Improvements to postgraduate learning space at UCL

UCL is investing over £250,000 this summer to improve spaces for postgraduate students.

The work includes 150 study spaces dedicated to research postgraduate students (PGR) due to open in the new academic year.

In response to student feedback, the Graduate Hub (South Wing, behind the Print Room Café) is being completely refurbished and the Senate House Hub will be converted to be exclusively accessible to UCL PGR students.

The Graduate Hub, situated behind the Print Room Café in the South Wing, was opened five years ago and provides a range of quiet and social learning spaces, with a kitchenette and computer cluster dedicated to UCL postgraduate students. This space is very popular and intensively used. It is the most over-subscribed space managed by Library Services, reaching maximum occupancy daily between October and April each year.

The Senate House Hub will provide UCL’s first dedicated colocation space for postgraduate research students, supporting the cohort approach to doctoral training. The new space will provide around 80 study spaces, as well as additional breakout space, group study booths, bookable meeting rooms, and smart lockers.

Saddiqur Rahman, Postgraduate Students’ Officer in the Students’ Union UCL, said: ‘This is a wonderful example of what can be achieved though partnership and shared vision for UCL Students. I feel privileged to be part of this project and especially to be able to facilitate implementation of student requests. We want to be the best Union in the country and the Provost is on board – this is only the beginning.’ 

Ben Meunier, Director of Operations, UCL Library Services said: ‘This has been an exciting project for Library Services to develop in partnership with the Doctoral School and the Office of the Vice-Provost (Research), the Students’ Union and UCL Estates, giving UCL’s postgraduate students more dedicated space on campus. Our Library Strategy 2019-22 sets out ambitious targets around increasing postgraduate space to meet expectations of doctoral students and Early Career Researchers. Thanks to the support of the Vice-Provost (Education & Student Affairs) and the Central Estate Strategy Board, we can deliver 150 research postgrad spaces in time for the new academic year. The conversion of the Senate House Hub as a research postgraduate space underlines UCL’s commitment to providing an outstanding experience for all our students.’