Visit our new website

We’ve launched the new www.studylondon.ac.uk website where you can search London’s 30,000 university courses, get the latest visa and application advice, and contact all of the city’s universities from a single website.

Other new features include an interactive student advisor, a scholarship search and the ability to save your favourite courses.

This blog is now closed as you can read all of the latest news from London’s universities, courses, and academics on our new site: www.studylondon.ac.uk

London still number 1 for overseas investment

The City of London

London has been named as the leading ‘European City of the Future’ for the third time.

The rankings, conducted by fDi Magazine, evaluate a city’s potential for economic development and its attractiveness for inward investment.

This is great news for the city’s graduates looking for employment. More than 350 overseas businesses have recently generated more than 9,000 new jobs in the capital.

The high quality of students and graduates in London is one of the key reasons why businesses continue to invest in London.

Simon – www.studylondon.ac.uk

Reading to a child helps its development

Institute of Education, University of London

Researchers at the Institute of Education have found that parents who read to their child every day from the age of three are more likely to see their children perform better in their first year of school.

The UK-wide study suggests that children who have daily reading sessions tend to score more highly in not only language and literacy, and knowledge and understanding of the world, but also in maths.

The Institute of Education is one of the world’s leading centres for education studies and related social sciences.

Kevin – www.studylondon.ac.uk

International PhDs

Imperial College London

Imperial College London has announced its first PhD programmes that will be assessed and awarded jointly between universities in London, Singapore or Hong Kong.

The course will help prepare students for a global career with the opportunity to split their time equally between their chosen universities.

The partner universities are the National University of Singapore (NUS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), and the University of Hong Kong (HKU).

The four-year programmes with NUS and HKU are offered across all subjects at Imperial, while the NTU partnership focuses on the fields of bioengineering and chemical engineering.

In addition to giving students a global perspective on their work, the degree will enable collaborative research between some of the world’s leading science-based universities.

Kevin – www.studylondon.ac.uk

London Film Day

The Mayor of London has unveiled plans for London Film Day to celebrate the film-making achievements of one of the world’s most cinematic cities.

Discounted tickets will be available to the first ever public film premiere showing simultaneously in 15 cinemas across London.

Taking place on 21 March, free workshops will be available and film fans can learn a range of skills from modelling and animation techniques to storytelling and storyboarding.

The film selected for this event is ‘Nanny Mcphee and the Big Bang’, starring Emma Thompson as the magical nanny, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Rhys. Fans will have the chance to meet the cast and crew of this sequel to the hugely popular ‘Nanny McPhee’.

Kevin – www.studylondon.ac.uk

Cars of the future

Parts of a car’s bodywork could one day be used like a battery to help fuel a car’s journey according to scientists at Imperial College London.

Researchers from Imperial have been working with European partners such as Volvo to develop a prototype material that stores and discharges electrical energy. The revolutionary material is strong and lightweight enough to be used for car parts.

It is hoped the material will be used in hybrid petrol/electric vehicles to make them lighter, more compact and more energy efficient. Ultimately, this will enable drivers to travel for longer distances before needing to recharge their car.

Kevin – www.studylondon.ac.uk

Advanced theatre design

The Central School of Speech and Drama

The University of London’s Central School of Speech and Drama is launching a ground-breaking Master’s course in Scenography, a discipline that originates in theatre design.

Starting in October 2010, you can develop your skills in costume, set, lighting, sound and new media, using the School’s unique theatre, studio spaces and black-box studios.

The course is ideal if you want to apply your design skills to performance or if you want to use your theatre design skills in non-theatrical arts such as architecture and curation.

Kevin – www.studylondon.ac.uk

New executive Master’s for IT professionals

City University London

City University London has launched a unique, executive-style Master’s course for senior Information Technology (IT) professionals.

The new Master’s in Information Leadership will give senior IT professionals the technological, commercial and managerial expertise that are vital in today’s information-led economy.

The part-time course is aimed at mid-career IT management or consultancy professionals who want to progress to top leadership positions such as a Chief Information Officer.

IT leaders must contend with a wide range of issues such as managing a mobile workforce and ensuring their organisation is ready to capitalise on the latest technologies.

Kevin – www.studylondon.ac.uk

London – Paris double-degree programme

King’s College London

King’s College London and ESSEC Business School in Paris have are launching a double-degree programme in Business and Law.

You can study the law system and international law at King’s College London and then you can relocate to Paris to study specialist business administration courses and international business law at ESSEC.

Graduates will obtain a double Master’s degree from King’s and ESSEC while being accomplished in both the French and English Language.

Kevin – www.studylondon.ac.uk

New multiple sclerosis drug

Professor Gavin Giovanonni

A new drug for multiple sclerosis (MS) promises to change the lives of thousands of people who have the condition, say researchers at Queen Mary, University of London.

Easily taken and with relatively few side effects, Cladribine is an exciting development in the world of MS.

A major trial of Cladribine has shown that it significantly reduces deterioration of the disease and helps eliminate unpleasant side effects associated with existing therapies.

Cladribine promises to be the first ever MS treatment in tablet form and eliminates the need for regular injections or intravenous infusions.

The study involved over 1,300 MS patients and was led by Professor Gavin Giovanonni at Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry.

Kevin – www.studylondon.ac.uk

Cladribine