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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.

Applying for a masters at a top UK business school

Top business schools in the UK such as Imperial, UCL, LSE and LBS are extremely competitive. Business courses at these institutions are often individually ranked which means that they attract 1000s of applications each year and therefore, the entry requirements are high and very strict. So how do you compete with the 100s of candidates applying for the same position on the course?

Apart from ensuring that you meet the basic entry criteria detailed on their websites, you need to present yourself as the right ‘fit’ for the institution and the course. There are some general characteristics that business schools are looking for which you need to demonstrate in your personal statement and CV:

Leadership – business courses at postgraduate level are designed to develop the leader in you but they need something to work with. You have to show them that you already have the hallmarks of a leader and that they merely have to tap into this to bring it to fruition.
International exposure – business schools are international places just like the world of work. They want to see that you are not phased by the mixing pot of ideas and approaches that come from multiculturalism and that you can thrive in such environments. By drawing on some of your international experiences you demonstrate that you can contribute to their diversity. But note: they are not interested in your beach holidays; your international exposure must have purpose!
Self-awareness – business school courses often focus on developing your soft skills (team-work, communication, project and time management etc) but to develop in these areas, you need to be able to observe yourself, take criticism and improve. A lack of self-awareness inhibits this goal so show the admissions teams your ability to self-assess, overcome challenges and learn from your mistakes in education, work or life.
Give back – Business schools don’t give something for nothing. They are looking for students who ‘give back’ to the school by immersing themselves in the student experience (societies, conferences, research groups, networking events), encouraging the next cohort of students to join the school and ultimately, becoming an accomplished alumnus/a who will go on to do incredible things. In a way, you have to pitch yourself to them through your career aspirations, your personal goals, your future achievements and give them something that they want to put their name on.

UKSO knows what business schools are looking for. We will help you pitch yourself successfully and get a place on a world-leading masters course. Contact us to find out what university application support services we can offer.

Liberal Arts Degrees – why study in the UK?

Liberal Arts is an internationally recognised approach to studying the humanities which leading UK universities are now investing in. It is the model of education more associated with the US than the UK but fourteen English Higher Education Institutions (spanning the Russell Group, Million+, GuildHE and the former 1994 Group) now offer liberal arts degrees with 3 further institutions planning new courses to begin in 2016.

A Liberal Arts degree is one of the strongest models of undergraduate education across North America, combining breadth with depth and having some course requirements. The UK liberal arts programmes draw inspiration from the US model, but different institutions have different interpretations of what “liberal arts” means, giving students the opportunity to select a course that really suits them both philosophically and structurally. The UK model extends the idea of course requirements, to ensure that the students develop a range of identifiable skills with programmes based around a strong core curriculum ensuring that they are truly interdisciplinary.

Although the UK liberal arts courses are a recent development their popularity is growing. They appeal to students interested principally in the humanities and social sciences, who want a structured degree programme but don’t want to be limited from the outset to traditional disciplinary boundaries. Most attract high achievers and frequently demand A*AA at A-level (or equivalent) as an entry requirement.

Some institutions have extended the idea beyond the humanities and social sciences to encompass natural sciences giving students a truly interdisciplinary perspective across a broad range of subjects. University College London launched their BASc Arts & Science programmes in 2012, allowing students to major in one of four pathways: Culture, Health and Environment, Sciences and Engineering. Those choosing to major in Cultures or Societies must take a minor in one of the other pathways and vice versa. The other 50% of each year consists of compulsory core modules which include a modern language. The University of Birmingham offers a Liberal Arts and Natural Sciences degree offering the flexibility to choose a Major as students progress through the course, alongside a year abroad and an alumni mentoring scheme.

Students (and parents) may be wary of a liberal arts degree because of its unfamiliarity. However the reality is that given the globalized nature of the job market, employers are seeking students with a wide range of interests and skills and taking a liberal arts course will allow individuals to demonstrate these.

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Beyond London – Great universities outside the capital

Applying for a masters at a top UK business school

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