London for Students
For the second year running, London has been ranked as the world’s number one student city. With improved scores for the desirability and student view indicators, climbing four places to rank ninth worldwide for the latter, London has tightened its grip on the top spot this year.
London is home to a huge 18 universities featured in the QS World University Rankings 2021, with two of these making it into the global top 10: Imperial College London in eighth place, and University College London (UCL) in 10th.
Best universities in London – QS Best Student Cities Ranking: 1st
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Imperial College London (8th); UCL (University College London) (10th); King's College London (KCL) (=31st); London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) (49th); Queen Mary, University of London (QMUL) (=114th); Royal Holloway University of London (=308th); Birkbeck College, University of London (=344th); SOAS – School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London (=346th); City University London (=350th); Brunel University (=368th); Goldsmiths, University of London (=416th); Kingston University, London (581-590); University of Westminster (651-700); Middlesex University (701-750); University of Greenwich (701-750); London South Bank University (751-800); London Metropolitan University (800-1000); University of East London (800-1000)
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More about London
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Number of universities ranked by QS
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18
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Highest-ranked institution
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Imperial College London (8th in the world)
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Population
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9,304,000
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Average international fees (at ranked unis)
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US$21,200
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Desirability rank
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17th
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Employer Activity rank
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3rd
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Affordability rank
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118th
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Student View rank
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9th
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To find out how each of the above categories is calculated, view the methodology.
Why study in London?
An academic hotspot
London has by far the most universities of any UK city, with four of these making it into the top 50 globally. There are 17 universities featured under the University of London banner, with the largest number of university students in the UK.
A large international community
London is one of the most diverse cities in the world, with citizens and students from all over the globe – so if you’re feeling homesick, you’re sure to be able to find others who share your culture (and most importantly, home foods!)
Free culture!
The city is home to some of the best museums in the world, including the Natural History Museum, the British Museum, the Imperial War Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum. The best part? They’re all free to get in, so you can easily get your culture fix as a broke student.
Buzzing nightlife
London has some of the best nightlife in Europe, with people coming from all over the UK to experience nights out in places such as Shoreditch, Brixton and, for the more well-heeled, Mayfair.
Greenery everywhere
Nearly half of London is classified as ‘green space’ – 47 percent of the city is made up of parks, commons, outdoor athletics spaces, and more. So whilst you’re in a big city, you can still have a great connection to the natural world.
Cost of Studying in London
Of course, London is not exactly a cheap option for international students, home and EU students alike. In addition, rent and living costs are significantly higher in London compared to the rest of the UK.
The average tuition fee for international students in London is around US$21,200, which, whilst high, is significantly lower than many US institutions. Domestic students in London can expect to pay £9,000 a year on tuition.
The London School of Economics (LSE) recommend that students budget around £1,100 to £1,300 per month (approx. US$1,470-1,740) for living expenses, including accommodation, bills, travel and socialising.
Life and Culture in London
London is a truly global city, with 36.7 percent of its residents born outside the UK. This means that many areas of London carry a distinct flavour of other cultures, such as the Bangladeshi population of Tower Hamlets (and the curry houses of Brick Lane).
Despite having a huge student population of around 300,000 students, the city itself is so large that you won’t simply be living in a ‘student bubble’ – it’s a great city for students but also for graduates.
Careers in London
London is the European and global hub for many industries, most notably finance, with the headquarters of major banks like Barclays and the Bank of England located in the City of London.
The city comes third in the rankings for employer activity, showing just how sought-after graduates from London universities are by employers. Many international companies recruit in London, such as Google, Amazon and Unilever.
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