Study in the UK

Discover the UK's top student cities...

London

No discussion of life in the UK would be complete without a reference to its capital city. Home to 10 million people, London is the beating heart of the UK. Life in the city, which is the financial, cultural and political center of the country, is extremely fast-paced, and if you don’t like crowds or noise, it might not be the place for you. It is also one of the world’s most expensive cities.

However, if you can get past all that, there are few places which can guarantee you as exciting and intense – academically and otherwise – an experience. It also helps that its home to several of the world’s best universities, including two in the top ten of the QS World University Rankings (UCL and Imperial College London).

A student's guide to London >

Manchester

Manchester is famed for its music – few cities have produced as many prominent acts in the past 30 years. Resultantly, it is a bit of a party town, so if your social life is important to you, Manchester should be on your shortlist. But it’s not just about the drinking and the dancing. The city is also home to two universities, including the University of Manchester (also home to the Manchester Business School), which stands at the lofty position of 32 in the QS World University Rankings.

If you’re a fan of football, Manchester will also hold a special appeal. Manchester United is the most decorated club in the country, while local rival Manchester City is the richest. On top of this, the area around the city is awash with smaller clubs, which form an indelible part of the area’s character.

More about Manchester >

Birmingham

The UK’s second city is home to the respected University of Birmingham (ranked 77 in the QS World University Rankings), as well as two other smaller universities, and two university colleges. The city came to prominence during the industrial revolution. Today, though, it is a thriving commercial hub, and is home to largest shopping area outside of London (which, in the local branch of Selfridges, is home to one most striking buildings in the country). Brum, as it known affectionately by the locals, is also one of the most multicultural places in the UK, and resultantly, few cities can offer you as varied and colourful a cultural experience.

More about Birmingham >

Glasgow

It may have lived for many years in the genteel shadow of Edinburgh, but Scotland’s largest city has in recent years shaken off its former gritty reputation to emerge as one of the UK’s most dynamic up-and-coming cities. With historic architecture, distinctive local traditions and museums to rival any city in the UK, Glasgow now also has enough trendy bars, restaurants and gig venues to keep even the most hardened hipster entertained. Following the upward trajectory of the city, the University of Glasgow has improved its ranking performance in recent years and now stands at 54 in the QS World University Rankings, while the University of Strathclyde ranks at 254.

See where these UK cities rank in this year's QS Best Student Cities >

Oxford/Cambridge

Okay, they’re two separate and distinct cities with their own history and character, but these two cities are bound together in the collective imagination as semi-mythical academic enclaves with a profound historic affinity, as well as an ever so slightly tongue-in-cheek rivalry. Both are old medieval towns, built on rivers and situated towards the south of England (a stone’s throw from London), both are relatively quiet and peaceful, and both are completely dominated by their universities – the two oldest in the Anglophone world.

Oxford and Cambridge are both collegiate, and their constituent colleges loom large over the cities’ town centers, which you’ll also notice are teeming with the bright young attendees. These, as you know, are some of the most prestigious universities in the world (Cambridge is 2nd and Oxford is 6th in the world), and to list their notable alumni would have an effect somewhat akin to snow blindness.

Oxford or Cambridge? How to choose >