There are many reasons why studying in the UK is a great choice for international students. The UK has a history of welcoming international students and offers a rich cultural heritage that provides a fantastic student experience.
The UK has a global reputation for academic excellence, this is reflected in the fact that over 16 per cent of the world’s top 100 universities are in the UK, according to the QS World University Rankings 2023.
Choosing which university is best for you is an important decision and can take a long time. Trying to find a university that offers everything you would like can be difficult, but there are a few key points you might want to consider that will help you along the way.
Research
Research is an important factor when looking at what university to choose. The main aim for most students when seeking further education is to better their knowledge in order to seek better career prospects. Universities engage in research as part of their mission around learning and discovery. The Research Excellence Framework (REF) is the UK’s system for assessing the quality of research in the higher education institutions. The 2021 REF results showcased universities’ research and demonstrated how it is having a significant positive impact on lives across the globe.
It is important for students to seek out those institutions that focus on promoting world leading research in their subject interest.
Universities are where students are educated, trained, and prepared for successful careers in their chosen fields. Part of that training and preparation comes from the exposure to faculty who are engaged at the leading-edge of their subject fields, through their research that will in turn excite and engage students.
Students should also seek out those universities that offer the key modules of interest in their chosen course subject. Each course offered at various universities are unique owing to the modules they have available. Shortlist those universities that teach the areas you are most excited by.
Ranking
While searching for universities, students can check major ranking tables and calculate averages. They can learn even more details about individual universities and how they compare with each other by using websites such as THE and QS rankings.
Scholarships
Many UK universities offer good financial incentives to help support talented students achieve their educational goals and become valuable members of the community. UK universities offer many scholarships at UG and PGT level that reward academic excellence. Scholarships can grant you the time and space to commit further to your studies by reducing the financial pressures of supporting yourself full-time.
Selecting a location
Selecting a university also means choosing where to live, and so students would need to consider different factors when moving into a city, such as cost of living, location and culture. Students will be living overseas for a minimum of 1 year and sometimes up to 5 years. They need to be happy in the city they choose. The UK is one of the most diverse, rich and multicultural areas in the world with many top city locations to explore. The UK has a great food and café scene due to the sheer number of international students who study there.
Student accommodation
University life is so diverse, universities want to create a unique academic and personal experience for all. An important aspect to look at when choosing your university of choice is their accommodation offering. Living in university-owned accommodation provides many students with a great platform to make new friends, many of which will be friends for life. It is important you select the right accommodation for your personality and budget.
Gain student perspective
You can also take a look at the National Student Survey (NSS) to gain insights into your favourite universities from a student perspective. The NSS gathers students’ opinions on the quality of their courses, which helps to inform prospective students’ choices and provide data that supports universities and colleges to improve the student experience. Who better to take advice from than a current university student?
UK universities offer a variety of exciting educational opportunities including study abroad options and work placements. With hundreds of courses to choose from and exciting extra-curricular activities to try, studying in the UK will not disappoint. It’s time to get prepared for the next exciting stage of your life and start your application today.
(The writer is the Regional Manager, South Asia, Global Engagement, The University of Sheffield, UK)
