ICL is one of the top University in the world. It offers both bioinfomatics and lab practice in the programme. I could also gain practical skill through a 6-month project.
Course Curriculum
It is comprehensive. It covers basic molecular genetics to disease genetics, and also bioinformatics. Also, there were 3-weeks lab practicals.
Faculty
In this programme, we have 2 course coordinating staff and 1 admin staff and there 21 of us. We are divided to 7 study groups with a tutor, so our questions can be promptly answered. All the main staff in this programme are helpful. You can easily contact them by email. Also, they are willing to be your referees in the application of job/ further study. I also appreciate them that they prefer meet in person if it is available in the pandemic, so we had "real" learning experience.
Placement
We do not have company visit in the programme. However, there is a website called JobsLive that offer career support and service. In our programme, approximately half of the students go on to do a PhD, 25% become research assistants/associates, while others go on to jobs in industry or further studies (bioinformatics/ computing, medicine). Typically one or two students every year enter the NHS in clinical genetics training posts. We do have a 6-month research project as part of the programme. Students are allowed to choose 1 project - either lab-based, computer based or mix-based.
Accommodation
ICL does not offer accommodation for postgraduate students, but she has an accomodation partner call Gradpad London. Gradpad London has two student halls - Woodlane Studios and Griffon Studios. All the rooms are studios. For a standard studio, it is a single en-suite room with open kitchen. It costs GBP264 per week. However, the wifi is weak here, so, it is better to use ethernet.
Exams
The English requirement is IELTS: 7.0 (not lower than 6.5 in each session). I used HKDSE English result to meet the requirement. My score: level 4
Events
There are over 340 clubs, societies, and projects in the college. They cover different sports, academies, ethnicities, etc. However, due to the pandemic, seems they are not organising much activity in this academic year. There is a library on all the campus. The library in Hammersmith Campus is small but you will find all you need, like printers, computers, study area. Student based in Hammersmith Campus can also use all the facilities in Central Library, South Kensington Campus, which have more facilities. Wifi on the campus is nice. It is eduroam. So, you can get connected in other universities. However, in Hammersmith Campus, I cannot see any sport facility.
Fees
GBP 35,600
Scholarship
No.
