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London College of Communication

UCAS Code: U65

Location: Central London Show on Map

Site: Single campus at Elephant & Castle

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Specialist design, media & communication college. Part of University of the Arts London

Student Population

Total Students:	6,979
Undergraduates:	66%
Postgraduates:	8%
FE Students:	26%

Undergraduates

Total undergraduates:	4,606
Male:	37%
Female:	63%
Full Time:	98%
Mature on Entry:	28%
UK Students:	73%
State school entry:	92%

Teaching Staff

270 full-time

Broad study areas

Media (journalism, photography, broadcasting, film, animation, sound arts, production for live events & TV); design (graphic, interior, surface design); printing (print production, print media management, digital media); publishing (book, magazine & online publishing, book arts & crafts); interactive media (interactive games, interactive digital media, graphic moving image).

Freshers

Points on Entry (Mean):	322
Drop Out Rate:	7%
Accommodation:	Some first years housed

Institution

Founded:	1895. London College of Printing until 2004
Structural features:	Constituent college of University of the Arts, London.
Site:	Newly-built campus at Elephant & Castle
How to get there:	Close to Elephant & Castle underground station (Bakerloo, Northern lines) and several bus routes.

Student services & facilities

Student advice & services:	Easy access to university's central student services; see Arts London. Student adviser at LCC.
Amenities:	Canteen, coffee/snack bar, student bar. Excellent access to cultural institutions such as Tate Britain and the BFI.
Accommodation:	Some students in university’s halls of residence, rents £92−£240 per week (see Arts London). University accommodation service helps find privately rented accommodation, rents approximately £75−£130 pw.

Study opportunities & careers

Library & information services:	College library of specialist material – books, periodicals, slides, audio and visual. Also access to facilities of the university’s central learning zone and facilities at other colleges of university. Special collections: the Stanley Kubrick Archive; history of the book.
Other learning resources:	Language laboratories; open-access IT facilities, state-of-the-art equipment in printing, DTP, multimedia, film, video and photography; computer suites.
Careers:	University information and advice service. Free enterprise centre for graduate use.

Money

Living expenses budget:	Minimum budget of £6000−£10,000 pa (excluding tuition fees) recommended by college.
Financial help:	See Arts London.
University tuition fees:	Home students pay £9000 pa for first degree courses (less in a placement year). International students pay £13,300 pa.

Courses

Academic features:

Range of entry points to wide spectrum of media, design and communication specialisms, including access courses, 1-year diplomas, undergraduate and postgraduate degrees and research. Provides highly practical, hands-on experience. All courses taught by academics and professional practitioners who work closely with industry.

Awarding body:

University of the Arts, London.

Main undergraduate awards:

BA, FdA

Length of courses:

3 years (Hons); 2 years (FdA)

Main subjects offered:

Advertising
Animation
Art
Broadcasting
Communication Studies
Contemporary Decorative Arts/Crafts
Cultural Studies
Curation
Directing
Exhibition Design
Film Studies
Graphic Design
Human Communication
Humanities
Illustration
Information Studies
Interactive Games Production
Interactive Multimedia
Interior Design
Journalism
Media Studies
Multimedia
New Media Publishing
Photography
Printing/Typography
Printmaking
Product Design
Public Relations
Publishing
Stage Management
Video
Visual Arts

Student view

Daryl Cichorz, SU College Officer (BA Graphic & Media Design)

Living

What's it like as a place to live? Great place in a big cosmopolitan city, great for independence but can be hard for meeting up with friends.

How's the student accommodation? University halls are based throughout Central London. Reasonably priced compared to independent housing companies. Bad for meeting students from different halls. Most rooms offer ensuite. Halls are in easy access to university. Some halls share with only 4 students and may not be mixed. Average university halls price £123 per week; independent £200 pw; shared housing £110 pw.

What's the student population like? Diverse from a variety of backgrounds. International student population with some Londoners also.

How do students and locals get on? Different backgrounds. Busy vibe throughout the day. A lot less crowded at night so students should travel in groups. Always keep your guard at night and not flash goods and gadgets. The local area is somewhat grubby and is need of renovation. Edge of Central London so council estates are in sight!

Studying

What's it like as a place to study? Good printing facilities and advantage of different workshops in different arts. Big student population and some courses have too many students. Little sense of community among the bigger courses. Course materials and printing will add up and will be expensive.

What are the teaching staff like? Staff with experience in the industry. Visiting leaders of industry allow students to utilise their questioning in these special lectures. Staff are not especially student-focused, not concerned in wellbeing nor the student experience. Course Leaders need improved induction/bonding sessions with students and need to have more involvement in student affairs rather than sitting back on the bench after the lesson!

Socialising

What are student societies like? Students Union arrange events throughout the year. The college has a student-led bar which hosts a weekly social night every Wednesday 'til the early hours. Many clubs and societies available for students include a variety of sports, arts, cultural and societies of a subculture variety. Societies often meet up and go out on socials. Countless ways for students to get involved incl fundraising and campaigning. There's the Pathfinding Week - the other students' version of a Freshers' Week - and there are big SU parties at Halloween, Christmas and Summer as well. You can always suggest something new for the SU!

What's a typical night out? Going to the SU bar with friends and having some cheap drinks before hitting London. Sometimes somewhere local is cheaper and even better for a night out. The main club a few mins walk from the college is Ministry of Sound. Leicester Square is a centrepoint for having a night out in London, but it's not cheap! Always having a few before hitting a club is needed in this expensive city.

And how much does it cost? SU offer standard drinks for only £1.50 on Wednesday nights. Otherwise drinks at a lot of places can be £4 for a standard drink. SU-led nights will be better for a cost-effective option.

How can you get home safely? Don't stand out and better when in a group. Public transport is readily available in Central London. Use your eyes!

Money

Is it an expensive place to live? Don't expect the loan to last. That little bit more you receive because it's London doesn't mean nothing. Everything here is more than anywhere else; food, travel, materials and the list continues. After all, it is the world's most expensive city!

Average price of a pint? SU around £2; London £3-£5.

And the price of a takeaway? Depends what you get and where you go. Locally £4 - £20 further central.

What's the part-time work situation? Jobs are available but demand is high and so is very competitive amongst students from all universities. Christmas time would be the best time to apply. Part timers can get £6 ph with many companies. If everything else fails, the SU can offer various PAID opportunities which is helpful.

Summary

What's the best feature about the place? A world- recognised college for the arts. Diverse blend of students from a universal environment.

And the worst?Student interaction is poor and staff interest in students' experience is absent.

And to sum it all up? A world-qualified university with endless opportunity, but there's something missing...?

Past Students

Jane Root (Controller BBC2); Nick Bell (Nick Bell Design); Helen Boaden (Controller BBC Radio 4); Dave Bennett (Fulmar Colour Printing); Trevor McDonald (newsreader), Neville Brody (designer City Limits, The Face), Dave King (Arts Council Designer).