University rankings have always been the most direct basis for domestic students and parents to choose schools for studying abroad.
However, if you want to find a college or major that is really suitable for you, it is not enough to just look at the QS comprehensive ranking.
So,In addition to referring to the QS university rankings to study in the UK, what else should you look for when choosing a school?
UK RankingsLocal rankings focus more on teaching and learning experience.
The top three home university rankings in the UK include:CUG Complete College Guide(Focus on student satisfaction and employment prospects),The Guardian University Rankings(Focus on the study experience of college students),times University Rankings(with a focus on university academics and student satisfaction).
In the UK domestic university rankings, except for the G5,University of St AndrewsDurham UniversityUniversity of BathLoughborough Universityand other high-quality colleges and universities with outstanding academic strength and excellent campus experience have also been on the list, which shows that the recognition is still very high.
In the long run, regardless of whether you are considering returning to your home country for employment in the future, it is recommended that students consider more British universities with high student satisfaction when choosing a school, and they may gain an unexpected study experience.
Professional rankingsDifferent schools provide different support for the same major.
Each UK university has its own advantageous majors, and the corresponding employment prospects of different majors in the same UK university will also have certain differences. Therefore,In the process of choosing a school to study in the UK, both major rankings and university rankings are equally worth paying attention to
For example,Imperial College LondonFocusing on the practical application of science, his achievements in science, engineering and medicine are remarkable; uclMaintain a leading position in the UK in the field of education; Loughborough UniversityIn the field of communication and research, it has been ranked first in the UK all year round; In the medical nursing profession,University of SheffieldRanked 1st in the UK!
For the same major, in different schools, the focus of teaching is different, and the support provided by the school is also different. Some schools focus on practice and cooperate with a number of excellent enterprises and institutions to provide students with valuable internship programs; Some schools focus on scientific research and will support corresponding scientific projects and technical exchanges.
Employment rankingsWhich universities do the most employable graduates come from?
Students who have a long-term plan for studying abroad, in addition to choosing schools and majors, the employment situation of graduates also needs to pay close attention.
For example, it is published every year by the British authoritative High Fliers ResearchUK Graduate Job Market ReportYes, yesSummarize and summarize from the aspects of graduate job demand, graduate starting salary, graduate recruitment, etc。Especially for students who plan to find a job in the UK or Europe after graduation, you can refer to the Graduate Job Market Report.
Source: High Fliers Top 20 UK Universities Most Watched by Top Employers).
The cost of studying abroadChoose the right university for you according to your own situation.
When it comes to studying abroad, tuition fees and the cost of living are undoubtedly an important issue that cannot be avoided.
On the cost of livingThe school tuition and living expenses in London will be higher than those in other areas, and of course, the living environment will be better and the city will be more prosperous. This is mainly determined according to their own family situation, and students can choose the school that suits them within the range of affordable costs.
According to official British dataLondon areaThe average monthly living expenses of students are about:£810, in contrast,Non-London areaStudents can save almost £200 per month by paying about610 pounds
For the cost of living for the 2023-2024 academic year, advice from Imperial College London:
*Screenshot from Imperial College website).
Advice from the University of Manchester for the cost of living in the 2023-2024 academic year:
*Taken from the official website of the University of Manchester).
In terms of tuition fees, the tuition fees of universities with high overall rankings and high professional rankings are also correspondingly higher. Of course, high tuition fees will encourage schools to spend more money on teaching and research, and recruit professors with better academic backgrounds to teach, and this will also form a virtuous circle.
City selectionDifferent city options bring different study abroad experiences.
When choosing a school, you are also choosing the city where the university is located. After all,The city of study determines the overall study abroad experience: Is the city safe? Is it convenient? What is the weather like all year round? Is it easy to get a job after graduation?
Source: CUG official website).
Although the UK is not very big, it has both bustling metropolises like London, Birmingham and Manchester, as well as peaceful small villages like St Andrews, Sheffield and Newcastle.
As the capital of the United Kingdom,London is home to many top universities, rich in academic resources and cultural activities, providing international students with a broad perspective and endless possibilities。However, the cost of living here is relatively high and the competition is fiercer.
, in contrast,Non-London areas may lack the conveniences and opportunities of some big cities, but they also have excellent educational resources and a pleasant living environment。The relatively low cost of living allows international students to focus more on their studies and exploration.
In summary, London is more suitable for fast-paced urbanites, while non-London areas are more suitable for romantic lifestyles.
Mandatory requirements for schoolsThe higher the quality of the university, the higher the IELTS score requirements.
In addition to the above factors, the mandatory requirements for the admission of the school and its majors are also something that everyone must consider before applying. Students must understand the specific application requirements of the intended school and major, and on this basis, measure their advantages and chances of winning, and find the one that truly matches them.
Usually,Top-ranked universities or popular majors will have higher requirements for students' average school score and IELTS score。In addition, some general application requirements for some general applications that are not very good in the overall ranking but are strong in majors are not low.
Therefore, if you want to successfully get an offer from your dream school, you must work hard to improve your IELTS score and achieve success in studying abroad as soon as possible!