Royal Holloway, University of London
Attending Royal Holloway is a unique opportunity. You’ll study not only at one of the UK’s most prestigious universities, but in a real Victorian castle located a stone’s throw from London.
What’s so unique about Royal Holloway?
The campus of Royal Holloway is situated in a picturesque location near Windsor Castle – the favourite residence of Queen Elizabeth II – and is just a 30-minute drive from London. You can enjoy the benefits of both rural and urban life, as the huge campus is situated in 135 acres of parkland.
The architecture and design of Royal Holloway is an enchanting mix of old and new, so you can marvel at Victorian buildings whilst studying in high-tech facilities. What’s more, this university embodies everything that’s included in the traditional concept of “a real student town,” you definitely won’t be bored here!
- Did you know? Royal Holloway was originally opened as a women’s-only college in 1886!
Royal Holloway University is part of the University of London, so becoming a student of this large college has additional advantages. For example, you can use the magnificent libraries and facilities of other University of London institutions in central London (which include University College London, King’s College London, and the London School of Economics). As well as this, you’ll receive an exclusive and prestigious “University of London Diploma” after graduation, which is respected all over the world!
Now, let’s consider the serious and important elements that all students need to know: admission requirements, scholarships, and tuition fees.
What do you need to become a student of Royal Holloway?
Necessary qualifications:
- Foundation Year: Minimum IELTS score of 5.o, completion of secondary schooling with 5 GCSE grades A*-C including maths and English (or equivalent qualification)
- International Year One: Minimum IELTS score of 5.5, completion of secondary schooling with 5 GCSE grades A*-C including maths and English and 3 A-Levels (or equivalent qualifications)
- Undergraduate programme: Minimum IELTS score of 6.5, completion of secondary schooling with 5 GCSE grades A*-C including maths and English, and 3 A-Levels (or equivalent qualifications)
- Postgraduate programme: Minimum IELTS score of 6.5, and a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university
- If your country’s secondary school qualification is not equivalent to the UK A-Level qualification, you must complete one year of post-secondary study or take a UK Foundation Year. You can check acceptable qualifications here.
- Acceptable English Language exams are IELTS, TOEFL iBT, Duolingo English Test, Cambridge ESOL, or Pearson Test of English. Learn more about this here. And to learn about the difference between IELTS and TOEFL, check out our article.
Adequate funding:
For the 2020/21 academic year, international tuition fees for a year of undergraduate study start from £17,700, and reach £20,000 or more depending on the programme. Master’s degrees in 2020/21 start from £16,800. Tuition fees increase every year in line with inflation.
But don’t stress – foreign students are highly appreciated at Royal Holloway, so you can win a scholarship to finance your studies! As well as general scholarships such as the International Future Leaders Scholarship, you can win subject-specific awards such as the Physics Scholarship or Eliahou Dangoor Scholarship for Geography!
Is there an international community at Royal Holloway?
Royal Holloway is home to over 2,000 students from outside the EU, who enjoy a high level of encouragement and self-realisation during their studies.
Currently at Royal Holloway, there are…
- 250 Indian students
- 88 US students
- 67 Russian students
- 36 Kazakhstani students
- 26 Canadian students
…as well as many students from Lebanon, Morocco, Pakistan, China, Brazil, and more!
In fact, the rich international community at Royal Holloway comprises students from 130+ countries, who study in almost every faculty and subject! A huge number of international students study a Foundation Year to prepare them for academic and daily life in the UK, so you will fit right in.
There are societies for students of all cultures and faiths at Royal Holloway – to name a few, African-Caribbean, Indian, Qazaq, Pakistan, Russian Speakers, Islamic, and Jewish Societies! These communities unite students for various cultural and social events, preserving traditions and celebrating national holidays together as one big family. The participants of these communities are really very kind, hospitable and generous people.
- Did you know? Royal Holloway is one of the most global universities in the country! It ranks in the top 20 in the UK and top 50 in the world for international outlook, according to Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2019.
More reasons to apply to Royal Holloway without hesitation:
Student satisfaction
In the 2020 National Student Survey, Royal Holloway received a rating of 87% for student satisfaction. This is higher than the UK national average, and better than 20 of the 22 Russell Group universities which appeared in the survey!
Career opportunities
Attending Royal Holloway will help you build your career. The university has partnerships with a large number of international companies that are happy to hire an outstanding student from an outstanding university! 😉
What’s more, Royal Holloway offers plenty of work experience opportunities, from international internships and volunteer projects, to summer ‘micro-placements’ and work shadowing days. The more active you are, the greater your chances of success.
Art and culture
Royal Holloway is a monument of architecture and art. The main building – the Founders Building – was opened by Queen Victoria herself about two centuries ago. It was modelled on the famous Chambord Castle in the Loire Valley, France. Inside this palace is the Victorian Picture Gallery, filled with world-class paintings, sculptures, prints, drawings and watercolours! Mesmerizing! (If you want to discover other beautiful universities in the UK and Ireland, check out our article!)
Clubs and hobbies
This is an amazing place for sports enthusiasts, as Royal Holloway has world-class sports facilities and 38 sports clubs for all interests! Whether you want to do mountaineering or cheerleading, archery or trampolining, anyone can get involved and try a new sport.
At Royal Holloway you have complete freedom to become a member of the student community. You can organize your own societies or take part in ready-made social and cultural events! There are countless student clubs for all interests, from salsa and opera, to debating and climate action! You can also get involved in the student radio and magazine.
***
Let’s finish with a thought for the future and an awesome and motivating quote.
Royal Holloway was shortlisted for ‘University of the Year 2020’. The editor of the Sunday Times Good University Guide described Royal Holloway University as “ambitious for the future, ambitious for its students and delivering on all fronts”. To our mind, an accurate description!
You can gain admission to Royal Holloway University with Aplic.io. We can help you apply for International Foundation Years in Arts and Social Sciences, Management and Economics, or Sciences, which are the perfect preparation for a world-class undergraduate degree. Let your future start here!
