University of London: a world renowned academic powerhouse

The University of London enjoys the most prolific fame world-wide. Established in 1836, is one of the oldest and largest universities in the United Kingdom.

It is a federation of 19 colleges and institutes - some specialised, such as the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE); some multi-faculty colleges, such as King's College London, University College London, Imperial College, Goldsmiths College; and yet others which are smaller specialist institutes such as Courtauld.

The University has an excellent reputation in the UK and internationally, and the quality of its degree and research activities is widely acknowledged and respected. All students, irrespective of the college or institute they attend for their tuition, are awarded a University of London degree.

Reading for a University of London degree in Malta

The opportunity to study externally from the University still appeals to many types of student. But surely this is the grandest opportunity for Maltese students aged 17 and over to be able to read a University of London undergraduate or postgraduate degree from a wide choice, while following lectures in Malta, presenting assignments and sitting for exams, without having to travel to London.

All this is possible through the University of London External Programme, initiated in 1858 when the University established its External Programme specifically for students who wanted to study for a University of London degree but who were dispersed throughout the British Empire and could not study in London.

The University makes no distinction in the quality of the award gained by external students and those who attend its colleges in London. This equivalency is enshrined in Statute 66 (2) and states:

"Candidates granted degrees and other awards shall have attained the same academic standard irrespective of mode or place of study or examination."

St Martin's Institute of IT

St Martin's Institute of IT is a teaching institution of the University of London External Programme, established in 1985. The growth of the student body to close to 150 Maltese and international students reading at various levels for various diplomas and degrees of the University of London is a great success.

But what has surely marked the professionalism and dedication of the school's team of lecturers and academics is that all students passed all their study units for each of these past three years since such programmes were offered.

Attaining such a milestone, year in year out has propelled St Martin's as one of the very best University of London Teaching Institutions world-wide.

There are various full-time or part-time diplomas and degrees read at St Martin's Institute of IT in Malta. The institute will be accepting students to read for the following University of London diplomas and degrees.

¤ Diploma in Computing and Information Systems
¤ Diploma in Economics
¤ Diploma in English
¤ B.Sc. (Hons) Business
¤ B.Sc. (Hons) Computing & IS
¤ B.Sc. (Hons) Economics & Management
¤ BA (Hons) English
¤ B.Sc. (Hons) Information Systems & Management
¤ B.Sc. (Hons) Management

These programmes are open to Maltese citizens, citizens from the other 24 European Union member states, as well as non-EU nations (the latter obtain student visas for full-time programmes only).

The Institute will continue to provide an education based upon personal needs to the students, and thus will be limiting the number of students accepted to a maximum of 48 in total.

This policy was taken to ensure that the lecturer to student ratio will remain 1:15, which is a far cry from the experience of other learning institutions, where lecturers are involved in lecturing hundreds of students at any one time.

All the degrees listed above are also available for mature students who may wish to read for a degree without resigning their jobs. Lectures are held either in the evenings (between 6 and 8 p.m.), or on Saturdays (between 8.30 a.m. and 3 p.m.).

Such an opportunity will ensure that citizens who may have not had the opportunity to read for a formal degree in the past, will ensure that they will not be subjected to any form of prejudice for their lack of a formal academic qualification in their field of expertise.

Postgraduate degrees

The University of London offers a very wide choice of specialist postgraduate diplomas and degrees, in various disciplines.

These qualifications may be read either through Web-based e-learning, distance learning with support from the University of London, and also in some cases, local support will be made available as well.

A full list of qualifications is available on the University Web-site www.londonexternal. ac.uk.

It is quite impossible to list all the information with regard to these programme in such an article. A full prospectus is available for any enquiring student and parents, as well as information meetings where the principal and the degree directors highlight the salient points as well as answer any questions.

On Friday the course directors from the University of London will be in Malta to meet with students already reading these qualifications, as well as new prospective students.

Call 2123-5451, fax 2123-2630, e-mail infodeskmalta@stmartins.edu to receive a prospectus, and book your place for this information meeting. You may also wish to visit www.stmartins.edu.