now considered registered students of Queen Mary University of London. Although the institute began life teaching oral English to the French, it was soon improving the oral French of visiting British students; currently the institute's teaching centres around its BA courses in French Studies, complemented by a growing portfolio of undergraduate and postgraduate courses in International Relations, Urban Studies, Business, and Law. The English language programme has been discontinued – classes are now provided by the British Council – as ULIP has looked to develop itself as a research-led institute. Today ULIP shares its building with the British Council, which The Independent newspaper has described as a "lovely, traditional Paris building, in a great location overlooking the Esplanade des Invalides". Its strength is that because it is a relatively small institution it can offer a more intimate learning experience than is available in a larger, more anonymous University. It has the unique advantage of allowing students to study French culture and language in the country itself whilst still offering the student support and quality assurance of a British educational institution. The quality of its degrees is ratified either by the University of London, or by Queen Mary University of London, depending on the programme studied. As a result of these advantages the entrance requirements for students are relatively high (AAB or ABB at A level (or equivalent) for undergraduate programmes and a 2:1 (or equivalent) for postgraduate programmes). 76% of its undergraduate students are women, 24% men; 65% of its postgraduate students are women and 35% are men. Academics The institute offers two three-year undergraduate courses: a BA in French Studies, which can be combined with minors in History, Business, or International Relations. And a BA in International Politics (taught in English), which can be studied with a minor in French Studies. Both courses offered result in a University of London qualification. At postgraduate level the institute offers a Master of Arts in International Relations and in Urban History and Culture and a Master of Laws. Both Master of Arts courses are taught in collaboration with Queen Mary University of London: the MA in International Relations receives a Queen Mary University of London degree and the MA in Urban History and Culture receives a University of London degree. The Master of Laws is taught and awarded by Queen Mary University of London and can be taken either as a single