London crowned ‘education capital of the world’

22 Jan 2018

The allure of studying in London has not faded after Brexit. Source: Shutterstock.

Studying abroad is bound to be an incredible experience providing ample benefits to students’ lives.

A recent report by student accommodation experts Fresh Student Living (FSL) supports the assertion, saying studying abroad “may be one of the most beneficial experiences for a college student.”

International students benefit from the increased independence and cultural awareness studying abroad provides. The FSL report also found international graduates are more employable than those who studied in their home countries.

But which country and city are the best for international students?

Will London ever stop being a popular place to study? Source: Shutterstock.

Four London universities make the top 40

According to The Times Higher Education World University Rankings, the city of London is the higher education capital of the world. It sports four universities in the global top 40, which is more than any other city in the world.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan says the city is home to more than 100,000 international students from over 200 different countries.

But despite being crowned education capital of the world, none of London’s universities made the top spot in The Times’ rankings. The University of Oxford secured the position of the No 1 university in the world. Cambridge shortly followed, coming in at number four.

Source: Fresh Student Living.

So, not only has London been crowned the educational capital of the world, but the UK, on the whole, is considered a highly desired destination for students from all over the world.

International students contribute hugely to the UK economy

More than 40 percent of postgraduates in the UK are international students. Plus, the international student market contributes at least GBP7 billion (US$9.7 billion) to the UK’s economy each year.

Additionally, training and education exports bring in around GBP14 billion (US$19.4 billion) per year. The report even speculated this has the potential in increase monumentally; by 2025 the number could rise to as much as GBP26 billion (US$36 billion).

The impact of international students on the UK economy & regional jobs is considerable. See our figures from March: https://t.co/U7a5BXHO1B pic.twitter.com/avCEbPNfQO

— Universities UK (@UniversitiesUK) January 18, 2018

London is third best in the world for student life

London may have made No 1 for education, but for student life, it falls to number three according to Quacquarelli Symonds (QS).

QS’s table looked at 125 cities globally and measured affordability, university rankings, employability of graduates, student satisfaction, desirability and student mix.

Montreal comes in at No 1, followed by Paris in the second spot. Seoul and Melbourne take the fourth and fifth spots.

It just goes to show that even amidst concerns over Brexit, the UK is still a desirable place to live and study. London and many other UK cities continue to be renowned for their top quality education.