• Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
Call Us: +44 (0)208 1871865 | Email: hello@ukstudyoptions.com
UK Study Options
  • Home
  • What We Do
    • University Application Support
    • University Fee Status Support
    • Blog
    • Case Studies
    • Destination Universities
  • Who We Are
    • About UKSO
    • Our Team
    • Testimonials
  • Contact Us
  • Menu Menu

Tag Archive for: loughborough

Beyond London – Great universities outside the capital

The UK is renowned for its quality higher education – it has almost 400 institutions and attracts 458,000 students from around the world each year. Typically, students from outside the UK immediately look to study in London, as it’s a globally recognised city that they will have been exposed to through media, film, politics or may have already visited. But are there any good universities beyond London?

London is a fantastic place to study and boasts some of the best universities in the world; UCL, LSE, Imperial College London, King’s College London etc, but the university experience can be quite different to that outside of the capital. Often students might be studying and living in different parts of the city rather than in a campus setting. It suits a student who is already quite mature, independent and used to living in a large city. Most of our students at UK Study Options don’t fit this profile and instead seek an undergraduate experience that introduces them softly into the ‘real world’ after living with family their whole life. There is a wealth of universities outside London that rival the capital’s education, diversity, history and fun that don’t get fair consideration as future study destinations.

So here are some of our non-London suggestions that teach a wide range of different degree subjects that we recommend you explore when thinking about university in the UK.

Warwick University – located in central England, this university offers top ranking education on a US-style campus so students can study, live, work and socialise within a safe, but diverse and vibrant environment. They are quite unique in having a theatre, cinema, concert hall and art gallery all on campus. Not far from Birmingham International Airport, it is well connected with the rest of the world.

University of Bristol – Bristol is a trendy and creative city with good access to the South West of England and the coast – great if you love water sports. The uni has the largest student union in the country and hosts 100s of societies and clubs. The city also has its own airport, flying to some international destinations.

Durham University – Durham is a small, beautiful northern England city, steeped in history. This collegiate university does consistently well in student satisfaction and employability surveys. Among UK students it’s a popular alternative to Oxford and Cambridge. They have over 200 sports teams, it’s a great location for outdoor pursuits. It’s also very close to Newcastle International Airport.

University of Edinburgh – an academically outstanding Scottish university that is over 400 years old. As another historically significant place, the city is packed with Medieval and Georgian architecture. It hosts the famous Edinburgh Arts Festival every August which offers students low-cost tickets to comedy, theatre and music shows.

There are plenty more excellent study destinations around the country. The key to selecting the right university, is to look at the whole package of what they offer and see if this is compatible with your criteria. You might discover a city or university that you have never heard of that is perfect for you! Ask yourself:

  • Is it ranked highly for the subject I want to study?
  • Is it easy to get home from? (Many cities have international airports.)
  • Can I practice the sport/activity that I love in the university or the local area?
  • Does it offer the right level of independence/security for me?
  • Does it fit my budget? (Living costs can vary widely in different parts of the country.)
  • What’s the weather like there? (Weather can also vary widely in different parts of the country!)

We always recommend that students visit their shortlisted universities to get a feel for if they are right for them. It’s difficult to know what a place is like from a website but in person you will immediately get a sense of if it’s where you want to be.

At UK Study Options we work closely with students to help identify the right course and university for them as individuals. Get in touch to learn about our university application support.

https://ukstudyoptions.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Beyond-London-1.jpg 521 800 Kate Raison https://ukstudyoptions.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/ukso-r-logo.png Kate Raison2019-08-27 14:49:482019-08-27 14:49:48Beyond London – Great universities outside the capital

What is a ‘sandwich’ course and why take one?

A so-called ‘sandwich’ course is a degree course that includes time spent on a placement, often in industry or business, away from the university.   ‘Sandwich’ courses can be ‘thick’ with one long placement or ‘thin’ with two or more shorter periods on a placement and are favoured by a number of high ranking universities.

A number of UK universities including Bath, Lancaster, Surrey, Loughborough and Aston are particularly keen for students to take advantage of this type of course. At the University of Bath, for example, most of the undergraduate degree courses have the option for students to take a ‘sandwich year’. Placements usually take place after the second year of the degree course, so students will spend the first two years of their degree studying at Bath, followed by a ‘sandwich’ year on placement before returning for their final year(s) of studies.

Modern Language courses typically follow this pattern with Year 3 being spent abroad either teaching in a school, studying at a university or working in an industrial placement. A large number of other subjects offer placements and include Business, Engineering, Finance, Psychology and Sport Studies.

Although ‘sandwich’ courses are usually one year longer as a result of the placement there can be significant advantages:

  • An edge when applying for graduate careers. In a competitive graduate job market, employers are increasingly looking for applications that stand out, and a good work placement helps students to do just that.
  • The development of skills and understanding that will help during the remaining year(s) of study.
  • Insight into potential areas of employment.
  • The possibility of full-time employment with the placement company after graduation.
  • Insight into how the principles, skills and knowledge developed during the course are applied in a work environment.
  • If the placement is in a relevant field, the student may be able to attract a higher starting salary or a more senior position upon graduation.

‘Sandwich’ courses do not appeal to all students, with some seeing a placement as an unwelcome interruption to full time study. However, if the university subject being studied is vocational, it is certainly worth considering and it is important to check the following:

  • The amount of assistance the university gives in finding a placement.
  • The variety of placements available and the selection criteria.
  • The amount of support given by the university whilst on placement.
  • Whether/how the student’s performance on placement is assessed as part of the ultimate degree result.
  • Whether the student will be paid whilst on placement.
  • The fees due to the university whilst the student is on placement

Do you have a question about the different types of courses on offer at UK universities? Need some help with a UCAS application? Contact the UKSO team on hello@ukstudyoptions.com.

https://ukstudyoptions.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/news-_0000_alexis-brown-82988-unsplash.jpg 600 800 Kate Raison https://ukstudyoptions.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/ukso-r-logo.png Kate Raison2016-08-03 15:23:002019-08-07 13:39:03What is a ‘sandwich’ course and why take one?

UKSO Blog

  • UK University places are more competitive than ever07/07/2022 - 12:00 pm
  • The Cost of an Undergraduate Degree in the UK08/06/2022 - 10:41 am
  • UK University Fee Status Rules05/05/2022 - 2:32 pm

UK Study Options Tags

admissions applications aston bath British cambridge Clearing competitive dentistry eligibility EU evidence expat expatriate expats fees fee status funding grades home home fees international international fees lancaster loughborough medical schools medicine open days oxbridge oxford personal statement postgraduate russell group sandwich course students surrey tuition fees UCAS UCL uk universities university US veterinary vocational

Get in Touch

Email
hello@ukstudyoptions.com

Phone
+44 (0)208 1871865

© Copyright - UK Study Options 2023 | Privacy Policy | Proudly built by Lemongrass Media - Web Design Milton Keynes
Scroll to top

This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies.

OKLearn more

Cookie and Privacy Settings



How we use cookies

We may request cookies to be set on your device. We use cookies to let us know when you visit our websites, how you interact with us, to enrich your user experience, and to customize your relationship with our website.

Click on the different category headings to find out more. You can also change some of your preferences. Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer.

Essential Website Cookies

These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features.

Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, you cannot refuse them without impacting how our site functions. You can block or delete them by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website.

Google Analytics Cookies

These cookies collect information that is used either in aggregate form to help us understand how our website is being used or how effective our marketing campaigns are, or to help us customize our website and application for you in order to enhance your experience.

If you do not want that we track your visist to our site you can disable tracking in your browser here:

Other external services

We also use different external services like Google Webfonts, Google Maps and external Video providers. Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. Changes will take effect once you reload the page.

Google Webfont Settings:

Google Map Settings:

Vimeo and Youtube video embeds:

Privacy Policy

You can read about our cookies and privacy settings in detail on our Privacy Policy Page.

Privacy Policy
Accept settingsHide notification only