UK education is all about inspiring you to develop your knowledge and skills, allowing you to be creative, and supporting you to help you achieve your best.
UK schools, colleges, universities, and English language centers offer a world-class education. With such a strong reputation for research and teaching, UK universities and colleges attract some of the world’s leading academics and industry professionals.
This attention to quality is reflected in the UK’s excellent results:
Four of the top six universities in the world are in the UK (World Rankings, QS).
The UK is a world-leading research nation (International Comparative Performance of the UK Research Base, BIS). 54% of the research conducted by UK universities and colleges is classed as either ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’ (Research Assessment Exercise).
At their most recent inspection, 97% of further education colleges were judged satisfactory or better for their overall effectiveness (Association of Colleges).
In the recent BIS Tracking International Graduate Outcomes survey, over 88% of international higher education graduates said they were satisfied with their UK learning experience.
Likewise, in the HE Academy Postgraduate Taught Experience survey of UK postgraduate students, 93% rated the quality of teaching positively.
Open the Doors to Your Dream Career:
UK courses give you the skills, qualifications, and connections you need for your chosen career:
The 2013/14 QS World University Rankings found that employers worldwide consider UK graduates among the most ’employable’ – from a global survey of 27,000 graduate employers, five UK universities were ranked in the top 10.
UK-educated international graduates achieve markedly higher average salaries than if educated at home (Tracking International Graduate Outcomes, BIS, 2011). UK qualifications are respected and valued by employers worldwide, giving you the edge when applying for jobs.
One reason employers value UK qualifications is the focus on workplace skills. The UK ranks second worldwide for university-industry collaboration (Annual Innovation Report, BIS, 2012).
Many UK courses are designed in partnership with businesses and taught by industry professionals, so you will gain real experience for your future career. Some courses also give you a chance to do a work placement as part of your studies, working for a business, charity, or public sector organization (checking your visa status allows you to do this).
The teaching style in the UK helps you develop attributes that are in high demand from employers worldwide—attributes such as creativity, innovation, teamwork, and leadership.
The UK is exceptionally diverse, with close links to the rest of Europe. By studying in the UK, you’ll gain an international perspective, learn about new cultures, and socialize with students and teachers worldwide – valuable experience for a career in a global company.
Many careers require professional qualifications. The UK offers thousands of courses leading to internationally recognized qualifications in law, accountancy, medicine, engineering, childcare, teaching, marketing, and more to help you get ahead.
English language skills are a real boost to your career prospects. The UK is the world’s most popular destination for English language courses, catering to all ages and abilities. You will be immersed in the language on a UK course and should find that your skills improve rapidly. You can choose courses specializing in business English or even courses for specific careers, such as English for law, technology, or engineering.
Finding a job can be challenging. At UK schools, colleges, and universities, you will find professional career advisers who can help you plan your career and advise you on looking for work, preparing for interviews, and writing your CV.
Perfect your English:
An estimated 600,000 students from around the world come to England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales each year to take an English language course.
Courses for all ages and abilities: The UK is thought to have more English language courses than any other country. Come to the UK, and you can learn English for your career, educational purposes, or fun. You can also study English and another subject at the same time.
Inspiring teaching and learning: English language learning is about having fun and participating in the UK. Instead of just listening to your teacher, your classes involve games, problem-solving, and discussions. You might also listen to songs, watch TV, or read magazines to practice your comprehension skills. It might not even feel like work at all!
Quality assured: Accredited UK English language centers are regularly inspected by government-approved bodies to ensure high standards of teaching, accommodation, welfare support, and facilities.
The home of the English language: When you explore the UK, you’ll be surrounded by native speakers so you can practice using the language in real-life situations. You should find that your skills improve enormously in a short time. You might even start dreaming in English after a few days!
Prepare for your future: English language skills are valued by employers, universities, and colleges worldwide and are a powerful tool in thousands of careers. Improving your English is an excellent investment in your future. There are many business English courses and courses to prepare you for higher education.
A unique cultural experience: Learning English in the UK is an opportunity to make new friends worldwide, discover the UK’s culture and history, and explore beautiful countryside and cities.
Have the adventure of a lifetime:
Studying in the UK is a chance to discover its unique culture, cities, and countryside. There’s so much to learn across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Luckily, it is easy to travel around the UK.
The UK’s countryside is stunning. It includes snow-topped mountains and rolling green hills, flowery meadows and ancient forests, sandy beaches, and deserted islands. Hiking and cycling are great ways to enjoy the breathtaking scenery.
There are many festivals and events throughout the year and across the country, from pancake races in Buckinghamshire to the world’s largest arts festival in Edinburgh. Notting Hill Carnival in August is Europe’s biggest street party, while Leicester’s Diwali celebrations in October are some of the largest outside India. These are opportunities to experience the UK’s multicultural heritage and enjoy food, music, and dance in spectacular style.
The UK is passionate about sport. Most schools, colleges, and universities run sports societies – such as football, yoga, dance, cricket, rugby, athletics, and hockey. Joining is a great way to make friends. For adrenaline junkies, there are hundreds of outdoor activities you can try across the UK – such as surfing, mountain climbing, diving, kiting, horse riding, abseiling, and even skiing! While you recover from exercise, you can watch world-class sports events, such as Wimbledon, the FA Cup final, or the Grand National horse race.
Aside from sport, music is the UK’s other national obsession. People love attending concerts to see famous bands or discovering weird and wonderful new artists. Across the UK, you will find hundreds of live music gigs daily – from pop, rock, and dance to classical, folk, metal, and jazz. In summer, nothing beats camping at a music festival. Grab your tent, sun cream, and raincoat (just in case). For a unique experience, try one of the UK’s many folk festivals for traditional music.
If you are a history lover, the UK is the place to be. Across England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Scotland, you can see history all around you, and you are never far from an ancient castle, grand country house, or picturesque old village.
There are hundreds of outstanding museums and art galleries hosting world-famous exhibitions and collections. Many are free of charge or offer good discounts for students.
If you’re interested in theatre and the performing arts, you will love events like the Edinburgh Festival in Scotland or Eisteddfod in Wales. Read more suggestions in our article on Nightlife.
However, no trip to the UK is complete without going to a comedy night. Here, you can experience the UK’s somewhat eccentric sense of humor – don’t sit in the front row unless you want to become part of the act!
Feel at home:
The UK is a friendly, welcoming place for people of all countries, cultures, and faiths.
In 2012, over 500,000 international students from 200 countries studied at UK schools, colleges, and universities, and a further 600,000 students came to do an English language course. As a student in the UK, you’ll get to know people from all over the world and learn about many different cultures.
Many schools, colleges, and universities have international student societies to ensure you feel welcome and supported throughout your time in the UK. These societies organize activities such as parties, pub quizzes, film nights, and excursions to local tourist attractions, so hopefully, you’ll quickly make friends with other international students.
The UK is a multi-faith society where all major religions are practiced and celebrated. Christianity is the largest religion, followed by Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism, Judaism, and Buddhism, while around a quarter of the population is not religious. In large towns and cities, you will find churches, mosques, temples, synagogues, gurdwaras, and other places of worship, so if you worship regularly at home, you can continue to do so in the UK.
There is extensive support in the UK for students with disabilities and special educational needs. Most join mainstream schools, colleges, and universities, but there are also education centers for children and adults needing additional support.
At your school, college, or university, there will be a student welfare officer and, most likely, an international student officer, too, dedicated to the well-being of students. They are there to advise on personal problems and help you find any support you need during your studies. At boarding schools, students are looked after by ‘house parents’, a resident nurse and form tutor.
Most institutions run an orientation program to help new students settle in and get to know their new campus and fellow students.
The UK government welcomes international students, and there is no limit on the number of student visas that can be issued. Thousands of international students successfully secure a visa to study in the UK each year. Our Visas article provides more information, and the process of applying for a visa is explained on the UK Border Agency website.
Study your way:
UK education allows you to choose a course that matches your ambitions and interests and study in a way that suits you. With thousands of UK courses, you can follow your passions and gain a qualification to help you in your chosen career.
Many UK courses have a ‘modular’ structure. This means you can build a personalized course by choosing modules or units of study from different subject areas. For example, if you are studying for a bachelor’s degree in English literature, you could select one module on Science fiction, one on Children’s literature, one on Short stories, etc.
Suppose you are interested in more than one subject. In that case, you may be able to study a combination as part of your course – for example, English literature with psychology or Tourism with French.
Many courses can be studied full-time or part-time. If you need a visa to study in the UK, checking your immigration status allows you to join a part-time course. Find out more at the UK Border Agency website.
Get great value for money:
When starting your career, UK qualifications significantly boost your salary and your CV. According to the Tracking International Graduate Outcomes survey (BIS), international students educated in the UK achieve considerably higher wages after graduation, on average, than if they had been educated at home.
UK course fees and living costs are good value and compare favorably with costs in other top education destinations. You can see evidence for this in the ‘International Pricing Study’ report by the UK Higher Education International Unit.
UK higher education courses are generally shorter than in other countries, too. For example, full-time bachelor’s degrees typically last three years (compared to four years or more in many countries), and many full-time master’s degrees last just one year. This saves you money on annual fees and means you can graduate and start earning sooner.
Many financial support schemes are available for international students who wish to join a UK course. Find out more about them in our Scholarships and Financial Support article.
Many UK shops, restaurants, and businesses offer substantial student discounts to help make your life affordable. You can also get cheap deals on train and bus tickets. Student Unions offer excellent value food, entertainment, and support.
If you want a UK qualification but don’t want to leave your home, you could think about doing an online course or joining a UK campus in your country. This allows you to live with your family while studying, saving you money on travel and accommodation.
Living costs and tuition fees vary significantly between institutions across the UK. Before you enroll, we recommend asking precisely what is included in their fees and if there are any additional costs to consider.