Studying abroad is an incredible opportunity for students. But where you decide to study abroad can have a significant impact on your academic and social experience as a student. 

For years now, London has established itself as one of the most popular destinations in the world for international students looking to gain quality educational experiences.

Home to several elite universities, a unique blend of culture, business, and politics, it’s no wonder that London is such a popular study abroad destination for students.

Some of the UK’s top universities are in London

For three years now, London has earned itself recognition as the best city in the world to be a university student, putting it ahead of other rivals such as Berlin, Boston, and Tokyo. Rated highly for its “outstanding cultural, economic, and educational opportunities,” London remains a world-leading hub for education. 

Despite its size, London really has earned itself an academic hotspot, containing the most universities of any of the UK cities - 18 in total. More impressively, 3 of these universities in the city, including the world-recognised Imperial College and King’s College London, are ranked among the top 10 of the best in the UK.

For those looking for learning opportunities, there is no shortage. In fact, there are over 30,000 different courses on offer in the capital, meaning there’s no limit to what you could study! 

And yet, this list is only set to grow, bringing more innovative learning experiences for students. One of the newest, and, our host site for our 2022 summer courses is the London Interdisciplinary School. Founded in 2017, it is the first university institution in London (since the 1960s!) to hold full degree-awarding qualifications in the UK. 

With an ethos that places emphasis on students to learn via real-world problem solving, its teaching facilities are set up in a way that facilitates collaboration and learning. Teaching takes place in the round, rather than front-facing classes, while a number of specialist spaces, such as their media studio, allow students to benefit from using the very equipment they will experience in a professional setting in the future. 

London is home to a huge international student community

Firstly, the United Kingdom is a popular destination for international students looking to pursue their university studies in a country that is home to some of the leading universities in the world. 

Each year, hundreds of thousands of students enrol at UK universities, with many choosing the UK capital as their home for the duration of their studies. In London alone, there are over 380,000 students registered at higher education institutions, with over 100,000 of these being overseas students.

Not only does this make London a vibrant, multicultural city for ambitious students to connect and make friendships with, but it also means that the UK capital is also perfectly set up to ensure that international students experience the very best learning opportunities and extracurricular experiences possible. 

There are plenty of student-focused events, activities, and networking events to attend - both at your university and organised by local events teams - as well as hundreds of cultural sights to enjoy (more on that later). Many of these will be targeted at international students specifically, helping you settle into UK culture and university life as soon as you arrive.