Choosing where to study is often as big a decision as choosing which degree to study.
Ulster University Branch Campuses have three campus locations to choose from: London, Manchester, and Birmingham.
In this blog, we focus on London and will outline some of the benefits that it has to offer.
We also have a blog for our other campus locations. Find out more about the benefits of studying in Manchester or the benefits of studying in Birmingham.
What are the benefits of studying in London?
There are plenty of reasons why London is an attractive place to study a degree, particularly if you’re looking for a combination of career opportunities, rich history, student life, and an international experience with convenient transport links.
Here are some of the biggest benefits of studying a degree in London:
London has great career opportunities
London has some of the best career opportunities in the UK due to a large group of employers, investment, talent, industries, and professional networks all in one place.
Because it is the capital city of one of the biggest global economies, thousands of businesses have chosen London as their home. From huge global corporations and major UK companies to fast-growing start-ups, London offers incredible career opportunities in practically every profession.
With so many employers competing for talent in London, there are also plenty of opportunities for career progression. Whether that’s an internal move through career development programmes or a move between organisations, the choice is yours. You could start up your own company, specialise in a particular area, or progress into management – all without needing to leave London.
London has lots of major industries with an international job market
With a high concentration of businesses and industries in a single location, London has created its own circular network effect; successful companies attract skilled workers, skilled workers attract even more companies, and the increased concentration of businesses creates even more opportunities.
Because of this, London has become one of the world’s major international business centres. You’ll find organisations working across almost every region and industry around the world, offering strong international potential for your career.
Some of London’s biggest employment ecosystems include:
- Technology and AI
- Financial services and banking
- Law
- Marketing and advertising
- Media and other creative industries
- Healthcare and pharmaceuticals
- Retail and e-commerce
- Construction and property
- Engineering
- Transport and logistics
- Government and public services
- International trade
If you are interested in international business and finance, marketing, or computing and technology, this could be particularly valuable.
Pay is often higher in London than the rest of the UK
Due to the higher cost of living in London, many employers factor something called ‘London weighting‘ into the salaries they offer for positions based in London. This can be an additional fixed amount or a percentage increase applied to the base salary of the role and is designed to help offset the higher cost of living with higher earnings.
Some employers still offer ‘London weighting‘ even if you live outside of London but commute into the city because they base it on where the job is located, not where you live. So, you could earn more by taking a job based in London and save on living costs by living outside the city and commuting in. Although you would need to ensure the cost of your commute is balanced in your favour by the extra income to truly benefit.
On top of ‘London weighting‘, you could also argue that the extra cost of living in London is balanced by the incredible job opportunities, cultural experiences, sporting events, social activities, and transport links that Londoners benefit from, among others.
London has transport links to the rest of the UK and the world
London’s transport network makes it easy to access a variety of locations, including international airports like London Heathrow; Gatwick; and Stanstead, and train services to major international cities like Paris; Amsterdam; and Brussels – with further connections to Germany, Switzerland, and beyond.
The London Underground, rail network, bus services, and the Elizabeth line enable easy travel between major business districts and other areas of London, and the wider railway network allows for convenient commuting and travel between the capital city and the rest of the UK.
Whether you’re looking to travel between districts and zones within London, access the rest of the UK, or travel internationally, it can all be done using London’s transport links.
London is steeped in history
London has played a continuous and influential role in Britain for around 2,000 years!
From its founding days as Londinium under Roman rule in 47 AD to William the Conqueror building the Tower of London in 1078 to the Great Fire in 1666, the Industrial Revolution in the 18th century, and all the significant periods in between, London has been a constant presence throughout UK history.
You’ll find evidence of its history throughout the city, including (to name just a few significant landmarks):
- Remains of the Roman amphitheatre beneath the Guildhall Art Gallery
- Westminster Abbey – where many kings and queens have been crowned and buried
- The Palace of Westminster – where you’ll also find the Houses of Parliament, including the House of Commons; House of Lords; and Westminster Hall, and Big Ben
- St Paul’s Cathedral
- Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre
- London’s historic Docklands
- Buckingham Palace – King Charles’ official London residence
With two millennia’s worth of history to experience, there’s something for everyone in London, whatever your historical preference may be.
London is a multicultural city with plenty to see and do
London is one of the world’s most multicultural cities. Centuries of migration, international trade, education, and employment has attracted people from around the world. This diversity has helped to shape everything that London has to offer. From the city’s food and festivals to its neighbourhoods, arts, music, and nightlife – London’s multiculturalism is evident throughout.
This multiculturalism is particularly obvious in London’s food scene. You can find everything from Indian, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean cuisine to Turkish, Lebanese, Ethiopian, Nigerian, Caribbean, Italian, Spanish, and Mexican food. Areas like Chinatown, Brick Lane, Brixton, Soho, and Southall each offer their own distinct atmosphere, food, and cultural experiences.
Because of its vibrant mix of cultures, you’ll find regular events and traditions from around the world throughout the year. Notting Hill Carnival, for example, is one of Europe’s largest community-led street festivals, celebrating Caribbean culture through music, dance, costumes, and food.
London has plenty of green space
Despite being one of the most densely populated cities in Europe, with a population of almost 10 million, London is made up of about 20% public green space. This includes around 3,000 parks and broad network of canals, lakes, and reservoirs. When you include private gardens, green roofs, trees, and road verges, nearly half of London is green or blue when viewed from above.
So, while it is true that London is a bustling cosmopolitan metropolis filled with buildings, businesses, and people, it is also balanced by natural habits and green spaces that people can enjoy and wildlife can thrive in.
Why not explore 20 of the best parks in London if you choose to study here?
What is the biggest benefit of studying in London?
The biggest benefit of studying in London is, to put it simply, choice.
The sheer volume of choices available to you when you study in London is undoubtedly huge. Your choice of food, experiences, history, career opportunities, and more is unlike anywhere else in the UK.
And at Ulster University London, we offer a wide choice of undergraduate, pre-masters, and postgraduate degrees that could increase your career potential and help you make the most of the opportunities that London provides.