10 Best Schools in London for International Students

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London – the capital of England and the largest city in the UK – has been one of the most popular travel destinations for many years.

Its reputation is the result of the consistent quality of education, world-famous universities, and the obvious cultural diversity of the city. In this article, we look at the top 10 best schools in London for international students.

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Table of Contents

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Why STUDY in LONDON?

Why not in other countries, say Canada?

This has been a thriving question that this article attempts to answer, and other questions it might give rise to.

There are a handful of reasons why international students are always on a quest to study in London. Some of the numerous reasons are;

It offers a wide range of courses, ranging from 20,000 to 30,000 courses
It houses the location of several globally sought-after universities.
It encapsulates a vast collection of Library and academic books, providing a wide workspace for research and other learning enhancements.
It avails the students the opportunity to be recognized internationally.
It avails one with core work experience.
The university gives the students connection and access to other global companies.
The students thus have a network of friends from other countries.
Communication and language skills are enhanced as well.

Also, there is no doubt that Studying in London avails international students the opportunity to learn a diversified culture giving an edge to the students who choose to study in this great city. More importantly, it is a plus to a student’s CV and personal improvement.

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HOW TO APPLY FOR STUDY IN LONDON

The period of your study in London as an international student will probably be one of the most interesting phases of your life.

First, let’s look at the general ways to secure your place at one of the universities in this great city.

Prior to your study in London, you ought to;

Find the course of your interest
Find the University of your Choice.
Know the duration of your intended course of study.
Gather enough information about the degree and course of study.
Be aware of the tuition fees and other costs of living.

How to FIND THE RIGHT COURSE TO STUDY

Studying the right course is as paramount as your stay in London. There are over 10,000 courses taught in London but finding the right study course without any prior objective might be difficult. Therefore, there are some right approaches to finding the right study course in London. A few of those approaches are enlisted below;

Find the subject of your interest. The London subjects guides can be of great importance in finding out different subject areas.
Ask yourself several questions like “Will I find the course interesting?” and “Will it be of help in my chosen career?” answer it for yourself.
The London Study course database will be of great help to search for courses at several universities in London.
Make proper findings on the courses available and scrutinize the course content/outline, and methods of teaching, and do several other assessments.
Bear in mind the tuition fees for your course. Information on tuition fees for several courses is listed in the link.

It is important to note that you can study an undergraduate course to earn a Bachelor’s degree or study a postgraduate course. The post-graduate programme can be ;

taught (The Master’s degree)
researched (The Ph.D. degree)

UNDERGRADUATE COURSES IN LONDON UNIVERSITIES

Although there are so great a number of courses to study in London, it will be my singular honour to take you through a few of them, and they are;

Nursing
Mathematics
Computer science
Mechanic Engineering
Marketing/ business studies
Accounting and finance
Architecture
Medicine
Law
Applied educational leadership
Bachelor of laws
Banking and Finance
Business Administration
Business Analytics
Business and management
Climate change and development
Clinical Trials
Commercial law
Common law
Computing and information systems
Corporate strategy
Creative computing
Creative programming for digital media and mobile apps
Data Science
Data science and business analytics
Demography and health
Development and Economics
Digital Humanities
Digital innovation
Divinity and theology
Drafting Legislation, regulation, and policy
E-business and social media
Economics
Economics and Finance
Economics and politics
Economics and management
English
English and common law
English and American literature
Epidemiology
Finance
Film and screen production
Radiography (Diagnostic)
Radiography (Therapeutic)
Real Estate Management
Entrepreneurship and innovation management

….and many others, these are just to mention but a few courses offered in several universities in London.

Information about other courses can be easily accessed via their subjects. The most basic and common subjects found are;

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POSTGRADUATE COURSES OFFERED IN LONDON

Note that these courses can be sorted out by way of applying the right subjects. The basic subjects that can be used are;

postgraduate courses (Ph.D.) include;

Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)
Development and International Economics
Doctor of Education
Engineering Projects & Systems Management
English Literature
Environmental Management
Healthcare Practice
Historic Building Conservation
Human Resource Management
Human Rights
Journalism
Landscape Architecture
Landscape and Urbanism
Law
Leadership and Management in Health
Leadership and Management in Social Care
Learning and Teaching in Higher Education
Learning Disability Nursing MSc
LLM in General Law
Logistics and Supply Chain Management
National Award for Special Educational Needs Coordination
Network & Information Security
Network & Information Security and Management Studies
Networking & Data Communications
Networking & Data Communications and Management Studies………and many more.

OTHER DEGREES THAT CAN BE PURSUED OR GAINED IN LONDON ARE;

Postgraduate Diploma
Master of Philosophy
Professional doctorate degree
Doctor of Philosophy
Pre-masters programme

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO STUDY IN LONDON?

The COST of study in London has really been central in discussions due to its increasingly high cost. Note that the international undergraduate fee differ ranging from £10,000 to £38,000 or more depending on the discipline.

From these, suffice to say that chemical courses (especially the laboratory and clinical courses respectively) cost more while the social sciences and humanities cost lesser.

While preparing to study in London, you ought to know that studying in the UK is viewed as cheaper compared to studying in other universities of its kind in the United States.

The tuition fees for UK graduate degrees generally range from $18,000 – $25,000 (all falling back to the exchange rate at the time of study). Therefore, on average, the cost that students spend on daily living lies between $1,300- $1,800 for each month of study. This has to do with the choice of the student to stay inside or outside London.

Note that studying in London is quite expensive. The good thing however is, the price will pay off in due time. Most times especially in Nigeria, before purchasing goods, people try to check and check again till they are sure that they are not making a wrong choice. This can as well be the testimony of your decision to study in London if you place it under proper consideration.

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WHAT IS THE COST OF LIVING IN LONDON?

Sponsoring yourself to study in London is tasking. According to the UKVI- UK Visa and Immigration, you ought to have a budget of about £1,300 for each month in the duration of your course. This is different from your tuition fees, it could probably only take care of your living cost. Therefore, this explains that if you will be studying any course in London for a period of nine (9) months, your net worth would have to be about £11,700.

Accommodation costs in London however vary with respect to the student’s choice of location and other decisions made. Anyways, the university bid accommodation, this could either be catered for by them, that is taking care of the feeding and other bills, or catered for by the individual, that is, providing just the accommodation for rent while the individual takes care of his or her needs. However ways it may be, the NayionalStudents Accommodation Survey carried out in 2017 has it that students spend at least;

£125(~US$175) per week on rent in the UK &
(£182/US$257) per week on rent in London.

The cost of living thus differs with respect to the region. Therefore, students are required to make proper research and findings on locations to live in London.

Students wanting to enroll for a course in London should also bear in mind that aside from the accommodation, there are other things that must be put in place for a well-organized study life, they include; the cost of

Weekly food shop
Books and other materials.

In addition to other costs that may be incurred, the student will need approximately £105 for each week of the course duration for other living costs. This is however dependent on the individual’s lifestyle and socialization.

You need not be scared of how much cost will be incurred during your stay in London because there are other ways to minimize spending. Some of such ways are;

Freely attend free seminars, lectures, and other events held during the duration of your study.
Freedom to travel around London at students’ discounted rates and save up to 30% on travel.
Aside from discounts gotten for travel, there are other discounts students enjoy in London, all ranging from books for study to travel and even down to tickets for eating out and cinemas.

All these and many more could give you a friendly cost while you study abroad but you have to be informed, that is, very right and up to do with the information. As a matter of fact, information on anything as a student should be at your fingertips.

10 BEST SCHOOLS IN LONDON FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

London, the capital of the UK, has a population of 8.5 million and is home to 200,000 international students from 200 countries. With 50 colleges and universities, some have been ranked as top universities globally. Ranking the best schools for international students is challenging due to the city’s commitment to maintaining high standards of education. Let’s look at the best schools in London.

1. University College London:

This school ranks the best in London as of the time this article was published. It is a very popular university and most international students are conversant with the university. The university ranks eighth (8) BEST university in the world. Over twenty percent (20%) of the university’s students are international students. Additionally, it has a very high number of postgraduate students, over fifty percent (50%) and it offers a vast range of courses to its students.

2. Imperial College London:

This university specializes more in science and technology; it is appreciated globally and ranks ninth (9^th) position in the world’s best university list. It has a very large business school as well as medical equipment which are up to standard. Not just that, it had the largest medical facility in London. It is yet another university in which international students are so much interested in studying.

3. King’s College London:

It is one of the best schools in London and ranks thirty-third (33rd) in the world’s list of best universities. It is as well one of the oldest colleges in London. The university is popularly known for its foremost involvement in research, It has a particularly good reputation for courses in the humanities, law, and the sciences, including health sciences. Claiming to be “the most central university in London”, King’s College London has five London campuses, four of which are fairly close together by the River Thames, near iconic landmarks such as Tower Bridge, the London Eye, and Big Ben.

4. London school of economics and political science:

The UK’s 44th-ranked university specializes in social sciences and is a global model for other subjects like anthropology, politics, sociology, and law. Additionally, with over 100 languages spoken, it attracts international students and is situated in the heart of the city in Chancery Lane, near the British Library, West End nightlife, theaters, and Trafalgar Square. The university’s historic chain of legal practitioners and professors also contributes to its reputation.

5. Queen Mary University of London:

Queen Mary University is one of the best schools in London, ranking 126th in the world’s best university list. It offers research and training opportunities in various subjects. Additionally, its Mile End campus is near trendy East End areas like Brick Lane, Whitechapel, Hoxton, and Shoreditch. In 2015, the university announced plans to offer a free business advice scheme for start-ups, known as the algal scheme, to improve the financial and technology industries.

6. Royal Holloway, University of London:

The university is located in a slightly out-of-town location, just an hour’s train journey from central London. It is one of the best schools in London and ranks 291st in the world’s best university list and is globally recognized. Of 10,000 students, 20% are international students. Additionally, the university is known for its strength in arts and humanities, ranking 19th in performing arts. Furthermore, its beautiful campus environment makes it an ideal institution for students seeking a suburban lifestyle in London.

7. School of Oriental and African Studies :

The School of Oriental and African Studies, founded in the 1910s, ranks as one of the best schools in London and 309th in the world’s best university list. Established in 1910, it offers over 350 undergraduate degrees and 115 postgraduate degrees. Fortunately, the university is known for its studies in languages, societies, and cultures of Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. Over half of its student population is international, with over 133 language-speaking countries on campus. Additionally, the Bloomsbury-based university is known for its garden squares, academic resource studies, and artistic and intellectual habitat.

8. Birkbeck College, University of London:

Birkbeck College, University of London is ranked 328th in the world’s best universities. It offers evening courses for students to complete their full degrees without denying loan grants or visas. Located in the Bloomsbury area, Birkbeck College London is close to University College London and the School of Oriental and African Studies. Additionally, the school offers flexible schedules for working-class students and offers courses for undergraduate and postgraduate degrees.

9. City, University of London:

City University of London, also known as City University London, is one of the best schools in London, ranking 349th in the world’s best university list. Additionally, its name comes from its close relationship with the London financial sector, which includes the clinical, media, research, and financial sectors.

Furthermore, the university is also a member of the Lord Mayor’s Council and offers a diverse range of courses, including Cass Business School, City Law School, and the School of Health Sciences. With a population of over 19,500 students, 10% come from the UK and 25% are international students.

10. Brunel University:

Bristol University, named after Victorian engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel, ranks 359th in the world’s best university list. It offers a diverse range of courses in arts, business, social sciences, health, law, health and social sciences, information systems, and sport. With over 13,000 students, 15% are international.

Furthermore, the university’s campus in Uxbridge, West London, is conveniently located just an hour from the city center on the London Underground. Additionally, the campus-based university provides a well-rounded student community with accommodations, libraries, bars, restaurants, a sports center, and green spaces.

STUDY IN LONDON SCHOLARSHIPS

Despite the cost of studying in London, there are scholarships that could also ease one of the many burdens. Example of scholarships;

Fully funded scholarship: This included the cost of living as well as the tuition fees but this scholarship is highly competitive and as such, most candidates who qualify for it have a very strong educational background.

Partly funded scholarship: This scholarship covers just the tuition fees and does not make provisions for the cost of living.

Country Specific scholarship: These scholarships are majorly put forward by governing bodies of a particular country and those eligible for this scholarship are those from a particular or stipulated home country. For example, scholarships for international UK students.

Course-Specific Scholarship: Those that are eligible for this scholarship are those studying or wanting to study a particular course. For example Scholarships for medical students.

And many other types of scholarships.

STAY BACK OPTION IN UK AFTER STUDIES 2020

A good number of students might prefer to STAY back after studying in London for good personal reasons, one of which is work/jobs. This is because, upon completion of your international course of study, students are given a space of 4 months to 2 years depending on the terms, after which you must return back to your home country or apply for a different visa, most likely a work visa from UK visa and Immigration. The visa also ranges from a TIER (1-5) visa.

Conclusion

I trust this has been helpful even though there might still be questions on your mind. Give us feedback via mail or our social media handles for all your questions.

GOODLUCK!!!

Author

Ifeoma Chuks

Ifeoma Chuks is a naturally-skilled writer. She has written and contributed to more than 6000 articles all over the internet that have formed solid experiences for particularly aspiring, young people around the globe.
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