London is one of the best places in the world to study with four universities at the top of a prestigious global ranking of higher education institutions. The United Kingdom capital boasts four top 40 universities – up from three the previous year – and six in the top 200, which is more than the whole of Japan, China, Sweden and South Korea.
In Life Sciences London has three universities in the top 40 and three in the top 20 for Clinical and Medicine – again more than any other city in the world. The Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings cement the city as the best place to come and study anywhere on the planet. Combined with the proximity of Oxford and Cambridge universities, the area is a golden triangle of elite studying opportunities. Overall, the UK is excelling with 31 universities in the top 200 – second only to the USA with 77.
A quarter of London’s 420,000 students come from abroad – more than any other city. Last year over 11,000 students came from China followed by nearly 7,000 from India. Mayor of London Boris Johnson said: “These rankings testify to London’s strength in higher education and to our lengthening lead over European rivals.”
“With more stellar universities in the top 40 than anywhere else in the world, we have 110,000 of the brightest international students studying here already – but we want to attract even more.”
“London offers more than 30,000 courses across dozens of institutions but it is the sheer quality of our education that sets us apart.”
“This is especially true when it comes to medical and life sciences with some of the globe’s best specialist institutions producing ground breaking research. This is changing lives for the better whilst bringing jobs and businesses to grow the capital’s economy at the same time.”
London universities in the top 200 are ImperialCollege (10), UniversityCollege (21), London School of Economics (32), King’s College (38), Royal Holloway (102) and Queen Mary (114). London has five medical schools, three dental schools, three associated clinical schools plus other institutions specialising in many subjects including art, design, fashion, drama and music.
Business studies is still the most popular course though there is an increase in creative courses being taken by overseas students.
There is no cap on the number of overseas students that can study in the UK. Overseas students can work while studying and also undertake work placements. They can remain in the UK to work after graduation if offered a qualifying job, if they have an innovative business idea or stay for a year to find work if they have completed a doctorate.
THE world rankings employ 13 separate performance indicators to examine the core missions of the modern global university and are widely respected internationally in the education community.
London & Partners is the Mayor of London’s organisation promoting education, foreign investment, major events and tourism.