u/French-studentt

Hi everyone,

I’m a French student who has received offers to study Law at Cardiff University, Lancaster University and City St George’s, University of London and I’m currently deciding between the three.

I’d really like to hear from people who live in Lancaster about what the city is actually like, especially from a student’s perspective.

I’m particularly interested in :

- What is Lancaster like to live in as a young student ?

- Do you generally feel safe in the city, including walking around alone in the evening/night ?

- Are there any areas that are considered less safe or that you would recommend avoiding ?

- What is the city centre like at night ?

- What is the nightlife and social scene like ?

- Is it easy to meet people and make friends ?

- Is Lancaster welcoming to international students ?

- What is the general atmosphere of the city ?

- Is it affordable compared with cities like Manchester or London ?

- Roughly how much would a student need per month for rent, food, transport and going out ?

- What are the best areas to live as a student ?

- Is public transport good ?

- How easy is it to get to London and other UK cities ?

- Is Lancaster too small or quiet for a student, or do you feel there is enough to do ?

-What do you like most and least about living in Lancaster ?

- If you’ve lived there for several years, would you choose Lancaster again ?

Hi everyone,

I’m a French student who has received offers to study Law at Cardiff University, Lancaster University and City St George’s, University of London and I’m currently deciding between the three.

I’d love to hear from current Lancaster Law students and recent graduates about your experience.

I’m particularly interested in :

- What is the Law course actually like ?

- How are the teaching and lecturers ?

- How good is the Law School’s career support ?

- How easy is it to get involved in societies, mooting, pro bono work, internships etc ?

- How good are the opportunities for vacation schemes, placements and legal work experience ?

- Do you feel Lancaster gives you good access to major UK law firms, particularly London firms ?

- How useful are the university’s connections and careers service for getting into commercial/corporate law ?

- What opportunities are there for international law, human rights and diplomacy ?

- Do you feel the university’s reputation helps with applications to competitive firms ?

I’d also really like to hear about Lancaster as a city and the overall student experience:

- What is Lancaster like to live in for three years ?

Do you generally feel safe, including walking around alone in the evening ?

- Are there any areas students tend to avoid ?

- How is the nightlife and social scene ?

- Is it easy to make friends ?

- Is Lancaster welcoming to international students ?

- How expensive is it compared with other UK student cities ?

- What are the best areas to live ?

- What is accommodation like ?

- How easy is it to travel to London, Manchester and other major UK cities ?

- What do you like most and least about living in Lancaster ?

- If you’ve graduated, would you choose Lancaster again ?

My long-term career interests are currently between human rights/international law/diplomacy and corporate/commercial law potentially with the possibility of moving into finance later on.

I’m particularly interested in whether Lancaster keeps both paths open and whether studying outside London puts you at a disadvantage for internships, networking and recruitment.

Hi everyone,

I’m a French student who has received offers to study Law at Cardiff University, Lancaster University and City St George’s, University of London and I’m currently deciding between them.

Cardiff is my main choice so I’d really like to hear from people who live in Cardiff about what the city is actually like, especially from a student’s perspective.

I’m particularly interested in :

- What is Cardiff like to live in as a young student ?

- Do you generally feel safe in the city, including walking around alone in the evening/night ?

- Are there any areas that are considered less safe or that you would recommend avoiding ?

- How is the city centre at night ?

- What is the nightlife like ?

- Is it easy to meet people and make friends ?

- Is Cardiff welcoming to international students ?

- What is the general atmosphere of the city ?

- Is it affordable compared with cities like London?

- Roughly how much would a student need per month for rent, food, transport and going out ?

- What are the best areas to live as a student ?

- Is public transport good ?

- How easy is it to get to London, Bristol and other UK cities ?

- What do you like most and least about living in Cardiff ?

- If you’ve lived there for several years, would you choose Cardiff again ?

Thanks :)

Hi everyone,

I’m a French student who has received offers to study Law at Cardiff University, Lancaster University and City St George’s, University of London and I’m currently trying to decide between the three.

Cardiff is my main choice so I’d love to hear from current Cardiff Law students and recent graduates about your experience.

I’m particularly interested in :

- What is the Law course actually like ?

- How are the teaching and lecturers ?

- How good is the Law School’s career support ?

- How easy is it to get involved in societies, mooting, pro bono work, internships etc ?

- How competitive are opportunities such as vacation schemes and placements ?

- Do you feel Cardiff gives you good access to major UK law firms, particularly London firms ?

- How useful are the university’s connections and careers service for getting into commercial/corporate law ?

- What opportunities are there for international law, human rights and diplomacy ?

I’d also really like to know more about Cardiff as a city, especially from students who actually live there:

- What is the city like for students and day-to-day life ?

- Do you generally feel safe walking around Cardiff, including in the evening ?

- Are there particular areas that students tend to avoid ?

- How is the nightlife and social scene ?

- Is it easy to make friends and meet people ?

- Is Cardiff affordable compared with other UK cities ?

- What are the best and worst things about living there ?

- How easy is it to travel to London and other major UK cities ?

My long-term career interests are currently between human rights/international law/diplomacy and corporate/commercial law, potentially with the possibility of moving into finance later on.

I’m particularly interested in hearing whether Cardiff has good opportunities for both paths and whether studying at Cardiff creates any disadvantages compared with studying in London when it comes to internships, networking and recruitment.

Hi everyone,

I’m a French student trying to decide between three UK universities for an LLB.

I currently have offers from Cardiff University, Lancaster University and City St George’s, University of London.

My long-term career interests are currently between two paths:

- Human rights / international law / diplomacy, potentially working with international organisations or in government/diplomatic roles.

- Corporate/commercial law, working for big law firms (eventually moving into finance)

I’m not completely sure which direction I’ll take so I’m looking for a university that keeps both options open.

For those working as a solicitor or barrister in the UK, I’d particularly like to know how you would perceive these three universities in terms of :

- Employer perception and reputation

- Commercial/corporate law recruitment

- Human rights/international law opportunities

- Access to big law firms and particularly London firms

- Vacation schemes, training contracts and networking

- Whether the university name makes a meaningful difference in recruitment

I’d also be interested in your perspective on whether being based in London at City St George’s gives a significant advantage for legal recruitment compared with studying at Cardiff or Lancaster or whether the difference is relatively small if the student builds a strong CV and gets relevant experience.

If you were advising someone in my position, which of the three would you recommend and why ?

Hi everyone,

I’m trying to decide between universities for an LLB and would really appreciate some honest advice.

I currently have offers for Law at Cardiff University, Lancaster University and City St George’s, University of London.

I’m a French student planning to study in the UK and I’m potentially interested in staying in the UK after graduation.

My career goals are currently between two main paths :

- Human rights, international law diplomacy, working for international organisations or in government/diplomatic roles

- Corporate/commercial law working in big law firms (eventually moving into finance)

Since I’m not 100% sure which direction I’ll take, I want to choose a university that gives me strong opportunities and keeps both paths open.

From a career perspective, I’m particularly interested in university reputation, employer perception, graduate opportunities, access to London and major law firms, international opportunities, networking, internships/vacation schemes and how each university is viewed for both commercial law and international/human rights law.

I’d also really like to hear about the actual student experience and not just rankings.

For example:

- How is studying Law at the university ?

- How good are the teaching, academics and career support ?

- What is the student social life like ?

- What is the city itself like to live in as a student ?

- Is it easy to make friends ?

- Is the city expensive ? (Cardiff and Lancaster)

- What is quality of life like ?

- Do you actually enjoy living there for 3+ years ?

If you were in my position, which one would you choose and why ?

Hi everyone,

I’m trying to decide between universities for an LLB and would really appreciate some honest advice.

I currently have offers for Law at Cardiff University, Lancaster University and City St George’s, University of London.

I’m a French student planning to study in the UK and I’m potentially interested in staying in the UK after graduation.

My career goals are currently between two main paths :

- Human rights, international law diplomacy, working for international organisations or in government/diplomatic roles

- Corporate/commercial law working in big law firms (eventually moving into finance)

Since I’m not 100% sure which direction I’ll take, I want to choose a university that gives me strong opportunities and keeps both paths open.

From a career perspective, I’m particularly interested in university reputation, employer perception, graduate opportunities, access to London and major law firms, international opportunities, networking, internships/vacation schemes and how each university is viewed for both commercial law and international/human rights law.

I’d also really like to hear about the actual student experience and not just rankings.

For example:

- How is studying Law at the university ?

- How good are the teaching, academics and career support ?

- What is the student social life like ?

- What is the city itself like to live in as a student ?

- Is it easy to make friends ?

- Is the city expensive ? (Cardiff and Lancaster)

- What is quality of life like ?

- Do you actually enjoy living there for 3+ years ?

If you were in my position, which one would you choose and why ?

Hi everyone,

I have a question about the financial evidence for the Student Visa as someone from the low risk countries.

I’m French and I’m considered as a low-risk national and as far as I understand, I probably won’t have to submit financial evidence with my UK Student Visa application unless UKVI specifically asks for it.

I was wondering if there are any other low risk nationals here who were actually asked to provide financial evidence ? If yes :

What documents did UKVI request exactly ?Did they ask for anything beyond bank statements ?

I’m asking because my situation is a bit unusual :

My sister took out a 30.000€ bank loan specifically to help pay for my studies, and another family member took out a 15.000€ loan for the same reason. They will transfer the money to my personal bank account around 20 august. After receiving the money, I plan to transfer it to my second bank account so it won’t be mixed with my everyday expenses but my bank doesn’t allow me to transfer 45.000€ in a single transaction so I’ll probably transfer the money in five separate transfers : four of 10.000€ each and one of 5.000€.

If my bank agrees to let me transfer the full 45.000€ to my second bank account in a single transaction instead of several smaller transfers, would that look more or less suspicious to UKVI or does it make no difference ?

Because of the 28-day rule, I’ll only be able to apply from around 17 september and my course starts on 28 September so I’m planning to pay the Priority or Super Priority service.

My questions are:

Is it a problem that my studies are being funded by family members who took out loans to help me?

If UKVI asks for financial evidence, would they question where the money came from ?

Would it look suspicious that 45.000€ suddenly appears in my account only about a month before my visa application even though the funds will have been held for the required 28 days ?

If anyone has been in a similar situation, what evidence did you provide (loan agreements, explanation letter, proof of transfer, etc.) ?

I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who has gone through something similar.

Thanks :)

Hi everyone,

I have a question about the financial evidence for the Student Visa as someone from the low risk countries.

I’m French and I’m considered as a low-risk national and as far as I understand, I probably won’t have to submit financial evidence with my UK Student Visa application unless UKVI specifically asks for it.

I was wondering if there are any other low risk nationals here who were actually asked to provide financial evidence ? If yes :

What documents did UKVI request exactly ?Did they ask for anything beyond bank statements ?

I’m asking because my situation is a bit unusual :

My sister took out a 30.000€ bank loan specifically to help pay for my studies, and another family member took out a 15.000€ loan for the same reason. They will transfer the money to my personal bank account around 20 august. After receiving the money, I plan to transfer it to my second bank account so it won’t be mixed with my everyday expenses but my bank doesn’t allow me to transfer 45.000€ in a single transaction so I’ll probably transfer the money in five separate transfers : four of 10.000€ each and one of 5.000€.

If my bank agrees to let me transfer the full 45.000€ to my second bank account in a single transaction instead of several smaller transfers, would that look more or less suspicious to UKVI or does it make no difference ?

Because of the 28-day rule, I’ll only be able to apply from around 17 september and my course starts on 28 September so I’m planning to pay the Priority or Super Priority service.

My questions are:

Is it a problem that my studies are being funded by family members who took out loans to help me?

If UKVI asks for financial evidence, would they question where the money came from ?

Would it look suspicious that 45.000€ suddenly appears in my account only about a month before my visa application even though the funds will have been held for the required 28 days ?

If anyone has been in a similar situation, what evidence did you provide (loan agreements, explanation letter, proof of transfer, etc.) ?

I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who has gone through something similar.

Thanks :)

Hi everyone,

I have a question about the financial evidence for the Student Visa as someone from the low risk countries.

I’m French and I’m considered as a low-risk national and as far as I understand, I probably won’t have to submit financial evidence with my UK Student Visa application unless UKVI specifically asks for it.

I was wondering if there are any other low risk nationals here who were actually asked to provide financial evidence ? If yes :

What documents did UKVI request exactly ?Did they ask for anything beyond bank statements ?

I’m asking because my situation is a bit unusual :

My sister took out a 30.000€ bank loan specifically to help pay for my studies, and another family member took out a 15.000€ loan for the same reason. They will transfer the money to my personal bank account around 20 august. After receiving the money, I plan to transfer it to my second bank account so it won’t be mixed with my everyday expenses but my bank doesn’t allow me to transfer 45.000€ in a single transaction so I’ll probably transfer the money in five separate transfers : four of 10.000€ each and one of 5.000€.

If my bank agrees to let me transfer the full 45.000€ to my second bank account in a single transaction instead of several smaller transfers, would that look more or less suspicious to UKVI or does it make no difference ?

Because of the 28-day rule, I’ll only be able to apply from around 17 september and my course starts on 28 September so I’m planning to pay the Priority or Super Priority service.

My questions are:

Is it a problem that my studies are being funded by family members who took out loans to help me?

If UKVI asks for financial evidence, would they question where the money came from ?

Would it look suspicious that 45.000€ suddenly appears in my account only about a month before my visa application even though the funds will have been held for the required 28 days ?

If anyone has been in a similar situation, what evidence did you provide (loan agreements, explanation letter, proof of transfer, etc.) ?

I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who has gone through something similar.

Thanks :)

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for some advice about my university situation and what I should do if I can’t start university this September.

I’m 20 years old and from France. I don’t have a high school diploma because I had to drop out of school for personal reasons. I was originally at vocational high school (similar to a BTEC) so I can’t just retake the traditional high school because if I wanted to switch to something like A Levels, I would need to spend around two more years studying before I could apply.

I’ve always wanted to study in the UK so I decided to take a different route and I’m currently doing a Foundation Course. I’m supposed to progress to City St George’s, for an LLB this September but there is a possibility I might not be able to go because of financial issues.

After leaving school at 17, I helped my dad with work and improving my English. At 18, I moved abroad alone to Italy and Cyprus, where I worked in hospitality and animation. At 19, I came back to France, volunteered 6 month at an association and then started my foundation course.

If I can’t go this year, I would probably have to wait until next September, which means I would already have around 3 years outside the traditional school system and I’m wondering if that would be seen negatively by universities even though I have used that time to work, live abroad, volunteer, and build my profile.

I’ve also looked at options outside the UK. All European universities I contacted don’t accept my foundation as a replacement for a high school diploma since it is mainly designed for UK progression. I have considered options like Lancaster University Leipzig and the University of London Institute in Paris (ULIP) but I’m unsure about them. Lancaster Leipzig seems interesting because it offers a Lancaster degree and there are possibilities to spend time at the UK campus but I’ve seen bad reviews about the student experience. For ULIP, I’ve heard that many students later transfer or continue their studies in the UK because it’s not that good so I’m not sure if it would be the best choice if my main goal is to build a career in the UK. 

I have also considered Canada and Quebec because some universities have January intake and the fees can be much more affordable for French students but I’m not sure if the available options are worth it compared to the UK (mostly regional or local universities) and the law pathway also seems longer there. I’ve also heard that from age 21 UK universities may consider applicants as mature students so I’m wondering if that could help in my situation.

My questions :

If I have to wait until next September, should I apply to UK universities again ?

Would taking AP exams and the SAT actually help my profile or would it not be useful since the results come after UCAS offers ?

Would another year spent working, doing internships, or improving my qualifications make my application stronger, or would it just look like another gap year ?

Are there any realistic options I should consider outside the UK ?

I’m mainly interested in Law but i’m also open for International Relations, Politics or Economics. I’m not necessarily looking for the easiest option but I want to choose a university that keeps good career opportunities open.

I’d really appreciate any advice from people who have been in a similar situation or know about non traditional applications.

Thanks !! :)

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for some advice about my university situation and what I should do if I can’t start university this September.

I’m 20 years old and from France. I don’t have a high school diploma because I had to drop out of school for personal reasons. I was originally at vocational high school (similar to a BTEC) so I can’t just retake the traditional high school because if I wanted to switch to something like A Levels, I would need to spend around two more years studying before I could apply.

I’ve always wanted to study in the UK so I decided to take a different route and I’m currently doing a Foundation Course. I’m supposed to progress to City St George’s, for an LLB this September but there is a possibility I might not be able to go because of financial issues.

After leaving school at 17, I helped my dad with work and improving my English. At 18, I moved abroad alone to Italy and Cyprus, where I worked in hospitality and animation. At 19, I came back to France, volunteered 6 month at an association and then started my foundation course.

If I can’t go this year, I would probably have to wait until next September, which means I would already have around 3 years outside the traditional school system and I’m wondering if that would be seen negatively by universities even though I have used that time to work, live abroad, volunteer, and build my profile.

I’ve also looked at options outside the UK. All European universities I contacted don’t accept my foundation as a replacement for a high school diploma since it is mainly designed for UK progression. I have considered options like Lancaster University Leipzig and the University of London Institute in Paris (ULIP) but I’m unsure about them. Lancaster Leipzig seems interesting because it offers a Lancaster degree and there are possibilities to spend time at the UK campus but I’ve seen bad reviews about the student experience. For ULIP, I’ve heard that many students later transfer or continue their studies in the UK because it’s not that good so I’m not sure if it would be the best choice if my main goal is to build a career in the UK. 

I have also considered Canada and Quebec because some universities have January intake and the fees can be much more affordable for French students but I’m not sure if the available options are worth it compared to the UK (mostly regional or local universities) and the law pathway also seems longer there. I’ve also heard that from age 21 UK universities may consider applicants as mature students so I’m wondering if that could help in my situation.

My questions :

If I have to wait until next September, should I apply to UK universities again ?

Would taking AP exams and the SAT actually help my profile or would it not be useful since the results come after UCAS offers ?

Would another year spent working, doing internships, or improving my qualifications make my application stronger, or would it just look like another gap year ?

Are there any realistic options I should consider outside the UK ?

I’m mainly interested in Law but i’m also open for International Relations, Politics or Economics. I’m not necessarily looking for the easiest option but I want to choose a university that keeps good career opportunities open.

I’d really appreciate any advice from people who have been in a similar situation or know about non traditional applications.

Thanks !! :)

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for some advice about my university situation and what I should do if I can’t start university this September.

I’m 20 years old and from France. I don’t have a high school diploma because I had to drop out of school for personal reasons. I was originally at vocational high school (similar to a BTEC) so I can’t just retake the traditional high school because if I wanted to switch to something like A Levels, I would need to spend around two more years studying before I could apply.

I’ve always wanted to study in the UK so I decided to take a different route and I’m currently doing a Foundation Course. I’m supposed to progress to City St George’s, for an LLB this September but there is a possibility I might not be able to go because of financial issues.

After leaving school at 17, I helped my dad with work and improving my English. At 18, I moved abroad alone to Italy and Cyprus, where I worked in hospitality and animation. At 19, I came back to France, volunteered 6 month at an association and then started my foundation course.

If I can’t go this year, I would probably have to wait until next September, which means I would already have around 3 years outside the traditional school system and I’m wondering if that would be seen negatively by universities even though I have used that time to work, live abroad, volunteer, and build my profile.

I’ve also looked at options outside the UK. All European universities I contacted don’t accept my foundation as a replacement for a high school diploma since it is mainly designed for UK progression. I have considered options like Lancaster University Leipzig and the University of London Institute in Paris (ULIP) but I’m unsure about them. Lancaster Leipzig seems interesting because it offers a Lancaster degree and there are possibilities to spend time at the UK campus but I’ve seen bad reviews about the student experience. For ULIP, I’ve heard that many students later transfer or continue their studies in the UK because it’s not that good so I’m not sure if it would be the best choice if my main goal is to build a career in the UK. 

I have also considered Canada and Quebec because some universities have January intake and the fees can be much more affordable for French students but I’m not sure if the available options are worth it compared to the UK (mostly regional or local universities) and the law pathway also seems longer there. I’ve also heard that from age 21 UK universities may consider applicants as mature students so I’m wondering if that could help in my situation.

My questions :

If I have to wait until next September, should I apply to UK universities again ?

Would taking AP exams and the SAT actually help my profile or would it not be useful since the results come after UCAS offers ?

Would another year spent working, doing internships, or improving my qualifications make my application stronger, or would it just look like another gap year ?

Are there any realistic options I should consider outside the UK ?

I’m mainly interested in Law but i’m also open for International Relations, Politics or Economics. I’m not necessarily looking for the easiest option but I want to choose a university that keeps good career opportunities open.

I’d really appreciate any advice from people who have been in a similar situation or know about non traditional applications.

Thanks !! :)

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for some advice about my university situation and what I should do if I can’t start university this September.

I’m 20 years old and from France. I don’t have a high school diploma because I had to drop out of school for personal reasons. I was originally at vocational high school (similar to a BTEC) so I can’t just retake the traditional high school because if I wanted to switch to something like A Levels, I would need to spend around two more years studying before I could apply.

I’ve always wanted to study in the UK so I decided to take a different route and I’m currently doing a Foundation Course. I’m supposed to progress to City St George’s, for an LLB this September but there is a possibility I might not be able to go because of financial issues.

After leaving school at 17, I helped my dad with work and improving my English. At 18, I moved abroad alone to Italy and Cyprus, where I worked in hospitality and animation. At 19, I came back to France, volunteered 6 month at an association and then started my foundation course.

If I can’t go this year, I would probably have to wait until next September, which means I would already have around 3 years outside the traditional school system and I’m wondering if that would be seen negatively by universities even though I have used that time to work, live abroad, volunteer, and build my profile.

I’ve also looked at options outside the UK. All European universities I contacted don’t accept my foundation as a replacement for a high school diploma since it is mainly designed for UK progression. I have considered options like Lancaster University Leipzig and the University of London Institute in Paris (ULIP) but I’m unsure about them. Lancaster Leipzig seems interesting because it offers a Lancaster degree and there are possibilities to spend time at the UK campus but I’ve seen bad reviews about the student experience. For ULIP, I’ve heard that many students later transfer or continue their studies in the UK because it’s not that good so I’m not sure if it would be the best choice if my main goal is to build a career in the UK. 

I have also considered Canada and Quebec because some universities have January intake and the fees can be much more affordable for French students but I’m not sure if the available options are worth it compared to the UK (mostly regional or local universities) and the law pathway also seems longer there. I’ve also heard that from age 21 UK universities may consider applicants as mature students so I’m wondering if that could help in my situation.

My questions :

If I have to wait until next September, should I apply to UK universities again ?

Would taking AP exams and the SAT actually help my profile or would it not be useful since the results come after UCAS offers ?

Would another year spent working, doing internships, or improving my qualifications make my application stronger, or would it just look like another gap year ?

Are there any realistic options I should consider outside the UK ?

I’m mainly interested in Law but i’m also open for International Relations, Politics or Economics. I’m not necessarily looking for the easiest option but I want to choose a university that keeps good career opportunities open.

I’d really appreciate any advice from people who have been in a similar situation or know about non traditional applications.

Thanks !! :)

Hi everyone

I will apply for a student visa soon and I was wondering about the financial proof. I’m French and France is on the list of low risk nationals so i’m not required to submit financial evidence unless i’m asked to. I wanted to know what are the chances of being asked to submit financial evidence given that I’m from a low risk country ? Has anyone experienced this ? I also have a 2 year study gap between the end of high school and this september so I was also wondering if that would put me at a disadvantage since i have an unusual profile compared to students who go to uni straight after high school and whether that would make them more likely to ask me an evidence.