The number of students migrating to London to study is rising, but why?
Often the capital city’s popularity to students is chalked up to London’s rich educational history and it’s world famous nightlife.
But although many have attempted to explain why international students prefer London to the rest of the country, this exploration will focus predominantly on personal testimonies of the students.
Head of communications at London Higher, an organisation that advocates for the capital’s higher education sector, Anna-Paulina Norbury said: “London would be unrecognisable without international students; they are foundational to our universities, communities, and our economy.
“London’s international students contribute an estimated £12.5 billion annually.”
Why London?
It is no surprise that international students choose to study in London because they are drawn to the thrill of a big city, the infinite activities, and the buzzing nightlife.
London Metropolitan student, Marino Calcagni, from Naples, Italy, said: “University life in London is the best in Europe.”
London School of Economics (LSE) student, Arielle Levy, from New York, USA, said: “If you walk around London, it’s so beautiful.”
Across the 45 London universities there are 25% more international than UK-citizen students, and of the major universities, LSE has the most international students, followed by UAL and UCL.
Norbury revealed that there is one international student per 90 residents in London compared to 1:180 UK-wide.
Why do students choose London, especially when university and visa costs are at an ultimate high?
A QS survey showed how the quality of teaching brings more students to the UK, due to it having some of the world’s best universities, including Imperial College London, LSE and UCL.
Norbury said: “London is the education capital of the world. Four of the UK’s top ten universities are based here.”
Calcagni added London is often a great place to learn English at a professional level and has excellent career opportunities.
The city has well-connected transportation which helps international students experience lots of different things around the city.
Levy said: “London is the cultural centre of Europe; culture here is so much more accessible than in New York.”
According to Levy, London is popular for students like her due to its history, culture and the lack of a language barrier for English speaking prospective students.
Surprisingly, the cost of tuition fees was not listed as a factor, despite the Labour party increasing university fees by 6%.
LSE revealed how living in student accommodation in London can cost over £10,000 a year. Paired with the sheer number of students in trying to live in London, this has made it difficult for people to find affordable accommodation near their university campus.
In the 2023/24 academic year, international student’s tuition fees made up 23% of UK universities income.
Norbury said: “The cost of studying in a global capital is high, and this has been exacerbated by the wider costs of living”.
Calcagni’s experience mirrors this, she explained ‘finding the perfect location’ to live in is difficult, due to expensive rent and wanting to live close to a tube station.
The cost of living and transport expenses are a challenge; however, the quality of education outweighs this, making London attractive for international students.
The SW Londoner’s public survey revealed that the biggest challenge for international students when choosing to study in London is finding a stable social life.
Due to London’s ‘on-the-go’ lifestyle, it can be difficult for students to find their people.
In general, making friends at university is difficult, but many international students are experiencing an extra challenge – a different culture to home.
Levy said she struggled to find the right friends as she prefers a diverse friendship group to learn about their cultures.
She immersed herself in London’s culture as she met local and international students to form new friendships.
While London’s diversity is an attractive prospect for some students, some are worried that recent national trends might discourage students from studying in London in future.
Norbory said: “We’re concerned about the climate of policy relating to immigration, which can effect international students’ sense of belonging.”
Calcagni also found London’s rising crime rate challenging, but claimed this does not affect his daily life.
She said: “You need to be a little bit smart on how to move and where to move.”
Levy did not find this challenging, and instead believed that the city supports students financially via discounts, for example, the British Film Institute’s under 25’s tickets, which differs from New York.
Every student has contrasting London experiences, but overall, despite facing challenges, London is great for international students due to the endless career and leisure opportunities and the chance to explore the city while studying.
Calcagni did express that there is room for improvement, that would make London better for international students, including revising the NHS prescription system so people can easily access their medication.
She also added that the public transport is ‘way too pricey’ and even the 30% discount on student Oyster cards is not enough to make a difference.
However, as Norbury mentioned, there are bicycle hire schemes which can make it easier for international students to navigate the city.
Levy’s reflection showed that London helped her grow and her advice is to experience cultural events and explore London’s history.
London Higher supports international students with careers, student advisors, mental health services, and language development.
Featured image credit: Creative Commons. Copyright holder: Lerato Mokhethi
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