Top Reasons to Study in the UK

Studying abroad can be an expensive and nerve-wracking prospect, so I’ve compiled a list of some of the more compelling reasons to consider studying in the UK. Whether you’re interested in sightseeing, or just want to get a jump start on your future career, there’s something for everyone!

Programs are more focused

When I was doing my undergraduate degree in Physics here in Canada, I had a certain number of ‘Arts and Social Science’ electives that I had to take to meet the requirements of the program. This means that every semester I took a History class, or a Philosophy class, which had nothing to do with physics, and didn’t prepare me at all for a future career in the sciences. In the UK, degree programs are more focused on your major subject, and require a lot fewer (if any) free electives. This means that all your classes will be relevant to your major, and you’re free to focus your studies on what you’re passionate about, and not waste your time doing insignificant electives. This also means that…

Degrees are shorter

Since you’re not doing all those free electives, programs in the UK end up being shorter than those in Canada; bachelor’s degrees can typically be done in 3 years (except in Scotland, where they are 4-year programs), and most master’s programs are only 12 months long! This means that you can finish school and be in the workforce much sooner and spend as little time and money in school as possible. Some universities even offer combined bachelor and master’s programs, so you can get both degrees in 4 years!

Acceptance rates

For some programs, it can be much easier to get accepted in the UK than similar programs in Canada. This is especially true for law school; since there are only about a dozen law schools in Canada, they can be very competitive, but the UK has well over 100 law schools, so the entry requirements can be much more reasonable. The programs are still top-notch, and will fully qualify you to practice in Canada, but with more schools available, there are more seats and therefore less competition. This is also true about many other programs. Your personal advisor will compile a list of programs for you to consider based on your academic profile, your study interests and your location preferences, and we’re very careful to choose the right schools for your particular case, so there is often very little risk of rejection when applying.

Travelling in the UK and Europe

One of my favourite things about studying in the UK are the travel opportunities: the UK itself is pretty small, so you can get around easily and quickly. The train service is extensive and relatively cheap, so spending a weekend doing some sightseeing around London, or the highlands of Scotland, or down to the White Cliffs at Dover is doable no matter where in the country you’re studying. Paris and Brussels are both about 2 hours from London by train, so a lot of students spend their free time touring Western Europe. Flights are also much cheaper around Europe than in Canada, so if that’s your preferred mode of travel, you can get to Europe for as little as $100! If you don’t want to go too far from campus, there are also plenty of day trips to nearby tourist sights, hiking trails and even beaches around Brighton Pier.

As you can see, there are plenty of exciting and rewarding reasons to study in the UK! Please contact us if you have any questions, or when you’re ready to take a look at your options.