Royal Holloway - RHUL
speciality: Management

Royal Holloway is a beautiful and peaceful campus with a strong academic vibe. Studying Economics and Management has been solid — the course is well-structured, and lecturers are supportive. The social life isn’t wild, but there’s a close-knit community feel. Being just 40 mins from London is a big plus. Great uni if you want balance between focus and freedom.

I enjoy going to uni at RHUL, the lecturers are very interactive and ensure that you remain immersed in the course, which I appreciate. For me, the best place to be at uni would be the library as it is nice and modern. Tuff asl ngl

I’m currently studying Management with Marketing, and overall, I’ve had a positive experience. In my first year and the first semester of my second year, most of the modules were more management-focused, with additional core business subjects like International Business and a bit of Accounting. I was quite happy with this structure as I personally felt it gave me a solid foundation of knowledge to build upon in the future, should I decide to specialise further.

When it comes to the management modules, I appreciated that many of the assignments encouraged objectivity and critical thinking-skills that are absolutely essential in the business world. During the second semester of my second year, the focus of the programme shifted more toward marketing, which I’ve really enjoyed. The assignments push us to be creative and dig deep into the subject, and what I value most is that the curriculum gets updated quickly to reflect current industry trends, so we’re not learning outdated content. Alongside marketing skills, we’re also encouraged to explore areas like graphic design, which adds a visual and creative edge to our work and helps us communicate ideas more effectively.

One professor who made a strong impression on me was Vera Hoelscher -her lectures were incredibly interesting, and I genuinely stayed focused for the full two hours without drifting off. She explains concepts in a very accessible and engaging way, and everything she shares is straight to the point, without unnecessary fluff. She’s a fantastic example of what a great lecturer should be.

Most of the lectures are engaging overall, and the workshops are particularly helpful in gaining hands-on experience, with tutors who genuinely support and guide us. I’m about to enter my third and final year, where the emphasis will be primarily on marketing, and I’m honestly very excited for what’s to come.

The environment on campus is very international, which I personally consider a great advantage. However, it’s true that many students tend to group up with others from similar or the same cultural backgrounds, and overall, there isn’t as much mixing as you might expect. While I feel comfortable in my own circle, you can definitely sense a bit of distance between different communities.

The campus itself is absolutely beautiful-spacious, well-maintained, and filled with flowers, trees, and hedges. The teaching buildings are modern, and there are plenty of cafés serving Starbucks, as well as various food options from the dining hall in the iconic Founder’s Building to The Hub. Each week, food vans come to campus offering delicious traditional cuisine from around the world.

There’s always something going on. Whether it’s student-organised events, clubs, or night-time parties at the SU venue, campus life stays active despite its location outside of central London. There are many societies to join-cultural, business, hobby-based, and more-and the Student Union regularly organises social activities like yoga sessions, which help you connect with others.

There are a few things I’d consider downsides, though. In my opinion, personal tutors and academic advisors don’t offer much practical help-they often brush things off when asked for guidance and don’t really check in with students. It feels a bit like a box-ticking exercise. Another issue is how slow the university is with releasing grades. Sometimes we don’t receive individual marks or feedback on assignments; instead, we only see the final overall grade for the entire module. As someone who values feedback and likes to reflect on how I can improve, this is definitely something I find frustrating.

The university gym is convenient and affordable with a student discount, and the library stays open 24/7 during exam season, which is a big plus.

Royal Holloway University of London offers several positives: academic reputation, as it is highly regarded for its excellence in Arts, Humanities, Sciences, and Social Sciences; a beautiful campus with historic architecture and extensive green spaces, providing a conducive environment for learning; research excellence, known for its strong research culture and significant contributions to various fields, fostering an intellectually stimulating environment; a diverse community that attracts students and faculty from around the world, offering opportunities for cultural exchange and a global perspective; employability, with an emphasis on developing relevant skills through career support services and industry connections to enhance graduates’ job prospects; a desirable location close to London, allowing students to benefit from proximity to the capital’s cultural and professional opportunities while enjoying a quieter, campus-based lifestyle; and comprehensive student support services, including academic tutoring, counseling, and extracurricular activities, promoting a well-rounded student experience.

Although the campus is amazing and it feels like being in a Harry Potter movie, there are also some cons such as that the city is quite old and boring and that the grading system is quite rigid. For instance it is not possible to repeat exams nor question a specific grade, and various times the marks are decided by teachers who are not your professors, due to the high amounts of people doing a specific degree (mine was Business); this highly impacts the final grade since these other professors do not know the information explained during class which the lead professor required us to know by heart and more.

The wide variety of programmes offered by Royal Holloway University is recognised as one of its strengths. Students can study many academic fields and customise their education to their interests by choosing from a choice of module options. It is admirable that the institution is dedicated to offering a variety of courses since it allows students to acquire well-rounded skills and a deeper grasp of numerous areas. The availability of a variety of modules also adds to a lively intellectual atmosphere by fostering interdisciplinary thinking and students to draw links between various academic disciplines.

Additionally, offering a variety of courses might open students’ eyes to new passions and interests that they might not have previously encountered. It enables a more individualised learning process and can accommodate learners with particular job aspirations or those who want to pursue a general education. Although one benefit of Royal Holloway is the variety of programmes offered, it’s important to take into account other aspects that might affect your choice.

The location of the university is one thing to think about. Egham, Surrey, where Royal Holloway is located, offers a tranquil and beautiful setting. But depending on personal tastes, some students might prefer a livelier, busier metropolitan environment, therefore this might be a possible downside. The resources and facilities of the university are another factor. Researching and assessing the particular tools and services that are pertinent to your area of study or other extracurricular pursuits is crucial. This might include things like sports facilities, clubs, groups, and library resources as well as research possibilities. Finally, it’s usually a smart idea to ask current or former Royal Holloway students for their own insights and viewpoints. They may be able to offer important perspectives on the teaching effectiveness, school culture, and student support programmes that may not be immediately obvious from basic facts.

Ultimately, based on its academic objectives and institutional environment, I’d say yes or no to recommending Royal Holloway institutional. However, it’s important to conduct in-depth research on the institution and take into account elements like module variety, setting, assets, and experiences for students.