As the statistics from 2015-16 shows, 20% of students obtaining a degree in the UK are foreigners – 6% of them are EU citizens while 14% come from different countries around the world. Chinese students occupy the majority of places among international students with Indian learners being on the second place after them. And, as the numbers state, England is the most popular destination for young people seeking for opportunities abroad.
This short account presents general stats of ESL students which are quite impressive – the UK attracts the second largest number of international undergraduates right after the USA that takes the 1-st place in this unofficial “competition”. There are certainly reasons that explain such an inflow – students get the chance to avail of numerous benefits which we are going to discuss in detail.
1. The Quality of Education
University of Cambridge, University of Oxford, University College London and Imperial College London are included into the top 10 best higher educational institutions in the world according to QS World University Rankings. What is more, the UK studying establishments are internationally recognized for the level of their research.
2. Variety
There are about 200 universities and colleges in the UK, so there is a wide range of choice. UCAS claims that you can pick among 50 000 different courses in over 25 fields of study. It means that you will definitely have no lack of options.
3. Scholarships / Grants / Bursaries
Tuition fees for international students start at £10 000, and go up to £38 000. Of course, it’s a raw spot for foreign learners because far from everybody can afford it. But, despite this fact, there are many grant opportunities for ESL students and you definitely have to find out about them more.
First of all, there are government-funded scholarship programs like the Chevening Scholarships or Commonwealth Masters Scholarships. They usually cover transportation, tuition, minimal personal allowance, and provide grants. Apart from these schemes, there are also scholarships provided by the universities themselves (University of Sussex, Bristol University, University of West London, etc.). Each educational establishment has its own terms and conditions, and more information you will be able to find either here, or on the website of a college you want to enroll in.
4. English as a Second Language Courses
Each university in the UK ensures that a foreign student receives a proper training of the English command. This can be general English lessons, academic English workshops, summer programs, preparation for certification exams (IELTS, TOEFL, etc.) or language support classes to improve the understanding of other subjects on the course.
However, if the college you’ve chosen for some reasons doesn’t provide English training, there are free opportunities like Anglo-Continental lessons, Kent University classes, etc., so no worries in that regard.
In addition to the above-mentioned benefits, you need to understand that the UK diplomas are recognized all over the world. They are prestigious enough to get hired in decent companies, so while weighing up all the pros and cons of the study in Britain idea, take that into account!
