About St. Mary's University College
St. Mary's University College, originally founded in 1850 as a Catholic College, welcomes students of all faiths and traditions, both Christian and non-Christian.
With a total enrollment of about 3500 students, St. Mary's occupies a single, self-contained campus, consisting of around thirty acres of lawns and playing fields near the River Thames.
This picturesque site is surrounded by the quiet, leafy avenues of an attractive residential district.
St. Mary's University College offers courses in biology, business administration, drama/theatre, education and employment, English/literature, geography, history, Irish studies, media studies, philosophy/religion, psychology, sociology, sports rehabilitation, and sport science.
Strawberry Hill and London
St. Mary's University College is located on the west side of London at Strawberry Hill in the Borough of Richmond Upon Thames, which has a huge range of interesting shops, restaurants and deli's, and also an excellent choice of pubs, nightclubs and cafes.
London's museums, concert halls, theatres, galleries and nightlife are just 35 minutes away by train. You've got all the advantages of living in London--without the worries, the hassles and the expense.
Program in Brief:
St. Mary's College is "designed to give students a personalized and integrated living and learning experience in a British University." Students are mainstreamed into the British university and make their course selections from the regular St. Mary's curriculum available to British students. The College offers a university library and numerous extracurricular activities, including a sports programme, and student health and counseling services.
Academic Highlights:
St. Mary's College, Twickenham, offers courses in the fields of communication, culture, and creative arts; education; human sciences; and theology, philosophy, and history.
Housing and Meals:
The Accommodation Office at St. Mary's, which is open Monday through Friday all year, will arrange for the American students to live in British homes in the surrounding community. In most cases, the accommodations will be within a half an hour's walk of the campus. Some householders take just one student, while others take two. No more than two students placed in a given accommodation.
Breakfast is provided by the householder, and the evening meal is taken on campus with the other SMUC students. Most hosts will allow students to use their kitchen to prepare drinks and snacks.
Within the accommodations, students will have their own keys and will be free to come and go as they please, except of course, that they must be considerate of the other people living there.
St. Mary's University College Refectory, where the American students will take their evening meal, is open seven days a week during term time and is situated centrally on the campus. It offers a wide range of food, all at reasonable prices, including a daily choice of main meals, vegetarian dishes, hot and cold snacks, burgers and salads. There is also a Snack Bar open from 8:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., Monday to Friday, and La Dolche Vita - a new cafe with wonderful views over the campus which opens from 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Monday to Friday and 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. on weekends.
Under no circumstances will students be allowed to live in apartments or in any other housing situation that is not approved by and under the direct supervision of the staff at St. Mary's University College.
Naturally, some adjustments with regard to customs, food, and heat must be anticipated, but every effort will be made to provide an agreeable living situation.
Limited placements in residence halls are also available, on a first-come first-served basis.
Services Provided:
As soon as you arrive at St. Mary's, you are automatically a member of the Students' Union.
The Union has its own building, with three bars, a concert hall, a Bank and various offices.
The Students' Union organizes regular social events, and every week throughout the year there is a disco or a live gig, featuring up-and-coming acts from the vast pool of talent that is on its doorstep in London.
Finally, there are dozens of clubs and societies for just about every sport and interest, including dance, drama, and music; men's and women's rugby and cricket; basketball, horseback riding, karate, and volleyball.
Student Support Services and the Medical Centre
The on-site Director and Accommodations Officer (both of whom are full-time members of staff at St. Mary's) will help you solve most problems during your time in our study-abroad program.
In addition, the Student Services Centre provides a full network of academic and personal support for all students and staff, including two professional counselors available by appointment or on a drop-in basis.
The on-campus Medical Centre is run by a fully qualified nursing sister. Local GP's are available each week day and may treat patients on the spot or refer them to specialists
Field trips to the Houses of Parliament, the Science Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Public Records Office, the Imperial War Museum and the Cabinet War Rooms. Additional field trips are available at a nominal cost.
For more information, visit the St. Mary's International Office website.