Why UK?
You’re still undecided about going to UK for university study? Or maybe you’re looking here because you’ve decided, but you want to know exactly what your student life will look like in UK? Your studies will be intense at any British University, but overall, you will have free time where you can enjoy the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of UK. Either way, take a look and see what you could expect during your time in UK.
If you are attending any of the following universities, you will experience typical student life in London: University College London; Imperial College London; King’s College London; London School of Economics; Queen Mary, University of London; SOAS; Royal Holloway University of London; Brunel University; Goldsmiths, University of London; and City University London.
Student life in London is incredibly varied. Even if you aren’t studying in London, it’s recommended by many people that you visit the city for at least a week or so while studying in UK. London is “the big city,” so there are always lots of things for you to discover and do.
If you’re into tourism, then make sure to hit up the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, the London Eye, the Horse Guards Parade, and Buckingham Palace. Make sure that you stick around for the changing of the guard! There are dozens of museums to go to as well. If you like culture, go check out the Tate Modern, the British Film Institute, and National Theatre during the day. Even if you’re an international student that’s living in London, take some time to be a tourist and enjoy all of the sites.
Do you want to enjoy the night life, like many students do? Then you want to make sure to check out the “West End” of London, also known as “Theatreland.” This end of London is where you’ll find some of the best theatres (both live and movie). Walk around and tour the pubs, bars, restaurants, and clubs. Night life in London is lively and exciting, so feel free to dive right in if that’s your thing. Pubs are a favorite of many Londoners, and you can meet a lot of friendly people by going to a pub regularly (they’re also known for having excellent food).
You may be lucky enough to be in London during the month of August, and if so, you can hit up one of the largest street parties in the world. London’s Notting Hill Carnival celebrates Caribbean culture and excitement. The music is loud and exciting, the energy is high, and the food is great. Over one million people attend every single year, and many people end up going multiple times in their lifetime. It’s definitely worth checking out at least once during your university career.
If you want some more information about what tourists love about London, then make sure to check out London’s official visitor guide, Visit London. They have hundreds of articles and posts that can help you plan out what you want to see while in London. Also make sure to talk to classmates and locals; they may have their own suggestions that are off the beaten path.
If you are at Oxford or Cambridge, did you know you are attending one of the oldest (and most well known) universities in all of the United Kingdom? Then maybe you’d also be interested to know that they also have one of the oldest activities known to the United Kingdom as well: Punting.
Punting is a form of boating. You use a flat-bottomed boat (known as a “punt”) that you propel using a large pole that you push along the bottom of the river you are traveling on. You can take tours on the Cherwell, Isis, and Cam Rivers using a punt. You can see some of the famous bridges, ride through the countryside, go for a picnic, or even race with a punt. You can have a lot of fun if you decide to learn how to punt, and many of the universities in this area will offer punts that you can rent.
Oxford and Cambridge are very historical towns. Even though there is a little evidence of nightlife, most of what you will find is quaint and quiet in nature. You can go see live theatre; there are lots of places to shop, and many pubs where you can enjoy a pint and some good food. In general, student life in Oxford and Cambridge is very peaceful and quiet, which makes it ideal for the intense studying that you will do at either of the major universities in this region.
As you can see, student life in UK for one student can be very different than student life for another. Obviously, these aren’t the only regions, but they help to give you an idea of what student life in UK is like. Your experience depends on the university you attend, what region of UK it is located in, and what you do with it yourself. Student life can be really exciting and educational, and it’s absolutely what you make it to be.