Britain’s universities are among the best in the world. Oxford and Cambridge can trace their history back to the 11th and 13th centuries and are still at the cutting edge of modernity thanks to the latest techniques and technology. Younger universities adopt a wealth of experience and therefore also rise to the top of the rankings.
18 universities are included in the world’s top 100 educational institutions. Such a reputation makes graduates of British universities unusually in demand on the international labor market. The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) regularly evaluates British universities to maintain high standards of education.
The advantages of universities in the U.K.
- High-class infrastructure. British universities are first and foremost impressive for their outstanding architecture. However, despite the external antiquity, inside many of them you can find modern libraries, research laboratories and even their own museums. Oxford, for example, founded the world’s first university museum, the Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology, and Manchester University has its own observatory with several radio telescopes.
- Unique traditions. Britain’s universities honor a long tradition. For example, universities have Fresher’s Week at the beginning of the year, which includes campus events and parties to welcome newcomers to the university. There are also some very unique traditions. For instance, at the University of St. Andrews, every freshman is assigned to an academic “parent,” a 3rd- or 4th-year student. During Raisin Weekend in November, the student goes to “Mom” for tea, then with “Dad” to the bar. The fun ends with a sort of foam party (foam fight).
- Diploma Value. International rankings by QS, The Times Higher Education (THE) and Shanghai Rankings (ARWU) put up to 18 British universities in the world’s top 100 every year. Largely because of this the UK is the second most popular destination for student immigration after the United States, and a British degree is a mark of quality for an employer in any country.
- Satisfaction Level. Students like studying at British universities. The top ranks, according to the National Student Survey (NSS) 2018, are occupied by the University of St Andrews – 94%, the University of Buckingham, Conservatoire for Dance and Drama, The London Institute of Banking & Finance – 91%. However, the results of the latter on the list of universities participating in the survey cannot be called negative: London School of Economics and Political Science, Ravensbourne, Royal Academy of Music – 71%, Glasgow School of Art – 67%.
Disadvantages or peculiarities of universities in England
- High cost. In the UK international students are forced to spend on their education 2-4 times more than the British themselves, for which there is a fixed maximum cost and there are opportunities to subsidize – postgraduate loans. Compulsory preparatory programs, A-Level, IB or Foundation, increase the costs even more. Their cost can even be higher than a bachelor’s degree.
- Narrow specialization. Education in Britain, in contrast to America, focuses on highly specialized courses. Already in high school, students take 3 to 4 courses to enable them to enter university in their chosen field. University programs are also based on a single theme, without dividing students into major and minor subjects (in the U.S., majors and minors). This system greatly reduces student mobility and requires students to choose a future career in advance.
