City University London

History

• City University London was founded in 1894 as the Northampton Institute and was awarded University status in 1966.
• The University’s motto is "to serve mankind". It is committed to academic excellence, focused on business and the professions and located in the heart of London.
• City University has strong links with the City of London and its Chancellor is the Lord Mayor of London.
• City’s Vision for 2016, its 50th anniversary year, is to be ranked within the top two per cent of universities in the world.  To support the achievement of its Vision, the University appointed 50 outstanding academic staff in 2011 and plans to recruit an additional 100 by the end of 2013.

Notable alumni

• KEITH ABEL – Co-founder, Abel & Cole.
• CLEMENT ATTLEE (Inns of Court School of Law graduate) – Labour Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1945 to 1951.
• BRENDAN BARBER – General Secretary, Britain’s Trades Union Congress (TUC).
• TONY BLAIR (Inns of Court School of Law graduate) – former Prime Minister.
• Dr ROBERT CHAPPELL – Chairman of the Board of Management for the European Diploma in Optometry, Chairman of the UK Optometry Giving Sight committee.
• ROBERT CHOTE – Chairman, Office of Budget Responsibility.
• MOHANDAS KARAMCHAND GANDHI (MAHATMA GANDHI) (Inns of Court School of Law graduate) – leader of Indian independence movement.
• Sir STELIOS HAJI-IOANNOU – Director, easyGroup PLC.
• Professor Dame WENDY HALL – Professor of Computer Science, Dean of the Faculty of Physical and Applied Sciences, University of Southampton.
• ASHLEY HIGHFIELD – Managing Director and Vice-President of Consumer and Online UK, Microsoft.
• AFUA HIRSCH – Legal Affairs Correspondent, the Guardian.
• FAISAL ISLAM – Economics Correspondent, Channel Four News.
• RICHARD KLEIN – Controller, BBC4.
• WILL LEWIS – Group General Manager, News International.
• RUBY MILLER – founder of Ruby and Millie cosmetics.
• TIMOTHY “TIFF” NEEDELL – British racing driver and presenter of Fifth Gear.
•  DICK OLIVER – Chairman, BAE Systems.
• The Rt Hon Lord DAVID PUTTNAM, CBE – film producer, author and businessman.
• The Rt Hon Baroness MARGARET THATCHER (Inns of Court School of Law graduate) – Conservative Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990.
• ANDY WAPLING – Head of Emergency Preparedness, NHS London.

Location and transport

• The University’s main campus and the location of its historic College Building is Northampton Square in Islington. The University has several other academic sites within central London. Cass Business School is located in Bunhill Row, the City Law School at Gray’s Inn and the Fight for Sight Optometry Clinic is in Old Street.
• City is close to Liverpool Street, King’s Cross, St Pancras and London Bridge mainline stations.  Its principal sites are within walking distance of Farringdon, Barbican, Angel, Old Street and Moorgate underground stations.

Entry standards

• Entry requirements vary from course to course. Further information is available on the City University website or from admissions staff in each School.

Student mix

• The University has around 17,500 students from more than 150 countries.
• City has one of the highest proportions of students from outside the EU (about 25%) of any university in the UK.  They help create a diverse and international outlook. 
• The University has around 1,750 full and part-time academic staff and more than 500 doctoral students. 
• City has links for student exchanges with universities throughout Europe, Asia, Australia and the Americas, enabling eligible students to study at one of these universities for part of their course.  Several scholarships are available to support student exchanges overseas.
• Entry is competitive and the ratio of applications to places, while varying from course to course, is one of the highest in the UK.

Teaching standards

• The University’s courses are designed to ensure that students achieve high academic standards while developing an understanding of the business and professional world.  Students learn how they can apply their knowledge, entrepreneurial ideas and talent in their future careers.
• City has seven Schools and a broad portfolio of subjects including business, law, engineering, mathematical sciences, informatics, health sciences, journalism and music.
• Many of City’s courses are accredited by professional bodies and students benefit from City’s central London location and the University’s extensive network of links with major London employers.
• The University has received five awards under the National Teaching Fellowship Scheme in recognition of its excellent work in technology-enhanced learning and educational development.

Research standards

• In the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE), the University rose to a ranking of 41, an increase of 18 places since the previous RAE in 2001.
• Over 80% of City’s submitted research is internationally recognised and the 2008 RAE identified 15 areas of academic activity where research was assessed as achieving world-leading or internationally-excellent quality in terms of originality, significance and rigour.

Academic strengths

• City has a strong focus on postgraduate education with around a third of its students undertaking postgraduate taught or research degrees. 
• Cass is the business school for the City of London and attracts students from all over the world.
• The City Law School is one of London's major law schools and offers a range of academic and professional courses. Located in the heart of 'legal London', it was the first law school in London to educate students and practitioners at all stages of legal education.
• The School of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences offers a comprehensive range of courses informed by research and reflecting the changing needs of industry, with which it maintains strong links.
• The School of Informatics is at the forefront of international excellence and leadership in education and research for the information and computing professions.
• The School of Health Sciences is dedicated to education and research in the health professions. Educating future leaders and lifelong learning are fundamental parts of its ethos.
• The School of Social Sciences offers an academically challenging and contemporary environment in four departments: economics, international politics, psychology and sociology.
• The School of Arts focuses on journalism, music, media, creative writing, languages and cultural enterprise. It has extensive links with those working in the arts, media and cultural sectors in the UK and overseas.
• A specialist Online Careers Network offers current students practical help from over 4,000 former students.

Student facilities, including library and computing

• City is the only UK University to have its Student Centre accredited by The Institute of Customer Service in recognition of its excellence.
• The Student Centre provides help and support to current and future students. Specialist advisors offer practical help with finances, learning, visas and immigration, course fees, registration and support with every aspect of student life:
• Advice on courses, careers and University facilities
• Student Counselling
• Chaplaincy Service
• Student Health Centre
• Services for Disabled and Dyslexic Students
• Academic Learning Support
• Personal Tutors
• Career and Skills Development
• The University has invested significantly in technological developments that benefit students’ learning. In addition to state-of-the-art computing, library and laboratory facilities the University’s e-learning environment, Moodle, provides instant access to course materials, resources, interactive activities and assessment and communication tools. 

Disability services

• The University employs a team of specialist staff who work with individual students and liaise with academic departments and University Services to ensure that the needs of disabled students are appropriately met.
• Contact Disability Services at City University London by telephone on +44 (0)20 7040 0246; fax +44 (0)20 7040 3070; textphone +44 (0)20 7040 5080, email disability@city.ac.uk or visit the website.

Students' union

• The Students’ Union offers a wide range of activities including more than 50 clubs and societies, a student newspaper, student radio and TV. It also offers a diverse student entertainment programme and a range of volunteering opportunities. 
• A new venue, Ten Squared, is a multi-functional social space for students providing all-day food and casual seating. In the evening the venue makes full use of sophisticated multi-zone sound and lighting and features a HD multi-screen TV system along with popular air-hockey, table football and pool tables.

Sport

• The University’s commitment to sport is reflected through an intramural programme and its participation in the British Universities & Colleges Sport and Southern England Student Sports Association leagues.
• Partnership within the Community allows for Physical Activities such as rock climbing, running clubs and other pursuits.

Recent/prospective new builds

• Recently completed projects include new and refurbished lecture theatres and seminar rooms, a dedicated student common room and a student facility accommodating Careers, the Health Centre, Student Counselling and 'breakout' spaces for students.
• A programme of investment in the Library has provided dedicated study space for postgraduate students, other flexible study space and improved access between the Library and the Student Centre.

Availability of part-time work

• The Centre for Careers and Skills Development has an online job vacancy board for students, finalists and graduates and can advise on various employment opportunities, whether they be graduate roles, placements, summer internships or part--time jobs.

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