Credit System

The Queen Mary academic year is divided into two twelve-week semesters, Autumn (first semester) and Spring (second semester). Following the Spring Semester and break there is an examination period lasting from between five and six weeks which Spring Semester and Full-Year students are required to attend if their modules are assessed by examination.

In the Queen Mary modular credit system, modules are normally worth 15 credits per semester. There are a few modules (for example some Drama modules) which are 30 creditsa semester. Study Abroad students are normally required to take 60 credit units a semester, a total of 120 credits for a full year student. This will normally mean taking four 15 credit modules but, if a student is taking a 30 credit semester module, they would only take two other (15 credit) modules in the semester.

We recommend that this should be translated by your home College into their own credit system (i.e. four credits per module for a 16 credit semester system). As the teaching time for both semesters is of equal length we recommend that your home institution award full credits for each module completed whichever semester you attend. This is in accordance with the College's practice for its degree students.

Assessment

Assessment methods vary from module to module. Generally you will find that the number of assessments will be fewer, although no less rigorous, than you are used to at home. Full-Year and Spring Semester students will be assessed in the same way and at the same time as regular UK students. This is normally by examination in the May/June examination period although some modules are assessed by modulework. The examination timetable is not usually published until the last week of the Spring Semester. If your module is assessed by examination you should not make any arrangements for returning home before you know the dates of any examinations for your modules.

As there is no formal examination period at the end of the first semester, if you are here for the Autumn only you will be assessed by what is termed alternative assessment. In some cases this will be by a written examination but more often by additional module papers/essays. Please note that these arrangements only apply to autumn only students: students studying for the full year will be assessed on their first semester modules in the summer examination period alongside other regular Queen Mary students.

Grades and Transcripts

The standard Queen Mary grading system uses five letter grades (A-E) to indicate the various levels of passes, these correspond approximately to final honours degree classifications for Queen Mary undergraduates. You will probably have heard that 'A' grades are harder to come by in the UK system, this is certainly true at Queen Mary: 'A' grades are exceptional and a 'B' is considered a good grade, 'C' an average grade. 'D' is a passing grade but must be regarded as below average. 'F', of module, indicates a fail.

Following assessment, your grades will be transferred back to your home institution. They will be reported in the standard A-F format on a Queen Mary transcript. Your Queen Mary transcript will be accompanied by a recommended conversion for US grades. You should check with your home college to find out if they translate grades into their own system or record them as given by Queen Mary.

Transcripts for students leaving December are released in the first week of February and transcripts for all other students are released in the middle of July.

Housing

Study Abroad students are offered College accommodation on the Mile End campus, providing that they apply by the deadline.   All accommodation on campus is in modern, self-catered flats. All rooms are single and most have ensuite (private) bathroom facilities. Typically rooms are grouped in flats for between 4 and 11 students with shared kitchen facilities.

All rooms are carpeted, equipped with a single bed, wash basin, wardrobe, fridge, bookshelves, desk, chair, desklamp and storage space, data points for (free) internet connections.  Shared Kitchens are equipped with refrigerators/freezers, cookers, storage cupboards, food preparation and dining areas.

All Queen Mary housing is fully integrated so you will be sharing with other students both from the UK and other countries around the world.  All accommodation is centrally heated and fees are inclusive of all heating and electricity charges.

Student Village

Most Study Abroad students will be offered accommodation in the College's award winning Student Village located on the Mile End Campus which provides self-catering accommodation for 1200 students, staff and academic visitors in six different styles of building designed to create a village community feel.   The village is the largest student campus in London and as well as accommodation features landscaped spaces, launderettes, a canal-side café-bar, restaurant and coffee bar, student union offices and shop. A security office (staffed 24 hours per day) is also on- site.

Campus life

There are plenty of ways to get involved in campus life once you arrive at Queen Mary.  From socialising in one of the cafes, bars and food outlets on campus to joining one of the many clubs and societies or playing for one of our sports teams: all enable you to make new friends and add another dimension to your study abroad experience. The campus environment will give you every opportunity to become a fully integrated member of the Queen Mary student body.

Students’ Union

The Students' Union is run by and for Queen Mary students and you will automatically be a member when you join us allowing you to use their excellent range of facilities and services. The Union's gym, QMotion, offering state of the art fitness facilities and a wide range of exercise classes.

Clubs and Societies

The Students' Union runs numerous sports clubs and special interest group societies, ranging from rowing and football to belly dancing and Politics.  Nearly all are free of charge or charge a nominal fee to join and offer you the chance to maintain an ongoing interest or to try something new while abroad.  To find out more about what is available see the Sports and Societies pages. If you don't see what you are looking for don't be put off - as a Union member you can set up your own group!

Volunteering

The Students' Union also operate the Provide volunteering programme.  Through Provide you can find volunteering opportunities working with a wide variety of organisations and charities in the local area (Tower Hamlets) and all over London. Volunteering is a great way to meet new people in the wider community, adding a whole new dimension to your study abroad experience at Queen Mary.

Student Mentoring

Queen Mary operates a mentoring school which gives participants the opportunity to work as mentors in local schools and colleges. As a mentor, your role will be to help pupils develop a positive attitude to their learning, personal growth and development.  Mentors get paid and usually work between two and four hours a week.  For more information, please contact Roisin Hurst , Education Liaison Office (room E107), Queens’ Building.

Social Trips and Events

The Study Abroad office organises a number of trips and visits during the semester. In a typical semester we might organise visits to musuems and galleries, walking tours and also attend a football match at one of London's grounds.There are numerous social events on and off campus organised by the Queen Mary Students' Union who organise music and clubs nights both on and off campus. Additional events and visits, open to all are Queen Mary students,including trips around the UK and to Europe are also offered.

Living in London

The Queen Mary study abroad programme gives you the opportunity to experience one of the great cities of the world. London is not just a capital city – the centre of British politics and government – it is also one of the great world cities – an international centre for business, culture and the arts. It is a city of contrasts: it is a modern, bustling metropolis, home for seven million people and workplace for many millions more; but it is also an ancient city dating back to Roman times; a city where history

awaits the explorer around every corner. London, particularly tourist London, can be expensive but there is a lot that can be done cheaply or for free: most of London’s galleries and museums do not charge and street markets, buskers and street musicians are all great sources of free entertainment. With a little money to spend you have the pick of theatre, cinema, dance, music for all tastes, sports and nightlife – often at a reduced student rate. Socially, student life in London gives you unlimited

opportunities. Learning to live and study in London is both challenging and exciting. There truly is something here for everyone.

Queen Mary 2017-18 Brochure