Studying abroad is an incredible opportunity for students. But where you decide to study abroad can have a significant impact on your academic and social experience as a student. 

For years now, London has established itself as one of the most popular destinations in the world for international students looking to gain quality educational experiences.

Home to several elite universities, a unique blend of culture, business, and politics, it’s no wonder that London is such a popular study abroad destination for students.

Below, we share some of the perks which make London such a unique city to study in and a popular destination for undergraduates and summer school students alike. 

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5 Benefits of Studying in London

There are so many interesting reasons why you should choose to study in London. We’ve rounded up just five of the key benefits below.

London is home to a huge international student community

Firstly, the United Kingdom is a popular destination for international students looking to pursue their university studies in a country that is home to some of the leading universities in the world. 

Each year, hundreds of thousands of students enrol at UK universities, with many choosing the UK capital as their home for the duration of their studies. In London alone, there are over 380,000 students registered at higher education institutions, with over 100,000 of these being overseas students.

Not only does this make London a vibrant, multicultural city for ambitious students to connect and make friendships with, but it also means that the UK capital is also perfectly set up to ensure that international students experience the very best learning opportunities and extracurricular experiences possible. 

There are plenty of student-focused events, activities, and networking events to attend - both at your university and organised by local events teams - as well as hundreds of cultural sights to enjoy (more on that later). Many of these will be targeted at international students specifically, helping you settle into UK culture and university life as soon as you arrive.

Apps like MeetUp and CitySocialiser are great ways to meet other students in the city and hear about upcoming events, while your university freshers week will also pack plenty of welcome activities into your timetable that will help you meet and get to know your other course mates. 

There’s plenty of culture and history to dive into

London is a haven for those of you who are looking to learn lots and expand their worldview. As the capital of the United Kingdom and a prominent player in the world of arts, it’s a global centre of excellence and a really exciting place to be a student in the 21st Century.

As such, you can expect it to house the very best that British history has to offer, while also being a hub of constantly-evolving business, research and developments. In fact, London’s financial district - also known as the world’s financial capital - contributes to the country as being the highest net exporter of financial services. 

In terms of cultural sites to see and learn from, the city boasts over 1,000 museums and galleries - most of which are free! Beyond these, there are also over 120 different libraries in London, including the world-famous British Library which is home to an impressive 150 million+ books, with an apparent 3 million new items being added to its collections each year. 

Most famously, London is also home to several of the world’s most famous buildings and sites, including Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, The Shard and more. For those who have never visited the city before, there’s an endless amount to see and explore. 

London’s cultural history is so vast and so enriching that each summer, any students that join us on a summer course here in the UK; either Oxford, Cambridge or on our junior courses, will usually enjoy visits to a handful of the best of these museums and other sites, as part of one of their excursions timetable. For those attending a summer school in London, you’ll have plenty of time outside of the classroom to experience the unique atmosphere of this city - and explore everything that it has to offer. 

Essentially, one of the major benefits of studying in London is that you’ll never get bored. You never have to worry about running out of things to do, see or even eat - it’s an exciting city of possibilities just waiting to be discovered. 

Some of the UK’s top universities are in London

For three years now, London has earned itself recognition as the best city in the world to be a university student, putting it ahead of other rivals such as Berlin, Boston, and Tokyo. Rated highly for its “outstanding cultural, economic, and educational opportunities,” London remains a world-leading hub for education. 

Despite its size, London really has earned itself an academic hotspot, containing the most universities of any of the UK cities - 18 in total. More impressively, 3 of these universities in the city, including the world-recognised Imperial College and King’s College London, are ranked among the top 10 of the best in the UK.

For those looking for learning opportunities, there is no shortage. In fact, there are over 30,000 different courses on offer in the capital, meaning there’s no limit to what you could study! 

And yet, this list is only set to grow, bringing more innovative learning experiences for students. One of the newest, and, our host site for our 2022 summer courses is the London Interdisciplinary School. Founded in 2017, it is the first university institution in London (since the 1960s!) to hold full degree-awarding qualifications in the UK. 

With an ethos that places emphasis on students to learn via real-world problem solving, its teaching facilities are set up in a way that facilitates collaboration and learning. Teaching takes place in the round, rather than front-facing classes, while a number of specialist spaces, such as their media studio, allow students to benefit from using the very equipment they will experience in a professional setting in the future. 

Want to find out more about studying at The London Interdisciplinary School? Discover our summer courses in London here. 

There’s plenty of graduate opportunities

Beyond your undergraduate studies, London is a city that is also recognised for its extensive range of graduate career opportunities and research placements. 

London is the central hub of the country; whether political, economical, or political - London is on the map as one of the most vibrant cities in the world, and as a result, is home to many international businesses and firms who choose to have their offices here. 

Unsurprisingly, there are a whole range of graduate jobs and internships to choose from, in almost any industry (London is home to 19% of all jobs in the country), meaning that no matter what your dream career is, you can take your first step towards it here. 

The appeal of London as a graduate is more than justifiable. London is a bustling hub of culture, restaurants and entertainment where you can meet people from all over the world. Add to this the fact that some of the biggest household names in the business and corporate world house their head offices here, it’s hard to ignore the draw of the city once you enter into the world of work. 

Plus, it was confirmed that from 1 July 2021, international students can apply to live and work in the UK for 2 years after graduation with the new Graduate Route visa, regardless of your area of study. With the visa, there’s no need to be sponsored by an employer to be eligible and there are no restrictions on the type of work you can do for the 2 years, including no minimum salary requirements. 

This means you can look for roles related to your degree or even gain experience working and exploring related areas. Either way, it’s a fantastic opportunity to build your CV and kick-start your future career. 

Learning aside, it’s a great student city

Finally, it wouldn’t be worth mentioning the benefits of studying in London without mentioning what a fantastic city it is for you to be a student in. Yes it’s home to great academia and opportunity, but it’s also just a really incredible place to spend your student years.

With a population of almost nine million, London is the biggest city in Europe, and more than set up to accommodate a bustling culture of entertainment, learning and opportunity. 

If there’s one thing that students love to do, it’s socialise. And in London, there’s no limit to the amount of places you can visit with your friends and have a great time. Whether it’s hitting a new coffee shop for your post-class debrief; going for birthday dinners at a new pop-up restaurant; or heading on a night out during the student’s special event nights at the local clubs, there are no shortages to the types of social events you can expect to enjoy. 

As mentioned above, students joining us on our London summer courses will be studying at The London Interdisciplinary School in East London, an area surrounded by a fantastic arts scene, street markets, heritage buildings, and more. It’s not too far from Stratford (home to London 2012 Olympics and Westfield shopping centre), as well as the must-visit Sky Garden - where you can catch a 360 view of the city. 

Plus, many high street shops and popular restaurants offer student discounts - perfect for helping you save those extra pennies during the (most probably) cash-strapped years of your adulthood.

Even if you’re not located near to these popular student areas, the convenience of the London Underground (more colloquially known as the Tube), means it’s easy to get anywhere and enjoy new things. There’s never a lack of ability to see new parts of the city or try new things; you can literally travel from one end of London to the other within an hour. Plus, it’s a really cheap form of transportation!

Summary

When it comes to selecting and applying to university, students face an incredibly difficult decision. Where you choose to study has a significant impact on your university experience and graduate prospects. And if you’re an international student looking to study abroad, higher university fees mean you really don’t want to be making the wrong decision. Luckily, London has everything you could need to thrive as a student. 

Not only is it home to some of the world’s leading universities and a huge student population, meaning it’s perfectly set up for students to have a great experience, but it’s also got an extensive multicultural scene and endless opportunities for graduates - and there’s no reason why you couldn’t launch your future career here. 

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About the author

Rhys Mackenzie is the Website Marketing Manager at Oxford Summer Courses. With extensive experience in SEO and digital content management, they are passionate about showcasing the best that Oxford has to offer. Their previous role at Experience Oxfordshire gave them a deep appreciation for the city's unique cultural and academic offerings. Learn more about Rhys here.