Participating Universities January 2020

Abertay University is perhaps best known for its strong focus on computer games and art design. It is the only UK university with official accreditation in both these fields, and has a partnership with Peking University in China for games. The University is also academically strong in the areas of IT, as well as business, economics and biotechnology.

Abertay is a campus University based in Dundee in eastern Scotland with over 4,000 students enrolled. Many of the courses and buildings are modern, with a high-tech approach to learning common throughout the five schools and one institute which act as departments and faculties for the University. It also features numerous specialist departments in areas such as wood technology, urban water systems and bioinformatics. Abertay University has built up many strong industrial links with companies such as Sony, Microsoft, Rare and Codemasters.

24,000 students from over 80 countries are enrolled at Birmingham City University, making it an exciting and diverse place to study. A significant proportion of undergraduate courses enjoy professional accreditation, including Accountancy, Acting, Architecture, Education, Engineering, Law, Marketing, Nursing, Radiography and Social Work. The University is also conveniently placed, with Birmingham International Airport nearby and easy road and rail links to London, Manchester and the rest of the UK.

Birmingham City University has a large number of part-time students enrolled, making it the largest provider of undergraduate study in the area. In addition, the University has increased its portfolio of high-tech degrees in recent years, with a particular focus on electronic commerce, network engineering and electronic systems.

Birmingham City University is one of the top 30 universities in the UK for spending on facilities, and in the most recent National Student Survey, 84% of students were happy with their course, while 87% agreed that faculty staff were good at explaining classes and teaching.

Bournemouth University (BU) is one of the UK’s leading modern universities; we create forward- thinking graduates with the skills and flexibility to succeed throughout their career. Our courses are designed with direct input from employers, and we recognise the importance of work experience as part of your degree.

The BU community includes around 16,000 students; with approximately 2,600 international students from over 120 countries. Our four faculties offer degrees in creative, professional, technological, scientific and humanities specialisms. We are ranked in the top 150 young universities in the world according to the THE Young University Rankings.

There are many reasons why so many international students choose BU. Studying at Bournemouth University will give you the opportunity to progress into some of the most exciting careers, such as Computer Animation & Visual Effects, Media Production & Communication, Forensic & Archaeology, Sports & Events Management, History, International Business and Management, Politics & Social Studies, and much more.

Just like the city we call home, the University of Brighton is a place where different ideas meet. A place where opinions and visions of the world come together to inspire creativity. We encourage our students to discover the topics that excite you the most, then give you the tools and support to explore them in depth.

Courses are innovative and globally relevant, informed by the latest research and industry partnerships. We emphasise hands-on learning, have excellent connections to businesses, and offer salary paid placements and work experience opportunities in the UK and overseas.

With over 50 professional organisations that accredit our courses, students also have the opportunity to gain an additional qualification, a licence to practice or exemption from professional exams. These learning experiences and our environment helps give our students a competitive edge in their chosen career paths.

We are a multi-campus university based across the beautiful south east coast of England, just one hour from London.

Brunel University London is located in Uxbridge, north-west London, and is one of the UK’s most ambitious, forward-looking universities, with a strong focus on employability after graduation. Currently home to just under 13,000 students from over 100 countries, Brunel graduates currently benefit from the 13th highest starting salaries upon graduation in the UK.

Almost all courses are available as a four year ‘sandwich’, with one year’s work placement before graduation, while over £400 million worth of investment has recently been completed to create an exciting state-of-the-art campus providing students with world class teaching, social and sport facilities.

The campus is within walking distance of the London underground, just a short 20-minute ride into the city. An Airport Welcome Service at Heathrow will help students find Brunel at the start of the academic year.

Cambridge Education Group has been helping international students achieve entry into UK universities for over 55 years. CEG provides pre-university education to more than 4,000 students from over 95 countries and is a leading provider of academic, creative and English language programmes in the UK.

Students at Cambridge Education Group have access to the broadest range of UK education programmes ranging from English language holidays for juniors, to traditional academic qualifications such as A-levels.

ONCAMPUS offer pre-university programmes for students who do not meet the required grades for entry to a UK university. Since 2008, ONCAMPUS have helped over 4,000 students progress onto their desired undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. ONCAMPUS centres are based on the following UK university campuses:

CATS College are leading international sixth form colleges located in Cambridge, London and Canterbury.

Cardiff University is recognised in independent government assessments as one of Britain's leading teaching and research universities. The University combines impressive modern facilities and an exciting approach to teaching with its proud history of recent achievements, and nearly 30,000 students, including nearly 10,000 international students, are currently enrolled at the Welsh institution.

Cardiff University's expertise in research and research-led teaching involves social sciences, engineering, technology and a wide range of business professions. The University is currently ranked 5th in the UK for its quality of research, while the QS World Rankings place it in the top 150. The School of Journalism, Media and Cultural Studies has been described as the ‘Oxbridge of Journalism.’

95% of Cardiff University graduates enter employment or further study after graduating, while 78% obtain graduate level employment. Cardiff University is also a member of the prestigious Russell Group, one of 24 elite research universities in the UK.

An investment in advancing your career is a life-changing decision. By joining Cranfield University’s global reputation you will be taking your first steps to building strong relationships with some of the world’s most prestigious companies in industry. Cranfield University can open doors for you.

As an exclusively postgraduate university, we offer you the opportunity to invest wisely in your future in one of the areas we are most passionate about. We are passionate in aerospace, defence and security, energy and power, environment and agrifood, manufacturing, transport systems and water.

The University of Dundee was founded in 1881 and has developed a significant reputation for students entering the traditional professions, most notably law, medicine and dentistry as well as emerging areas such as life sciences. The Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design is one of the UK’s top rated art schools, while the University of Dundee School of Medicine is ranked in the top 5 in the UK. Dundee is also 1st in Scotland and 4th in the UK for Law according to the Guardian University Guide 2020.

Based in and around the city of Dundee on the central east coast of Scotland, a focus on vocational and professional degrees means that Dundee scores well in terms of graduate employment and only Oxbridge graduates have higher average starting salaries.

Dundee has scored highly in terms of student satisfaction in recent years and lots of degrees at the University include a career planning and internship option, with students given their own personal development website to work within.

We are Essex: home to the daring and the tenacious, a place for the ambitious and the bold. We’re a close-knit, supportive and welcoming community, with a powerful and pioneering global outlook. In 2018, Times Higher Education voted us 'University of the Year'.

With over 15,500 students from more than 147 different countries, making us one of the most internationally diverse universities on the planet – you’ll find the world in one place here at Essex. Our trailblazing research also continues to change the world for the better and we are ranked 25th in the UK for research quality (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2020).

At Essex you’re taught by world-leading academics in a supportive and research-intensive environment. We are ranked Gold in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF 2017) which means we deliver an excellent educational experience.

GCU London is a postgraduate university campus of Glasgow Caledonian University. The campus offers a range of MBA and MSc courses, specialising in the areas of banking, finance, fashion and brand marketing and public health and construction management. All programmes are delivered in a modern environment, with GCU London students benefitting from the same standard of learning experience as those at Glasgow Caledonian University.

Award-winning student support and internationally renowned professor are part of an enriching and diverse learning experience underpinned by a vibrant international and intellectual life.

The University of Glasgow is the fourth oldest university in the English-speaking world, founded in 1451. Based in Scotland’s largest city, the University of Glasgow is one of the world’s top 100 universities and currently has 26,000 students from over 120 different countries enrolled. Glasgow is also a member of the prestigious Russell Group of UK research universities.

Throughout its history Glasgow has created six Nobel laureates, one Prime Minister, Scotland's inaugural First Minister and the country's first female medical graduates. 96% of University of Glasgow research-active staff are in areas which have been independently assessed as producing research of international importance.

The University of Glasgow’s main campus is located in the cosmopolitan West End of Glasgow, just three miles from the city centre. The University has more listed buildings than any other university in the UK, and the neo-Gothic main building of the campus was designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott.

Based on a world heritage site by the bank of the Thames, the University of Greenwich has campuses in London and Kent hosting around 25,000 students from over 100 countries.

The University of Greenwich is a leading modern public university and offers a range of subjects across its four faculties, the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Business School, Faculty of Education and Health and Faculty of Engineering and Science. The University performed well in recent National Student Surveys, with Greenwich staff and its courses recieving high marks. The University also scores highly for student satisfaction, with Business Administration; English Language and English Language Teaching; Computer Security and Forensics; Computing with Games Development; Financial Mathematics; Midwifery; and Public Health excelling. Two of the University’s Diplomas of Higher Education courses in Children’s Nursing and Nursing Studies achieved 100% scores.

The University of Greenwich was awarded a Silver rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework and has won three Queen’s Anniversary Prizes for Higher and Further Education.

Heriot-Watt University is the eighth oldest higher education institution in the UK and originated as the School of Arts of Edinburgh, the world’s first mechanics institute, in 1821. In 1966 it became a university by Royal Charter. More than a third of Heriot-Watt’s 7,000 Edinburgh campus students are from outside the UK and this international focus is also demonstrated by the 10,000 students from 150 different countries worldwide studying on its international programmes.

The University boasts multiple campuses, with three in Scotland, and one each in Malaysia and Dubai. Heriot-Watt won an award from the Scottish Council of Development and Industry because of its international focus and it also performs well in physical sciences, mathematics, business and management, engineering and the built environment. It won the 'International University of the Year' 2018 award from Times Higher Education.

95% of Heriot-Watt first degree graduates were in employment or further study within six months of graduating and it is the number 1 university in Scotland for the highest paid salaries (Times Higher Education University Guide).

Kent is one of the UK’s top universities. Awarded Gold, the highest rating, in the UK Government’s Teaching Excellence Framework, and with a global reputation for excellence – three of Kent’s subject areas are ranked within the world top 100, with a further eight in the top 200 – the University offer students outstanding teaching, world-leading research, stunning study locations and a superb student experience.

Kent offer a wide range of foundation, undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, exciting study abroad and year in industry opportunities, summer schools, and a generous scholarship fund including awards for academic, musical and sporting excellence.

In the most recent Research Excellence Framework, Kent was ranked in the top 20 for research intensity by Times Higher Education, outperforming 11 of the 24 Russell Group universities. Because Kent academics are engaged in high level research, as well as teaching, you will study with some of the most influential thinkers in your field.

Lancaster University is located in the north west of England near the major cities of Manchester and Liverpool. It was established in 1964 as a collegiate university with a reputation for innovation. Lancaster is one of the few UK universities to run a collegiate system which consists of eight undergraduate colleges and one postgraduate college. Over 12,000 students from over 100 countries are currently enrolled and all members of staff are college members and many are actively involved in collegiate life.

Lancaster is ranked in the top 10 in all three major national league tables, and is also highly ranked in international league tables such as the QS World Rankings. The University scored 88% on the National Student Survey for final year students, placing it among the top ten in the UK. Lancaster is the number one university in the north west and University accommodation has won 'Best University Halls' in the National Student Housing Survey for the last six years. It was named 'University of the Year' for 2018 by the Times Good University Guide.

Established in 1904, the University of Leeds has an international reputation for excellence in teaching and research and is part of the prestigious Russell Group of research intensive universities.

Leeds is one of the largest universities in country, with 33,000 students currently enrolled from over 140 countries, while its single campus location is spread out over 98 acres just one mile from the busy city centre. Campus facilities include excellent teaching space, four libraries, a state-of-the-art swimming pool and fitness centre called ‘The Edge’ and ‘stage@leeds’ which is a contemporary performance space.

The University of Leeds offers one of the widest selections of courses available across all UK universities, from English Language and a International Foundation Year to hundreds of Undergraduate and Postgraduate degree options and PhD opportunities. Degrees from the University of Leeds are respected by employers and universities all over the world and alumni can be found in positions of influence across the globe.

The University of Liverpool provide thousands of International students with an amazing, life-changing University experience, in a wonderful city with a global reputation for sport, music, architecture and culture. The University is the original ‘red brick’ university, one of six universities founded in the major industrial cities of England in the late 19th and early 20th century, and also a member of the prestigious Russell Group.

The University of Liverpool is considered one of the best higher education institutions in the world and is home to 22,000 students in total. 85% of international graduates are employed or in further study within 6 months of graduating and, of those who are employed, 89% are working in a graduate level job.

Liverpool offer personalised entrance support into the UK for international students and the student/staff ratio is the 8th best in the Russell Group. The University is ranked 13th in the UK for services and facilities spend per student, and the University are one of the top 25 most targeted universities by leading graduate recruiter organisations in the UK (High Fliers Research).

With around 26,000 students from over 140 countries, Northumbria University is one of the UK’s largest and most successful universities. Northumbria has a rich history going back through its constituent colleges to the late nineteenth century. It was founded as Newcastle Polytechnic in 1969 and inaugurated as a university in 1992.

Offering courses in most major subject areas such as Engineering, Computing, Sciences, Business, Law, Design, Built and Natural Environment, Arts, Social Sciences, Psychology, Sport, Health and many more. Our lecturers are experts in their field and passionate about teaching. Many of our courses carry professional accreditation and as well as postgraduate courses which require a subject specific first degree, we offer a range of 'conversion' masters for those who are considering a change of direction. Northumbria is the only Business School in Europe with double recognition for Accounting and Business from AACSB.

Northumbria’s consistently excellent performance in UK quality audits places it at the very top among modern universities.

The University of Nottingham is a research-focused campus university which has been described as “the nearest thing Britain has to a truly global university” by the Times, with campuses in Malaysia and China as well as the UK. It is the fifth largest university in the UK and a member of the Russell Group, Universitas 21, the Association of Commonwealth Universities and the European University Association.

The University of Nottingham is regarded as one of the best universities in the world and regularly features in the UK’s top 30 Higher Education institutions. The Teaching Excellence Framework ranked Nottingham Gold, while the QS World Rankings by Subject revealed Nottingham subjects Pharmacy & Pharmacology (6th), Education (22nd), Anatomy & Physiology (36th), Veterinary Science (29th), Nursing (42nd), Geography (46th) and English Language & Literature (49th) as some of the best in the world.

Admission to the University is highly competitive and Nottingham regularly receives one of the largest numbers of applications per undergraduate place in the country.

The University of Portsmouth is located on the south coast of England, about 120km south west of London. There are over 24,000 students enrolled, 4,000 of which are international.

Portsmouth is a modern, multi-disciplinary university offering practical courses at undergraduate, postgraduate taught and research level across five faculties. Most Bachelors degrees include a one year paid internship and the University is currently ranked 21st in the UK (Guardian University Guide 2020), and is rated highly for student satisfaction and graduate employment.

Portsmouth strengths lie in geology, earth and environmental sciences, pharmacy and sport science, psychology and optometry; petroleum engineering, mechanical engineering, software engineering, computing and computer science; law, criminology and criminal justice, forensic studies, international relations, journalism, public administration, architecture, property development and real estate management. There is a full portfolio of business courses available including the Portsmouth MBA, economics, accounting, finance, human resource management and law.

Queen's University Belfast is a member of the prestigious Russell Group of universities and is located in Belfast, the Northern Ireland capital. Queen's University was founded in its original form in 1845 and gained formal university status in 1908. 24,000 students from over different 80 countries are currently enrolled and the University was recently ranked 23rd on the Times Higher Education’s list of the 100 most international universities in the world.

The University has won the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education on five occasions, while the institution is a Top 50 UK employer for women and leading UK universities in tackling the unequal representation of women in science and engineering.

Queen’s University Belfast has a strong focus on employability, offering programmes such as Degree Plus, which recognises extracurricular activities and work experience as part of a degree, and numerous career workshops with employers and alumni.

Royal Holloway, University of London, is a UK university with a world class reputation for excellence. Through world-class research that expands minds and changes lives, the dedication of our teachers and the feel of the Royal Holloway experience, ours is a community that inspires individuals to succeed academically, socially and personally.

The University was founded by two social reformers who championed the principles of excellence and inclusivity. Their vision lives on today. As one of the UK’s leading research intensive universities we are home to some of the world’s foremost authorities in the sciences, arts, business, economics and law. We are strengthened by diversity, and welcome students and academics who travel from all over the world to study and work here, ensuring an international and multi-cultural perspective on campus.

The University of Sheffield is a world famous institution located in the north of England, one of the original 'red brick' universities and a member of the elite Russell Group. Ranked in the world's top 100 universities by the QS World University Rankings, the University of Sheffield was founded by the merger of three colleges in 1905 and currently has 28,000 students enrolled from over 120 countries. Sheffield students voted the University number one for student experience in a Times survey.

The University of Sheffield boasts five Nobel Prize winners in its departments, as well as six Queen’s Anniversary Prizes. It is currently the lead institution for systems engineering, smart materials and stem cell technology in a network of research universities around the world and, several firms, such as Boeing, Rolls-Royce and The Welcome Trust, are big investors because of its engineering strength, providing strong links with industry in many courses and departments.

Sheffield Hallam University is one of the largest and most popular universities in the UK, with over 30,000 students from more than 100 countries enrolled. It is also regarded as one of the best modern universities in the north of England and has eight subjects ranked in the top 20 in the UK (The Times and Sunday Times University League Table). Sheffield Hallam is one of the UK's largest providers of health and social care courses, teacher training, and sport and physical activity courses.

Sheffield Hallam's courses are designed in consultation with industry experts and offer opportunities to undertake internships and consultancy projects. Many courses are accredited by professional bodies including Sony, BP, Cisco, BBC, Shell and HSBC. These often offer a direct route to professional accreditation or membership of that body.

93% of graduates are in employment or further study within six months of graduation, while a package of discounts and scholarships for undergraduate and postgraduate students are also available.

The University of Strathclyde was formally awarded university status in 1964 and currently has almost 23,000 students enrolled from 100 countries on a single campus in the heart of Glasgow, Scotland.

The University was recently announced as the 2019 Times Higher Education University of the Year and are they only university to be awarded the UK-wide award for a second time, having previously won in 2012. Strathclyde is also the current Scottish University of the Year.

Strathclyde is known for its close links with industry, and the Strathclyde Business School is one of only 55 in the world that is ‘triple accredited’ by all three major bodies. Many courses, such as product design and innovation or international business with modern languages, have been specifically designed with industry experts. The engineering faculty is the biggest in Scotland and has the largest electrical power engineering and energy research facility in Europe.

The University of Surrey is a campus university located in the town of Guildford in the southeast of England. The University has great connections to London, just 35 minutes away by train. Named ‘University of the Year' for 2016 in the Times & Sunday Times University Guide, there are around 16,000 students from over 140 different countries.

There are three faculties within the University: Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences; Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences and Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences all offering a range of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees.

The Manor Park site, is located just 20 minutes’ walk away and is home to more student accommodation, the School of Veterinary Medicine and the £36m Surrey Sports Park.

Surrey was recognised as an ‘outstanding’ institution when it received a prestigious Gold award in the first ever Teaching Excellence Framework, which is testament to the passion for inspiring students and preparing them for a bright future.

The University of Sussex was founded in 1961 and is located in Brighton on the south coast of England. There are currently around 18,000 students enrolled from over 120 countries and the University consistently performs well in the International Student Barometer, offering funded work placements as part of its student support and degree programmes. It is the only UK university located in a National Park.

The University of Sussex is ranked the 161st best university in the world by Times Higher Education, and has a number of subjects ranked in the global top 100, including business and economics, social sciences, psychology and law.

In the National Student Survey 2018, 82% of Sussex students confirmed they are happy with their experience, whilst Brighton was ranked the happiest city in England for students, with 93% of University of Sussex and University of Brighton students surveyed saying they’re ‘very happy’ with their education and city life.

Swansea University is based in Ssouth Wales and currently has around 20,000 students enrolled across two campuses. The Singleton Park campus was established in 1920 and is home to the Swansea University Medical School, College of Human and Health Sciences, College or Arts and Humanities, and the Hillary Rodham Clinton School of Law. The Bay Campus opened in 2015 and is home to the College of Engineering, School of Management, and Computer Science.

Traditional strengths lie within the science subjects, but are strongly supported by humanities subjects, which are globally recognised. Swansea are ranked in the top 30 institutions in the UK (The Times University Guide 2020), and in the top 15 for Graduate Employment. The University have an excellent 97% employment record.

Swansea also have one of the best student experiences in the UK according to its students, who consistently vote the University in the top 10 in the National Student Survey and WhatUni. Swansea has a low cost of living compared to other major cities in the UK.

Teesside University was awarded full university status in 1992 and is situated in Middlesbrough in the north-east of England. 20,000 full and prt-time students are currently enrolled and it was the first modern university to win a Times Higher Education Award. Since 1992, it has won nine National Teaching Fellowships for excellence in teaching quality. Teesside University was awarded The Queen's Anniversary Prize in 2013 for outstanding work in the field of enterprise and business engagement.

The University is strong in the areas of forensic science, sport and exercise, computer games design and animation. Many of these are accredited by professional bodies. Teesside University supports graduates in finding employment for at least two years after they leave, and many courses include paid work placements as part of the degree.

The University of Law is one of the UK's longest-established specialist providers of legal education. Its origins can be traced back to 1876 with the formation of the leading tutorial firm Gibson & Weldon, and later on, with the establishment of The Law Society School of Law. In 1962 the two were amalgamated to establish The College of Law. UoL were the first-ever independent institution to be granted degree awarding powers and not long after, in 2012 they gained university title.

The University is at the heart of legal education as the acknowledged leader in innovative, professional legal education for prospective lawyers and professional development training for those already qualified. Over the years, we have worked with virtually every UK law firm to help meet their training and development needs, with many firms sending their trainees exclusively to us.

We made history in 2006 by becoming the first independent institution to be granted degree awarding powers by the Privy Council, leading to the development of our professionally-focused Bachelor and Master of Laws degree programmes.

The University of Westminster was formed from the first polytechnic in Britain, and became a full university in 1992. It is spread over four campuses, three of which are in central London. There are more than 20,000 students from 150 countries currently enrolled on a variety of programmes ranging from undergraduate and postgraduate courses to tailored professional programmes and short courses.

Subjects maintain a strong vocational focus, with longer modules including work-based skills and integration with practical activity. Undergraduates are able to conduct research during their degree and the University has achieved fame for its media studies and fashion degrees, both of which are rated as being some of the best in the world. Having celebrated its 175th anniversary in 2013, Westminster continues to invest heavily in all facilities from accommodation to the restoration of one of the first cinemas in Britain within the Regent Campus.

The University of York is a leading UK university, creating independent critical thinkers through a culture of academic excellence and ground breaking research. As a member of the prestigious Russell Group we are committed to research-led teaching, providing a supportive and inclusive learning experience for our students. We hold a Gold Teaching Excellence Framework award, showing that we deliver consistently outstanding teaching, learning and outcomes for our students.

All our accommodation is on or near campus and is guaranteed for international students. You’ll become a member of one of our nine colleges which encourages inclusivity and a valuable sense of community, through a wealth of social activities and a supportive system available to each and every student. A wide variety of clubs and societies on campus, as well as our college system, make it very easy for new students to integrate and feel at home throughout their studies.

York is a flourishing city, being voted the ‘best place to live in the UK’ (The Sunday Times, 2018).