For students who are coming to the end of high school (and their parents!) the time of choosing where to study next can be a daunting task. After all, there are some great opportunities both at home and abroad, and weighing them up can be challenging.
Near the top of many European students' lists is the United Kingdom; in this article, we will explore the reasons why the UK is a great choice for European students, and why international students should study in the UK.
Reason one to study in the UK: Academia
To start with what might be an obvious point: the UK has some of the best universities from around the world. Whether you are looking to study somewhere that ranks high for teaching or research, there are a host of schools in the United Kingdom that will tick all of your boxes here.
After all, four of the world's top ten universities (according to Quacquarelli Symonds) are in the UK. These are:
University of Oxford (Second);
University of Cambridge (Joint third);
Imperial College London (Seventh); and
UCL (Joint eighth).
What's more, if we narrow our focus to Europe alone, then the UK clearly dominates in terms of rankings: 12 of the top 25 universities in Europe are in the UK. These are:
University of Oxford (First)
University of Cambridge (Second)
Imperial College London (Third)
UCL (Fifth)
University of Edinburgh (Seventh)
University of Manchester (Eighth)
King's College London (Ninth)
London School of Economics (LSE) (Twelfth)
University of Warwick (Sixteenth)
University of Bristol (Seventeenth)
University of Glasgow (Twenty-third)
University of Southampton (Twenty-fourth)
Reason two to study in the UK: Culture
The UK has dominated global and European culture for decades, if not centuries. When it comes to television, film, music, literature, and visual arts, the UK is a global superpower. What's more, the different regions within the UK are surprisingly disparate, despite their limited geographical distance, and therefore there is a great deal of varied culture concentrated in a small area.
This is a key reason for European students to study in the UK, because not only is it rich in opportunities to discover your new favourite band or author, there is also ample chance to explore new culture from across the British Isles.
There is also a wealth of history in terms of popular culture, from The Beatles in Liverpool to Blur in Essex, which is likely to make many students' dreams come true!
Reason three to study in the UK: Opportunities
When choosing where to study for university, a key consideration will (or should!) be the opportunities that will likely follow. Internships, work placements, and volunteering opportunities are a great way to connect with the industries in which you might want to forge a career, develop relationships, and secure the best possible start to your career post-university. Thankfully, the UK offers some of the best opportunities in the world, and UK universities are generally very successful in connecting students to the world of work.
According to the QS Graduate Employability Rankings, the UK boasts 12 of the top 20 best universities for graduate opportunities. These include:
University of Oxford (First)
University of Cambridge (Second)
UCL (Fourth)
Imperial College London (Sixth)
University of Manchester (Eighth)
LSE (Eleventh)
University of Edinburgh (Twelfth)
University of Bristol (Thirteenth)
University of Leeds (Fourteenth)
University of Nottingham (Sixteenth)
King's College London (Seventeenth)
University of Warwick (Twentieth)
Therefore, whether you want to pursue a career in investment banking, or have your sights set on a career in publishing, it is likely that choosing to study in the UK will put you in good stead.
Reason four to study in the UK: Language
For many European students, language will play a central role in choosing where to study for university. Thankfully, English is the world's first language when it comes to business, and spending three or four years living in the United Kingdom will help any European student to improve their grasp of the English language no end. What's more, choosing to study in the UK will also enable you to develop advanced forms of the language that textbooks or courses can rarely deliver - such as specific, well-used colloquialisms and vocabulary that is specific to the UK - as well as the (in)famous British sense of humour!
Reason five to study in the UK: History
The United Kingdom is, in essence, an open air museum. From the homes of the monarchy to prehistoric monuments like Stonehenge, history lovers won't need much convincing to study in the UK. Once again, thanks to the relatively small distances between towns in the UK, visiting the range of historical monuments and sites can be done as weekend trips while studying, making it even more appealing. In addition to this, a large proportion of the UK's most famous historical sites are free or very inexpensive to visit, meaning that it's far more accessible than previously thought.
If this hasn't convinced you to study in the UK...
...Then we don't know what will! Whether you are looking to immerse yourself in the arts, explore new culture, develop your linguistic abilities, pave the way for a fruitful career, or unearth some of the best history that Europe has to offer, then you should really be preparing to study in the UK!
If you would like to experience the UK university experience before making your final decision, why not join our Pre-University Summer Residential course in July? You can find out more here.