Hundreds of thousands of international student’s study in the UK each year, giving the UK a consistently high ranking in popularity. With a diverse population and a reputation for prestigious schooling, the UK is a natural location for international students to flock to. And for students worldwide seeking an English-language education, what better place to study than the country that invented the language?
With an excellent higher-education system and hundreds of world-class universities, the UK promises a rich experience for international students. Our Study UK resource is intended to help you learn more about studying in the UK as an international student, and includes sections on choosing the UK as a destination, choosing a location within the UK, learning more about the country, its history and culture, and adapting to life in your adopted country.
The UK has become one of the top destinations to study around the world. With traditions of excellence dating back hundreds of years, high class institutions on every corner, and much more flexibility than many other countries, the United Kingdom has much to offer international students that other English-speaking countries cannot.
But what makes the United Kingdom stand out? Why should you come to the UK as a destination to further your international education?
International students have always been an important presence in the UK, and their numbers have been growing steadily over the years. The UK is the second most popular destination for international students, behind the US. The UK has worked hard to capitalize on the growing demand for English-language instruction and the post-9/11 visa hurdles in the US. The UK is known for its multicultural society, with nearly all religions and faiths represented. With a racial, ethnic and religious jumble, the UK is very open to new traditions and cultures – a great thing for students from other countries.
An international student in the UK is typically allowed to work up to 20 hours a week during school term, and up to full-time when school is out of term. You should check with your international advisor at your school before starting any work – you do not want to be in violation of your visa, and rules change frequently. Keep in mind it is not always easy to find a job, so relying on work income to fund your entire education is not a good idea. Unless you have employment set up through your school before you arrive, you should plan to fund the entire first year of your studies without any employment income. Visit our Visa and Immigration pages for more details on working in the UK as an international student.
LIST OF UNIVERSITIES:
- University of Aberdeen
- Abertay University
- Aberystwyth University
- Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge
- Arden University, private, distance learning & blended learning, London, Birmingham, Manchester, Berlin
- Aston University, Birmingham
- Bangor University
- University of Bath
- Bath Spa University
- University of Bedfordshire, Luton and Bedford
- University of Birmingham
- Birmingham City University
- University College Birmingham
- Bishop Grosseteste University, Lincoln
- University of Bolton
- The Arts University Bournemouth
- Bournemouth University
- BPP University, private
- University of Bradford
- University of Brighton
- University of Bristol
- Brunel University, Uxbridge and London
- University of Buckingham, private
- Buckinghamshire New University, High Wycombe
- University of Cambridge
- Canterbury Christ Church University, Canterbury, Thanet, Tunbridge Wells and Chatham
- Cardiff Metropolitan University(formerly University of Wales Institute Cardiff)
- Cardiff University
- University of Chester, Chesterand Warrington
- University of Chichester
- Coventry University, including CU Coventry, CU Scarboroughand CU London
- Cranfield University
- De Montfort University, Leicester
- University of Derby
- University of Dundee
- Durham University, Durhamand Stockton-on-Tees
- University of East Anglia, Norwich
- University of East London
- Edge Hill University, Ormskirk, Lancashire
- University of Edinburgh
- Edinburgh Napier University
- University of Essex, Colchester and Southend-on-Sea
- University of Exeter
- Falmouth University
- University of Glasgow
- Glasgow Caledonian University
- University of Gloucestershire, Cheltenham, Gloucester and London
- University of Greenwich
- Harper Adams University, Newport, Shropshire
- Hartpury University, Gloucester
- Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh and Galashiels
- University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield
- University of the Highlands & Islands, Inverness (main campus), Elgin, Perth & across north and western Scotland
- University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield & Barnsley
- University of Hull
- Imperial College London
- Keele University, Staffordshire
- University of Kent, Canterbury and Medway
- Kingston University
- University of Central Lancashire, Prestonand Burnley
- Lancaster University
- University of Leeds
- Leeds Arts University
- Leeds Beckett University
- Leeds Trinity University
- University of Leicester
- University of Lincoln, Lincoln, Riseholme and Holbeach
- University of Liverpool
- Liverpool Hope University
- Liverpool John Moores University
- University of London
- London Metropolitan University
- London South Bank University
- Hazlerigg Building at the Loughborough University
- Loughborough University
- University of Manchester
- Manchester Metropolitan University
- Middlesex University, London
- Newcastle University
- Newman University, Birmingham
- University of Northampton
- Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne
- Norwich University of the Arts
- University of Nottingham
- Nottingham Trent University
- The Open University, Milton Keynes (an open-access distance learning university)
- University of Oxford
- Oxford Brookes University
- Plymouth Marjon University(formerly the University of St Mark & St John)
- University of Plymouth
- University of Portsmouth
- Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh
- Queen’s University Belfast
- Ravensbourne University London
- University of Reading
- Regent’s University London
- The Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen
- Roehampton University, London
- Royal Agricultural University, Cirencester
- University of Salford
- University of Sheffield
- Sheffield Hallam University
- University of South Wales, merger of University of Wales, Newportand University of Glamorgan
- University of Southampton
- Solent University
- St Salvator’s Quad at the University of St Andrews
- University of St Andrews
- St Mary’s University, Twickenham
- Staffordshire University, Stoke-on-Trent, Stafford and Lichfield
- University of Stirling, Bridge of Allan
- University of Strathclyde
- University of Strathclyde, Glasgow
- University of Suffolk, Ipswich, Bury St Edmunds, Great Yarmouth, Lowestoft
- University of Sunderland
- University of Surrey, Guildford
- University of Sussex, Falmer and Brighton
- Swansea University
- Teesside University,
- University of the Arts London
- Ulster University
- University of Wales
- University of Wales, Trinity Saint David(UWTSD), Lampeter, Carmarthen and Swansea
- University of Warwick, Coventry
- University of the West of England, Bristol
- University of the West of Scotland, Paisley, Hamilton, Ayr & Dumfries
- University of West London, Ealing and Brentford
- University of Westminster, London
- University of Winchester
- University of Wolverhampton
- University of Worcester
- Wrexham Glyndŵr University
- University of York
- York St John University