The UK is a world leader in many areas of education including engineering, science, art and design, business and management, law and finance. The UK’s reputation and legacy as a world centre for scientific research makes it a magnet for some of the very best thinkers in the world. With only one per cent of the world’s population, the UK is responsible for eight per cent of global scientific publications.
The UK offers a world-renowned education system with qualifications that can make a real difference to your future. It attracts over 600,000 international students each year to a variety of programmes, ranging from English language courses to PhDs.
The UK education system gives students the freedom to combine courses and subjects from different areas of studies, so you can tailor your degree to your own needs and interest.
Universities in England
England has a diverse mix of almost 100 Universities spread across the country. You will find a lot of choice from rural campus based institutions to large urban Universities that sprawl across a city.
Most major cities in the UK have two or more Universities with London containing over 30 institutions alone. In London many of the degree awarding institutions are part of a larger federal University, the University of London, which contains 18 colleges and 10 specialist research institutes. You can find more information on our Study in London directory.
The majority of the Universities in England offer a broad range of degrees but most Universities will have strengths in different subject areas that help the institutions differentiate themselves from each other. It is important to consider which Universities are strong in your chosen subject as this will often not be obvious from the general University rankings that relate to the institution as a whole.
England is home to both the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge, two of the oldest and most prestigious seats of learning in the world. Oxford and Cambridge, known as ‘Oxbridge’, are accompanied by other long established research-intensive universities. These institutions are referred to as “red brick” universities and the majority of them form the Russell Group. Alongside these traditional universities there is also a diverse range of modern institutions, many of which reached University status in the 1990’s.
Life in England
With a population over 53 million, England is by far the largest country in the United Kingdom.
Compared to many other study destinations, England is very compact with journey times between nearby cities taking less than an hour and the time taken to travel to London by train normally taking less than 2 hours. The majority of Universities are based in and around the cities, the largest of which are London, Birmingham and Manchester.
England, as part of the UK, is one of the most diverse and tolerant countries in the world. Its population is a melting pot of people with different ethnicities and cultural identities, the vast majority of whom were also immigrants to the country at some point in history. This mix of cultures has created an environment that every international student will relish and enjoy.
Participation in sport, along with supporting a professional local or national team, is widespread throughout the country. England was the place of origin for some of the world’s most popular sports including Football, Cricket and Rugby and whilst living in the country you will have many opportunities to play sports regardless of your skill level.
As England has a long and interesting history, and there are many sights to be seen during your travels. Our recommendations for places to go outside of London are:
- Stratford Upon Avon – The home of Shakespeare and the Royal Shakespeare company
- The Eden Project – An environmental project and cultural hub
- Warwick Castle – A significant piece of England’s medieval history
- Cadbury World – The home of the UK’s largest chocolate producer
- Stonehenge – One of the most important prehistoric monuments in the world
