The UK’s education system is considered by many as second-to-none and the country’s universities regularly make it into global university league tables, no matter the ranking criterion. The UK is friendly, well-featured and, despite its traditional values and history, it’s a relatively modern and forward-thinking country. Add an open and liberal mindset to the equation, plus, consider the fact that the English language is by far the most standardised across many global industries, and you have the perfect environment for studying abroad to gain Internationally-recognised qualifications, broader life experiences, as well as enhanced career prospects.
British Panda has, therefore, created a top 10 UK universities list that is structured, not only on an employer-recognition basis but also on the social value of the university and surrounding area. In other words, if a student derives a broader understanding of a region, extracts more cultural understanding, and has greater access to quality resources, activities, tourism and interaction with the English language, their overall skillset should be richer.
So let’s jump in, starting with the number 10:
1: University of Southampton
Stand in certain parts of the University of Southampton and you could imagine you’re in China itself. Chinese students number circa 5,200, making up around 60 per cent of the university’s overseas students.
Located on the more opulent south coast of England, Southampton is close to an abundance of scenic seaside tourist spots. The town is well-featured, is host to a number of great Chinese eateries and there are superb wholesale seafood stores, as well as pretty good Chinese supermarkets.
Add great sports facilities both in and close by the university, watersports, sailing and fishing, and Southampton makes for a superb location to enjoy life in England whilst attaining a top-ranking education.
2: Royal College of Art London
With fewer Chinese students than Southampton, being in London, the Royal College of Art does of course provide students with some of the best tourist and entertainment resources in the UK. London’s Chinatown is the UK’s largest and acts as a magnet for, not only Cantonese people but from all other Chinese-speaking regions too.
RCA has campuses in South Kensington, Battersea and White City and is the UK’s only entirely postgraduate art and design university. With superb teaching and learning resources, the university should be a top choice for many Chinese students planning an overseas education.
3: University of York
To say that York is steeped in centuries of history is an understatement. The Vikings and the Romans left their mark on this stunning city and the architecture alone is as awe-inspiring as the history behind it. With the navigable ancient city wall and one of the most impressive cathedrals to be admired anywhere in the world, York is a wonderful place to study.
The university boasts 28 academic departments which all undertake their own groundbreaking research, and the university works in partnership with institutions and organisations across the globe in the development of technology to tackle some of the most pressing challenges facing humanity.
Being close to the larger Northern cities (by British standards) of Leeds and Sheffield, York is endowed with high-quality features and facilities. It’s within close distance to picturesque countryside, including the Peak District, as well as being reasonably close to Yorkshire’s beautiful East Coast.
4: University of Birmingham
The UK’s second city, Birmingham has undergone a lot of investment and development in recent years. 4,800 Chinese students visit each year to study for their MA, but with four other universities and a number of specialist colleges, the city attracts many more overall.
Consider that Birmingham also has the UK’s second-largest Chinatown, and the facilities for Chinese Students mount. Birmingham’s Chinatown might not be quite as large as London’s, but the variation of restaurants is just as broad. The area caters more for the Chinese diaspora and not so much to tourists, as its London counterpart. In other words, the restaurants seem to feel a little more authentic. Well-featured Chinese supermarkets can be found, but you may well be shocked when you compare the prices of their Chinese goods with those in Mainland China.
The University of Birmingham was established in 1900, is well-featured and caters for over 30,000 students from all across the globe.
As far as facilities and attractions go, Birmingham has it all and the city offers far better value-for-money than London.
5: University of Manchester
Some people argue that Manchester is the UK’s second-largest city. That’s because the population of Manchester and Greater Manchester can be confusing to work out and can seem to amount to more than Birmingham. But what Manchester is, is a city rich in manufacturing and technological history, with an established, recognised and highly-respected university.
Yje University Manchester is a prestigious one which boasts 25 Nobel Prize winners among its former students. It’s a member of the highly-regarded Russell Groupof universities, renowned for high-quality teaching and research
A small Chinatown offers authentic Chinese food and stores, and the city’s facilities, from transport to entertainment, are extremely good. Consider that Manchester borders the UK’s Peak District, one of the world’s most visited national parks, and studying at the University of Manchester only becomes more attractive.
6: The University of Liverpool
The university is well-established with Chinese students, as it is part of the Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) joint venture. It boasts more than 21,000 students from all over the world, with Liverpool hosting 3,000 of the joint venture’s ‘2+2’ students each year. Students study for two years in China and two in Liverpool. There’s also a campus in Suzhou, China.
So it perhaps goes without saying, the University of Liverpool has a great deal of Chinese connections. The UK campus is modern and well-funded, and the city offers historical, scenic and fun attractions.
7: UCL
University College London ranks very high for many criteria. It’s rated second in the UK for research power in the Research Excellence Framework. A staggering 30 members of the university’s alumni have gone on to become Nobel Prize winners, too, and it ranks ninth in the QS World University Rankings.
There are circa 15,000 Chinese students currently studying at UCL, plus, over 400 Chinese staff. With over 30,000 alumni hailing from China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, students can be sure to find Chinese culture on and around the universities campuses.
8: University of Nottingham
The University of Nottingham’s Jubilee Campus could also be mistaken for a Chinese university at times. The number of Chinese students, together with come buildings named in Chinese, all add to this impression.
With outstanding, globally-recognised research in technology and pharmaceuticals, Nottingham city even features the Ningbo Friendship Bridge that honours the relationship between the two cities. Ningbo is home to a University of Nottingham campus, too, which looks similar in places to the Nottingham University Jubilee Campus.
Steeped in history, from ancient cave systems to the legend of Robin Hood, Nottingham also boasts superb transport, shopping and entertainment. There are also some outstanding Sichuan, Cantonese and other Chinese-style restaurants.
A stone’s throw from the Peak District means that visitors can be within the heart of the extremely scenic area of natural beauty where Britain’s Industrial Revolution took place!
In close proximity to the University of Nottingham’s main campus lies another excellent university: Nottingham Trent. With a very modern, stylish campus next to the city centre, this university is also attractive to overseas students and places emphasis on Design.
9: University of Warwick – Coventry
With a history of collaborations with Chinese universities, the University of Warwick currently hosts some 3,200 Chinese students.
Close to Birmingham and the beautiful towns of Leamington Spa and Stratford upon Avon, the birthplace of Shakespeare, students have easy access to shopping, nightlife, history, beauty and a variety of other entertainment and amusement venues.
Warwick is a public research university, so it’s well-funded and highly featured. It’s also close to Coventry, which is home to another great university popular with Chinese Students.
10: University of Edinburgh
Founded in 1583, the University of Edinburgh is situated in one of the most scenic and historic cities in Europe. In fact, it’s the sixth-oldest university situated in the English-speaking world and specialises in Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, Science and Engineering, and Medicine and Vet Medicine.
Not only ranking high in the UK university tables, but the global tables too. The University of Edinburgh attracts circa 5,000 Chinese students, as well as many more overseas students who choose Edinburgh for its extremely high standards in teaching and research, and for the city’s abundance of resources and attractions.
Ten superb universities in ten wonderful locations. All are well-funded, highly featured and in interesting locations. All that’s left for you to do is to match them as closely as possible to your preferred area of study, career choice and entry requirements.
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