London is the pride of the great British nation. It is a city built on intellect, inspiration, and an extraordinary resilient and diverse culture. It is truly the gift that keeps on giving. For a student in the start of their beautiful journey to discover yourself and what life is all about while pursuing a degree that will support you through life, why not be part of something big, and live in the best city a student can be. 

Education is rooted in the London culture, and there are many universities in the city that have been changing the higher education scene for the past few centuries. There are many reasons why your life as a student should start in London, below we list a few:

Pioneers of education

London universities have been and still are an integral part of the history of education in the western world. In addition to the top quality of education and research that is evident in the world university ranking tables, these universities made outstanding contributions to humanity through scientific discoveries, mind blowing literature, and socially challenging decision. From pioneering the women’s rights to education on equal terms with men in University College London, the discovery of the DNA in King’s College London, the world renown MBA from the London Business School, the start-ups incubator in Imperial College London, to the 37 world leaders who studied or taught at the London School of Economics and Political Science.

The innovation in education is undeniable, and the momentum still carries on as these top universities keep on innovating the delivery of knowledge and reaching students beyond their London grounds.  

“No matter what you are into, you will find inspiration in London”

Big city with Big numbers and a Bigger culture

London has an all-fit-in culture, it is a culture that evolved, survived, and thrived over the centuries. With a very rich history, and a story to tell in every corner, it is difficult for any other city to compete. The city is simply built to fascinate and inspire. This is not a coincidence. Given how much talent London attracts from around the world, it is no wonder that the city is organically maintained by the contributions of some of the best minds of the day, and given the high standard lifestyle of Londoners, the city is always dressed to impress. If you are still not convinced Why London is the best place to study, then get a load of this most impressive numbers. According to London.gov.uk:

• • Over 300 languages are spoken in London, more than any other city in the world.

• • Over 192 museums are available to brows, this means you can go to a different museum every 2 days and you won’t finish the list!

• • Three of the top ten museums and galleries in the world are in London and 857 art galleries in total, and an estimated number of 1,500 permanent exhibition spaces. The city breaths art!

• • Three of the top 10 museums and galleries in the world are in London, 4 UNESCO world heritage sites

• • London celebrates over 197 festivals including the renown Notting Hill Carnival 

• • No one does theatre like London: From the first performance of Shakespeare at The Globe in 1599, there are now over 200 shows to choose from every day across the West End, most showing at matinée and evening 7 days a week.

• • As the UK is the most read nation in the world, is it no surprise to know that there are more than 800 bookshops and over 325 public libraries including the British Library.

• • There are over 22,000 music performances a year, many are free or at a reduced fee for students, and yes, they cover any music genre you can think of

• • Other big events such as the London Design Festival, the London Fashion Week, and the countless business events in the Excel centre, and the City of London

• • If you are sceptical of being stuck in a polluted urban jungle, then this is for you: London has over 3,000 parks of varying sizes designated as ‘public open space’. Together they cover almost 18% of London which is more than the area of the city covered by railways and roads combined. This makes London a green city. Some of these parks particularly the Royal Parks such as Hyde Park, Regent Park, and Greenwich Park are massive, very well maintained, and are 5 min walk to a leading university.

Overall, London is truly inspiring, it might not be the city that does not sleep like New York, but it sure is the city were creativity comes to shine, and inspiration does not sleep.

A network like no other

Did you know what Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, and John F. Kennedy all have in common? They all alumni of the University of London. 

London is a world hub for intellect. It attracts every type of human being you can think of, and what’s magical about it, is that everyone fits in! from scientists, writers, politicians, and artists, to activists, athletes, celebrities, and elite socialites. Some of the best minds, and the most ambitious people you will ever meet will be attending universities in London. Free speech is democratised, diversity is appreciated, and you will never be in trouble for being who you are. What is best, is that your golden network will grow some of the world leaders, Nobel Prizes laureates, and world changing entrepreneurs. 

According to Wikipedia, A large number of famous individuals have passed through the University of London, either as staff or students, including at least 12 monarchs or royalty, 52 presidents or prime ministers, 84 Nobel laureates, 6 Grammy winners, 2 Oscar winners, and 3 Olympic gold medallists. The LSE alone has 18 Nobel Prize winners and 37 past or present Heads of State. In total, there are 400,000 university students in London, coming from more than 200 different nations.

Limitless job opportunities

For most people, the objective of going to university is to find a job and build a career. If you want to establish a strong career from the start or find a job within few months of graduation, if not locking the deal while you are on your final year, then you should be in a well reputed university. The name of the university represents its brand, and that brand on its own can open many doors. Not to forget, the number of successful alumni from these universities who are scattered all over the world on top positions. Some of the degrees will lead you to a very lucrative job such as the London Business School MBA, where the average salary for its graduates is over £85,000 with the top salary reaching over £245,000, which means you will make up multiples of what you spent on the degree.

Having a degree from a London University is like pulling the big guns on any job interview. Even if you end up not wanting to work with your degree, and prefer to jump into a new field, your London degree, network, and experience in the city will allow you to make a smoother move and will still be an impressive card to pull on any job interview. It is a winning investment no matter where life takes you.

Travel fast and cheap

The geographical proximity of London to Europe and North America makes it a great place to settle for those curious travel loving minds. There are 6 airports in London with frequent flights to every country under the sun. And if you are not a fan of flying, then why not use the Eurostar trains to Europe, or a cruise somewhere further.  The prices to fly to either European capitals or New York are not bad, particularly if you are a light traveller, which most students are.

There are many other factors why London is the best place to study, such as prestige, opulence, nature, safety, standards of ethics and professionalism, equal opportunities to excel and be celebrated for your achievements, opportunities to find love, and and countless opportunities to learn through life.

If you like this article, why not check out our top tips for How to Choose the Right University for you and our guide on How to Settle into your British Education Lifestyle