International Schools to Consider: The United Kingdom
Elton Lin
As you’re figuring out which colleges to put on your apply-to list, it’s worth glancing away from your state universities and the Ivy Leagues for a moment to consider additional options across the Atlantic Ocean. We’ve already introduced you to highly-qualified colleges in Canada, and now we’re adding colleges in the United Kingdom to your potential research list.
Why should you consider UK schools?
The United Kingdom has an excellent academic reputation and the resources to back it up. With its globally-renowned universities and faculty, the UK promises a great experience for research-inclined or even just intellectually-curious students. It has a wealth of libraries and accessible historical archives, and its government gives high amounts of funding to higher education and research.
It goes without saying that there’s rich history and experience to be had at every corner in the UK. The historical landmarks and architecture attract tourists from all over the world, and cultural hubs like its many impressive museums, world-class classical and modern musical events, and vibrant street food and sights provide incredible opportunities to an exploring college student.
The UK’s close proximity to so many other countries makes travel incredibly convenient. As a student in the UK, new cultural experiences will always be within reach wherever you turn.
If you’re a fan of a more “old-school” education experience—lecture halls over participation and research papers over discussions—then UK schools will definitely appeal more to your style of learning.
Degrees tend to take less time to achieve in the UK, with undergraduate bachelor’s degrees requiring three years of study, and PhD programs similarly taking much less time than their American counterparts.
In light of all these pros of pursuing higher education in the United Kingdom, here are some UK schools—some that you may have heard of, and others that may be unfamiliar—to consider during college application season:
The University of Oxford is the oldest English-speaking university in the world, and one of the most prestigious universities on top of that, ranked #1 in Europe and the UK, and ranked #5 in the world. Founded more than 900 years ago, Oxford is home to one of the most academically-impressive communities, with accomplished experts, faculty, and students alike. Oxford students graduate from this resource-saturated and historical institution with a rigorous but fulfilling student experience backing them up.
The University of Cambridge is often coupled with Oxford under the term “Oxbridge”, which makes sense given the two historical universities’ many similarities. A collegiate research university in Cambridge (not London), the University of Cambridge originated from a collection of scholars that left Oxford after disputes, and they successfully founded an institution with an intellectual community and resources of just as high a caliber as the original. Cambridge is also the wealthiest university in the United Kingdom, with a total income of about 2 billion euros (as of 2019), a large chunk of which was from research-related funds and grants.
University College London is the largest university in the United Kingdom and the first institution in England to admit women. With such a large student body, UCL has a wealth of diverse activities and opportunities for students to pursue—on- and off-campus—as its location in the heart of London provides even more to explore. As a public research university, UCL is home to many research center operations in disciplines including nanotechnology, intellectual and developmental disabilities, and neurology, to name just a few.
Imperial College London is a world-class public research university that specializes in teaching and researching science, technology, medicine, and business, as its legal name of “Imperial College of Science, Technology, and Medicine” indicates. As such, Imperial College London attracts students inclined towards those studies from all over the world—and over 59% of the institution’s student body comes from beyond UK borders, representing 140 countries. Imperial College London was also ranked #1 in 2019 among universities in the United Kingdom for employment prospects, promising secure post-graduate opportunities for its students.
Royal Holloway, University of London is a public research university that originated as a women-only college in 1879. Located in woodlands between Windsor and Heathrow, RHUL has a beautiful natural campus that attracts students from 165 different countries. The university has international ties to other institutions as well, offering exchange programs with schools in the United States, Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, New Zealand, and Canada.
The University of Manchester is a red brick public research university located in Manchester, England and is home to one of the largest undergraduate student bodies in the United Kingdom. It boasts a host of many Nobel Laureates as alumni and is the UK university with the most Nobel Laureates currently on staff. The University of Manchester not only conducts a wide variety of high-quality research across many advanced fields (e.g. industrial biotechnology, energy, global inequalities), but it also operates major cultural hubs like museums, an art gallery, and even the Jodrell Bank Observatory, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The United Kingdom clearly has many top-quality opportunities for undergraduate education and practical research, and is worth checking out as you consider your options for higher education! If you’re still looking for schools to add to your college list, feel free to request a free consultation and we can discuss some more.