Thinking about studying in the UK? With IELTS, you can take the first step into a world of opportunity.
Studying abroad is not only an important success factor for your future in today’s connected world, but it’s also a smart way to experience a meaningful, challenging and worthwhile overseas adventure.
Studying overseas is one of the best ways for you to acquire global skills and gain exposure to personal and professional opportunities. It is a life-changing experience for many, exposing you to different ways of life and different cultures.
Why study in the UK?
Students from around the world come to the UK because of its reputation for academic excellence. Our universities rank among the best in the world. On graduation, you will have excellent career prospects because of the quality of education you receive. Employers, universities and governments worldwide are seeking people with the foundation that these universities provide.
The four most exciting student cities
London – a melting pot of culture and entertainment
London has so much going on. If you’re looking to make friends from all over the world, it’s the place to be. Packed with museums, galleries, and green spaces London has a fantastic cosmopolitan vibe, and some of the best nightlife in Europe.
Why study in London?
Aside from being one of the most exciting cities in the world, London is ranked as one of the world’s top five student cities and is home to 18 universities – the most of any UK city.
These are led by Imperial College London, known for excellence in science, engineering, medicine and business, followed by University College London (UCL), home to centres of teaching excellence in subjects from medicine to languages, law to engineering and history to astrophysics. Both are among the world’s leading multi-disciplinary universities.
Bristol – famous for its free spirit, nightlife, and thriving music scene
Bristol is about 120 miles (190 km) west of London. With a population of just over half a million, it’s the largest city in the southwest of England. Known for its eclectic music scene, Bristol has a legacy of fusing music and visual art – particularly trip hop and graffiti.
Once a port city, today it is known for its architecture and is home to galleries, museums, theatres, and some of the best old-world pubs in the UK. Bristol’s trendy Harbourside is now an attractive development filled with restaurants, cafes, shops and hotels.
Why study in Bristol?
The city is vibrant and diverse, attracting lots of young people who choose to study there -- more than 54,000 students at present.
It’s home to two excellent universities that offer high quality teaching and research facilities to prepare you for life in the world of work.
University of Bristol: Like the city, the university has an independent, forward-thinking spirit, combined with academic excellence, and students and staff from more than 130 countries. Bristol offers more than 300 undergraduate degrees in arts, engineering, health sciences, life sciences, science and social sciences, and law.
University of the West of England, Bristol: UWE Bristol offers more than 600 courses, covering a wide range of disciplines in the arts, creative industries, health, science, business, law, environment, and technology. It is a leading centre in the region for business, culture and education.
Belfast – welcoming, fun, bursting with creativity
Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland and its cultural heart, is a friendly, fun city, and an ideal destination for international students.
Smaller and quieter than many others in the UK, it’s easy to get around, and an affordable place in which to live and study. The city has a dynamic nightlife and a blend of traditional and modern culture. Entertainment zone Cathedral Quarter offers everything from art and theatre to music, circus and dance, as well as trendy bars, beer gardens, clubs and restaurants.
Queen's University Belfast: Queen's is one of the UK's leading research universities and has a global reputation for excellence. It has a range of courses designed to help international students progress, as well as a number of English language courses for professional or everyday use. The university offers 346 undergraduate courses, including business and management, accounting, drama and film studies, Irish and social anthropology, medicine & dentistry, biological sciences, chemistry and chemical engineering, electronics, electrical engineering and computer science, and more.
Manchester – charming, vibrant and unique
The birthplace of the industrial revolution, Manchester is known for its world-famous football teams. The city is situated in northwest England. Now a major cultural hub, it has great nightclubs, with street art and supercool independent record shops lining the streets. The bohemian Northern Quarter is packed with indie bars, clubs, galleries and retro boutiques.
Why study in Manchester
Students are welcomed, and the city has a warm multicultural environment. With its huge population, there are many areas that cater to student needs, making the city relatively affordable.
More than 100,000 students are enrolled in the city’s five universities.
University of Manchester: The university has the largest selection of undergraduate courses in the UK and is respected across the world as a centre of teaching excellence and innovative research, and outstanding student experience. It is a popular university for undergraduate applications, and its graduates are targeted by the UK's top employers.
Manchester Metropolitan University: With an environmentally friendly campus, the university, one of the biggest in the UK, is a centre of creativity, development in sport, and ground-breaking progress in science, engineering, health, education, business and law.
Royal Northern College of Music: Specialising in the performing arts and music education, the RNCM offers young people with exceptional musical and academic ability the opportunity to study two degree courses simultaneously: the Graduate Diploma of the RNCM (GRNCM) and the Bachelor of Music (MusB) at The University of Manchester. Students can expect one-to-one tuition, specialist classes and masterclasses, performance opportunities and modules dedicated to artist development and professional industry placement.
Ready to start your journey?
If you want to move to an English-speaking country to study, then you should take the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic test.
IELTS is the world’s most trusted English test and is designed to help you study in the UK. Over three million people take our test every year. IELTS is accepted by more than 11,000 employers, universities, schools and immigration bodies around the world.
Visit https://takeielts.britishcouncil.org/ to learn more, or to book a test and start your journey now.