Study abroad: are you cut out for life in an urban university?
Do you generally enjoy the hustle and bustle of big cities, are you passionate about culture or love going out, and are you extroverted or independent? Here’s a quick rundown of the main advantages and disadvantages of choosing an urban university.
A dynamic, multicultural environment
Urban universities are generally located in metropolises with populations of over 200,000. If you enjoy the excitement and cultural diversity of big cities, urban universities could be just what you’re looking for. Studying in a big city will enable you to evolve in a dynamic, cosmopolitan environment, interacting with students from all over the world and sometimes even with students from neighboring universities. A great opportunity to expand your network of acquaintances!
Housing
Major cities such as London, Chicago and New York offer a wide range of accommodation options, although these can sometimes be expensive. The majority of urban universities offer students accommodation in a hall of residence close to campus or in the city in their first year. However, most urban universities will only guarantee accommodation for your first year of study. From the second year onwards, you’ll need to find another solution: a studio or self-catering apartment that you can rent on your own or in a group, choosing a location that suits your budget. In large cities (especially capital cities), rents, and more generally the cost of living, are high. So make sure you have the necessary budget to cover all the expenses (accommodation and ancillary costs) you’ll incur during your studies.
Out and about
Big cities offer many options for going out and having fun, and student life is very active. Restaurants, bars, cinema, theater, museums and shopping… you’ll be spoilt for choice! But be sure to set a budget for outings and leisure activities, to avoid going over your budget.
Access and transport
While some university complexes concentrate their facilities in a single location, others are fragmented and spread throughout the city, sometimes requiring the use of public transport to reach the university.
Large conurbations are generally well served by public transport, which has the dual advantage of simplifying your travels and making it easy for your friends and family to visit you.
Internships and jobs
Big cities are overflowing with companies of all kinds. The opportunities for internships and job offers are therefore numerous. Through university, you’ll have opportunities to meet companies and gain work experience to strengthen your CV.
Some examples of urban universities
| In the United Kingdom and Ireland | In Europe |
Cardiff UniversityImperial College LondonKing’s College London (KCL)London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)Queen Mary University of LondonUniversity of BristolUniversity College London (UCL)University of LiverpoolUniversity of Manchester (UM)University of Edinburgh (Écosse)University of LeedsUniversity of WestminsterTrinity College Dublin (TCD)University College Dublin (UCD) | University College Amsterdam (AUC) (Netherlands)University of Amsterdam (Netherlands)Erasmus University (Netherlands)Rotterdam School of Management (RSM) (Netherlands)IE University (Spain)UEM Universidad Europea de Madrid (Spain)UNIGE université de Genève (Switzerland)UNIL université de Lausanne (Switzerland)Université Libre Bruxelles (Belgium)Bocconi University (Italy)Stockholm School of Economics (Sweden) |
| In the United States | In Canada |
Université de Boston (BU)Université de ColumbiaUniversité de GeorgetownUniversité George WashingtonUniversité de Miami, FlorideUniversité de New York (NYU)Université de Californie, BerkeleyUniversité de Californie, Los Angeles (UCLA)Université de Pennsylvanie (UPenn) | McGill UniversityConcordia UniversityUniversité du Québec à Montréal (UQÀM)Université de Montréal (UdeM)University of Toronto (St George’s campus)The University of British Columbia (UBC) |
Jade, a student at McGill University, explains that « the campus is ideally located in downtown Montreal (downtown) and is relatively large for a city campus. It has a very large library where all students go to work during the day between classes. Everything is relatively centered around the campus, so it’s very easy to move from one course to another; they are generally held in different buildings. Montreal is a student-heavy city (nearly 350,000 students out of a population of 1.7 million) and very lively: it’s the ideal place for a university experience. “. What’s more, she adds that ” Having a campus in the city is something that’s highly appreciated and relatively rare for universities located in the city. It combines the possibility of living in residence in the first year close to the campus, and of having this real university community experience, while having a great openness to the city for outings, culture, and all the events that are constantly organized (concerts, evenings, activities…). ».Clarisse, a student at the London School of Economics (LSE) in London, also points out that studying in « right in the center of London! The city of London for a student is very pleasant and always on the move. On the other hand, the cost of living is high (housing, food, transport, etc.). “.
A semi-urban university or a city on a human scale: a good compromise?
If, between rural campus If your heart is set on an urban university, there’s a third option: the so-called semi-urban university. Located on the outskirts of cities or in smaller towns, these universities combine the advantages of rural calm with urban dynamism. Students can generally choose to live on the university campus or rent private accommodation for the duration of their studies. The cost of housing, and more generally the cost of living, is generally lower than at universities located in the heart of the metropolis, but there are still plenty of options for leisure, outings and entertainment. Semi-urban universities are generally easy to get to, as they are well served by public transport and are close enough to the city to allow you to visit at weekends, sometimes even before or after classes!
Examples of semi-urban universities or universities on a human scale
| In the United Kingdom | In Europe |
Royal Holloway, University of LondonUniversity of BathUniversity of CambridgeUniversity of ExeterUniversity of NottinghamUniversity of OxfordUniversity of York | Amsterdam University College (AUC) (Netherlands)University College Utrecht (UCU) (Netherlands)Leiden University College (Netherlands)Tilburg University (Netherlands)IE University Segovia (Spain)ESADE (Spain)Lund University (Sweden)École Hôtelière de Lausanne (EHL) (Switzerland)Glion (Switzerland) |
| In the United States | In Canada |
Babson CollegeBoston CollegeClaremont McKenna CollegeDuke UniversityFordham UniversityHarvey Mudd CollegeOlin CollegePitzer CollegePomona CollegeScripps CollegeTufts UniversityWellesley CollegeUniversité de Californie, Berkeley | University of British Columbia (UBC) (Vancouver campus)Bishop’s University (Québec)Western University (Ontario)Queen’s University (Ontario) |
Louis, a student at the University of Bath, describes his experience : « The campus is a little world of its own, full of young students and lots going on all the time. It’s like a small town: there’s a bar, a supermarket and even banks! There’s also a big gym and lots of sports equipment and facilities: the experience is great and you have everything you need here. The only problem is that once you’re living off-campus, you’ll have to go there to take advantage of it all, even though, with the courses, you’ll have the opportunity to go on campus regularly anyway! I really like this environment. “
Sigrid, a student at the University of Exeter (England), also explains: « Exeter is exactly what I was looking for after my A-levels. It’s a calm and welcoming city, but one that’s full of student life. It’s very easy to get to the seaside at weekends by bus or train, as well as to visit the cities of Bristol or Bath. When it comes to going out, Exeter has enough cafés and bars to keep you busy, and plenty of parks and green spaces. As far as nightlife is concerned, there aren’t many nightclubs, but it’s quite similar in other universities with campuses (Bristol, Warwick…). The nightlife in London and other big cities is quite unique, but on the other hand, students from the same university are much more dispersed and can feel lost in such a big city. The Exeter campus is quite incredible: each faculty has its own building, and the heart of the campus ( the forum) includes a gigantic library open 24 hours a day. What I particularly like are all the slightly hidden areas of the university: rooms with sofas, cafés and even bars. You can always find just the right atmosphere to work or relax. “
Arnault, a graduate of Oxford University, says he has very fond memories of his three years there. « College life is very fulfilling. I was totally immersed in the university world and really felt like I’d had a Harry Potter experience. Nevertheless, Oxford is a very small city, so after three years I was keen to continue my studies in a big metropolis like London or Paris. “
As you’ve seen, it’s important that the university’s location, climate, size and environment meet your expectations. If you like peace and quiet, and enjoy being surrounded by a supportive, self-reliant group, a rural campus might be right for you. If you’re more the independent type and like to get out and meet students from all walks of life, urban universities will certainly appeal to you. Finally, if you want to combine urban dynamism with peace and quiet, you can always opt for a semi-urban university in a town on a human scale. Finally, don’t hesitate to visit universities during open days before making your choice. You’ll be able to talk to students about their experiences, and get a better idea of the environment you may find yourself in over the next few years.
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