Flashback to August 2018, I was prepped and ready to enroll to my chosen traditional university after meeting their high A-level grade requirements. But I still couldn’t stop comparing it to another institution I had come across at the UCAS fair - Pearson College London (PCL) - which promised a guaranteed internship* alongside industry engagement.

With Pearson itself being a FTSE 100 company, Pearson Business School (PBS) is open to a multitude of Pearson connections, providing opportunities for constant industry engagement. Some notable industry partners include Unilever, IBM and L’oreal.

What made PBS distinct from traditional universities is the fact that it is a boutique institution. While being smaller in size compared to a traditional university, the tight knit community never leaves any room to be lost in the crowd or overlooked. Being a part of the tight knit community really does help in your general wellbeing at university especially when feeling homesick or experiencing exam stress! Your voice as a student is always heard and valued by being taken on board by staff. The smaller lecture class size allows for focused attention and more opportunities for one to one attention resulting in ease in ensuring all lecture content is fully understood. As cliche as it may sound, It is important to keep in mind that an opportunity is what you make of it and the small size of PBS helps in this matter.

Another feature of PBS is the location, right in the heart of the legal hub! Nearby is the Royal Courts of Justice - renowned for the high profile cases heard there - among many other legal landmarks to visit. Additionally, PBS really is in the heart of the London Business and Financial community, in what is known as MidTown. It means it’s super easy to go and visit industry partners and gain first hand experience.

A key advantage of PBS being a boutique institution is the fees which are a third less that of a conventional fee of £21,000 for a 3 year course with the fee waiver applied after completion of a workshop day, in conjunction with the opportunity to be exempt from LPC on the 4 year MLaw course. It’s apparent that as millenials the crippling stress of student debt hanging over our heads will forever be the bane of our lives, but this is not as much of an issue for a Pearson College student with the lower fees and additional help from PCL who offer affordable payment plans to spread the cost of tuition fees. This is also made easier with the PCL providing the learning materials at no extra cost!

The harsh reality is a degree alone is no longer remotely sufficient to set you apart from the crowd and allow you to get your foot in the door, but the industry experience gained and skills developed during internships and industry days is invaluable. The skills that cannot be taught in the classroom are arguably just as important as the theoretical knowledge learnt. PCL provides countless opportunities to be able to develop your soft skills and ability to network with influential individuals in the industry.

PBS highly values and appreciates individuals with a drive and motivation, creating a nurturing environment through encouraging and aiding in refining further professional development. With 100% of 2015/2016 PCL degree graduates in work or further study within six months following graduation, it gave me confidence that PBS delivers in what they promise and truly do help every student reach their full potential.

And with that, I realised Pearson College London is the perfect institution for me!

*subject to academic performance