By Aadi Mankodi, 1st Year Mathematics MSci
Picture this: you’re sitting in a grand lecture hall being taught by an expert professor. A few hours later, you’re in a small group, tackling a challenging problem on chalkboards with your fellow students, debating the best approach. As the evening approaches, you may be throwing people around (not in the lecture hall – but in a jiu jitsu class, of course).
I’m Aadi, a first-year student studying mathematics at Kings, and here’s a typical day in my life. For context, all mathematics courses take place on the beautiful Strand Campus.
Lectures
I often start my day with lectures. These take place in the Bush House Auditorium – a sleek, modern space with state-of-the-art screens and balconies. This is where the theory is introduced by world-class professors, many of whom are actively engaged in research. Their passion for the subject is contagious.
One of the best aspects of our lectures is that all concepts are taught from first principles. There’s no rote memorisation, just pure, logical understanding. We don’t just learn formulas; we derive them and explore their applications. This builds a very deep understanding of mathematics.
Tutorials
Each module has a weekly tutorial, where the real problem solving happens. Led by an expert PhD student, tutorials are a chance to put theory into practice. Working alongside ten or so students, we tackle the weekly problem sheets, which are carefully designed to gradually challenge you with increasingly harder problems. I find this exhilarating; it’s good to be surrounded by like-minded people. Recently, during a calculus tutorial, a friend and I accidentally ended up proving Leibniz’ theorem by induction!
Office hours
Occasionally, when I have any questions, I go to the lecturer’s office hour. Lecturers hold dedicated office hours to offer one-on-one support. They’re eager to help solve any queries, no matter how big or small. I’ve often made use of these.
Library
When I have a free period, I usually grab a cup of tea and head to the Maughan Library, which is a quick 10-minute walk away. It’s a breathtaking building that looks like a massive castle. The library has 4 floors filled with thousands of books, group study areas and computer labs. The round reading room is always full, and it feels like something out of Hogwarts – it’s a truly inspiring place to study. One of the great things about the Maughan library is that it’s exclusively for King’s students.
Societies
At the end of the day, the maths (sadly) has to end. But don’t worry, King’s has over 400 societies. Some are situated on Guy’s campus. Check out the KCLSU page to see what societies are offered. My favourites are the French, political economy, and Japanese jiu-jitsu societies. There’s even a Maths Society that runs revision sessions and bar nights. And of course, London is full of exciting places.
That’s what a typical day in my life looks like. The days are busy, but the intellectual stimulation, and camaraderie make it all worthwhile. If this routine intrigues you, you will love studying at King’s.
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