Heythrop College

Founded in 1614, Heythrop is the oldest College of the University of London, and one of the oldest Higher Education establishments in the UK. Heythrop College is the specialist Philosophy and Theology College of the University of London. Heythrop is located in the beautiful Kensington Square in one of the most exclusive areas of London. A stone’s throw from both leafy parks and a bustling High Street it couldn’t be better situated. Heythrop students also have access to the college’s private gardens.

Heythrop is less than five minutes’ walk from High Street Kensington Underground Station, linking it to the entirety of the tube network and the rail network beyond. Regular, and 24 hour, buses connect the High Street to the West End and the rest of Central London. Much of Central London is within walking distance (by far the cheapest form of transport), with Oxford Street, Hammersmith, Shepherd’s Bush and Knightsbridge all within an easy distance of Heythrop. London also has an extensive cycle network. Heythrop provides space to park bikes securely, and the closest cycle hire dock is two minutes from the front door.

Heythrop boasts one-to-one tutorials for all of its undergraduate students for each of their assessed pieces of work. Heythrop is currently the only public HE institution outside of Oxbridge to offer this.

Heythrop’s small numbers allow for more intimate class sizes, facilitating learning through discussion and good results for students across range of entry standards. Heythrop has one of the largest libraries and academic faculties in its field. Heythrop scored 92% for satisfaction with teaching in the most recent National Student Survey, compared with a nationwide average of 86%.

Two dedicated computer suites on site provide all students with a good chance of access to a machine whenever they need, as well as free wireless internet throughout the site. Students are given an§ allowance of free printing and photocopying and topping up this allowance is easy and reasonably priced. Heythrop’s extensive library is split onsite into the Theology and Philosophy libraries, both of which also contain computers for student use. As students of the University of London, Heythrop students have full access to the University library at Senate House, home to roughly 3 million volumes, as well as the libraries of all the other University of London colleges. Heythrop is committed to making the adjustments needed to ensure that students with disabilities are fully included in the life of the College.

Some students have found that Heythrop’s size helps – it would be hard to slip through the net, and you benefit from the eagerness of all concerned for you to be able to succeed. Examples of help given can include producing learning materials in different formats, providing a note-taker in lectures and supplying technological aids such as mini-disc recorders or specialist software. The vast majority of the Heythrop site is wheelchair accessible.