International and EU applications to UK universities are on the rise this academic year. In spite of Brexit, UK higher education certainly remains attractive.

Indeed, a number of British universities represent some of the world’s leading educational institutions, and graduates of those institutions get to kick-start their careers with an internationally-recognised degree. Alongside US colleges, UK universities have managed to attract the most funding, thereby attracting the world’s leading academics. In turn, the best academics undertake cutting-edge research, which attracts even more funding, leading on to a virtuous cycle. For students, this means contact with leading professors, exposure to ongoing research, and valuable access to a wide array of resources. Libraries, labs and other research facilities provide ideal conditions for an independent learning style and initiative-taking, and further enhance the value of a British degree.

There is more to it. Studying aside, students who attend UK universities are immersed in every aspect of student life. Whether they live in dorms, on campus or in a collegiate system, students are thrown into an environment in which they constantly interact with one another, learn from each other’s subjects and backgrounds, and form an integral part of a community. Student societies, sport competitions and networking events are readily available, and each year new students take on the responsibility of expanding these opportunities.

Ultimately, perhaps the most valuable aspect of British higher education is that in addition to helping students develop a set of transferable skills, the student experience is conducive to shaping school leavers into self-motivated, confident individuals who are able to think quickly, critically and independently. Graduates of British universities have learned not what to think but how to think. They don’t wait around to be challenged, but are proactive about challenging themselves and others. Such attributes not only correlate with success in professional life, but are also conducive to citizenship awareness.

For any advice on how to apply to UK universities, please do not hesitate to get in touch: education@quintessentially.com