Study Abroad in the United Kingdom

The United Kingdom has always been the wellspring of fascination for the students seeking advanced education abroad, particularly from Commonwealth Nations. Before the ascendancy of the United States as a most famous goal for advanced education, London has been the top choice. The English language that swept the length and breadth of the world due to the imperialistic motives of Britain and till today, stays one of the top goal for the Indian students.

QS World University Rankings 2019, highlights 76 top colleges in the UK, which includes four in the world's best 10 colleges. 18 colleges have made to the list of the worldwide best 100, and more organizations have ascended in the current year's positioning when contrasted with their performance a year ago.

Here is a list of top 5 best performing varsities in the United Kingdom-

#1 University of Oxford

Ranks 6th in the world and first in the United Kingdom. One of the oldest and most esteemed colleges on the planet, the University of Oxford draws in best researchers and students to its 44 schools and halls. The varsity faces an aggressive competition as large number of students dreams to join the institution.

The university offers various joint degree programs that consolidate two subjects at the undergrad level. Altogether, there are 250 college degree blends. Degrees are awarded in Law, Politics, Mathematics, Science, Philosophy, Religion, Literature, Music, and Drama. 

The university provides accommodation to its students. Life in Oxford can be an enriching experience by being a part of the legacy. Students are educated only by tutors in their school, while postgraduate students are principally served by a centralised faculty.

There are more than 100 libraries at Oxford, the most popular of which is the Bodleian, built in 1602. The city additionally flaunts various exhibition halls, including the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, which houses the remaining parts of a dodo, and the Museum of the History of Science, which shows a board utilized by Albert Einstein.

Around 30 world leaders, 27 British leaders, 29 Nobel Laureates and 160 Olympic medallists were instructed at Oxford. Stephen Hawking, Hugh Grant, and Indira Gandhi are among the most well-known graduates.

#2 University of Cambridge

The University of Cambridge ranks one notch higher than Oxford in the QS World University Ranking 2019. It is ranked at 5th while at home it is the second-most prestigious institution all over the United Kingdom.

The University of Cambridge is essentially a collegiate school like Oxford and is additionally one of the oldest and esteemed varsities around the world which is only an hour from London.

The college is home to more than 18,000 students and 9,000 staff. There are 31 schools, some of which go back to the thirteenth century. Cambridge offers 30 undergraduate courses covering more than 65 subject areas which includes Literature, Geography, Theology, Sciences, History, Philosophy, etc.

Cambridge is especially eminent for perfection in science and has taught the most acclaimed British researchers. Altogether, 116 Nobel Laureates are affiliated with the college, and Cambridge-associated mathematicians have won 11 Fields Medals.

Getting into an undergrad course at the college is pretty tough due to aggressive competition; the application acceptance rate is under 25 percent and most of the rejected candidates have A+ grades in their high schools.

Students are educated by means of lectures – one on one tutorial exercises with just two or three different students at most. 

Cambridge libraries are home to broad accumulations of medieval compositions and the college exhibition halls show accumulations of archaeological antiques and zoological examples.

Famous graduates incorporate performing artists, legislators, royals, athletes and social figures.

#3 Imperial College London

Imperial College London is reliably positioned among the best colleges in the world for science, technology, engineering, medicine and business.

QS World University Ranking 2019 ranks Imperial College London at the 8th position out of 100 best universities around the world.

It was established in 1907 from a merger of three schools in London and now has 15,200 students and 8,000 staff. The student group is vibrantly international with a presence of 125 nationalities.

The varsity boasts about having a strong alumni base who had been top researchers, Fields medallists and Nobel prize winners, influential government advisers, and policymakers. Numerous graduates have accomplished commendable feats in industry and business and are exceptionally looked for after by blue-chip organizations and startup companies.

Imperial College is based beside Kensington Palace in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, with different grounds around the city.

The creator H. G. Wells and Sir Liam Donaldson, head physician to the Queen, are among Imperial's celebrated alumni.

#4 University College London

University College London (UCL) was the principal college in England to accept students irrespective of class, race or religion, and the first to concede ladies on equivalent terms with men, following the ideologies of Jeremy Bentham – the college's " Spiritual Founder".

It is a standout amongst the most particular British colleges and is thought to create probably the most employable graduates. QS World University Ranking 2019 ranks UCL at 7th out of the 100 prestigious educational institutions worldwide.

Established in 1826 as London University and its main campus lies in Bloomsbury, London. UCL offers courses in Arts and Humanities, Brain Sciences, Engineering Sciences, Laws, Mathematical and Physical Sciences, etc.

It is rather tough to get in UCL. For undergrad admission, aspirants should have a score of A or a grade equivalent 6, 6, 6 in subjects learned in the International Baccalaureate. The most sought-after degree is the BSc in philosophy, politics and economics, which gets 30 candidates for each place.

The major portion of all UCL students are from outside the UK, with altogether more from Asia than from mainland Europe. Famous graduates from the college incorporate Mahatma Gandhi, Alexander Graham Bell, the designer of the phone; and Coldplay's Chris Martin, who met alternate individuals from his band at the college. The college has produced 29 Nobel laureates so far, with at least one every decade since the establishment of the prizes in 1901.

#5 London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)

Of all UK colleges, the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) has the most astounding share of worldwide students which stands at 70 percent. LSE ranks at the 35th position according to the QS World University Ranking 2019.

The college has specific qualities in law, economics, history, philosophy and politics. Approximately, 26 percent of all Nobel prize winners for Economics had been graduates or associated with LSE.

LSE's has its main campus in the Clare Market zone, near the Royal Courts of Justice, Lincoln's Inn, the Royal College of Surgeons and the British Museum.

In 2014, the college got a whopping 17,000 undergrad applications for 1,500 seats. Like other best colleges in the UK, students require grades above A or higher to get in LSE.

Postgraduate courses in economics, management and law, have an acceptance rate of less than 7 per cent which makes it very difficult to pursue a postgrad degree at LSE.

B. R. Ambedkar referred to as the father of the Indian constitution also researched his doctoral thesis at the LSE while pursuing his Bar course at Gray's Inn in London.

Benefits of choosing the UK for studies

• Overall Recognition

Degrees and courses from Higher education institutions are referred to far and wide as of high calibre and best in the world. Though this standard of magnificence is set by a portion of the more renowned institutions like Oxford and Cambridge, yet the convention helps a considerable lot of the colleges and schools to follow the suit and improve. Being a part of one of the famous universities also can boost your resume.

• Education Costs are Lower

The expense of education for an international student in the UK can be by and large lower contrasted with the USA and other nations. Pursuing higher studies in the USA can cost $25,000 or more a year in educational cost alone. The educational cost in the UK by and large £6,000 to £7,000 per year, which is extensively less!

Albeit four-year programs are expanding in prevalence, most degree programs in the UK are three years, and an experts program is regularly somewhere in the range of one and two years. This additionally lessens your education cost considerably and it suits students from the Indian education system which is in similar lines with that of the UK.

• Work Opportunities

International students in the UK are normally permitted to work up to 20 hours every week amid school term, and up to full-time when school is out of term. Obviously, you ought to check with your school before beginning any work - you would prefer not to be infringing upon your visa. Additionally, it won't be easy to find a vocation of your choice, so depending on work wage to support your education is not a smart choice.

• Grants/Loans

Financing an international education can be troublesome due to its high costs. The best methodology incorporates creating a financial plan and look for ways to apply for grants or loans. There are specific grants and scholarships often accessible to students from abroad who wish to study in the UK.

• English as a spoken dialect

English being the national and most broadly talked dialect of the nation makes it significantly simpler for international students from different nations to come an explore their educational goals.

• Solid Research Infrastructure

The universities of UK provide a strong support for the students and fellows who are passionate about research. Research Excellence Framework (REF) declares that 30% of research done by the varsities in the UK is classified as 'world-leading' and 46% as 'internationally excellent'.

• Multifaceted experience

There were 4,36,585 international students from 180+ nations in the UK a year ago, out of which Indian students were the second largest (at least 18,320)!  This multicultural student population helps you to understand the world from a different perspective and you will unlikely feel bored during your stay there.