After returning to London on 15 September, I have finally begun classes at UCL! I'm still only partially registered for classes (their online registration system here is not the most efficient or intuitive) but I went to all the classes I requested this week and I expect everything to be figured out by Friday. Before I write anything about my classes, I have to explain a little about the UK educational system, because it is strikingly different from the American system. In general, British students must choose far earlier than American students what they want to study at university (which they usually call "uni" and which is different from "college" or "school"). At age 14, they choose 10 subjects to study. At age 16, they choose just 3 of those subjects to study exclusively for the next 2 years. At 18, when they go to uni, they choose 1 of those 3 subjects and that's their department. While in the US we normally don't have to choose our majors until the 2nd year of college, British students must choose their general area by age 16 and decide before applying to university exactly what they want to study. This also means that introductory British university classes are usually much more advanced than American introductory courses, as the tutors (their word for professors) expect you to have already studied the subject area for 2 years. Students also don't often take classes outside their departments, except for in very special cases, which makes being an Affiliate student taking classes in several departments quite difficult! I think I have it mostly worked out, however, and if I get approved for everything online my courses will be:
Term 1:
Introduction to Greek Literature
Greek Authors: Homer
Literary Responses to the First World War
Science, Communication and the Global Community ---> now taking "Ancient World in London Collections" instead
Term 2:
Greek Myth: Its Use and Meaning
Greek Comedy
London before the Great Fire
Literature and Memory in a Globalised Society
Another big difference from the American college experience is the amount of time you spend in class - taking 4 classes each term, I only have 8 hours of class a week! This first term I only have classes Monday through Wednesday (4 day weekends!) and next term I have two hours of class a day, Monday through Thursday. Compared to my 4 years at UM, I'll have so much free time.
It's been a very busy week with starting classes on Monday, but today I'm off to Copenhagen! When I come back, I'll write more about my classes and how they are going, plus the other things I've been doing while in London (like going to see the Lion King, joining the water polo team, and trying out rugby!).
Term 1:
Introduction to Greek Literature
Greek Authors: Homer
Literary Responses to the First World War
Term 2:
Greek Myth: Its Use and Meaning
Greek Comedy
London before the Great Fire
Literature and Memory in a Globalised Society
Another big difference from the American college experience is the amount of time you spend in class - taking 4 classes each term, I only have 8 hours of class a week! This first term I only have classes Monday through Wednesday (4 day weekends!) and next term I have two hours of class a day, Monday through Thursday. Compared to my 4 years at UM, I'll have so much free time.
It's been a very busy week with starting classes on Monday, but today I'm off to Copenhagen! When I come back, I'll write more about my classes and how they are going, plus the other things I've been doing while in London (like going to see the Lion King, joining the water polo team, and trying out rugby!).
