Uk has been one of the most fascinating countries in the world attracting a lot of students towards many of its esteemed universities. Most of the universities in this exemplary country have been known for their academic excellence. Over the past few years, the UK has been a part of the best student cities in the world. Apart from the world-famous universities, the country is famous for its Scottish landscapes, the British royal family, the Beatles, and a number of castles and forts. If you are intending to pursue your higher education in the UK, there are a lot of places to visit in the UK for Indian students.
10 Best Student Cities in the UK for International Students
Good quality education and a great career are the two options for which a student enrols in an international university. Apart from this, you will get to experience new cultures, visit a lot of places, and make culturally diversified friends. But before identifying the best place to study in the UK, you should also consider the affordability, quality of education, availability of job opportunities, and diversity.
Name of the City |
QS Rankings in 2024 |
London |
1 |
Birmingham |
49 |
Manchester |
30 |
Glasgow |
36 |
Liverpool |
58 |
Brighton |
78 |
Coventry |
44 |
Edinburgh |
16 |
Bristol |
44 |
Nottingham |
52 |
London
London is the capital of England. It has been a fantasy destination for many students all around the world who want to pursue higher education. It ranks in the top UK destinations for students. London houses many of the top-ranked universities in the world. You will find the perfect blend of culture in this city. There are a lot of international students and working professionals visiting the city.
It is one of the best places to study in the UK as most of the universities offer undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral courses across various disciplines. The universities in this city are known for their rich academic excellence and provide a firm ground for achieving your professional aspirations. Some of the best universities in this
University Name |
QS Rankings 2024 |
Imperial College, London |
6 |
University College London (UCL) |
9 |
King’s College |
40 |
London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) |
45 |
Queen Mary University of London |
145 |
Brunel University London |
343 |
Birkbeck, University of London |
374 |
Birmingham
Getting a chance to study in a city like Birmingham opens up your avenues towards a range of different cultural backgrounds and ethnic groups. This is one of the best student cities as nearly 40% of the city's population is within the age of 30 making it the youngest crowd in the world. This city houses the largest public library in Europe.
You will get to enjoy a top-quality education and a thriving student life. This is one of the UK cities with a vibrant student life and you can get to any of the major cities within a span of four hours. One more nice thing to know would be there is a crater in the moon named after Birmingham.
The list of universities along with their QS rankings are listed below:
University Name |
QS Rankings 2024 |
University of Birmingham |
84 |
City University Birmingham |
- |
Birmingham Newman University |
- |
Aston University |
446 |
Birmingham City University |
1001-1200 |
Manchester
Manchester is an economically rich city for students. This city ranks in the 30th position of the QS rankings city list. This city offers a cost-effective lifestyle of the city for students who are living on a tight budget. It has more than five universities in the UK. It houses more than 50,000 international students in the UK. This city also gives a rich working environment to international students. It is one of the UK cities with a vibrant student life.
Some of the names of the universities along with their QS rankings are listed below:
University Name |
QS Rankings 2024 |
The University of Manchester |
32 |
Manchester Metropolitan University |
590 |
University of Salford |
851-900 |
Arden University |
- |
Royal Northern College of Music |
- |
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland. This city is known for its culture, rich heritage, and friendly people. The standard of living in this city is high and you will have an unforgettable experience studying in the UK. Most of the universities offer a research-oriented, and engaging teaching methodology. This city is known for its universities that have something to offer to its students. It is one of the 10 best student cities in the UK for international students.
If you want to take a break from studies, you can explore the city's rich architecture and art galleries. Some of the universities in this city along with their QS rankings are listed below:
University Name |
QS Rankings 2024 |
University of Glasgow |
76 |
University of Strathclyde |
276 |
Glasgow School of Art |
- |
Royal College of Science and Technology |
- |
Glasgow Caledonian University |
1001-1200 |
Liverpool
Liverpool is one of the best places to study in the UK. The most important aspect that needs to be considered here is the affordable cost of living. This city is a compact city. Studying in a central library of this vibrant gives you a unique set of experiences. Almost all the universities boast impressive libraries that stock all the resources you will need to get the maximum out of your studies.
Liverpool's nightlife is filled with the best cocktails, live music and the general experience that you will expect out of the nightlife. You can experience the best student discounts and offers in the UK in most of the clubs and bars. And more importantly, fresher's week is filled with a lot of theme parties and fancy dresses. The list of universities and their respective QS rankings are listed below:
University Name |
QS Rankings 2024 |
University of Liverpool |
176 |
Liverpool John Moores University |
751-760 |
Liverpool Hope University |
- |
University of Liverpool School of Medicine |
- |
Brighton
This city ranks in the 78th position in the QS ranking cities of 2024. One of the top UK destinations for students. The reason is a wide range of international students, cultural attractions and entertainment hotspots make it the perfect place. The coastal side helps you to enjoy a highly inclusive nightlife.
Though slightly on the expensive side, this city is just an hour's drive from London. As a student, this makes it easier for you to find a wide range of employment opportunities for budding professionals. The list of universities and their respective QS rankings are listed below:
University Name |
QS Rankings 2024 |
University of Brighton |
771-780 |
University of Sussex |
218 |
Coventry
This city is ranked in the 44th position in the QS Best Student Cities Rankings 2024. You will get to have the best quality of education at the most affordable fees in Coventry. Most of the universities in Coventry have international recognition with a wide variety of courses with a venue for practical learning opportunities. This beautiful city is the home of lush greens, Roman art galleries, and museums.
If you are looking for a peaceful environment, friendly people, and lush greenery around, then Coventry is the place for you. Some of the universities along with their QS rankings are listed below:
University Name |
QS Rankings 2024 |
Coventry University |
571 |
University of Warwick |
67 |
WMG Academy of Young Engineers |
- |
Edinburgh
This city ranks in the 16th position of the QS best student cities in the UK. If you are on the lookout for the most affordable city to pursue your higher education, then this is the one for you. This city is the capital of Scotland and has a diversified cultural population. Most of the universities in Scotland are located in Edinburgh, almost 6 of them. It has the oldest universities that date back to the 15th century delivering the best education to the students to date.
This can be considered one of the best UK cities with a vibrant student life. The academically oriented universities in the city offer the best education to students on campus. As a result, the students are exposed to professional experience off campus. You will be able to find jobs with tech giants who have their offices in this city. Some of the best universities here are listed below:
University Name |
QS Rankings 2024 |
The University of Edinburgh |
22 |
Heriot-Watt University |
235 |
Edinburgh Napier University |
801-850 |
Queen Margaret University |
851-900 |
Scotland’s Rural College University |
- |
Bristol
Bristol ranks in the 44th position of the QS best student cities in the UK. This most happening city has plenty to offer for students. Bristol has a very large and diversified student community. It attracts students from all over the world. This is regarded as the happiest city in the UK, so students will not feel homesick. The universities in this city are known for their teaching skills and links with the industry. They also have very good in-house facilities with swimming pools and climbing walls.
Apart from studies, if you are an adventurous person you can try paddleboarding and mountain biking, surfing in the sea, etc. It is one of the best cities for students in the UK. The list of the best universities along with the QS rankings are listed below:
University Name |
QS Rankings 2024 |
University of Bristol |
55 |
University of the West of England |
741-750 |
Nottingham
Nottingham ranks in the 52nd position in the QS ranking cities of 2024. This city's universities get most of the high scores and satisfactory rankings over a period of time. It is one of the most beautiful and lively cities in the UK. And there are a lot of avenues for international students as well.
Getting a degree from the University of Nottingham helps you with great career prospects. The reason is that it is one of the targeted places by top graduate recruiters. The list of universities along with their QS rankings are listed below:
University Name |
QS Rankings 2024 |
University of Nottingham |
100 |
Nottingham Trent University |
595 |
Conclusion
Studying abroad and gaining entry into a reputed university is a dream of many professional aspirants. You need to make good use of the opportunity and find avenues to create a flourishing career for yourself. We have listed a lot of places to visit in the UK for Indian students to continue with higher studies. You can get the expert's help of AECC professionals for Free. Contact AECC and seek guidance on selecting the best places to study in the UK.
FAQs
Which city is best for Indian students in the UK?
London is considered one of the best cities for Indian students in the UK for higher studies. This city boasts a list of leading universities and also has the best student cities ranking as a feather in its cap.
Are UK cities affordable for international students?
Yes. There are many UK cities that provide affordable cost of living for international students. And the great part is that the best student cities also house the best universities to get a high-quality degree.
Do international students get scholarships in the UK?
Yes. The UK government provides a lot of scholarships to many of the students who enrol for courses in their country's universities. This comes as an additional benefit for the students till they complete their course.
Which is the most expensive student city in the UK for international students?
London is considered the most expensive city in the UK for international students.
Which UK city has the most Indian students?
London is the city that has the most Indian students. With over 45 universities most of them ranking in the list of top universities around the world. This city is the top UK destination for students who want to continue their higher education.