Study in United Kingdom
Five Quick Points About the U.K.
- Second only to the U.S. as a study destination for international students
- London is a major financial centre for the world
- Increasingly multicultural
- Highly regarded for the quality of its higher education system
- Expanding post-graduate work opportunities for foreign students
Climate
The U.K. has a temperate climate, and one that is remarkably varied due to all the water surrounding the area – conditions can change greatly from one day to the next. Scotland in the north tends to be cooler than England, while Wales is generally wetter with more cloud cover. Temperatures generally range from around 0º Celsius in winter to 32º Celsius in summer. In all parts of the U.K., waterproof jackets should be part of the wardrobe.
Location and Geography
The United Kingdom is a sovereign state situated west of continental Europe; its total area is 244,820 square kilometres. It comprises four countries: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland is the only part of the U.K. with a land border (with the Republic of Ireland); the rest of the state is surrounded by bodies of water (the Atlantic Ocean, the North Sea, the English Channel, and the Irish Sea). The English Channel separates the U.K.’s southern coastline from France.
The United Kingdom is renowned for its level plains and rolling green countryside. These predominate in the south and the east, whereas to the north and the west, the landscape includes rugged hills and low mountains. The capital is London.
History and Population
The U.K. has had a tumultuous history. In early times, the region’s predominantly Celtic people were invaded and influenced by a range of different nationalities, including Romans, Norsemen, Vikings, Saxons, and Normans. While the U.K. was for a long time a major coloniser (i.e., during the time of the British Empire), exporting its culture, values, and the English language around the world, it is now increasingly a nation of immigrants, with a diverse mix of European, Asian, and African nationalities influencing the culture as a whole. British values continue to find voice around the world in institutions like the Commonwealth and in the systems and structures of former British Empire countries.
The current population of the U.K. is just over 66 million. England is the most densely populated (approximately 55 million), with the majority of people living in the southeast; Scotland’s population is just under 6 million; Wales is about 3 million; and Northern Ireland is just under 2 million. English is the main language, but many other languages are also spoken due to immigration.
Society and Culture
The development and formation of the United Kingdom has occurred in a way that the cultures of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland overlap, yet still have their own diverse and clearly distinctive features.
The average age is 40. The trend is for younger people to study for longer and for older people to spend more time in retirement. The time spent in employment during a person’s lifetime has been reduced. Increased life expectancy and working women have also contributed to this trend.
Economy
A member of the G7 and G20 groups, the U.K. economy is the sixth largest in the world by GDP and among the top three in Europe. It was historically the lead nation in becoming industrialised, and London remains one of the world’s main financial centres.
Services, particularly banking, insurance, and business services, contribute by far the largest proportion of GDP, with industry and manufacturing becoming increasingly less important. While it accounts for a relatively small proportion of GDP, the agricultural industry in the U.K. is highly intensive and efficient, producing roughly 60% of food needs but employing less than 2% of the labour force.
The currency of the U.K. remains the Pound Sterling.
Government
The United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy/parliamentary democracy. The U.K. was a foundation member of the Commonwealth and remains its flagship country today. A founding member of NATO, the U.K. is also a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.
The government of England is still solely regulated by the U.K. parliament. Since Devolution in 1999, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have their own legislative bodies and more independent authority in governing their own countries. The chief of state in the U.K. is the King, and the prime minister is the head of parliament. England, Scotland, and Wales have regional county councils responsible for local government matters, and the large cities (especially London) also have councils (boroughs) responsible for local government.
Living Conditions and Cost of Living
In the U.K., the cost of living can vary considerably depending on location. With the U.K.’s departure from the European Union in 2020, students from both EU and non-EU countries can expect to pay foreign student fees while studying in the United Kingdom.
A 2022 QS article notes:
“Now, U.K. and EU students at English universities are required to pay up to £9,250 (~US$13,050) per year. International undergraduate tuition fees vary considerably, starting at around £10,000 (~US$14,130) and going up to £38,000 (~US$53,700) or more for medical degrees. The total average cost of studying in the U.K. is estimated to be at least £22,200 (~US$31,380) per year, with studying in London likely to be significantly more expensive.”
The U.K. lifestyle provides opportunities to experience a wide range of live theatre, museums, art galleries, historical towns, and buildings. Travel is available to most parts of the U.K. via train and/or bus, and the U.K. abounds in bed and breakfast accommodations as well as backpacker hostels.
Education System
The education system in the U.K. (except for Scotland) comprises four main sectors: primary, secondary, further education, and higher education.
Full-time education is compulsory for all children aged between 5 and 16. Students ordinarily attend primary until they are 11 years old and secondary until they are 16. They may then continue their secondary studies for a further two years (sixth form), leading most typically to an A-level qualification, although other qualifications and courses exist, including the BTEC and the International Baccalaureate. The Education and Skills Act 2008 raised the leaving age for compulsory education to 18.
Education in Scotland
The Scottish system of education is quite distinct from the education systems of the rest of the U.K. Since 1999, it has had its own legislative framework, curriculum framework, and qualifications system. The Scottish Parliament is responsible for the whole system and has established several agencies for education development. The Scottish Qualifications Authority is responsible for issuing all qualifications. Scotland has one main university system: Scotland University, under which all individual universities operate.
Information Specific to International Students
The U.K. ranks second to the U.S. in international students’ preferences for study destinations. The U.K. has numerous further and higher education institutions for international students, and English-language courses are readily available throughout the four countries.
Visa applications for the U.K. go to the U.K. Border Agency. International students must apply for a Tier 4 Points-Based System Visa through the Visa Application Centres in other countries. Once approved, a visa is issued for the length of the course of study. Some student visas permit work while studying in the U.K.
