University of Exeter

Overview

The University of Exeter was founded in 1955, although its complete history dates back as far as 1900. At present around 19,000 students from over 140 countries study at the University’s three campuses in the South West of England. Despite being relatively young, Exeter is a member of the UK’s elite Russell Group and is in the top 1% of universities worldwide.

Six academic colleges offer study opportunities at undergraduate, masters and research level in a wide range of subjects across science, humanities and social sciences. The University of Exeter has a longstanding international approach, with many courses offering the opportunity to study abroad. All students are offered foreign language tuition, either as part of their chosen degree or as a separate evening class. Graduate prospects are further improved by a focus on career management skills and the possibility of work placements and internships as part of the degree programme.

Services for International Students

The International Student Support Office can help students with issues such as visas, bank accounts and settling in at the beginning of term. The office also publishes Your International News every month, which details the various international events run throughout the year. These include trips to various cities and nearby attractions as well as cultural festivals and celebrations.

All students are allocated a personal tutor, a member of staff from the same academic school, who is available to discuss problems or academic progress. The University was named best in UK for international student satisfaction by StudyPortals November 2014 and is also 1st in the Russell Group for student satisfaction.

INTO University of Exeter run both pre-sessional and in-sessional English lessons for students, which cover subject-specific as well as general academic and social English.

Ranking

7th in the Times University Guide 2016

9th in the Guardian University Guide 2016

10th in The Complete University Guide 2016

161st in QS World University Rankings 2016

27 subjects ranked in Top 10 in either/both The Times and Guardian University Guide 2015

98% of our research is of international quality according to the REF 2014 and 82% is rated as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’

Accommodation

Accommodation is guaranteed for all new unaccompanied international students who accept an offer and apply for accommodation by the deadline. There is a wide range of catered and self-catered accommodation, with studio flats and shared houses available. All are within 20 minutes’ walk of the nearest campus. Self-catered accommodation is generally arranged in flats of three to twelve people with a shared kitchen and communal area. Private rented accommodation is available through landlords or private halls of residence.

Location

The University’s three campuses in the South West of England offer a safe, high quality environment for both study and living. Academic, social and sports facilities are conveniently located within easy walking distance of one another and the local city facilities.

The University of Exeter’s main Streatham Campus is regarded as one of the most beautiful parkland campuses in the UK. Overlooking the Roman city of Exeter which is now the regional capital, it features beautiful architecture and excellent retail and leisure facilities. The St Luke’s campus where Sport Science, Medicine and Education students study is also located here. Exeter is the 6th safest place to live in the UK and the 4th top place to live in the UK for recreation (Rightmove 2013). The city's transport hubs include Exeter St Davids railway station, connecting to London in 2 hours, the M5 motorway and Exeter International Airport connecting the city both nationally and internationally.

The Penryn Campus in Cornwall is a unique campus that brings the heart of the University of Exeter to an environment unrivalled in the UK. Set in a recognised Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and offering immediate access to the fantastic South West coastline, it boasts the very latest in teaching facilities, plus a friendly atmosphere and innovative programmes, which combine to offer a great student experience. 

94% of international students reported feeling safe and secure at the University, with 95.5 per cent agreeing that the location was a ‘good place to be’ (International Student Barometer Autumn 2013).

Alumni

• J. K. Rowling (Author)
• Thom York (Radiohead)
• Robert Bolt (Academy Award and Oscar-winning screenwriter)
• Infanta Elena of Spain
• Dr. Abdullah Gül (President of Turkey)

University of Warwick

Overview

The University of Warwick is a British campus university located on the outskirts of Coventry and is regarded as one of the country's leading institutions. Warwick was established in 1965 and currently has more than 18,000 students enrolled from 120 countries and, despite its relatively young age, is one of the 24 elite Russell Group research universities.

The University is made up of the Faculty of Arts, Medicine, Science and Social Sciences, and was recently ranked in the top 10 of the world’s youngest universities, and as the leading university of its kind in the UK. Graduates at Warwick are the third most often targeted by the UK’s top graduate employers and, in 2013, 92% of students with first degrees were in work or further study within six months of graduating.

The University of Warwick ranks highly globally and is currently 6th in the Times & Guardian Guides for 2016, while 87% of Warwick research is classified as ‘world leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’.

Services for International Students

The International Office offers an award-winning service to students both before and throughout their studies. Pre-departure receptions, immigration advice and orientation programmes are designed to ensure that students are well prepared for life at the University.

Warwick has its own recruitment agency to help students find regular or temporary work on campus or with local companies that will fit around their studies. The Careers Service offers a comprehensive range of information, guidance and resources to support your career decision-making, while students will have the opportunity to meet with a range of companies at careers fairs and employer presentations. Access to a large variety of reference books and electronic resources on career planning and valuable advice on application and interview preparation is also involved.

Ranking

6th in the Times University Guide 2016

6th in the Guardian University Guide 2016

7th in the Complete University Guide 2016

48th in QS World University Rankings 2016

Warwick is consistently ranked as a top 10 UK university by all UK league tables, and holds prestigious academic exchange agreements with some of the world's best universities. The University of Warwick is recognised as one of the UK’s leading research universities, with the most recent Research Excellence Framework in 2014 showing that 87% of Warwick’s submitted research ‘world leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’.

The excellence of the University of Warwick’s teaching is confirmed by the results of the QAA’s Teaching Assessment Exercise; with 22 out of 24 Departments assessed rated Excellent. Film and TV, Horticultural research, Maths, French and Italian were amongst the top ranked subjects at any university in the UK.

Accommodation

The University of Warwick has one of the largest ranges of campus accommodation in the UK, with something to suit everyone's needs and budget. You can live in flats or Halls of Residences, with en-suite or shared bathroom facilities, and a limited amount of same-sex accommodation is also available.

All single study campus bedrooms are furnished to a high standard, have access to shared equipped kitchens and come equipped with a network point which allows fast, free internet access. All first year undergraduate and postgraduate international students are guaranteed on-campus accommodation providing their application is received before the published deadline.

Location

The University of Warwick is located in the heart of England, on the edge of the multicultural city of Coventry and the border of Warwickshire. This location means one side of the campus faces a busy modern city whilst the other overlooks beautiful English countryside. Coventry is England’s eighth largest city and offers excellent shopping, restaurants and nightlife. Its mediaeval past can be seen in its remaining buildings, whilst its modern day fame is seen in its modern cathedral.

The University of Warwick campus provides a variety of day-to-day facilities and services for students. The area around the piazza and the Students' Union building are the central shopping spots where you can find a supermarket, banks, post office, pharmacy, bookshop and hairdressers. Warwick’s central location means it is easily accessible by road, rail and air: Birmingham International Airport is only 20 minutes from campus and London is only 65 minutes away by train.

Durham University

Overview

Durham University is the third oldest university in England and regularly places in the top ten UK university rankings. The University is a recently admitted member of the prestigious Russell Group, as well as numerous other international university organisations, and is considered a traditional alternative to Oxbridge giants Oxford and Cambridge.

Located in the cathedral city of Durham in the north-east of England, the University campus is divided between the main Durham City campus and the Queen’s Campus in nearby Stockton. Durham University has over 17,000 students enrolled, of whom 1,900 are international students from over 150 countries.

Durham University is collegiate, with 16 colleges providing residential, social and welfare facilities for their student members, creating a sense of community for staff and students together. Teaching and most research is handled by academic departments and 30% of the 3,000 staff at the University are international.

Services for International Students

The University offers a free coach transfer service from Newcastle Airport at the beginning of term, with a welcome team present at the airport to guide students. Before the beginning of term, the International Office hosts an induction programme, including sessions about study skills, orientation and English language skills.

There is a wide range of general support services, including student financial support, a Careers Advisory Service, the Durham University Service for Students with Disabilities and a University nursery. Libraries are located throughout the university with generous opening times, seven days a week. The Information Technology Service offers networked services in both campuses, with over 1,200 personal computers in classrooms and open access locations.

Ranking

5th in the Times University Guide 2015

6th in the Guardian University Guide 2016

5th in the Complete University Guide 2016

61st in the QS World University Rankings 2016

All of Durham University’s subjects were ranked in the UK’s top ten according to the 2015 Complete University Guide. 83% of University of Durham submitted research was class as “internationally excellent” or “world leading” in the 2014 Research Excellence Framework. Areas of particular strength include Anthropology, Archaeology, Chemistry, Classics, Education, English, Law, Music, Physics and Theology.

Accommodation

The college system offers a range of accommodation options for undergraduate and postgraduate students. Durham University colleges provide activities and facilities for study, sports, the arts, socialising, relaxation and welfare. Generally, students will live in their college for the first year, move into private accommodation in their second year and then have the option of returning to the college halls for their final year of study.

All undergraduate students at Durham University are guaranteed accommodation in their first year in the college or society from which they have received an offer. Nearly all colleges at Durham University provide fully catered accommodation, with excellent facilities for study, socialising and exercise. The more intimate nature of living by your chosen college creates a sense of community, plus fantastic chances to play a part in the organisation and responsibilities of the area.

Location

Durham is situated in north east England, and is one of the most picturesque cities in the UK. The skyline is dominated by the 11th Century cathedral and castle, which is a world heritage site. Durham has a range of shops and restaurants, with a daily indoor market and a much larger outdoor market twice a week. The Queen's Campus is located 20 miles from Durham, at Stockton. A free bus service runs daily between the two campuses.

Durham is relatively small and all university departments, colleges and facilities are within walking distance of each other. Likewise if students live in university accommodation at Queen's Campus, the academic buildings are within a five minute walk.

Alumni

• Tim Smit (Founder of the Eden Project)
• David Sproxton (Co-founder of Aardman Animations)
• Andrew Strauss (Cricketer)
• Justin Welby (Archbishop of Canterbury)
• Sir George Malcolm Brown (Geologist)

University of St Andrews

Overview

University of St Andrews is the third-oldest English speaking university in the world and the oldest in Scotland, founded in 1413. Despite being a small town, St Andrews has long been a centre of Scottish political and religious life, which is reflected in the University’s strong reputation in the humanities, particularly divinity and philosophy. The 7,000 students from 100 different countries make up a significant part of the town’s population, and St Andrews covers the whole area rather than a defined campus.

Scottish degrees last four years, and at St Andrews this is used to provide greater flexibility. Students apply to one of four Faculties (Arts, Divinity, Medicine or Science) and take modules towards a degree, with a chance to specialise further in the final two years. As an old university, St Andrews has a number of traditions such as the concept of university ‘parents’ (third year students) and the May Dip, where students run into the North Sea on May Day dawn.

The University of St Andrews has a number of opportunities for undergraduate students to spend a full academic year in the USA or Canada as part of their degree programme (usually Junior Honours year), with new destinations approved each year. The University has three exchange partners in Canada and a further eleven partners in the USA, each offering a different student experience, from the University of California’s LA campus in the heart of Beverly Hills, to the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, the second oldest Higher Education institution in the United States.

Services for International Students

The University of St Andrews provides free in-sessional and pre-sessional English language support for students. St Andrews has two dedicated International Student Advisors to provide specific support, as well as more general advice and support services. First year students are assigned a ‘parent’, usually a third year student, who offers personal support throughout their first year of study.

St Andrews is committed to attracting the very best students, regardless of financial circumstances, and they offer a large number of bursaries and scholarships to international students. These are designed to provide assistance and help students support themselves during their time at the University.

All undergraduates are assigned an Adviser of Studies whom they must see at the start of each semester to discuss their choices. Advisers are also available for consultations at other times and will guide the student through the complexities of the modular structure to ensure that any desired degree pathways, or options, remain accessible.

Ranking

4th in the Times University Guide 2016

3rd in the Guardian University Guide 2016

5th in the Complete University Guide 2016

68th in the QS World University Rankings 2016

St Andrews has been ranked the best university in Scotland for the last nine years by The Times University Guide, and was crowned Scottish University of the Year four times in a row from 2011 – 2015.

Following the 2014 Research Excellence Framework, 82% of all research carried out at St Andrews was classed ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’ and at least 98% is ‘internationally recognised’. The University is also ranked top in Scotland and 14th in the UK for the quality of its research in Science, the Arts, Divinity and Medicine.

Accommodation

St Andrews guarantees an offer of accommodation for all first year students. There are almost 4,000 rooms available around the city, about 40% of which are catered, with a choice of standard rooms with shared bathroom facilities or en suite, as well as shared rooms. Students live around the town rather than on a single campus.

University of St Andrews residences range from beautiful stone-built listed buildings full of original period features, to stylish new apartments, built to high environmental and sustainability standards.

Location

The town of St Andrews sits on a rocky headland overlooking the dramatic waters of the North Sea. 20,000 people, including students, live in this small, historic town and many beautiful buildings still stand as monuments to the thousands of years it has been a focal point for bishops, kings, saints and martyrs. The University does not have a campus, but instead covers the whole town and St Andrews is just over 80km north east of Edinburgh.

The University of St Andrews has superb facilities in a variety of buildings, ranging from the ultra-modern new Medical laboratories on our North Haugh site, to the mediaeval grandeur of St Salvators Quadrangle where many lectures are held daily. The town centre library has just been refurbished at a cost of £14 million and there are also plans for multi-million pound upgrades to be made to the Students’ Union, and to the University Sports Centre.

Alumni

• Prince William, Duke of Cambridge
• Chris Hoy (Cyclist, the most successful British Olympian in terms of gold medals)
• John Witherspoon (US Declaration of Independence signatory)
• Edward Jenner (Pioneer of smallpox vaccine)
• Alex Salmond (First Minister for Scotland)

Imperial College London

Overview

Imperial College London is consistently ranked amongst the best universities in the world and forms part of the 'Golden Triangle' of six elite British universities, which also includes Oxford and Cambridge. Imperial is traditionally known for world class science, engineering and medicine programmes, although more recently the Imperial College Business School and Humanities department have gained high regard.

Imperial College London is part of the prestigious Russell Group and is ranked the 4th best university in the UK by the latest Times Good University Guide. It is currently the 2nd best university in the world in the QS World Rankings. Ground breaking work and cutting edge research is consistently performed at the University, with 14 Nobel Prizes and 81 Fellowships from the Medical Sciences being awarded in the past.

Imperial College's main campus is located in South Kensington in central London. Formerly a constituent college of the University of London, Imperial College became independent of the University of London on 8 July 2007, the 100th anniversary of its founding.

Services for International Students

The International Office manages the delivery of immigration advice to international students at Imperial, with particular focus on UK student visas and the rules on working during and after study. In addition, it works on pre-arrival communication and information, with Welcome Events and Orientation sessions for international students.

There are numerous trips offered to famous locations around the UK throughout the year, while Imperial also has links to outside organisations that provide homestays.

Ranking

3rd in the Times University Guide 2016

8th in the Guardian University Guide 2016

4th in the Complete University Guide 2016

8th in the QS World University Rankings 2016

Imperial College is consistently ranked as one of the top universities in the world, with most rankings placing it in the top 10 globally. In the 2014 Academic Ranking of World Universities, Imperial was ranked 22nd overall in the world.

Imperial College Business School, was ranked 4th in the UK for Business Studies by the Complete University Guide Subject Tables 2014. The Financial Times ranked the MSc Management Program 1st in the United Kingdom and 12th in the world in 2013 and in the Financial Times MBA survey 2014, the Imperial MBA was ranked 8th in the UK, 15th in Europe and 49th in the world.

Across other subjects, medicine (3rd), engineering (2nd), life sciences (3rd) and physical sciences (3rd) all perform well nationally.

Accommodation

Imperial College London currently has 20 halls of residence, almost exclusively in the South Kensington and Chelsea areas of London. Availability is generally prioritised for new first-year undergraduate students of Imperial, who are guaranteed a place in a college residence. The majority of older students and postgraduates find accommodation in the private sector, help for which is provided by the Imperial College private housing office.

Location

Imperial has a number of campuses in London and the South East, and all have excellent travel links and are easily accessible through the use of public transport. The main campus is in South Kensington in London, very near the Royal Albert Hall, the Natural History Museum and the Science Museum.

The University is well served by three of the biggest airports in the UK. Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted are all accessible through special services.

Alumni

• Alexander Fleming (Pharmacologist and Nobel Laureate)
• Thomas Huxley (Biologist)
• H.G. Wells (Author)
• Brian May (Musician, Queen)

University of Oxford

Overview

The University of Oxford is the oldest university in the English-speaking world and is regarded as one of the world's leading academic institutions, with 38 independent colleges and 6 permanent private halls. The University is a member of the Russell Group of research-led British universities, the Coimbra Group (a network of leading European universities), the League of European Research Universities, and is also a core member of the Europaeum. Academically, Oxford is consistently ranked in the world's top 10 universities.

University of Oxford is the top university in the UK and Europe (THE World Rankings 2014-15), has more world leading academics as part of its staff than any other UK university (Complete University Guide 2014) and is number one in the UK for quality of research (REF 2014). The University of Oxford has the highest proportion of students achieving 2:1s and above and the highest proportion of students achieving firsts in the UK.

A unique University of Oxford benefit to students is the weekly one-to-one tutorial, where undergraduates will spend an hour with an expert in their field. The University is also home to the Bodleian library, which is the second biggest library in the UK after the British Library. International students are currently enrolled from over 140 different countries and study a wide range of subjects, making up 1/3 of the student body.

Services for International Students

The International Office at Oxford provides a wide range of services to applicants and students, including advice on general enquiries about studying at the University of Oxford, visas and immigration, to living in the U.K. It is also responsible for running interviews conducted internationally and the international orientation programme at the beginning of the year. The Oxford Language Centre provides specific language support for international students. Personal support can also be found in the college administration.

Ranking

2nd in the Times University Guide 2016

2nd in the Guardian University Guide 2016

2nd in the Complete University Guide 2016

6th in the QS World University Rankings 2016

The University of Oxford is considered to be one of the best universities in the world, and belongs to the elite group of six ‘super-brand’ universities according to the THE World Rankings. Currently it is ranked 2nd in the world by the THE rankings, 10th in the world by ARWU and 6th by the QS World Rankings.

The University of Oxford is also ranked number one in the UK for the quality of its research. 48% of the University's research was in the top 4* category while 39% was rated 3*. Oxford also ranked first in 12 subjects for their volume of world-leading research.

Accommodation

The 38 Colleges which make up the University of Oxford provide accommodation for all first year undergraduate students. These colleges are not only houses of residence, but also have substantial responsibility for the teaching of undergraduates.

A typical college consists of a hall for dining, a chapel, a library, a college bar, senior, middle (postgraduate) and junior common rooms, rooms for 200-400 undergraduates as well as lodgings for the head of the college and other dons. College buildings range from the medieval to modern, but most are made up of interlinked courtyards.

Location

Oxford is in south England, around 90 minutes from London, and has a population of 150,000. Buildings in Oxford reflect every English architectural period since the arrival of the Saxons, including the mid-18th century Radcliffe Camera. Oxford is known as the "city of dreaming spires", a term coined by poet Matthew Arnold in reference to the harmonious architecture of the University of Oxford buildings. It is very much a student city, and much is actually owned by the University, leading to discounts for students in almost all areas.

Alumni

• 26 British Prime Ministers, most recently David Cameron
• President Bill Clinton
• Tim Berners-Lee (Inventor of the World Wide Web)
• At least 12 saints and 20 Archbishops of Canterbury
• 50 Olympic Medal winners
• 27 Nobel Laureates across all six categories