Ten Reasons Why You Should Study in Britain

As part of the Education series it is becoming increasingly clear that the global competition for overseas students in intensifying. Universities in the UK are competing with the US, Australia and increasingly with the rest of Europe (Germany, France, Italy, Sweden etc) who are developing their English language taught courses especially in Business, MBAs and Economics.

A future post will compare the relative costs across the world to see where the "value for money" really lies.

In this post I merely present the 10 reasons for studying in Britain from VisitUK.

Whilst (8), (9) and (10) could be written about pretty much any country the other reasons appear to hold up.

Ten reasons to study at a British university

Anyone opting for an education overseas is making one of the most important decisions in their life. Not just for the impact it has on your career prospects and long-term future, but also for the opportunities it gives you to experience new cultures, new customs and new ideas firsthand. So what does the UK have to offer international students?

1) Recognised and respected qualifications

UK undergraduate qualifications are respected and valued all over the world. They’ll give you an edge when you're competing for a job, proving to employers that you're capable of independent thought, research and self-discipline.

2) Value for Money

UK undergraduate study offers fantastic value for money and the sort of experience you can't put a price on: fantastic libraries, state-of-the art laboratories, ultramodern computer facilities and extensive research resources that will blow you and your future employers away.

3) Improve your English

Practise your English language skills every day, in shops and cafés and while you're out with English-speaking friends, as well as in seminars and discussion groups on your course. Many UK universities also offer in-session language support.

4) Flexibility

The wide range of undergraduate courses on offer gives you a huge amount of flexibility. Enrol on a bachelor's degree, or start by taking a 2-year HND or foundation degree. Study a single honours degree or more than one subjects in a joint or combined honours degree. It's entirely up to you!

5) Improve your job prospects

UK undergraduate qualifications let employers know at a glance that you've got the skills they're looking for, putting you on the right track for a great job and a great salary: a year after graduating, less than five per cent of UK undergraduates are unemployed.

6) It's a multicultural experience

At a UK university you'll be mixing with people from all over the world, whose different backgrounds and new perspectives will add to your experience. Of the 405,000 students who entered UK higher education in 2005, more than 10 per cent were international.

7) Learn outside the classroom

Cultural events and festivals run all year round, there are world-class museums, attractions, art galleries and exhibitions and hundreds of castles, palaces and historical properties to enrich your experience and support your studies.

8) Travel

Want to make the most of your time in Britain? Well then get out there and see some of it! With a Young Person’s Rail card or a BritXplorer pass, exploring the four diverse countries of Britain is cheaper and easier than you might imagine. See our Budget Travellers pages for more information.

9) The Outdoors

Britain boasts 14 National Parks, 49 Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and enough beautiful forests, beaches and mountains to satisfy any nature enthusiast. Cycle or walk from one side of Britain to the other on the Coast to Coast path or try extreme sports like white-water rafting, rock-climbing and hang-gliding. See our Outdoor Britain pages for more information.

10) Make the most of your time

Here are just a few other ideas: Visit a film location; go to a summer music festival; experience a unique UK event like cheese rolling; have a pint in a quiet country pub in the Cotswolds; run the London Marathon; visit an historic palace; go to a national park; surf in Cornwall…Whatever you do, enjoy!

The following posts may be of interest:
Econphd Ranking of "Economics departments"

Studying "Economics in the UK": General Links

Which UK University to study in? "Academic Ranking of World Universities"

Studying in the UK: Cost of Accomodation

World University Rankings: Rankings and text

"UK University Ranking": large city effect