Study Abroad - Attending College in London

Western Europe is the birthplace of the college tradition, and England is one of the foremost countries for these universities. Travelling to London is one thing, but attending school there is a dream that many share. With proper preparation, planning and information, prospective students can turn their dream into a reality with ease.

The first thing an aspiring freshman should do is look into travel visas. Unless one is a citizen of the United Kingdom, these are a necessity to work, live, and study abroad anywhere. Prior to this, a student must realize that college costs in London can range from 4,000 to 22,000 pounds per semester. This is in addition to room and board costs, which can make the trip even more expensive. If one is serious about going to school in London, they should plan accordingly for these costs. Of course, a student from abroad will also need a passport. This can take a good deal of time to get if the applicant does not already have one.

When one is aware of their particular requirements for a visa, it is time to start looking at colleges. One cannot actually receive a visa until they have proof of acceptance into a university. Luckily, London has one of the highest concentrations of universities in the world. There are over 40 universities within and near the city that accept students, including some that cater to an international audience exclusively. Unless an applicant has their heart set on one particular school, it is best to apply to three or more. One of these schools should be the first choice - that is, it should be the school a student wants to get into more than anything. This school should have slightly higher standards than the student believes themselves capable. After all, university is all about pushing oneself to achieve. There should also be two or more back-up schools that are applied to as well. These back-up schools should be of a high caliber as well, but should also be somewhat easier to get into, thereby assuring the student will get into at least one college.

Universities and Colleges in London want the same things other universities across the globe want from their students. This means every prospective applicant should have the highest test scores and extracurriculars they are capable of getting. If there is any way a student can increase their scores or add to their resume, it is wise to do so before applying. That way, the dean (or deans) of admissions will see this, and weigh it toward their application.

There are some universities in London that are considered the greatest in the world. While there are a number of rigorous schools that will test the mental capacity of their students, there are others which are more specialized, and offer a more relaxed discourse, while still instilling knowledge on their student body. People should never think that they can't get to London. If that is where one truly wishes to go to school, then it is not a fool's errand in any way, shape, or form.

Student Life in UK - Student Unions

Student unions are organizations designed to represent student interests both within and without their education facilities. They've been a British educational institution since the late 19th century and are so important to student life that rules for their governance are included as Section 2 of the 1994 Education Act.

Although the educational facility with which the union is affiliated provides both the budget and physical space for operations, student unions are organized and administered by students with little or no oversight from their parent school. Student unions are responsible for funding and managing the clubs and social organizations that play such an important role in student life.

Most UK student unions have an international committee responsible for representing the views of students who come from abroad. Often the student union will also facilitate a foreign student's transition into UK student life by assigning that student a buddy to ease the assimilation process.

Eighty percent of all foreign students who study in UK find the experience overwhelmingly positive according to the results of the annual International Student Barometer survey. If you're looking to enhance your academic opportunities in a location away from home, you couldn't pick a better destination than the UK.

Reasons For International Students To Study in London

International students study in London for many reasons. One of the main attractions for non-native speakers of English is the opportunity to acquire near-native fluency in English. The city of London itself, the high quality of many of the local institutions of higher or further education, and the opportunities for making connection in the vibrant world of international business also attract many international students.

English Language Fluency

The global business, academic, and professional language of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries is English. Although English is widely taught everywhere in the world, acquiring near-native speaker fluency with an idiomatic vocabulary and an accent not markedly "foreign" is most readily done through the sort of complete immersion in the language acquired when a student can study in London or another English-speaking locale.

Students who arrive to study in London with a limited background in English may wish to take advantage of numerous available intensive summer English immersion courses to be prepared for the academic year, as the language of instruction in all their regular academic courses will be English.

Although the multicultural nature of London enables students to find communities of people from their home country, they will not gain as many linguistic and cultural benefits from their study in London if they spend all their time outside their classes speaking their native language and associating with friends from their home country as they would if they spent non-class time speaking English and associating with a more diverse social network.

Choice of Colleges and Universities

Students wishing to study in London can choose from a wide array of educational institutions, both in London itself and nearby. British institutions of higher learning include universities offering three-year undergraduate and a variety of post graduate degrees and institutions of Further Education offering more focused vocational degrees. Of the universities, the members of the "Russell Group" generally adhere to the highest academic standards and have the greatest international prestige. On the other hand, as British university degrees are highly specialized, the quality of a department is as important as the reputation of the university as a whole. The British government publishes online the results of the Research Assessment Exercise and the Teaching Assessment Exercise, which rate, respectively, the quality of research and teaching in each department of every British university.

Cultural Opportunities

The city itself is an educational experience for international students who study in London. The city is home to numerous major museums, theatres, and other cultural venues, many of which offer discounted admission to students. Watching classic plays at the Royal Shakespeare Company or National Theatre or popular hits on the West End or experimental Fringe productions can as much of an educational experience as attending lectures. London also offers world class ballet, opera, and symphonic and chamber music, as well as many free concerts at historic churches. The British Museum and National Gallery contain substantial international holdings of art from all places and periods.