Insight Magazine (9) - Discover London's universities

Creative capital

Business centre

Find out how London’s creative arts schools inspire and showcase talent

Read why London is the world’s business and financial capital

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Science hub Discover how London is pushing the boundaries of science and technology

Global clinic Explore why London is the global centre for health and public policy

insight Issue nine

Study in London: the world’s knowledge capital

WELCOME

There has rarely been a better time to come to London to study, and for those of you particularly interested in our thriving Tourism and Hospitality sector, no better time to see for yourselves how it’s done in a world-class city.

Our range of new, cheap, quality accommodation, together with our multitude of free museums, galleries and internationally famous attractions, has seen London named as one of the Lonely Planet travel guide’s top 10 best-value destinations. A worthy accolade indeed, from the most popular student travel guide in the world.

And at a time of global austerity, what other cities can offer our unbeatable combination of affordability, accessible culture, rich heritage and the highest quality academic institutions?

Each year, London welcomes over 26 million visitors. Our tourist sector alone provides career opportunities for 285,000 people in an industry worth over £16 billion.

And we’re still growing. In just over two year’s time, we welcome the world’s greatest sporting extravaganza - the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games - to London. Huge parts of the city are being transformed, turning industrial land into what will become, once the athletes have left town, places to house thousands of Londoners in modern, sustainable communities.

And when the Olympics come to town, the world comes to town. So whether you want to be a part of a multi-billion pound tourism and hospitality industry, or become a planner transforming and regenerating towns and cities into exciting places to live and work, this edition of insight will tell you about the huge range of courses in London that will help you on your way.

So come to London - the most exciting city in the world to study, and be a part of it!

Boris Johnson Mayor of London February 2010

In partnership with:

CONTENTS

To subscribe for free, visit www.studylondon.ac.uk

Issue 9

NEWS 03 Read about the latest courses, research and student successes from London’s universities

BUSINESS & FINANCE

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10 TOURIST INFORMATION. We talk to students about the opportunities in London to study tourism 12 DEGREES OF DIFFERENCE. Boost your career in the public sector with an MPA - the ‘public sector MBA’

CREATIVE ARTS 13 SCULPTURE GARDEN. South Korean sculpture student Minae Kim talks about how London influences her work 14 PHOTOGRAPHERS’ GALLERY. We let the pictures do the talking with a showcase of student photography

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

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16 CHEMICAL SUBSTANCE. Read how the city’s chemistry students are discovering more about themselves and the world we live in 18 ANIMAL MAGIC. From aquatics to zoology, London has a wide choice of animal science courses

HEALTH & PUBLIC POLICY 19 LOST IN TRANSLATION. Training to be a translator offers a host of career options 20 PLANNING THE FUTURE. With the growth of mega-cities around the world, we talk to students undertaking urban planning courses

REGULAR FEATURES

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22 CALENDAR OF EVENTS. Discover London’s diverse festivals and celebrations 24 LONDON’S HIDDEN GEMS. Aristocratic Gift. A look at the splendour and charm of the Wallace Collection

insight is produced by London Higher four times a year. The editorial content of insight is produced by the Study London team. London Higher, Senate House, Malet Street, London WC1E 7HU. Company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales No. 05731255. Registered Charity No.1114873. For editorial enquiries please email press@studylondon.ac.uk For advertising enquiries please email advertising@studylondon.ac.uk. insight is printed on 100% recycled paper.

Credits: Some facts have been supplied by Visit London and HESA data.

Cover image: Nick Wood www.nickwoodphoto.com Canary Wharf insight is designed and printed by Fatpipe Limited www.fatpipe.co.uk The views in insight are not necessarily those of London Higher. Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of material published in insight, London Higher does not accept responsibility for the veracity of claims made by contributors or the advertisers. All material is strictly copyright and all rights are reserved.

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NEWS

IN THE NEWS THE LATEST NEWS FROM LONDON’S UNIVERSITIES

India superstar honoured in bringing Indian music to the West through teaching, performance, and his association with violinist Yehudi Menuhin and George Harrison of The Beatles.

Trinity Laban has previously collaborated with the Bhavan Centre to offer the UK’s first BMus in Indian Music. The Bhavan Centre was originally founded in Mumbai in 1938 and the London Centre is the largest institute for Indian art and culture outside India.

Ravi Shankar

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Source: Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance

LEGENDARY sitar player and composer Ravi Shankar has been awarded an Honorary Fellowship of Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance. The renowned musician was honoured for his contribution to the performance and promotion of Indian music and for his patronage of the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Centre.

Ravi Shankar, performer, composer, teacher and writer, is one of India’s most esteemed musical ambassadors. He is known for his pioneering work

NEWS

Online lectures

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A palaeontologist PhD student at Imperial College London has given scientists new insights into an extinct group of spider-relatives using a new X-ray method that analyses fossils inside hard lumps of rock.

Russell Garwood’s method uses high-resolution X-ray images produced by a machine similar to the CT-scanners used in hospitals to detect tumours in patients. This cutting-edge technique enables scientists to see tiny details of 300 million-year-old fossils without destroying the samples.

The digital images and films have been published in the scientific journal Biology Letters, revealing miniscule details such as tiny claws and spines.

Russell will now use the X-ray method to examine other fossils such as cockroaches and millipedes.

X-ray of spider fossil

Source: Imperial College London / Natural History Museum

THE School of Advanced Study (SAS) website now provides students across the world with access to a wealth of videos that provide insights into a range of subjects such as human rights, international law and history.

Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr. Shirin Ebadi was a recent SAS guest and her lecture is now available online. The lecture focused on Human Rights in Iran and Dr. Ebadi’s Million Signatures Campaign, which aims to end the legal discrimination against women in Iranian law.

SAS is made up of ten prestigious research institutes of the University of London.

Picturing extinct spiders

NEWS

PETER Brathwaite, a student at the Royal College of Music, has won the £10,000 Samuel Coleridge Taylor Award at the VOBO (Voice of Black Opera) awards organised by the Black British Classical Foundation.

Peter won the award for the best performance of an opera written by a black composer.

Source: Royal College of Music / Chris Christodoulou

Voice of black opera

Peter Brathwaite performing

Physics Nobel Prize PROFESSOR Charles Kao, an alumnus of University of Greenwich and University College London, was awarded the 2009 Nobel Prize for Physics. His groundbreaking achievements include using light to transmit communications

in optical fibres, a technology that is now used by the Internet to send information across the world. Known as the ‘Father of Fibre Optics’, Professor Kao first developed the principles of fibre optics in 1966.

Social media CITY University London has launched a pioneering Master’s degree in Information, Communication and Society.

The course will give graduates a combination of technical and analytical skills to manage and use creatively the wealth of information available in their lives.

This interdisciplinary MSc course is the first of its kind and is designed especially for non-technical professionals who wish to acquire an understanding of how technology and social media can be used within their professional lives.

There is a wide choice of modules including political communication, multimedia and mobile information architecture.

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NEWS

Olympic training Source: LOCOG

THE South African Olympic team has chosen St Mary’s University College in Twickenham as its training camp for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Athletes will be able to train and prepare for the Games using the University’s top-class sports facilities.

St Mary’s is a short journey from the Olympic Stadium, providing South Africa’s athletes with easy access to the Games. At the heart of the training base is the High Performance Centre, which provides sports medicine and sports science facilities supported by teams of experienced sports professionals.

LONDON 2012 NEWS Athletes the world over are currently training for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games where they hope to become the fastest, strongest and most accomplished men and women in their chosen sports.

To ensure athletes adhere to the Olympic spirit of fair play, King’s College London’s worldrenowned Drug Control Centre will become an accredited World Anti-Doping Agency during the Games. King’s will join forces with the pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline to analyse thousands of blood samples.

Scientists will work 24 hours a day to protect the integrity of the Games and help athletes lead healthier lives.

The Drug Control Centre at King’s has a track record in anti-doping control. Last year it carried out more than 8,000 blood tests across 70 sports.

Meanwhile, preparations for the London Games continue as the city looks forward to welcoming over 15,000 athletes from more than 200 countries.

To find out more visit: www.london2012.com

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PROFESSOR Anne Mills from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) has won the 2009 Prince Mahidol Award for her outstanding contributions in the field of medicine. Professor Mills, renowned globally for her work in health, received her award from His Majesty the King of Thailand at a ceremony in Bangkok.

She was awarded the prize for her global leadership and use of health economics as a decision-making tool

for health in low and middle income countries.

Generations of health economics researchers in Africa and Asia have been trained by Professor Mills, including a group of Thai PhD students who are now at the forefront of Thailand’s recent health care achievements. LSHTM is Britain’s national school of public health and a leading postgraduate university in Europe for public health and tropical medicine.

Photography prize INZAJEANO Latif and Steve Barritt from Middlesex University recently won the opportunity to exhibit their photography at the National Portrait Gallery. The pair beat international competition from more than 6,000 entrants to be selected for the exhibition, which showcased nominations for the Taylor Wessing Portrait Prize, one of the most prestigious portraiture prizes.

Inzajeano’s photography series focused on female boxers (pictured) and is the result of three months work at a London gym. The highprofile exhibition will provide the winners with excellent exposure to London’s vibrant art market.

Source: Middlesex University

Join us from 27 July to 9 September 2012 to enjoy the world’s greatest sporting extravaganza.

Health economics award

Inzajeano Latif and his work

NEWS

New images of space Images from VISTA will help our understanding of the nature and origin of stars and galaxies, mapping a 3-D structure of our galaxy and its nearest neighbour, the Magellanic Clouds.

Now based in Chile’s Atacama Desert, VISTA has produced its first stunning images (pictured).

Source: London Higher

SCIENTISTS from Queen Mary, University of London led the project to build a new telescope that maps the sky faster and deeper than any other infrared telescope. VISTA (the Visible and Infrared Survey Telescope for Astronomy) is the world’s largest telescope dedicated to mapping the sky in infrared light.

THE LONDON COLUMN Spring 2010 sees the completion of the Museum of London’s exciting transformation.

The lower galleries of the Museum have been redesigned into the Galleries of Modern London to tell the story of the world’s greatest city from the Great Fire of London in 1666 to the present day.

This £20 million project will create five new galleries, broadly covering chronological periods in London’s history.

Source: ESO/J. Emerson/VISTA

VISTA image of the Flame Nebula

Anti-cancer research A PhD student at the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) has won a Europe-wide competition for her research which could bring us a step closer to developing new anti-cancer drugs. Nicole Simonavicius has used a variety of scientific techniques to investigate how cancerous tumours

can be prevented from forming.

The research won Nicole first prize in the research competition run by MedImmune, a unit of pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca. She will use the £2,000 prize to fund the remainder of her research at ICR’s Breakthrough Breast Cancer Research Centre.

The new galleries will have 4,000 objects on display, with more gallery space and online access to the Museum’s collections. The Galleries of Modern London will tell the story of London and its people, reflecting how the vibrancy and energy of Londoners has shaped the modern city.

One gallery focuses on the rebuilding of the City after the Great Fire of London and continues through to the Great Exhibition of 1851, which welcomed six million visitors in six months, and is often seen as the start of London’s tourist trade.

The final gallery focuses on the modern city, where you can explore 21st century London with an interactive map of the River Thames.

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NEWS

Innovative teacher

KINGSTON University London’s MBA course in Moscow has been named the best in Russia by a prestigious league table conducted by the business journal, Company Secrets. The programme was ranked first ahead of 30 Russian business schools in a survey of recent graduates. Schools were assessed on the quality of teaching, networking opportunities and practical skills, together with graduate job prospects and salary.

The Kingston MBA is now in its 11th year and is jointly run with Moscow’s Academy of the National Economy, one of Russia’s best regarded business schools. The course is taught and assessed in English, and uses distance learning, video conferencing and face-to-face tuition to prepare students for the business world.

DR Sarah Baillie, lecturer at the Royal Veterinary College (RVC), has been named Most Innovative Teacher of the Year at the Times Higher Education Awards.

Dr Baillie was commended for using inventive teaching techniques to capture the imagination of her students. She developed a virtual reality simulator that helps veterinary students perform fertility examinations in animals.

The simulator allows teachers like Dr Baillie to provide detailed instruction and feedback while following a student’s hand movements inside the cow on the computer monitor. Dr Baillie’s techniques have since been adopted by teachers across the globe. Founded in 1791, the RVC has a proud heritage of innovation in veterinary science, clinical practice and education.

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Dr Baillie (right) collects her award

Source: Chris Barber / THE

Russian MBA

NEWS

Spirit of London Mariama Samba

Source: University of East London

UNIVERSITY of East London student, Mariama Samba, was recently presented with a Spirit of London award for her achievements in music.

Mariama has produced two albums and performed on the same stage as top Senegalese musician, Youssou N’dour at London’s O2 Arena. The award celebrates inspirational Londoners and is judged by music industry professionals such as Leona Lewis.

A taste of art history

New African scholars KING’S College London has been awarded a grant of over $1.5 million from the Carnegie Corporation of New York to fund Peace and Security Fellowships at their African Leadership Centre (ALC).

The ALC equips young Africans with the skills and knowledge to become leading analysts and policymakers

on peace, security and development in Africa. It was first established in 2008 by King’s in partnership with Kenyatta University in Kenya.

The Carnegie grant will enable 21 young African scholars to complete Master’s courses in Conflict, Security and Development, or International Peace and Security at King’s.

STUDENTS in London can now develop their understanding of art history with a short course at the Courtauld Institute of Art. The Institute’s evening lecture series, Showcasing Art History, explores tradition and innovation in art. Students study the world-renowned collections of the Courtauld Gallery, which include iconic works by Manet, Cézanne and Renoir. Inspiring lectures from specialist art historians are complemented by visits to London’s museums and galleries.

Courtauld is one of the world’s leading centres for the study of the history and conservation of art, and its Gallery houses one of Britain’s best-loved collections.

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BUSINESS & FINANCE

IN THIS SECTION: READ WHY LONDON IS THE WORLD’S BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL CAPITAL

TOURIST INFORMATION We talk to students about the opportunities in London to study tourism.

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Weiky Ferreira Filho

“London is at the centre of the world, giving access to Europe and Asia. It’s such a multicultural city and a great place to start travelling from.” to study a tourism degree, especially one that has an international dimension. Weiky Ferreira Filho (pictured), a Brazilian student at the University of Greenwich, agrees, “London is at the centre of the world, giving access to Europe and Asia. It’s such a multicultural city and a great place to start travelling from.”

Weiky, who is studying the MA in

Source: Weiky Ferreira Filho / University of Greenwich

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n his recent visit to New York, the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, signed a two-year tourism agreement with the Mayor of New York, Michael Bloomberg.

The agreement will see the two cities working closely together, sharing best practice and providing each other with outdoor media advertising space to promote travel between the two cities.

This agreement demonstrates that tourism is big business for both cities. Tourism in London is one of the key drivers of the city’s economy, with visitors spending approximately £16 billion each year, which helps support around 285,000 jobs in the industry.

Even in the current economic downturn, London remains the number one destination for international visitors. Nearly 15 million international visitors came to the city in 2008 (see fig.1) helping to boost hotel occupancy rates in London and defy the global hotel recession.

Recent research revealed that almost 80 percent of London’s hotel rooms were taken by paying customers, the highest occupancy rate of the 87 cities taking part in the survey.

As one of the best connected cities in the world, London is the perfect place

International Tourism Management at Greenwich, had already studied tourism in Brazil at undergraduate level. She explains, “I am enjoying the contrast of London, of being in the heart of a tourism capital.” Her course includes interesting subjects such as cultural tourism and, using the city’s wide range of museums and theatres, Weiky has access to plenty of fascinating case studies and work experience opportunities.

London has over 250 museums, 150 theatres and four UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The University of Greenwich is located within the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage site, a complex of famous historic landmarks such as the National Maritime Museum, the Royal Observatory, home of Greenwich Mean Time and the Meridian Line, and the inspirational architecture of Sir Christopher Wren at the Old Royal Naval College.

The visitor experience is key to keeping London’s tourism industry vibrant. In recent years there has been a strong campaign to upgrade London’s hotel and hospitality sector.

Subsidies and free advisory visits are available to hotels wishing to improve their quality as part of ‘Get London Graded’, a campaign designed to improve the ratings of the city’s hotels.

Disha Chen, a student from China, is studying the International Tourism Management degree at Middlesex

BUSINESS & FINANCE

Source: www.britainonview.com

Visitors enjoy the entertainment in Covent Garden

the complex relationships between tourism, the environment and development with specific reference to the world’s poorest countries.

Gaining a sustainable view of tourism is important when you consider the tourism industry in many parts of the world is in its infancy and there is a need to balance the protection of historical sites with income generation.

Weiky is already developing an idea to take “the world back to Brazil”. She is organising a touring exhibition in her country that will show Brazilians the rich diversity of the world’s people and cultures in the lead-up to the 2016 Olympic Games which will be hosted in Brazil. Before then, London will welcome the world to the city when it hosts the Games in 2012. What better work experience for tourism students than volunteering for the greatest show on earth.

Fig.1 - Leading cities for international tourism 2008 NEW YORK 7.6 PARIS 8.8 SINGAPORE 10.3 BANGKOK 10.8 HONG KONG 12.1 LONDON 14.8 0

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Overseas visits (m)

Did you know?

There are direct flights from London to

530 destinations worldwide (Source: Think London)

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Source: Euromonitor International’s Top City Destination Ranking, 2008

University. Why did she choose London? “The education system in the UK is good and famous around the world and there are lots of well known universities,” Disha explains.

Specialising in Human Resource Management, Disha hopes to undertake a HR work placement within the hospitality industry as part of her degree. Upon graduation, she plans to stay in London to begin a Master’s degree. She says, “I enjoy living in London very much, experiencing the culture and life of such a big capital city.”

With more people than ever before travelling the globe, there has been a growing trend for tourist destinations to focus on sustainable and green tourism to protect precious resources and ancient sites. In recognition of this trend, King’s College London offers a Master’s in Tourism, Environment and Development. The course studies

BUSINESS & FINANCE

DEGREES OF DIFFERENCE Boost your public sector career with an MPA - the ‘public sector MBA.’

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explains. “I decided that I wanted to do something worthwhile with my life and help to make things better in Armenia.”

Olya was awarded a Chevening Scholarship to study in London and brought with her a wealth of previous experience. She had already completed an undergraduate degree at Yerevan State Linguistic University and an MA in State Governance at the Armenian State Governance Academy.

“I decided that I wanted to do something worthwhile with my life and help to make things better in Armenia.”

She is now thinking of the future and her return to Armenia. She strongly believes that the country needs more professionally qualified senior public administrators, especially more women who are woefully underrepresented in public organisations. “Out of the 131 MPs only seven are women,” she explains. “Within ten years time, I want to become an MP.” Olya’s ambitions do not stop there. She intends to take a PhD in Comparative Politics before embarking on the road to her ideal job - to be the first female Armenian Prime Minister.

Judging her career trajectory so far, it will not be long before Olya uses the skills and experience she has gained in London to make a positive impact in her home country.

Olya Azatyan

Source: London Metropolitan University

ondon is well known as a centre for both international business and business education, with over 20 universities in the city offering the Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) qualification that dominate the global league tables.

But what is less well known is the MBA’s ‘sister’ qualification, the Master’s in Public Administration (MPA), which is aimed at students who want to pursue a senior career in public administration.

You can study an MPA in Public Policy and Management at the London School of Economics, which will give you interdisciplinary training in economics and political science for careers in public service. In the final year of this two year course, you can undertake a work placement with a public sector organisation, international body, or private sector consultancy to increase your understanding of the issues facing public sector organisations.

Armenian student Olya Azatyan undertook the MA in International Public Administration at London Metropolitan University after working for a number of years in international organisations. It was her experience of growing up in Armenia in the 1990s, and the collapse of the Soviet Union, that encouraged her to study public administration.

“I’ve witnessed many downturns in the socio-economic conditions of my country. In the early 1990s we had no heating, no electricity, many changed values and minimum resources,” she

CREATIVE ARTS

IN THIS SECTION: FIND OUT HOW LONDON’S CREATIVE ARTS SCHOOLS INSPIRE AND SHOWCASE TALENT

SCULPTURE GARDEN

We talk to South Korean sculpture student Minae Kim about how London influences her work.

It is Minae’s relationship with her tutors that she has found most helpful. “I am happy to be with my enthusiastic colleagues and friendly tutors,” she explains. “Seeing other ways of working and talking with them gives me inspiration.”

Minae Kim

Source: Study London

Living in London provides Minae with a wide range of experiences and she draws her inspiration from the vast art collections, most of which she can access for free.

Source: Minae Kim / Royal College of Art

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ondon’s universities have a long history of producing outstanding sculptors who have changed the way we think about the art form. Henry Moore, Barbara Hepworth and Anish Kapoor are all London alumni, with Moore and Hepworth both winning scholarships to attend the Royal College of Art (RCA) in the 1920s.

Today, the RCA continues the tradition of nurturing new talent on their MA Sculpture programme, one of the largest specialist programmes in the UK. RCA student Minae Kim, from South Korea, chose to study sculpture in London because of the opportunities the city offers. Minae says, “In London I expect to plunge into internationally recognised art scenes, galleries and museums.”

Royal Academy of Arts

Living in London provides Minae with a wide range of experiences and she draws her inspiration from the city’s vast art collections, most of which she can access for free. The Victoria & Albert Museum’s sculpture collection is the most comprehensive holding of medieval and renaissance European sculpture in the world.

Alternatively, the British Museum’s sculpture collection spans the globe and contains a vast range of antiquities from the Classical world including the amazing Parthenon sculptures.

A number of other universities in London also offer sculpture courses, either at undergraduate level or as part of their MA Fine Art courses.

The University of the Arts London is one of the leading providers of arts programmes. The sculptors Anish

Kapoor and Richard Long are both alumni, each of whom have recently attracted the international spotlight following major exhibitions of their work in London galleries.

London continues to act as a spring-board to develop an international career, using the city’s diversity to create new forms of cultural expression.

Did you know?

There are

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Royal Academicians of the Royal Academy of Arts (Source: Royal Academy of Art)

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CREATIVE ARTS

PHOTOGRAPHERS’

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Source: Middlesex University

ondon has a long history of photographic appreciation.

In 1858 the Victoria & Albert (V&A) Museum hosted a photography exhibition organised by the Photographic Society of London, the first exhibition of photographs ever to be staged at a museum anywhere in the world.

In the intervening 150 years, the study and appreciation of photographic techniques has grown.

London’s Photographers’ Gallery is the UK’s primary venue for contemporary photography. The Gallery has become one of Europe’s most visited galleries dedicated to photography, showcasing new talent and hosting high profile exhibitions.

Aspiring photographers can enjoy free exhibitions, seminars and conferences, such as the recent Points of View exhibition at the British Library, which brought together a magnificent selection of early photographs from the Library’s unique collections.

London’s universities offer a vast range of photography courses, some with a specific focus such as Goldsmiths, University of London’s unique MA in Photography and Urban Cultures. This course encourages a creative interplay between photographic practice and theory to document life in urban environments. The University of the Arts London offers one of the broadest portfolios of photography courses, from an MA in Fashion Photography through to an MA in Photojournalism and Documentary Photography (examples on page 15).

Photographic teaching continues to grow in London. Roehampton University recently celebrated the first graduating class of its new BA Photography with an exhibition at Free Range, Europe’s largest graduate art and design show.

Lucie Varekova is a Czech student at Middlesex University. Her work focuses on the conflict between the proposed building of a third runway at Heathrow Airport and the effects on the local community.

CREATIVE ARTS

GALLERY

We let the pictures do the talking with a showcase of student photography.

Source: Louise O’Kelly

Louise O’Kelly captures an essence of the spiritual quality experienced when spending time in nature.

Source: Marta Montserrat

Source: Elena Pirogova

Elena Pirogova is heavily influenced by the fashion industry.

Marta Montserrat focuses on objects removed from everyday surroundings.

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SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

IN THIS SECTION: DISCOVER HOW LONDON IS PUSHING THE BOUNDARIES OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

CHEMICAL SUBSTANCE H ave you ever wondered what is in the air you breathe or the food you eat? Every day many of us take for granted the science behind the chemical substances and compounds that we encounter. Yet you can be certain that chemists have identified what these substances are made of, how they interact with one another and how they affect our lives.

Chemistry has never been so important. As climate change threatens the planet, chemists in laboratories all over the world are working to understand the impact of carbon emissions and are conducting experiments to evaluate possible solutions.

Now is a great time to study chemistry. The laboratories and lecture theatres of London’s universities will give you the experience and skills to pursue a wide choice of career options when you graduate.

Dr Stephen Barton is course director of the Chemical Analysis MSc at Kingston University London. He says, “Chemical analysis plays a role in virtually all aspects of everyday life. If you like laboratory work and getting your hands dirty, then analytical chemistry may be the choice for you and there is an increasing demand for qualified analytical chemists.”

Graduates of Dr Barton’s course become experts in traditional science fields such as chemical, pharmaceutical, food, health or waste management industries. Alternatively,

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you can work in government, consultancy or even journalism.

At Kingston you will study in state-of-the-art laboratories and have access to equipment such as spectrometers, nuclear magnetic resonance devices, electrochemical analysis and nuclear science equipment.

“I have access to unrivalled resources to support my study here and my qualification will be a solid foundation for boosting my career prospects.”

The course also provides the option of a work placement within industry where you can complete your own independent research project. You may work in a pharmaceutical company, forensic laboratory, analytical consultancy, hospital laboratory or research lab.

Kingston’s expert practitioners and researchers teach the course and the University has strong industry connections with organisations such as GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer and AstraZeneca.

Employment was one of the reasons why Kingston student Chandan Kaiwar chose London to study his MSc in Pharmaceutical Analysis with Management Studies. He explains, “London is a world-class and multicultural city. I have access

Read how the city’s chemistry students are discovering more about themselves and the world we live in.

to unrivalled resources to support my study here and my qualification will be a solid foundation for boosting my career prospects.”

Moving to London from India has expanded Chandan’s knowledge of chemistry and given him the confidence to be independent in a foreign country. “I have gained selfconfidence by staying alone in such a big city, so far from my family. I’ve also developed time management and multi-tasking skills and become more self-motivated.” And because London is home to large international communities, Chandan says he has never felt homesick.

Students and researchers at Imperial College London have access to worldclass research and teaching in one of the largest chemistry departments in the UK. Here you can network with a thriving research community and exchange ideas with academic staff, Fellows of the Royal Society or postdoctoral fellows, many of whom are internationally renowned in their respective fields. Imperial also works with an extensive list of European and US organisations to help students find work placements.

French student Lise Le Joncour studied the Chemistry with Medicinal Chemistry MSc at Imperial. She says, “The reputation of chemistry at Imperial was impressive. I did a 12-month placement at a German pharmaceutical company, which has considerably improved my skills in the lab. This kind of experience is very

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

important to future employers and I would definitely recommend it.”

Imperial’s wide choice of chemistry subjects will satisfy the specialists too.

Their MRes in Green Chemistry is for those interested in the environment and renewable energy, while their MSc Chemistry with an overseas study option will add a global perspective to any CV. Alternatively, the Chemistry with Molecular Physics MSc offers an insight into the physical sciences with subjects such as nanotechnology, molecular electronics and biotechnology.

Postgraduate chemistry students at University College London (UCL) study under the direct supervision of academic experts. The University’s MSc in Chemical Process Engineering has a range of specialist modules for you to choose from, including Organic Chemistry, Biological Chemistry, Drug Design, Physical Chemistry and Quantum Mechanics. Outside of the research laboratory, UCL’s Chemical

and Physical Society provides you with a range of informal talks and events so you can meet new people and future employers.

Biochemistry is a subject in its own right. It is growing in importance and popularity because it helps us to understand how the human body operates. King’s College London’s Biomedical and Molecular Sciences Research MSc focuses on both your practical and research skills thanks to a number of expert-led workshops.

Alternatively, the MSc in Biomedical Science at the University of East London will boost your understanding of clinical chemistry. This course will guide you through the analysis of chemical components in body fluids such as blood to find potential cures for a variety of diseases.

Knowledge is never too far away if you choose to study in London. Dr Barton recommends the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) to students seeking to broaden their horizons.

He says, “The RSC has a library with a good selection of analytical books and they also organise industrial visits around London.” The Society is the largest organisation in Europe advancing the chemical sciences, providing the city’s aspiring chemists with free lectures and careers advice.

London is a city of ideas and experiments. It is filled with scientific experts, resources and career options that will help you discover your talents and open the door to an exciting future at the forefront of science.

Did you know?

The Royal Society of Chemistry has

46,000 members worldwide (Source: www.rsc.org)

to subscribe for free visit www.studylondon.ac.uk

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Source: Chandan Kaiwar

Chandan Kaiwar

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

ANIMAL MAGIC Source: Ashleigh Lutz

From aquatics to zoology, London has a wide choice of animal science courses.

O

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www.studylondon.ac.uk

Ashleigh Lutz

Source: Royal Veterinary College

pened in 1828, London Zoo is the world’s oldest scientific zoo.

Today, the zoo’s conservation and educational work continues as part of the Zoological Society of London (ZSL).

The charity is home to the Institute of Zoology, a worldrenowned research centre that has teamed up with London’s Royal Veterinary College (RVC) to provide postgraduate animal biology and health courses.

Ashleigh Lutz is an American student studying RVC’s MSc in Wild Animal Biology. She says, “Animals fascinate me and this course is an incredible opportunity to attend seminars at the Institute of Zoology with some of the world’s leading animal conservationists. I have already learned a tremendous amount, from how to manage global animal conservation issues to how to perform post-mortem animal pathological investigations.”

Opportunities to work with animals at London Zoo or ZSL’s second zoo at Whipsnade attract students to RVC from all over the world. “International students make up almost half of the students on the course. The different ideas and perspectives that everyone contributes are extremely beneficial for understanding conservation on a global level,” says Ashleigh.

The Grant Museum of Zoology, located at University College London, is on the site where Charles Darwin once lived and is

Students working at Royal Veterinary College

“Animals fascinate me and this course is an incredible opportunity to attend seminars at the Institute of Zoology with some of the world’s leading animal conservationists.” packed with 62,000 animal specimens.

The Museum is open to all, including the University’s own BSc Zoology students, and is perfect for researching extinct species such as the Tasmanian tiger and the dodo.

Studying a Zoology BSc at Roehampton University will provide you with a detailed understanding of the evolution, anatomy, physiology, behaviour and ecology of animals.

Alternatively, you can study Queen Mary, University of London’s BSc in Zoology with Aquatic Biology which studies aquatic organisms and the environments in which they live. You

will study important environmental issues such as how microscopic marine plankton play a key role in regulating the Earth’s climate. Queen Mary is ideally located for practical work and also has strong links with established researchers from organisations such as the Natural History Museum.

A world of opportunity awaits once you have finished your studies. Career options include working with charities, government agencies, universities and zoos. As Ashleigh says, “You are never going to be monetarily rich, but careers regarding animals are rich and fulfilling in many other ways.”

Did you know?

The Grant Museum of Zoology contains

62,000 animal specimens (Source: UCL)

HEALTH & PUBLIC POLICY

IN THIS SECTION: EXPLORE WHY LONDON IS THE GLOBAL CENTRE FOR HEALTH AND PUBLIC POLICY

LOST IN TRANSLATION Training to be a translator offers a host of career options.

Source: London Metropolitan University

I

f you have a talent for languages and want to use your skills to help other people, you could consider a career as an interpreter or translator. People normally associate interpreters with huge conferences, especially those run by the United Nations, but there is a wide range of opportunities in London for interpreters who want to work in the fields of health and public policy.

You will find translators at work in the numerous doctors’ surgeries and hospitals run by the UK’s renowned National Health Service (NHS), whilst opportunities also exist in the capital’s courts and police stations.

Interpreters who want to work in an international environment could find themselves working in one of the city’s many embassies. With more than 170 of them based in the capital, the opportunities for translators who want to work in the diplomatic service are huge.

Accordingly, there are some excellent translation courses running in London. The capital’s translation students benefit from a wealth of work placement opportunities something that can help you secure a job after graduation.

Esme Knights is a graduate of London Metropolitan University’s MA in Applied Translation Studies.

Originally from Barbados, she

Esme Knights

“The opportunity to interact with students whose countries I have never visited was an added bonus. It provided opportunities to learn first-hand about different lifestyles and cultures.” explains, “The course has given me a solid foundation. My tutors not only gave attention to theory but also made themselves accessible to dispense advice and guidance based on their

professional experience.”

Esme, who now works for the NHS, is particularly enthusiastic about the work placement aspect of the programme. “It gave me valuable insights and it has informed my approach to the projects I have completed since graduation.”

It is not just the work-based elements of studying in London that Esme benefited from. She also says that coming here and mixing with students from across the world has enhanced her cultural awareness something that’s vital for success as an interpreter. She explains, “The opportunity to interact with students whose countries I have never visited was an added bonus. It provided opportunities to learn first-hand about different lifestyles and cultures.”

Alternatively, if you want to work in a diplomatic service, courses like the University of Westminster’s MA Interpreting, Translation & Diplomacy provide another gateway to your career. Whatever your dreams, the opportunities available in London speak for themselves.

Did you know?

There are more than

170

embassies located in London (Source: Think London)

to subscribe for free visit www.studylondon.ac.uk

19

HEALTH & PUBLIC POLICY

PLANNING THE

Source: www.shardlondonbridge.com / Sellar Property Group

The Shard (top left), will be Europe’s tallest skyscraper when completed in 2012

With the growth of megacities around the world, we talk to students undertaking urban planning courses.

M

ore than half of the world’s population lives in cities. The continued industrialisation of society, coupled with the growth of

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developing economies, has led to a large rise in the number of people living in urban environments.

Population growth has contributed to a number of problems such as overcrowding and climate change, issues which are being addressed not only by politicians but also by urban planners - the people who map and manage our towns and cities.

Professor Sarah Sayce is head of the

School of Planning and Surveying at Kingston University London. She says that quality urban planning is critical, especially in developing economies.

“Population growth comes at a heavy environmental cost,” she explains.

“We now have a world agenda on climate change and a realisation that economies are interdependent. That means urban planning now requires an international dimension.”

HEALTH & PUBLIC POLICY

FUTURE Sustainable planning is at the heart of the possible solutions to overcrowding. Today’s cities need to be robust to fight the issues of drought, pollution and resource exploitation created by the global economy. London is at the centre of this debate, with students coming from around the world to study urban planning at its universities.

“I came to London because it is surely the best place to learn architecture and planning. It has good resources and live case studies.”

Dr Jung Won Sonn is director of urban planning at University College London (UCL). He believes London is the ideal place for urban planning students, “The UK gave birth to the modern concept of urban planning, and because London went through industrialisation and population growth before many other cities, its planners had to be inventive.”

Innovations included the world’s first underground railway system, which London commuters still use today to make more than a billion journeys a year.

London’s innovations continue to this day. Exciting projects such as ‘Urban Age’, a London School of Economics (LSE) research initiative investigating the future of cities worldwide. Omer Cavusoglu, a student from Turkey, began working on the project when he started his City Design and Social Science MSc at LSE. Omar assisted with Urban Age’s Istanbul conference where he undertook vital research to take back home with him once he graduates.

He explains, “Turkey is a rapidly urbanising country with around 75 percent of the population living in urban areas. It is investigating how to accommodate this rapid growth without compromising on social, environmental and physical qualities.

Urban Age provides some insight into how this can be done.”

Having previously studied in Turkey and Denmark, Omer is enthusiastic about studying in London and he believes there is “hardly anywhere better to study urbanism”. He says, “London is where top professionals come to work and study together.

It’s a truly global city where almost everyone ends up with a clear purpose. I have accumulated immense experience.” Such experience will be put to good use back home in Turkey, as Omer plans to work in politics when he returns, with a view to enabling positive and sustainable urban change.

Lily Dai is a third-year student from China studying UCL’s BSc Urban Planning Design and Management.

She also came to London to learn skills that will help her improve her own country when she returns home as a city designer. She explains, “China is experiencing a period of rapid growth. There is a large amount of development so professional and insightful planning is needed. I came to London because it is surely the best place to learn architecture and planning. It has good resources and live case studies and we can learn from up-to-date examples.”

Those up-to-date examples include the preparations for the 2012 Olympic Games, being held in east London, as well as projects such as the new Crossrail train service and the building of Europe’s tallest skyscraper, the Shard at London Bridge. All of these

projects are a direct response to the continuing growth of the capital, each of which needs to carefully consider environmental and sustainability issues.

Study urban planning in London like Lily and Omer and you’ll receive a good understanding of planning theories, along with practical exercises that will challenge and develop your abilities in joined-up thinking, problem solving and systems analysis. You’ll learn skills such as mapping, statistics and urban design, while understanding how issues such as environmental economics and environmental politics can impact on a project.

Other courses available in the city include an MA in International Planning and Sustainable Development at the University of Westminster and an MSc in Sustainable Cities at King’s College London. In addition, you’ll be able to get your career off to a great start with access to resources at one of the many professional bodies based in the capital, including the Royal Town Planning Institute, the Royal Institute of British Architects and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

These institutes offer networking opportunities as well as conferences and accredited courses that will contextualise and broaden your studies.

Did you know?

Over

50%

of the world’s population now lives in cities (Source: www.urban-age.net)

to subscribe for free visit www.studylondon.ac.uk

21

EVENTS

CALENDAR OF EVENTS JANUARY

New Year’s Day Parade International Mime Festival London Art Fair FEBRUARY

Chinese New Year Celebrations London Fashion Week Six Nations Rugby at Twickenham MARCH

St Patrick’s Day Parade Affordable Art Fair The Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race London Marathon London Book Fair The Camden Crawl Vaisakhi Celebrations MAY

Africa Day Celebrations FA Cup Final Chelsea Flower Show Student Final Year Shows across London

FEBRUARY London Fashion Week Join fashion leaders, retailers and models for the premier event in the UK fashion calendar.

See the future of fashion and study the work of more than 210 top British and international ready-to-wear and accessory designers, from the edgy and cool to the contemporary and commercial.

Source: Catwalk.com

APRIL

A selection of London’s festivals and celebrations

FEBRUARY Chinese New Year Celebrations Celebrate Chinese arts, heritage and culture at venues throughout London.

The Chinese Year of the Tiger will be celebrated in the city, culminating with a spectacular street party and parade in London’s China Town.

JUNE

Trooping the Colour City of London Festival London Literature Festival Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships

London Festival of Architecture Taste of London Camden Green Fair 22

www.studylondon.ac.uk

Source: James O’Jenkins

The Royal Academy’s Summer Exhibition

EVENTS

Go online to read more about events taking place in London www.studylondon.ac.uk MARCH St Patrick’s Day Parade

JULY

Wireless Music Festival BBC Proms Classical Music Festival Pride London

Enjoy a free carnival of marching bands, community groups, sports clubs, schools and street theatre from the UK, Ireland and USA. The streets of central London become alive with all things Irish - food, dance, crafts, culture and music.

AUGUST

APRIL London Marathon

Trafalgar Square Festival Carnaval del Pueblo Notting Hill Carnival London Triathlon London Mela

Cheer the dedicated 36,000 runners who take to London’s streets for the largest annual fundraising event in the world. Over £40 million will be raised for charity as athletes and fun runners run 26.2 miles past some of London’s most famous landmarks including the Cutty Sark in Greenwich, Tower Bridge, Canary Wharf, the Tower of London and the Houses of Parliament. After much sweat and energy, they will cross the finish line in front of Buckingham Palace.

SEPTEMBER

Regent Street Festival Open House London Design Festival Thames Festival London Fashion Week The Great River Race Brick Lane Festival OCTOBER

Source: World Wide Images

APRIL The Camden Crawl Source: Camden Crawl

Over two days, 40 venues and more than 200 new and renowned live music acts performing, this popular festival showcases the hottest talent in music.

London Film Festival Eid Celebrations Frieze Art Fair Bloomsbury Festival Diwali Celebrations London Games Festival NOVEMBER

Lord Mayor’s Show London Jazz Festival State Opening of Parliament DECEMBER

Carols in Trafalgar Square New Year’s Eve Fireworks Royal Institution Christmas Lectures

to subscribe for free visit www.studylondon.ac.uk

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LONDON’S HIDDEN GEMS

IN EACH EDITION WE EXPLORE LONDON’S UNIQUE TREASURES, SPECIALIST COLLECTIONS AND RESOURCES. THIS EDITION WE FOCUS ON THE WALLACE COLLECTION.

ARISTOCRATIC GIFT A look at the splendour and charm of the Wallace Collection.

S

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Hertford House

Source: Courtesy of the Wallace Collection

et back off Oxford Street, London’s busiest shopping street, sits the majestic townhouse, Hertford House, home to the international treasure trove of the Wallace Collection.

The Wallace Collection is a tranquil oasis displaying wonderful works of art collected in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries by the Marquesses of Hertford and Sir Richard Wallace.

The Collection includes sumptuous work by artists such as Titian, Rembrandt, Hals and Velázquez, as well as a superb collection of eighteenth century French paintings, porcelain, furniture and gold boxes probably the best to be seen anywhere outside France.

The charm of the Collection is the manner in which it is displayed, as if nothing has been moved since it was bequeathed to the nation by Lady Wallace in 1897. In the terms of Lady Wallace’s bequest, the Wallace Collection must remain intact - with nothing added or taken away. As you move through the rooms you get an insight into how aristocratic families once lived in London.

The Wallace Collection displays an array of European oil paintings from the fourteenth to the mid-nineteenth century which, among museums in England, is surpassed only by those in the National Gallery.

Rococo art and interior design is vividly represented in the furniture

Inside the Wallace Collection

Jean Honore-Fragonard, The Swing (1767)

displayed throughout the house, some of which are pieces once owned by the French Queen Marie Antoinette.

The furniture is further enhanced by the vibrant silk wallpaper in shades of blue, green and pink.

The Wallace may seem frozen in time, but there have been changes. In 2000 the courtyard was glazed over to create a stunning restaurant and for

the first time they have allowed a living artist to display new work.

The enfant terrible of art, Damien Hirst, recently exhibited his new paintings at the Wallace.

A stroll through the sublime Wallace Collection couldn’t be further from the hustle and bustle of Oxford Street but this free gallery is a detour worth taking.

Printed on recycled paper

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Find your university course in London at: www.studylondon.ac.uk