Benefits of studying in the UK
Students worldwide have long been drawn towards pursuing higher education in the United Kingdom, and it’s not without a good reason. The UK is known for its top-notch world-class education system, diversity and spectacular student cities, making it the ideal destination for international students. If you’re a student who has been pondering about migrating to the UK, we are here to answer some of the obvious questions that may pop into your mind.
Recently, the UK announced more incentives to attract international students, including visa changes and friendlier immigration policies. It is said that by 2030, the country hopes to recruit 60,000 international students per year. Did you know? International students made up almost 22% of the student population in the UK in 2019-2020.
According to QS World University Rankings 2021, eight UK universities were ranked among the top 50 universities globally:
- University of Oxford
- University of Cambridge
- Imperial College London
- University College London
- University of Edinburgh
- University of Manchester
- King’s College London
- London School of Economics and Political Science
Known for its excellence in research and development facilities, medicine, arts and humanities, the UK is known for its plethora of universities to choose from. To see which of the universities excel in your specific area of study.
The country offers immense support for international students–online, through universities or through the local government. For instance, each university will have an exclusive office to address international students’ needs and answer questions about tuition, accommodation and academic support, etc. Your connection with the office can begin well before you apply to a university. Moreover, the UK Council for International Student Affairs, which is an advisory body for international students, offers excellent information on everything a student needs to know and even resources on mental health support, accommodation, work and immigration. The council also has a hotline, where you can easily make your inquiries.
The government also opened the Graduate route in March 2021, a move that has been attracting even more students to study in the country. Another good news is that international bachelor’s and master’s students can stay up to two more years after their graduation, while international doctorate students can stay up to three years. This will be a great boon for new professionals to settle and kickstart their careers in the UK.
There are also lots of opportunities for newly graduated students, especially if you’re looking for jobs attached to the UK's Shortage Occupation List. There is an evident shortage of nurses, pharmacists, teachers, engineers etc. and the state government has been actively recruiting professionals to fill up the vacancies.
In short, an international student in the UK is bound to have the best experience of learning, exploring and more, not to mention, fun.
