Why You Should Consider the UK for Education
The United Kingdom is renowned as one of the finest destinations in the world for higher studies. It boasts of educational excellence that dates hundreds of years, institutions that are popular around the world and flexibility that let students do more. With all these traits, the United Kingdom offers a lot more too international students than all other English-speaking countries.
However, if you’re considering education in the United Kingdom, questions like what sets the United Kingdom apart from the rest or why should you choose to come to the United Kingdom and not any other country for international education are bound to come to your mind.
Here’s why you should consider coming to the United Kingdom for education:
Evolving Destination
The United Kingdom boasts of being the second most popular place for international students only behind the United States. Students from different countries have always been important for the United Kingdom. The number of international students who choose the UK for education has also grown steadily over the past few years. Additionally, the United Kingdom has also worked hard and has capitalized on the increasing demand for English education and the visa hurdles that students started facing after 9/11 to go to the US for education.
The most prominent countries that send students to the UK for education include:
- China
- India
- Nigeria
- Malaysia
- USA
- Hong Kong
- Germany
- France
- Republic of Ireland
- Greece
Please feel free to visit The UK Council for International Student Affairs to get more statistical and demographical information about international students visiting the United Kingdom.
Recognized all over the world
Education is the United Kingdom is comprehensive and hence preferred and recognized all around the world. Be it renowned universities like Cambridge and Oxford that set the tradition to impart quality education, to all other universities and colleges across the UK, the standard of excellence remains similar. This quality and excellence become utmost important when you’re looking to work after completing your education in the UK.
Affordable education costs
Unlike the United States where educational programs cost over $25,000 a year for tuition fee alone, education in the United Kingdom is considerably affordable. Here, a majority of high educational programs costs around £7,000 annually, which is quite less. Similarly, when you compare the cost of education in the UK with other major English-speaking countries, you’ll understand that the cost of education in the United Kingdom is affordable.
Additionally, getting a higher education degree in the United Kingdom is faster than in other countries. Most four-year programs which are getting popular among students can be done in just three years in the UK, which again translates into financial savings. In the case of masters-level programs too, the duration is usually between one and two years.
Although for most international students, managing their education in the UK is affordable, policymakers in the United Kingdom need to take note of the rising costs of education for students who are not from the European Union. As exchange rates are steadily increasing, life in the United Kingdom can become expensive for students, especially those who’re not from the European Union. These students are charged more for higher education and the exchange rates can make things difficult for such students. A recent study warned the United Kingdom to put curbs on the rising tuition costs and costs for accommodation to make education in the United Kingdom affordable for international students.
Availability of Scholarships/Loans
The fact remains that financing international education is not easy for everybody. The best approach requires a lot of preparation and analysis of your budget. Moreover, it takes hard work in researching and applying for the best scholarships. If you’re keen in pursuing your higher education in the United Kingdom, you can apply for a variety of scholarships and loans that are available to students who’re planning to move to the UK for higher education.
Ample work opportunities
In most cases, international students are allowed to work up to 20 hours each week when their school is in term and full-time when the school is not in term. This may help international students fund their education in the United Kingdom while studying. However, if you plan to work while studying in the United Kingdom, make sure you speak with the international advisor at your school and ascertain that you’ll not be in violation of your visa terms if you plan to do a job while studying. Moreover, even if you’re allowed to work, finding a job might take time and hence it’s a good idea to fund the entire first year of your studies without any additional income.
Multicultural destination
The colonial past of the United Kingdom means that its culture has been influenced by cultures from around the world. Even today, the UK is a multicultural society that respects people from all religious, racial and ethnic backgrounds. This makes the United Kingdom great for students from all around the world. No matter which religion you practice, you can always find a place of worship for you in the United Kingdom. Here are links to some websites:
Easy access to Europe
If you’re studying in the United Kingdom, you can reach other areas of Europe within just a few hours by train or can catch a direct flight. With the Channel Tunnel and the growth of low-cost airlines such as Ryan Air and EasyJet, students studying in the UK can explore other regions of Europe with ease. As an example, if you’re studying in London, you can plan a weekend getaway in Italy by flying directly to Rome. These direct flights take just a couple of hours and tickets costs as less as £30 in some cases.
Conclusion
So, what do you think after going through 7 reasons why the UK is a great place to study abroad? Are you sure about your plan to pursue higher studies from the UK? If you are, we must say you’ve made a great decision. If you have any questions regarding studying in the UK, please feel free to ask. Our experts are here to help you!
