Quick facts
- Population: 65,382,556 (2016)
- Capital: London
- Geographical size: 248,528 km2
- GDP: €2.367 trillion (2016)
- Official EU language(s): English
- Currency: Pound sterling GBP
Higher education in the United Kingdom
- Number of higher education institutions: 163
- Number of students in higher education: 2,495,800 (2012, Euromonitor International from national statistics/UNESCO)
- Number of international students in higher education: 426,861 (2012, UNESCO)
- Language of instruction: English language
- Average length of a full-time higher education programme in the UK:
- Bachelor’s degree programme: Most are 3 years, a minority are 4 or more
- Master’s degree programme: 1 year
- Doctorate/PhD: 3 – 4 years
Overview
Last year, over 420,000 students from 200 countries came to the UK for their higher education. In fact – the UK welcomes more international students than any other in the world except the USA!
Here are 5 reasons to study in the UK:
1. Gain a world-class education
UK education is all about giving you the inspiration to develop your knowledge and skills, the freedom to be creative and the support to help you achieve your best. This attention to quality is reflected in the UK’s excellent results
- Four of the top ten universities in the world are in the UK (World Rankings 2018, QS)
- The UK is a world-leader in research. Researchers here gain more citations and usage per article, and write more articles individually, than anywhere else in the world.
- Over 88% of international higher education graduates were satisfied with their UK learning experience
2. Open the doors to your dream career
A UK education can improve your career prospects and even boost your earnings:
- Employers worldwide recognise a UK degree as a sign of high academic standards. One of the reasons is the focus on skills for the workplace. The UK ranks second in the world for university-industry collaboration (Annual Innovation Report, BIS).
- According to the Tracking International Graduate Outcomes study, UK-educated international graduates achieve markedly higher average salaries than those who were educated at home.
3. Join a welcoming, multicultural community
In the UK, you will meet people of all countries, cultures and faiths. On campus, over 16.8% of all students and 25% of academics and professors are from outside the UK. Coming here is a unique chance to share ideas with the world.
UK universities place a great deal of importance on support to help you enjoy your stay. All have staff dedicated to student welfare. Most campuses have international student societies too – these societies organise parties and activities to help you make friends with other students. There is a lot of support in the UK for students with disabilities and special educational needs too.
4. Have a unique adventure
Across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, there’s so much to discover – from snowy mountains to sandy beaches, vibrant cities to sleepy villages, music festivals to museums… it’s all here waiting for you!
5. Perfect your English
Here in the UK, you’ll be surrounded by native English language speakers wherever you go. You should find that your skills improve enormously in a short time. English language skills are valued by employers, universities and colleges worldwide. Studying here is a great investment in your future.
Scholarships and costs
There are many scholarships and financial support schemes for international students who wish to study in the UK.
Many UK shops, restaurants and businesses offer substantial student discounts to help make your life affordable. You can also get cheap deals for train and bus tickets, and Student Unions offer great value food, entertainment and support.
