Best Student Cities in the UK

The UK has a lot to offer both in terms of high-quality education and cultural, as well as social activity. Universities in the UK are considered to be a microcosm of entertainment. They provide their students with a variety of opportunities for getting involved in such enjoyable activities as sports, theater, volunteering, or just having a good night out. Furthermore, the population of the most UK’s universities is made up of different nationalities, providing students with the ability to get closer to the understanding of both UK’s and foreign cultures. Here are the UK’s top student cities you can consider as starting points of your educational path in the UK.

1. London

The capital of the United Kingdom is ranked as the world’s best student city. According to QS World University Rankings, London is the home to 19 best universities around the world, including UCL (University College of London), Imperial College London, King’s College London, social sciences specialist London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), and many more.

The population of London counts more than 9 million people, so the capital is considered to be the financial, cultural and political center of the UK. The capital is the best place for those who are looking for intensive and bright life. Nevertheless, if you do not like crowds and noise, probably London is not for you.

The city of London is also known as quite an expensive place to live. So if your budget is tight, it will be wise to weigh all the pros and cons before coming to study here. Nevertheless, most students who study in the city believe that it is worth every penny.

London is ready to offer a lot of opportunities for culture, fun, and networking on offer. It is considered to be the home to many of the world’s best libraries, museums, art galleries, nightclubs, and theatres.  Furthermore, the capital is known as the heart of many of its most competitive professional sectors.

London will never let you get bored. Even after years spent in the city, the city has more to see and to do than you will have time to get to. It is one of those places in the world that provide you with exciting and diverse experience every day at every corner.

2. Manchester

According to QS World University Rankings 2018, the top-ranking institution in Manchester that takes the 34th place is the University of Manchester (which incorporates Alliance Manchester Business School). There are also such great universities as the University of Salford and Manchester Metropolitan University situated just outside the city center.

 The city itself is considered to be a music capital of the country. There just a few cities in the world that have produced in the past 30 years such world-famous prominent bands as legendary Sex Pistols and Oasis. Manchester is home to great music venues, both large and small. So if you are a musician and want to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of a non-stop creativeness and inspiration, Manchester will be your best choice. The city’s music scene is the key to its vibrant and fast-moving lifestyle.

To get closer to the cultural life of the city, do not miss its trendy-bohemian Northern Quarter. If you are looking for a lively nightlife, there is no better place than the Canal Street area.

While parties in the city are considered to be an integral aspect of its life, Manchester has much more to offer. Manchester is also considered to be a great place for football lovers. The global fame of Manchester United is difficult to beat.

If you are looking for more inspiration you have to know that the city of Manchester is also considered to be a great place for fans of architecture. The city is made up of a variety of architectural styles, starting from Victorian and Gothic to contemporary skyscrapers.

To get the most of what the city is ready to offer, you can take part in the University of Manchester’s student radio station – Fuse FM. The second popular radio run by students of Manchester Metropolitan University the city is MMU Radio.

3. Birmingham

The second-largest city in the UK, the city of Birmingham, is considered to be the country’s largest shopping area outside the capital, as well as one of the most culturally diverse places in the UK. Birmingham, also known as Brum, is known as the city of thriving art, music, and literary scenes. It is home to the prestigious City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and a range of other prominent cultural institutions of the country.

Birmingham was ranked 55th in the QS Best Student Cities 2017. When it comes to education, Birmingham is considered to be the second capital of higher education and academic research. The best universities of Birmingham include the University of Birmingham that takes the 84th place is the list of the QS World University Rankings, Aston University, the Open University’s West Midlands and three more universities.

4. Glasgow

Although Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland, for many years it has lived in the shadow of the capital of Scotland, Edinburgh. In the recent years, the city’s former gritty reputation disappeared as the Glasgow has become one of the UK’s most dynamic and desirable places to live. The greatest advantage of the city in comparison to the capital is that it is not as overrun by tourists as Edinburgh and has a significantly lower cost of living. Furthermore, the city of Glasgow has the second largest student population in the country.

Glasgow has a lot to offer to everyone who comes to explore the city and enjoy its lively lifestyle. The city offers brilliant historic architecture, distinctive local traditions and museums to rival any city in the UK. It is full of bars, restaurants and gig venues to satisfy even the most hardened tastes. The city is famous as the home to the world’s tallest cinema and is known as the most vegan-friendly city in the UK.

The universities in the city have been climbing the rankings in recent years. Students who come to study here can choose from such prominent institutions of higher education as the University of Glasgow and the University of Strathclyde.

5. Oxford and Cambridge

You are right. Oxford and Cambridge are two separate cities. Nevertheless, these cities have a lot of things in common, including untarnished reputation, collective imagination, and profound historic affinity. Both of them are considered to be old medieval towns, both built on rivers and both situated towards the south of England not far from London. Oxbridge are relatively quiet and peaceful towns with the reputation of the most famous and prestigious universities in the world.