'Helping students start ventures, launch careers, tackle global issues'

Indian students form a significant part of the international community at University College London, focusing on a really broad scope of disciplines and availing themselves of exceptional academic and professional resources.

- Sunidhi Vijay

In this two-part interview, The Free Press Journal speaks with Professor Geraint Rees, Vice Provost for Research, Innovation, and Global Engagement at UCL. In Part 1, Professor Rees talks about why Indian students are eyeing UCL, what programmes they mostly come for, and how the university prepares them for a rapidly changing global job market. Along with talking about the new scholarship schemes introduced by UCL, he also highlighted the UCL's efforts to make it an institution that encourages entrepreneurship and innovation for the students there.

FPJ: What makes UCL an attractive destination for Indian students?

Professor Rees: UCL is a top choice for Indian students due to our commitment to diversity, academic excellence, and addressing global challenges. UCL offers cutting-edge research and innovation opportunities across disciplines, from science to humanities. We are rated second in the UK for research power in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework, and we believe in bringing together diverse perspectives. We are committed to helping UCL students develop transferable entrepreneurial skills and start their own ventures. This support all takes place at BaseKX, UCL's dedicated entrepreneurship hub in King's Cross. UCL has a rich history of collaboration with India, one that stretches back as far as the 1800s. Today, nearly 1,000 Indian students are studying at UCL, as well as many collaborations, across all disciplines, between UCL and partners in India, including IISc, AIIMS, and IIT Delhi.

FPJ: What are the most popular courses and emerging fields among Indian students at UCL?