Student Life Staff
Outside the classroom, NYU in London staff provides cultural events and social activities providing you with the opportunity to engage with your adopted city and assuring support and growth during the first semester of your college career. The Assistant Director of Freshman Programs and the Student Life Administrator for Freshman Programs are dedicated entirely to the freshman group and provide a customized program of support.
Upon your arrival in London, the staff will welcome you to your new home with an orientation. During this time you’ll get acquainted with your professors and classrooms, computer labs and lounges of the NYU Center. You’ll also receive academic advisement in the days leading up to the start of classes, and will be able to make necessary adjustments to your class schedule. Neighborhood walking tours will introduce you to the campus of the University of London's library and activity facilities that you’ll have access to, and local shops, restaurants and supermarkets near your flat. In orientation sessions you'll find out about community service, transportation, and leisure activities and get to know the staff. We will also of course discuss personal health, safety and security issues for your time in London. In addition, you can buy books for the upcoming semester. The orientation program includes a mix of practical and social events to familiarize you with local systems and geography, and provide a network of social support during your first few days.
Living abroad is a transformative experience that you’ll be sharing with your fellow students. These orientation events will help you meet other students who will attend the same college as you in the spring. You’ll have the opportunity to create friendships that you can take back to the States. The NYU program helps you with your transition to independent living and studying as well as the London lifestyle.
Freshmen staff can respond to any specific questions about student activities and housing in London at freshmen.in.london@nyu.ac.uk.
Housing
All NYU in London students live together in one residence, called Nido, located in King’s Cross, a district in central London that is a 15-minute bus ride or 30-minute walk from NYU’s academic center. The residence is also home to an exciting and diverse community of over 1,000 young adults from all over the world who have chosen to study abroad in London. All rooms, which are shared by two students, are fully furnished and include internet service, linens, a bathroom, weekly cleaning services, and a private kitchenette or a community kitchen on each floor. For an additional fee, a telephone and TV connection can be activated for each resident in each room. Specially designed for international students, the Nido building also features a gym, TV rooms, a restaurant and café, laundry facilities, a medical center, and a movie screening room.
An on-site residence manager operates Nido from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. Additionally, a residence life coordinator, responsible for overseeing the resident assistants (RAs) and residence life, lives on site. Nido provides a team of 14 live-in RAs who are committed to the personal and academic success of their residents through a supportive environment. They strengthen the sense of community through leadership, programming, referrals, policy enforcement, and student well-being. They are the student’s primary source for information and problem solving. RAs are often first responders to safety and facility-related issues and help plan social and educational events for residents. They are responsible for inspecting common areas and conducting periodic room checks with appropriate notice. RAs report to the residence life coordinator and are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week in the reception area. Front desk staff is available throughout the week. There is also 24-hour security staff and a controlled entry system.
Health
If you are a non-UK national studying in the UK for more than six months you are entitled to certain types of health care as part of the government funded (socialized) National Health Service (NHS).This means that you are entitled to free emergency health care at an NHS hospital, free consultation with a Doctor otherwise known as a GP (General Practitioner), family planning services, treatment of certain communicable diseases and compulsory psychiatric treatment. You are also entitled to subsidized prescriptions for medicine (£6.85 per prescription as of July 1, 2007), dental treatment and eye tests. Further reductions may also be possible if you are on a low income. If you are under 19 years of age prescriptions, dental treatment and eye tests are free regardless of income. You should ensure that you have adequate international medical insurance to cover those instances not listed above. While the level of insurance you have is a personal/family decision, New York University requires that you provide proof of international health insurance.
Trips and Activities
Throughout the semester, NYU in London plans day and weekend trips that introduce students to British culture by visiting many of the landmarks and monuments of London and beyond. Trips planned during the Fall semester for Freshman students include a day trip by boat to the historic London suburb of Greenwich to explore its extensive maritime history, its famous open markets and the Royal Observatory which houses the Meridian from which Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) is derived. We will also spend a weekend visiting three of Britain’s most popular tourist attractions: the stunning city of Bath (where we will be based for the weekend); the Prehistoric monument at Stonehenge and the mythical Isle of Avalon (today known as Glastonbury). Our other weekend excursion during the Fall semester is based in the delightful northern city of York, built on the foundations of successive generations of Roman, Viking, Anglo-Saxon and Norman settlers. En route we will stop off in the University city of Cambridge for a guided tour. Our extensive Freshman program also includes day trips to Stratford-upon-Avon, the home of Shakespeare, and the southern seaside resort of Brighton. Students will also be able to take advantage of a range of activities organized by our Resident Assistants, as well as an exciting Orientation program which will serve as an introduction to the neighborhoods, history and culture of London.
Optional events will be arranged for the Fall break for those who are staying in London.
When you attend NYU in London you’ll also receive a card that gives you access to the University of London Student Union, or ULU. You’ll be able to use the pool and gym for a monthly fee, join volunteer or interest groups and choose from a number of activities like yoga or art classes. This is a great way to meet local students and experience the life in a European university.