Imperial College London - South Kensington Campus, London

Imperial College London (ICL) continually rated amongst the best colleges, Imperial College London is a science-based organization with a reputation for quality in educating and research. Imperial College London providing academic education in many programs. mostly are Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Natural Sciences, The Business School, Admin & Support Services, College governance Rector & Principal Officers, College organisational structure Mission and strategy.

Founded: Imperial College London founded in 1907.

Structural features: Part of London University.

Location: 16-acre site in South Kensington. Medical school sites in Hammersmith, Paddington, Chelsea, Fulham. Agriculture at former Wye College site at Ashford, Kent.

Getting there: South Kensington and Gloucester Road underground stations and buses for main site; all medical school sites close to tube and buses.

Special features: Established 'to give the highest specialised instruction and to provide the fullest equipment for the most advanced training and research in various branches of science especially in its application to industry'. Applications from women are strongly encouraged. Director of Music leads a variety of musical activities. Some 180 visiting professors.

Academic features: MSci in chemistry with conservation science; 6-year MB BS. Humanities programme offering weekly lectures in associated studies and foreign language courses.

Awarding body: London University.

Main undergraduate awards: MEng, BEng. BSc, MSci, MB BS.

Length of courses: 3, 4 or 5 years (science, agriculture and engineering); 6 years (medicine).

Library & IT facilities: 7 departmental and 5 medical campus libraries for research material and local services; central library for course books, electronic and interdisciplinary material, also includes Science Museum Library. 1+ million volumes, 16,000 print and electronic periodical titles; 2350 seats (incl PC clusters). Annual expenditure on information provision, £355 per (FTE) student. Separate IT support service, high speed and wireless network access to on-site and off-site resources. Workstations in every department offer wide range of application programs with further general workstation access provided in the central library. Help desk and additional support via specialist IT staff.

Other learning facilities: 240-acre college field station at Silwood Park (near Ascot); rural campus at Wye in Kent.

Specialist collections: Haldane collection covers humanities, general reading and music including CDs and scores.

Study abroad: Wide range of exchange schemes with prestigious technological institutions across Europe allows students to undertake project work for 3-12 months abroad. Strong commitment to year abroad courses (available in most departments).

Employment: Traditionally industry; but increasing number of graduates enter accountancy, banking, insurance etc, as well as general commercial areas.

Student advice & services: Vacation training scheme; careers advisory service; student accommodation office; health centre, student counsellor, welfare adviser, Nightline, nursery, disabilities officer.

Amenities: SU building with refectory, bar, bookshop, etc; wide range of societies.

Sporting facilities: Newly redeveloped sports centre at South Kensington campus: indoor swimming pool, sauna, steam room & spa, 5-court sports hall, climbing wall, fitness gym, aerobics studio, squash courts, juice bar and changing rooms. Other sites have own sporting facilities.

Accommodation: First years guaranteed accommodation (subject to certain conditions). 2280 undergraduate places on or close to campus; from £54 per week (in triple room) to £128 pw (single ensuite). Intercollegiate halls, £95 pw (twin room) to £122 (single). Living expenses budget: Minimum budget of £8500 pa (excluding tuition fees) recommended by college.

Term-time work: College allows term-time work; limit of 6-8 hours pw. Some work available in college bars, offices, library.

Financial help: Total available £390,000 government funds (average award £990); £318,000 own funds (average award £780). Own funds also available for those experiencing unforeseen short-term need. Apply for help to Student Finance Office, Registry.

Accommodation: Never cheap but shared rooms cheaper. Small chance of married quarters. For private accommodation, look in Loot and ask Accommodation Office.

Eating: Union runs Da Vinci's cafe/bar, burger bar, pizza bar, refectory and DeciBels Baguette bar. Meal on campus from £1.50 (curry); at the Stock Pot (King's Road) from £4.

Drinking: Many bars - 3 union, cocktail, college bars; others at both medical campuses. Pint from £1.50+. Southside bar cheap. London Pride good local brew.

Nightlife: Weekly free theme discos (usually sell-outs), bands, quizzes, comedy, cocktail and bar nights. Many free gigs/exhibitions in London (pub gigs good value). La Scandals popular club. Union cinema (large screen).

Locals: Reasonably friendly.

Sports: Sport generally cheap; campus sports centre for eg swimming, squash, weights. Grounds at Heathrow, Teddington and Cobham.

Travel: A-Z London essential! Car parking near to impossible. Good for bikes, tubes and buses. STA branch on campus; expedition fund available.

Financial help: Access fund arranged by College (rarely used up).

Jobs: Term-time work easy to get. SU employment service, Job Shop. Good prospects for holiday jobs, temping or in the City.

Best features: Social life; brilliant degree.

Worst features: Undeserved 'geeky' image.

More info: Call ICU President, Tel 020 7594 8060, website: http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/aboutimperial

Past students: H G Wells, Sir Lewis Casson, Sir Granville Bantock, Joan Ruddock MP, Sir John Egan, Sir Alexander Fleming, Thomas Huxley, Dr David Livingstone, Raj Persaud, Francis Wilson, Brian May, Trevor Philips.

Take a look on Cambridge University - located in Cambridge, England, UK