Participating Universities

The University of Aberdeen was founded in 1495, making it the third oldest university in Scotland and fifth oldest in the UK. Five Nobel Prize winners are associated with the University and students electing to study at Aberdeen would be joining a varied and thriving community of around 12,000 students from around the world.

The University of Aberdeen offers first class learning resources situated in a beautiful campus. At the main campus you will find ancient buildings side by side with modern, newly refurbished laboratories, excellent computing facilities and the latest library technology. Social and sporting facilities are of a high standard with over 150 sports clubs and societies available for students to join.

Roughly half of University of Aberdeen students study medicine, science or engineering, with arts and social sciences also popular. A cosmopolitan atmosphere of Scottish and English students alongside 120 different nationalities ensures an exciting multi-cultural atmosphere, with Aberdeen’s remote location attractive to students from all over the world.

Aston University is lively, welcoming and cosmopolitan campus based university situated in the centre of Birmingham, the second largest city in the UK. It was founded in 1895 and in 1966, received the Royal Charter to be a University from Queen Elizabeth II. The campus is home to five schools (Business, Engineering and Applied Sciences, Languages and Social Sciences Life and Health Sciences and the Medical school) which offer foundation, undergraduate, postgraduate taught and research programmes. Aston has more than 11,000 undergraduates and more than 2,000 postgraduate students from over 120 countries.

Aston consistently ranks high in various international league tables. In the 2014 Research Excellence Framework (REF), 78% of research submitted was evaluated as 'world leading' or 'internationally recognised'.

Bangor University is a Welsh university that was founded in 1884. Currently, Bangor is host to over 10,000 students from 85 different countries and is situated on the coast of north Wales, about 450km North West of London. Manchester International Airport is around two hours away by train.

Bangor’s location on the coast means that it is well known for Ocean Science. However, it has also built up a strong reputation for Accounting & Finance, Sport Science and Electronic Engineering as well. The latest National Student Survey ranks Bangor University in the UK top 15 for student satisfaction, and the best in Wales.

International students are offered free English language courses and support, and this includes classes in English grammar, vocabulary and business English, drop-in sessions for immediate support and an English writing advice service. There are around 150 clubs and societies to enjoy at Bangor and membership is free, meaning all students can enjoy the opportunities offered.

The University of Birmingham is a beautiful redbrick university, with a leafy green campus, located in the city of Birmingham, just over 150km north of London.

Established in 1900, Birmingham has been challenging and developing great minds for more than a century. Characterised by a tradition of innovation, research at the University has broken new ground, pushed forward the boundaries of knowledge and made an impact on people’s lives. A founding member of the Russell Group and Universitas 21, the University of Birmingham is a prestigious, world leading educational institution, which provides an exceptionally high level of teaching.

Birmingham is renowned for producing highly employable and successful graduates. In 2020-21, they are ranked first by High Fliers Research, as the most targeted UK university for the country’s top employers looking for graduate recruits (The Graduate Market in 2021), demonstrating their commitment to you and your future. The University has also invested £5m in its graduate careers services and successful alumni are offered mentoring and bursaries to support work experience and internships in the UK and overseas.

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 160. 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.

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.

The University of Exeter was founded in 1955, although its complete history dates back as far as 1900. At present around 27,000 students from over 150 countries study at the University’s three campuses in the South West of England. Despite being relatively young, Exeter is a member of the UK’s elite Russell Group and is considered one of the best universities in the world.

Six academic colleges offer study opportunities at undergraduate, masters and research level in a wide range of subjects across science, humanities and social sciences. The University of Exeter has a longstanding international approach, with many courses offering the opportunity to study abroad. All students are offered foreign language tuition, either as part of their chosen degree or as a separate evening class. Graduate prospects are further improved by a focus on career management skills and the possibility of work placements and internships as part of the degree programme.

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).

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.

Kingston University is an inclusive and vibrant university, recognised for its excellent teaching, ranks highly in the world’s list of young universities and has several UK-leading courses. Located in the outskirts of London, Kingston's diverse student populace enjoy the best of one of the world’s greatest cities.

A wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses are offered at Kingston, several of which are rated the best in the country by The Guardian University Guide 2020. Kingston University is a top global destination for fashion studies and its Fashion programme is one of the only two programmes in the UK to have received the maximum possible ‘Badges of Excellence’ by the leading influencer website Business of Fashion.

Kingston University’s teaching has been recognised as outstanding by winning The Guardian University Award 2017 for teaching excellence. Courses are also brought to life by interactive learning facilities such as the Bloomberg trading room, the flight simulator, an in-built hospital ward and music recording studio.

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.

With a rich heritage stretching back to 1881, the University of Liverpool is the original ‘redbrick’ university. A founding member of the prestigious Russell Group, the top 24 research-led institutions in the UK, we are associated with nine Nobel Laureates. We are a global university with pioneering partnerships all over the world. Our research power is ranked 20th in the UK’s most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF), with seven subjects ranked in the top 10 in the UK for world-leading and internationally excellent research. Our Management School is one of an elite group of institutions worldwide to hold the gold standard ’triple crown’ accreditation from AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS and our MBA is included in The Economist’s Which MA? which lists the top 100 MBA programmes in the world.

Located at the heart of the world-famous city of Liverpool, the University of Liverpool will provide you with an amazing, life-changing, student experience in a diverse international community.

Newcastle University is a world-class institution established in 1834 with an international reputation for academic excellence. Newcastle University is a founding member of the elite Russell Group, a group of 24 highly research-intensive universities in the UK. High-quality teaching, strong research profile, and outstanding student support make the University one of the most popular institutes in the UK.

Situated in the heart of one of the UK’s most dynamic student cities, Newcastle University is home to over 28,000 students, with more than 5,400 international students from over 115 countries. With a strong focus on internationalisation, the University have prestigious partnerships with institutions worldwide including IIT Delhi, IIT Bombay and IISc Bangalore in India as well as multinational companies such as Siemens, PwC and IBM.

A commitment to academic excellence, teaching quality and student experience is demonstrated through Newcastle's position in both national and international rankings.

Nottingham Trent University is spread across three campuses, two in Nottingham and one just outside the city, and it is one of the largest universities in the UK with 28,000 students currently enrolled. Nottingham Trent was originally founded in 1843 before officially gaining full university status in 1992. 93% of Nottingham Trent students would recommend studying at at the University following the National Student Survey and it was named 'University of the Year' by Times Higher Education for 2018.

Nottingham Trent University is best known for its Art and Design, Fashion and creative arts programmes, but it also hosts one of the UK’s largest law schools. The University also does well in sports, with strong performances in the British University and College Sport leagues. The University recently received one of the biggest grants to a post-1992 university in order to continue its work on cancer diagnosis and therapy.

Nottingham Trent are partnered with 50 academic institutions across 40 countries, with some programmes at the University also offering the chance for students to study abroad.

The University of Portsmouth is located on the south coast of England, about 120km southwest of London. There are over 24,000 students enrolled, 5,200 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 bachelor's degrees include a one year paid work placement 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, mechanical engineering, software engineering, computing and computer science, law, criminology and criminal justice, forensic studies, international relations, journalism, architecture and property development. There is a full portfolio of business courses available including economics, accounting, finance, human resource management and law.

Robert Gordon University is a modern university based in the Scottish city of Aberdeen. Although it was granted university status in 1992, it was founded as an educational institution in the mid 18th century. Robert Gordon has a strong focus on vocational degrees, and brands itself as ‘The Professional University’. It currently has a little over 16,000 students, of whom more than 1,000 are international, enrolled.

The focus on professional education is shown by the University’s leading graduate employment record. It has been rated as having the highest graduate prospects of any University several times in recent years, and remains top for modern universities. This is achieved through strong links with industry, particularly North Sea gas and oil companies, and year-long work placements that have become standard across all courses.

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.

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.

University College London is the oldest and largest college of the University of London, and known as ‘London’s Global University’. It is currently ranked 8th in the world (QS World University Rankings 2022) and is the top rated university in the UK for research strength (Research Excellence Framework). The University was founded in 1826 and there are over 40,000 students currently enrolled at the institution, 53% of whom are international.

UCL is a member of the elite Russell Group of UK universities, and is also part of the League of European Research Universities, a consortium of European research universities that seeks to influence policy in Europe and to develop best practice through mutual exchange of experience. Staff and alumni at UCL have won a total of 30 Nobel prizes, and 840 professors and 7,000 academic staff are dedicated to research and teaching across 11 faculties. UCL students benefit from close associations with several major teaching hospitals, such as the Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, the Royal Free Hospital and Moorfields Eye Hospital.

The University of Westminster was formed from the Royal Polytechnic established in 1838. It is spread over four campuses, three of which are in central London. There are over 19,000 students from more than 160 countries 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.

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