Studying in England is a dream for many young people thinking about higher education. Universities in England are so prestigious that high tuition fees do not bother students and their parents from all over the world. Currently, about 65 thousand foreign students.
The result of studying at English higher education institutions is an international level qualification and serious knowledge in numerous subjects. The structure of English education is such that one university can unite several colleges and departments (for example, observatories, laboratories, business schools).
Laboratory classes, lectures, exams in each institution are organized centrally, i.e. are common to everyone, and individual classes and seminars are held in colleges.
To obtain a bachelor's degree, you have to study at English universities for three years, and at Scottish universities for four. For architectural, medical and other specialties, longer training is implied. After receiving a bachelor's degree, you can continue your studies and obtain a master's degree in 1-2 years.
Oxford students
The government of England is interested in qualified personnel from other countries, therefore it is developing internship programs, where a graduate can work in England for up to 2 years in his specialty. A program has also been developed to provide work permits to those students who, after studying, decide to stay and live and work in England.
For the efficiency of work and cooperation between educational institutions, societies are created, for example, the Russell group unites 24 of the best higher education institutions in England.
The term "red brick universities" refers to 6 prestigious institutions of large industrial cities, which were originally created as colleges of engineering and applied subjects, but then received royal university charters.
It is worth taking a closer look at the universities included in the list of the most famous universities, both in England and in the world.
Oxford University
The oldest university in England and the second oldest higher education institution in Europe is located in the city of Oxford. Scientists have not established the exact date of its foundation, but it is known that in the 11th century they were already teaching there.
Oxford University has a unique tutoring system - depending on the chosen specialty, each student receives personal assistance from a mentor.
Oxford has the largest university library in England. In addition to libraries, Oxford has its own publishing house and museums. Various hobby groups are organized for students and many competitions are held. Sport occupies an important place in the life of an Oxford student.
There are about 50 Nobel laureates among Oxford alumni. Many prominent politicians studied at Oxford (Tony Blair, David Cameron, Margaret Thatcher, etc.).
It is interesting that an applicant cannot enroll in the same year at the same time, i.e. apply to Oxford and Cambridge.
This educational institution in the city of Cambridge was the second in England after Oxford. It was formed in 1209. According to the chronicles, some scientists left Oxford because a student killed a local woman, and founded the University of Cambridge.
Oxford and Cambridge together form the union of the oldest English universities, the so-called “Oxbridge”. It so happens that these two institutions have been competing with each other for a long time.
In terms of the number of Nobel laureates among people associated with Cambridge, this university outperforms almost all educational institutions in the world. There are 88 Nobel laureates among Cambridge scientists.
The famous building of Cambridge is King's College Cathedral. The cathedral's boys' choir performs on TV every year at Christmas.
The educational institution in Birmingham is one of the most popular in England. The average competition for admission is 9 people per place. This is the only educational institution in England that has its own railway station.
Birmingham was the first in England where all students were accepted on equal terms, regardless of their social status and religion. The number of students in Birmingham is more than 30 thousand people.
This higher education institution is located in the capital of Scotland - Edinburgh. It is interesting, first of all, because representatives of higher authorities, writers and famous scientists studied there (Arthur Conan Doyle, Walter Scott, Charles Darwin, Gordon Brown, etc.).
All the prime ministers of Great Britain studied at the three universities described above and the University of Edinburgh alone.
The job of employing graduates is excellent here. Assistance with documents and work permits is also provided for those foreign students who, after receiving their diploma, wish to stay and work in Scotland.
The university, which unites several educational institutions in Manchester, is in third place in the number of Nobel laureates (25) after Oxford and Cambridge. The competition for a place at the University of Manchester is the highest in England.
The Manchester educational institution includes: Manchester Museum, which houses more than 4 million artifacts from around the world; Whitworth Art Gallery, which exhibits historical prints, sculptures, paintings, and printed works; Theater Kontakt, designed mainly for youth audiences.
The main alternative to Oxbridge is the public research university in Nottingham.
The third oldest university in England is Durham University, and the Durham Castle building in which it is located is the oldest university building in the world.
Aston University ranks first in England in terms of teaching medical subjects.
The University of Buckingham is interesting - the only private institution among universities; has extensive connections with colleagues in other countries.
The Westminster educational institution, which was formerly called the Central London Polytechnic, was the first to introduce the new science of photography. The first photo studio in Europe was opened here.
Cranfield University is a joint French-British postgraduate institution. This educational institution is the only one that has its own airport and aircraft for teaching and researching aerospace technologies.
Thanks to the widespread use of distance learning methods, the Open University of Great Britain has become the largest in terms of the number of students.
Also known are Southampton, Leeds, Bristol, Liverpool and many other higher education institutions. In total there are more than 120 universities in England. English higher education institutions are rightfully considered one of the best in the world.
Interesting video about Cambridge University:
UK universities regularly rank among the world's best educational institutions. As of 2017, 4 universities in the United Kingdom were included in the top ten best universities in the world according to the authoritative consulting company Quacquarelli Symonds (hereinafter referred to as QS). When compiling the rating, the following parameters were taken into account:
- level of international communication of education;
- research activities of the university;
- quality of training of teaching staff.
Cambridge university
This higher education institution is one of the most famous universities in the UK. According to QS, it ranks first in the ranking of the best universities in the kingdom and 4th in the international ranking. It was founded in 1209. At the moment, the university employs more than 5 thousand teachers and approximately 17.5 thousand students study, a third of whom are foreigners.
The university consists of 31 colleges, which are divided into “old” and “new”. The first group includes colleges founded before 1596, and the second those that opened between 1800 and 1977. New Hall, Newnham and Lucy Cavendish are three all-girl colleges. Peterhouse is the first college of the University of Cambridge. It was opened in 1284. The youngest is Robinson College, founded in 1979. Tuition fees range from £11,829 to £28,632 per year.
The University of Cambridge is ranked 4th in the ranking of the most influential universities in the world. It is second only to Harvard and Stanford University. 92 are Cambridge graduates. The most famous of them: Charles Darwin, Oliver Cromwell, Isaac Newton and Stephen Hawking.
University of Oxford
This university is the oldest university in the UK. Education has been conducted there since 1096. In the British QS ranking it takes 2nd place, and in the international ranking it is in 6th place. Along with Cambridge, it is part of the Russell Group, which unites 24 of the best higher education institutions in the UK.
In 1249, the first college, the University College, was founded. The latest to open is Templeton, which was founded in 1995 and merged with Green College 13 years later. In total, the university has 36 colleges and 6 dormitories in which religious orders study.
In many respects, this higher educational institution is the best university in the UK. The cost of one year of study for foreigners ranges from 15 to 23 thousand pounds sterling. Students who have studied at any UK college for three years or spent their last three years at a UK school will have to pay approximately £9,000 for their studies. The most expensive program is clinical medicine, which costs over 21 thousand pounds. There is also an annual contribution to the college of £7,000.
University College London
This educational institution ranks 3rd in the UK university rankings. The university is located in the capital of England and is very young when compared with Cambridge and Oxford. University College was founded in 1826. At first it was called the University of London, and received its modern name in 1836. The college ranks 7th in international rankings. According to statistics, 9 out of 10 graduates find a job within 6 months after graduation.
The college consists of 7 faculties. As of 2014, the Department of Economics was the best economics department in Britain. The cost of a year of undergraduate study is almost 16 thousand pounds. Applicants aged 18 can enroll in college. For admission, you must submit a bachelor's diploma with an average score of 4.5, two letters of recommendation and one motivation letter. The applicant must also pass IELTS with a score of 6.5 points or higher and a TOEFL score of at least 92 points.
The cost of a year's master's degree at University College London is about 17 thousand pounds sterling. In addition to the above information, upon admission, the applicant is required to submit his resume.
Imperial College London
Imperial College London is in 4th place in the British ranking and 9th in the international ranking. The educational institution was founded in 1907. The college is part of the Golden Triangle group along with the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford and is one of the most elite universities in the UK.
The cost of a bachelor's degree is almost 28 thousand pounds. In addition to the TOEFL, the applicant must complete the International Baccaulaureate program. To enroll in a master's program, you need to pay from 13 thousand pounds.
Edinburgh University
This establishment was founded in 1583. In terms of seniority, the Scottish university is in 6th place among British universities; in the 20th century, its rector was the British Prime Minister Sir
International students wishing to obtain a bachelor's degree must pay $23,500 a year in tuition, while those planning to enroll in a master's degree will have to shell out approximately $18,000. For UK residents, tuition prices are slightly lower. The cost of a master's degree is 17.5 thousand dollars per year, and a bachelor's degree is 12.5 thousand dollars. You also need to pay an additional $664 to $1,265 per month for accommodation.
King's College London
This institution is one of the most famous universities in the world. The college was founded in 1829 by order of King George IV.
The cost of undergraduate education is almost 24 thousand dollars per year for foreigners and 12.5 thousand per year for citizens of the United Kingdom. For master's studies, foreigners and British citizens must pay $25,740 and $7,500 per year, respectively. The cost of training does not include accommodation fees, which range from 1 to 2 thousand dollars per month.
University of Manchester
In 7th place in the ranking of the best higher education institutions in the UK according to QS, it is located. It was founded in 1824 and is classified as a “red brick” university. The university in its current form began to exist in 2004 after the merger of the Victoria University of Manchester and its Institute of Science and Technology.
Tuition costs range from 19 to 22 thousand pounds. Accommodation and transport costs are approximately £11,000 per year. There is also a preparatory program costing 11,940 pounds and 15,140 pounds for 3 and 4 semesters, respectively.
University of Bristol
Like Manchester, the University of Bristol is a red brick university. It was founded in 1909. Part of the Russell group. At the moment, the university has 2.5 thousand teachers and almost 19 thousand students, a quarter of whom are citizens of other states.
The cost of a year of study for international students is almost 20 thousand US dollars. For UK passport holders, prices are lower - 9 thousand US dollars. Living and transportation expenses are approximately one and a half thousand dollars monthly. In order to enroll in the 1st year of a bachelor's degree, a Russian student must have a diploma equivalent to A-Level and complete the 1st year of a higher educational institution in Russia. You also need to confirm your English level and pass the LNAT exam.
University of Warwick
The University of Warwick is located in Coventry. It was founded in 1965 and is also part of the Russell group. The university consists of 4 faculties: medical, social sciences, humanities and scientific and technical. In total, more than 20 thousand students study at the University of Warwick.
To be admitted, the applicant must confirm his level of English language proficiency by passing the IELTS and TOEFL tests. You must also submit your UCAS form between 1 September and 15 October. Tuition costs range from 15 to 30 thousand pounds per year. Annual living expenses - from 10 thousand pounds.
UK Open University
This higher education institution of open education was founded in 1969 by decree of Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain. The Open University (hereinafter referred to as OU) was created with the aim of providing people who seek higher education with the opportunity to study in any place convenient for them. OU is one of the largest universities in the Kingdom. More than 200 thousand people are trained there.
The university uses a large number of methods that allow students to study remotely. One of the British agencies that assesses the quality of education gave the OU an excellent rating. In the mid-2000s, the educational institution ranked first in the ranking of the best universities in the UK.
The price of higher education at British universities ranges from 10,000 pounds to 30,000 per year (for medicine and paramedical sciences).
How to enter a university in England/UK? What documents and knowledge does the applicant need?
In order to enroll in an English university, you will need not only a standard list of documents, but also certain language and academic knowledge.
Basic list of required documents for the submitting family:
- copy of passport
- for a bachelor's degree - a school certificate and completion of the Foundation program or the International Year One program
- for master's degree - completed bachelor's degree + if required, completion of the pre-Masters program
- IELTS certificate issued no earlier than 2 years before applying for a student visa
- letters of recommendation from English and mathematics teachers, sometimes from the school principal/dean
- motivation letter
- Skype interview or personal visit to an educational institution
Advantages of studying at universities in England
UK universities, including universities in England, have several advantages over other popular and prestigious educational institutions in the world. The first and most important thing is the international status: highly qualified specialists are trained here, diplomas are recognized in most countries of the world. The most prestigious ones include Cambridge and Oxford, but diplomas from other educational centers make no less impression on international employers. The education received in the country becomes a competitive advantage for the applicant.
The TOP 10 best universities in the world include institutions from two countries: these are higher education institutions in Britain, the list of which is presented in this section, and the USA. , as practice shows, is cheaper than the American one; the cost of education rarely exceeds 33,000 pounds per year, while at Harvard a student will have to spend at least 50,000 in the same currency. In addition, a bachelor's degree in England lasts 3 years, rather than 4, as in the United States.
Educational institutions (you will find the list on the pages of the Smapse catalog) are also distinguished by their first-class material and technical base, which makes the learning process more efficient. Educational institutions have all the necessary academic resources; students have both ancient libraries and ultra-modern laboratories at their disposal.
The most popular UK university rankings have updated their educational tables for 2016 applicants. Here are useful links: The Guardian's University league table 2016 The Complete University Guide 2016.
If you start searching for a university, you should remember that any rating is an abstract model, it contains many assumptions. This year it became clear that the two studies did not compare well and should not be mixed. Look, only two British universities took the same positions in the top ten, it’s easy to guess which ones: Oxford and Cambridge!
Being student-oriented, the first rating reflects the passions of young people: satisfaction with the course, usefulness of the subjects, quality of teaching, success in finding a job after graduation. Management analyzes in depth, reminiscent of market research. It takes into account parameters such as the passing grade for admission, funding and development of research projects, the quality of degrees received, and the percentage of those who successfully defend their diploma.
An interesting fact is that despite the difference in methodology, a number of trends that appeared in the more dynamic ranking of the Guardian publishing house are gradually finding expression in the conservative Guide. Young, ambitious universities, Sussex, Kent, Southampton, are crowding out more established ones. The former polytechnic, now the University of Surrey, took a record 4th position in the Garden, behind only Cambridge, Oxford and Scotland's St Andrews. Even in the Guide I jumped from 12th to 8th position.
The London School of Economics (LSE), unfortunately, worsened its results in assessing students, falling from 3rd place in 2014 to 13th in 2016, but its position in the Guide remains unchanged. Imperial College and Scotland's Gerriet-Watt showed the opposite dynamics in the tables; the University of Bath did not make it into the Guide's top ten, Coventry and Kent were only in the Guardian's top twenty, and York and Leeds were in the Guide's.
Recommendation for students: the parameters that influenced the decrease or increase in the ranking of the universities you are interested in should be studied in detail in order to understand the reasons for the significant discrepancies between the studies. It is possible that an educational institution that has shown a decrease in rating attracts the most ambitious or older students who are critical of their assessments. On the other hand, an increase in ranking, for example, due to the opening of an international branch in Asia by a university, will not necessarily affect the quality of education for local students and will not be significant for you.
UK university rankings 2016.
| Garden 2016 (2015) | Guide 2016 (2015) |
| 1. (1) Cambridge | 1. (1) Cambridge |
| 2. (2) Oxford | 2. (2) Oxford |
| 3. (3) St Andrews | 3. (3) London School of Economics |
| 4. (6) Surrey | 4. (6) Imperial College |
| 5. (4) Baht | 5. (5) Durham |
| 6. (8) Durham | 5. (4) St Andrews |
| 6. (9) Warwick | 7. (7) Warwick |
| 8. (5) Imperial College | 8. (12) Surrey |
| 9. (12) Exeter | 9. (11) Lancaster |
| 10. (10) Lancaster | 10. (10) Exeter |
| 11. (15) Loughborough | 11. (8) Baht |
| 12. (11) University College London | 11. (13) Loughborough |
| 13. (7) London School of Economics | 13. (9) University College London |
| 14. (19) Southampton | 14. (16) Southampton |
| 15. (27) Coventry | 15. (18) Bristol |
| 16. (20) Kent | 16. (15) East Anglia |
| 17. (17) Birmingham | 17. (14) York |
| 18. (13) Gerriet-Watt | 18. (17) Birmingham |
| 19. (43) Sussex | 19. (23) Leeds |
| 20. (14) East Anglia20. (18) Edinburgh | 20. (21) Edinburgh |
Having looked at the rankings of UK universities, which give a general idea of study opportunities, thoroughly study the rankings for your chosen specialty. There are 53 of them in the Guardian, and 67 in the Guide! Additional information and recommendations in our review at the link:
Next, it is advisable to understand the traditions, teaching methods, social composition of the student body, and the strengths and weaknesses of the universities you have selected. If you can't attend Open Days or visit campus in person, rely on education experts in the UK to carry out this task on your behalf.
For applicants interested in enrolling in a university in England, Wales or Scotland, as well as obtaining a Tier 4 study visa, the British company Vestigio Services will be happy to help. Contact us!
England's universities have centuries-old traditions and are among the most prestigious in the world. Check out the list and descriptions of the most popular universities in the UK and choose the one that suits you in all respects.
Getting one can seriously impact your ability to find a good job and advance faster in your career. Traditions are respected in this country and, not least, they relate to education. It is not for nothing that English higher education institutions are among the best, according to various experts. You can see a lot of foreigners here, their number exceeds 65 thousand people. Restrictions are related to age, which must be at least 18 years old. Of course, you need to finish school in your home country.
Requirements and features of training
Since in England, completion of secondary education requires completion of 13 years, a foreign applicant will not need a matriculation certificate, but will need to pass the A-levels exam. This can be done at one of the international colleges or private schools, completing a two-year pre-university training
You can also take preparatory courses in advance that will help you enter an English institute. There is an opportunity to transfer to study after the first or second year of a domestic university. You will have to demonstrate excellent knowledge of the English language and pass the exam.
The first three to four years will be needed to complete your bachelor's degree. This makes it possible to have a first academic degree and become a bachelor of law, humanities, technology, pedagogy, as well as medicine and music.
Many universities pay great attention not only to studies and a well-organized and comfortable life, but also to the opportunity for students to learn English more deeply.
An important advantage is that every foreign student will be able to choose a program that will meet their own capabilities and needs. Of course, this does not cancel the mandatory course. But if you can get general information at lectures, then at seminars you have the opportunity to study almost individually with a teacher, since classes are usually held in small groups.
Some orthodoxy did not prevent us from building it in such a way that everyone could more fully reveal their abilities and learn to independently solve various problems and find solutions.
After a bachelor's degree, you can move on to the second stage and obtain a master's degree. This will not only improve your professional level, but also actively engage in research work. Therefore, it is important to choose a university that has a good laboratory and library collections. True, it should be noted that many famous scientists work at universities and, in addition to their own research, help young graduate students write their dissertations.
Rules and fees
It is important to know a few rules that will help you enter an English university faster and more successfully.
You need to pay attention to the English language. The Foundation program will help fill gaps and raise the level of knowledge.
After choosing a specialty, you need to study the university rankings and choose two universities that are most suitable. Those in the top ten have more stringent, special requirements.
The collected documents and application must be sent in advance. Admission and consideration runs from September 1 to October 15. You will have to come to Oxford and Cambridge and submit documents directly to the admissions committee.
In England, UCAS is the College and Universities Admissions Service, so admissions are processed through this service.
It is imperative to send the exam results, since only then there is a real chance to begin your studies at the university.
For foreign students, tuition fees may vary, since EU citizens receive certain discounts and some benefits. In addition, after receiving a diploma in this country, you can even work for two years in your specialty.
To obtain a bachelor's degree in England you will have to spend three whole years, in Scotland - even four. However, no one bothers you to simultaneously undergo an internship and earn extra money. This combination of study and work is a very common phenomenon in England.
Those who have chosen some areas of medicine or architecture will have to study until the age of seven. But it only takes two years to become a master.
The cost of education is also influenced by the prestige of the university and the rating of the specialty. On average, the price ranges from 10 to 12 thousand pounds per year. True, medical specialties can cost 20-22 thousand pounds.
But no matter where the training takes place, all that can be said is that the money was well spent.