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What I learned outside the classroom
After a year of studying in London, I am left with a wealth of experiences and knowledge. In addition to gaining new insights into Psychology, I also developed valuable skills and perspectives outside the university setting.
Budgeting and Financial Responsibility
It is no secret that student life can be financially challenging, making it a great opportunity to gain experience in managing money. While studying in London, I did not have a job and instead relied on a student loan. Since accommodation and tuition were my most important and unavoidable expenses, I created a budget for everything else. I went grocery shopping once a week, which I found to be an effective way to save money and reduce food waste. It helped me avoid daily trips to the supermarket, impulse purchases, and the temptation to eat out frequently. As for activities and entertainment, London offers a wide variety of free attractions and experiences and is also a very walkable city. With only a small amount of research, it is possible to find plenty of things to do without spending much money. In addition, the bus network is extensive, affordable, and reliable.
By being mindful of my spending and planning the activities I genuinely wanted to do, I found that managing my finances was much easier than I initially expected, and I rarely felt stressed about money.
Cultural Awareness and Perspective
England is only a short flight from home, and I had visited London before, so I did not experience a culture shock. However, living in another country is very different from visiting it as a tourist. Experiencing everyday life in London gave me a unique perspective and proved to be the best way to immerse myself in British culture and understand it firsthand. Because both the city and the university are culturally diverse, I met people from a wide range of backgrounds and was exposed to many different cultures. This broadened my understanding of different lifestyles and viewpoints while giving me a new perspective on the world. It also taught me how to appreciate and learn about the experiences of others without making assumptions or appearing pretentious or distant.
Time Management and Study-Life Balance
The reason I moved to London was to study and having that goal in mind helped me stay motivated. However, there were times when I felt stressed and overwhelmed, and some days passed with little more than studying and staying in my room. Throughout the year, I developed a schedule and established a routine that allowed me to take my studies seriously, attend classes, submit all my assignments on time, and still have time for fun and exploration. For me, working on assignments on Mondays and Tuesdays from after my morning gym session until around three o’clock in the afternoon worked particularly well. Having a consistent routine made it easier to focus, and once the habit was established, studying became much more natural.
Since my classes were on Thursdays and Fridays, I had Wednesdays, the weekends, and most afternoons free. This gave me the opportunity to review material from the previous week after a short break, helping me avoid feeling overwhelmed while still staying ahead before new content was introduced. It also made it easier to relax during my free time because I knew I had a plan that would ensure my assignments were completed.
Communication, Language, and Social Skills
At the beginning of the year, everyone was new, and meeting people could feel intimidating. However, when you are constantly interacting with new people, it quickly becomes easier. English is also my second language, and although I already felt comfortable using it, speaking it every day improved both my pronunciation and vocabulary.
Through meeting people from different backgrounds, I learned how to adapt my communication style to different personalities, accents, and ways of speaking. I also became better at interpreting how others communicated. Some people simply have a very direct way of speaking, which does not necessarily mean they are being rude or critical. Others would ask direct questions without much context, which initially caught me off guard, but over time I learned to respond more naturally and confidently. As a result, I became much more comfortable in diverse social settings, whether at university, in shops, on public transport, or elsewhere in the city. I learned the social norms and expectations and gradually felt that I fit in.
Independence, Self-Reliance, and Adaptability
Living alone came with many responsibilities, ranging from everyday decisions such as what to eat for dinner to handling paperwork and unexpected challenges. My advice would be not to worry too much during the first few weeks. Instead, focus on identifying which parts of your schedule are occupied by essential commitments and where you have free time. As time passes, you naturally find the most effective way to organize your responsibilities.
Once tasks become routine, they require less effort and can be completed more efficiently. Navigating a large city and adapting to an unfamiliar environment not only improved my sense of direction but also increased my confidence in new situations. As I became more independent, my confidence and self-reliance grew significantly. When new challenges arise, I now feel equipped to deal with them effectively. Because everything was unfamiliar at first, I developed a strong ability to adapt. Today, I adjust easily to new situations, and unexpected challenges rarely cause me stress.
Overall, I finished the year with a strong sense of confidence and accomplishment. Living in another country taught me independence, adaptability, and resilience while providing experiences and skills that will benefit me throughout my life. The year showed me that I can handle challenges, adjusting to new situations, and achieving the goals I set for myself.
- Maren Felicity
A Really Fun Guide to London
I’ve absolutely loved exploring London during my studies. This city has so much to offer! From events and live music to pubs, nightlife, food, and even just relaxing in the parks, there’s something for everyone. Here are some of my top picks:
Pubs
Two of my favourite pubs are along the River Thames, and the views are absolutely gorgeous!
- Oyster Shed (City of London): Perfect view of the Shard! It’s a bit on the pricier side, but the riverside ambiance makes up for it.
- The Ship (Wandsworth): Watching the sunset here is simply stunning.
Other nightlife
- Cafe Sol (Clapham): Always a fun night out with good music and a great vibe.
- The Blues Kitchen (Camden): A chill, low-key bar with live music.
- SOMA (Soho): Minimalist underground speakeasy cocktail bar. I’ve been to the Soho branch, but I’ve heard that the Canary Wharf one is also good.
- Pear Tree Cafe (Battersea Park): Great vibes day or night, perfect for grabbing an iced coffee or a drink.
Restaurants
- Flat Iron (Multiple locations): Amazing steak! I recommend the flat iron steak with truffle mac and cheese.
- The Flygerians (Peckham): Really good Nigerian cuisine. Their jollof rice, efo riro, and plantain is delicious.
- El Metro Tapas Bar (Fulham): Great tapas selection and vibey interior.
- Masigo (Angel): Lovely service and fantastic Korean food.
- Willows (Clapham): Perfect for brunch! You can build your own brunch board with lots of options.
Scandinavian Food
As a Norwegian, I had to dedicate a section to Scandinavian food. It’s always nice to get a little taste of home!
- ScandiKitchen (Fitzrovia): Cafe and shop with the best of Scandinavian food and products.
- TotallySwedish (Barnes): Swedish food with that familiar Nordic comfort.
- Black Sheep Coffee (Multiple locations): This chain actually serves Norwegian waffles with brown cheese and jam and they’re so good!
Parks
I love chilling in these parks with a book or having a picnic and playing games with friends:
- Battersea Park
- Kensington Gardens
- Richmond Park
Other Fun Stuff
- Gravity (Wandsworth): Arcade, bowling, minigolf, darts, bar, and gokarting. All in one place!
- BookBar (Islington): Bookshop meets coffee and wine bar. Sit down with a book, coffee, or glass of wine and enjoy.
I hope you get the chance to check out some of these places and enjoy my top picks in London!
- Erica
4 Reasons to Study at Roehampton
I completed my whole undergrad degree at the University of Roehampton. If you’re considering where to study, here are four reasons why Roehampton could be the perfect choice for you:
1. A Beautiful Campus
One of the things I loved most about Roehampton was the campus itself. It has a traditional university feel, set in stunning parkland that makes it hard to believe you’re still in London. There are so many spots to relax or hang out after lectures. My favourite was The Hive Café, which serves food and drinks made with local and sustainable produce, some of it even grown on campus! There’s also a student bar that hosts events, a gym and sports facilities, and a modern library filled with study spaces, books, and online resources.
2. Societies and Sport
Whether you’re into sports, gaming, or just want to meet people who share your interests, Roehampton has plenty of clubs and societies to choose from. There’s a Disney Society, Scandinavian Society, E-sports Society, and the list goes on. And you can always create your own society or adopt an old one! Joining a team or a society is such a lovely way to make friends, and many of them organise events, trips and socials throughout the year.
3. Support When You Need It
University can be a big adjustment, but Roehampton has a lot of support in place. There are wellbeing officers available during the day and college wardens out of hours, so there’s always someone you can turn to if you need help. The careers team runs workshops, helps with CVs, and connects students with employers through Handshake, their online platform. On top of that, every student is assigned an Academic Guidance Tutor to provide advice and guidance throughout their time at Roehampton.
4. A Wide Range of Courses
Roehampton offers a great mix of undergraduate and postgraduate courses. You’ll find subjects like psychology, dance, and criminology, as well as business-focused degrees such as business management, marketing, and human resource management. Whatever your interests, there’s likely a course that fits.
Final Thoughts
Studying at Roehampton gave me so much more than just a degree, it gave me a community. Between the campus life, the variety of clubs and societies, the strong support systems, and the course options, Roehampton is a place where you can truly feel at home while working towards your future.
- Erica
Renting Privately During Your Studies
After living on campus for two years, I decided to try something new and live off campus. It was time to step out of my comfort zone at Roehampton and experience London in a different way. Another uni friend and I started looking for two-bedroom flats, and that turned out to be an interesting experience, to say the least. Finding private housing is a long process with many factors to consider.
The London rental market moves quickly and is extremely competitive. If you find a place you like, you have to act fast! We started searching months before we planned to move, but many flats only get listed a few weeks before availability, which is quite stressful when your current lease is about to end.
We used sites like Zoopla, Rightmove, and OpenRent to browse listings and contact estate agents or landlords. I reached out to many agents but often didn’t hear back. Sometimes they would only respond when I used my UK number instead of my Norwegian one.
Being an international student definitely made the process harder. Some places don’t accept students, only working professionals. Others only allow families, not multiple sharers. You also need a UK guarantor (a UK resident with a good credit history and sufficient income to cover the rent) if your yearly salary isn’t high enough. If you don’t have a guarantor, you may have to pay up to six months’ rent upfront.
On top of that, you have to find the best deals for gas, electricity, and Wi-Fi, set up your bills, and manage maintenance issues yourself or with your landlord.
Despite all this, the outcome was worth it. I loved living off campus. We were closer to central London and able to explore different neighbourhoods, something I wouldn’t have done on campus. Public transport options were good, with multiple nearby train stations, and we were close to shops, gyms, and amenities.
Living independently also helped me develop real-life skills like budgeting and household management. We had complete autonomy, set our own schedule, and made all the decisions for our home. Sharing a flat with only one other person was much calmer than living with seven, offering more privacy and fewer distractions.
Another bonus? You can decorate your flat however you like and truly make it feel like home.
Overall, I loved living off campus! It gave me independence, personal space, and a home I could make my own. I enjoyed it so much that I’ve decided to rent privately again for my master’s degree in London
- Erica
Living in Student Accommodation at Roehampton University
If you’re planning to study at Roehampton and considering living on campus, you might be wondering what that’s really like. During my first two years, I lived in Roehampton student accommodation. First in Shaw House on the main campus, and later in Whitelands College.
Both experiences were very different, and I learned a lot about the pros and cons of living in student accommodation. Here’s my honest take.
My Experience: Shaw House vs. Whitelands
When I first moved to London, I was assigned to Shaw House in a quite quiet all-girls flat. While the location was convenient (close to lectures and main campus facilities), the flat didn’t suit what I was looking for.
Most of the people I’d met at uni events lived in Whitelands College (about a 15-minute walk from main campus). Whitelands felt like its own little community, and the flats were much more social in my opinion. I moved there soon after, stayed for my second year, and even over the summer before my third.
That move completely changed my uni experience! I met so many more people and had a much more social life on campus.
Pros of Living on Campus
- Choice of flats: Quiet flats, social flats, mature student flats, all-girls flats, or moving in with friends, there’s flexibility to suit your personality
- Different room options: En-suites vs. shared bathrooms, single vs. double beds, some even with balconies.
- Close to lectures: No commuting costs or stress. At most, you’re a 15-minute walk away.
- All bills included: Rent covers gas, electricity, and water, so there are no hidden costs or extra fees. When I lived on campus, we had to pay for laundry services (but I saw on Roehampton’s website that that is now included within your accommodation fees).
- Support: Each flat has a student rep (second- or third-year student) to help you settle in, plus easy (though sometimes slow) maintenance requests. Additionally, there are College Wardens that work as out-of-hours wellbeing support.
- Security: On-campus security and student ID access in the evenings make it feel safe.
Cons of Living on Campus
- Room standards: They’re not luxury flats and rooms can feel a bit basic.
- Fire alarms: They go off easily (steam from showers, cooking, even hairspray!), which often meant being outside at 2am.
- Living in a bubble: Everything is on campus: classes, library, gym, events. It’s convenient but can feel like you’re not experiencing much of London.
- Travel into central London: Roehampton is further out, with only one nearby train station about 15 mins away (even further from Whitelands) and a few bus routes. Journeys into central can feel long, and getting back from central after late events often means checking the last trains or relying on the night bus.
When I first moved to London, I thought student accommodation would be the easiest way to settle in, and it was. It made the transition to uni life smoother. Yes, there are a few downsides (like basic rooms and travel times), but overall, living on campus was such a big part of my Roehampton experience. I met friends I might not have otherwise.
- Erica
