City St George's, University of London guide: Rankings, open days, fees and accommodation
Overview
The former City, University of London and St George's, University of London came together officially on August 1, 2024, but this is the first time they have appeared as a merged entity in our ranking. The new institution, City St George's, University of London, is now one of the largest suppliers of healthcare workers in the capital. It is the first of many predicted mergers likely to take place across UK higher education in the coming years. It has created one of the big hitters within the University of London, with strength spanning medicine and healthcare (within both institutions), and business and the professions (at City). It was recognised by the two awards we gave the newly merged institution a year ago - University of the Year for Graduate Jobs and runner-up in our University of the Year title. Applications and admissions at the two predecessor institutions were already on the rise, up 9% and 16% respectively on the previous year for courses beginning in September 2024, so there is every chance of creating an academic powerhouse. Almost four in every five UK entrants were recruited from the capital and almost two-thirds of the intake were of Asian or black heritage.
Paying the bills
The City hardship fund paid out more than £500,000 in 2023-24 to 322 students in need of emergency financial support. The non-repayable grant is designed to cover the costs of travel, accommodation, childcare, course materials and general living costs with a maximum payment of £1,500, rising to £2,500 for priority students, those from homes with less than £25,000 annual income, care leavers, carers, estranged students, those with disabilities or with dependent children. The City education grant, which was paid to 400 UK-domiciled students in 2023-24, is worth £500 per academic year to students from homes with annual income of up to £10,000 and £1,000 per year where household income is registered as zero. Further support is available through Future Fund bursaries, open to students from homes with annual income less than £35,000, City Cares bursaries worth £3,500 per year to care leavers, carers and estranged students, and a number of other school-specific, university and externally funded bursaries and scholarships. There are about 1,000 places in student residential accommodation, most of it close to the Clerkenwell sites. The cheapest rooms are to be found at Tooting, south London, where a 42-week contract costs £8,652. Prices near Clerkenwell range from £9,380 for 39 weeks in Romano Court, run by Unite, to £12,977 for a 40-week tenancy in the University of London intercollegiate Garden Halls.
What's new?
City, University of London long positioned itself as the university of business, practice and the professions - a marketing handle based around its 200 career-focused degree options, from business management and law to media and communications. That won't change with the City St George's title -three new degrees continue the tradition of programmes that tie in with specific professional applications. A new BSc in mathematics and business begins teaching in September while a BSc in criminology and law, and an LLB in law and criminology are both seeking their first recruits for a September 2026 start. The university is also planning a 50% increase in the number of degree apprentices on campus by then with four new programmes in the offing to add to existing provision. The new options cover aviation management, computer science, a level 6 enhanced clinical practitioner programme and a level 7 advanced clinical practitioner programme with paramedic specialisation. Enhancing student well-being is also at the heart of the new university. The Rob Lowe Sports Centre on City St George's Tooting campus has been handed over to the students' union for operation following six months of improvement works. The facility now includes a multifunctional hall, squash courts and fitness rooms equipped to the high standards of university sport. A new student support hub is due to open at Tooting in time for the 2025-26 academic year to mirror the highly successful equivalent on the Clerkenwell campus, which opened in September last year, bringing together student services spanning health and well-being, IT support, and careers and employability.
Admissions, teaching and student support
City St George's has one of the most ethnically and socially diverse campuses of any university and is the top university for social mobility in London, according to the latest English Social Mobility Index ranking of universities. A contextual offer scheme that trims up to two A-level grades (or 16 Ucas tariff points) from a standard offer helps bring the university within reach for the 17% of September 2024's intake that had at least one contextual flag. Among the beneficiaries of contextual offers are applicants from homes in postcodes with the lowest participation rates in higher education, those who received free school meals or attended a low-performing school, and those whose parents did not attend university. City has embraced blended learning, with all course modules having a presence on virtual learning platforms. Learning occurs both on campus and online, with the majority of teaching taking place in person. However, the precise split varies by programme and is determined by module leaders. The new student support hubs at Clerkenwell and Tooting (see What's new above) are home to health and well-being services. Student health and well-being staff are split into four teams covering engagement, mental health, counselling, and disability and neurodiversity. The engagement team offer first-contact conversations, drop-in sessions and individual consultations. The mental health team advises on specialised reasonable adjustments for students with long-term issues, as well as helping people access internal and external support services.