By Stephanie L

Updated March 5, 2021

Sponsored by EU Business School

Whether you’re looking to pursue a BA in business or an MBA, you’re guaranteed to find your ideal study destination in Europe. A small but mighty continent that’s a melting pot of languages, culture, art and history, it’s no wonder thousands of international students move here to uncover and experience all Europe has to offer.

You can’t deny the benefits of studying abroad either. When it comes to studying business in Europe, you’ll be spoilt for choice by the continent’s diverse range of business schools. With the opportunity to become multilingual, understand how business and markets work across borders, as well as gain an international perspective, prospective employers will fall at your feet.

Spain: the land of sunshine and creative business communities

Spain offers a warm welcome to more than 50,000 international students every year and provides a perfect balance of a sunny climate, affordable living costs, and outstanding education.

So, how does the idea of living moments away from miles of Mediterranean coastline while studying amid the hustle and bustle of one of Spain’s liveliest business hubs sound? If you choose to study business in Barcelona, you’ll not only be able to enjoy its sunny climate, world-famous gastronomy and Spanish culture, but you’ll also be surrounded by some of the world’s biggest multinational companies, such as Facebook, Amazon and IBM.

Proud of its long tradition of business and entrepreneurship, Barcelona is a buzzing city that’s constantly reinventing itself thanks to a non-stop influx of ambitious tech talent and networking events that take over the city on almost a daily basis.

So, it should come as no surprise that the city itself is a creative business community that’s home to over 1,300 homegrown startups and is a top destination for international conferences, such as the MWC (Mobile World Congress).

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Germany: a front runner in technology and home to one of the world’s most powerful economies

When it comes to the ideal city destination in Germany, you’d do well to consider the south of the country and discover Munich. Not only is it famous for its beer-brewing tradition that is celebrated during Oktoberfest, but Munich’s business schools offer some of the highest quality undergraduate and graduate business programs in Europe.

An added bonus is that you’ll find yourself becoming more than familiar with the German language which is excellent for international business communications.

As an exciting, authentic and multicultural hub, Munich is a city that’s associated with ideas, innovation and invention, so how do you rate your innovative mindset?

With many well-known high-tech and communications enterprises based in Munich, such as Siemens and Telefonica, along with automobile industries like BMW, you’ll never be far from the action as you rub shoulders with those in the know thanks to company visits with EU Business School. Global consultancies have also set up base in Munich, including PwC, Deloitte and Accenture.

Sitting comfortably in sixth place in the QS Best Student Cities 2018, Munich is often ranked as one of Europe’s most livable cities. In fact, according to Mercer’s Quality of Living Survey 2019, Munich is considered the third best city in the world for quality of life.

Switzerland: a nation that’s career focused and is home to the headquarters of hundreds of non-governmental organizations

Get ready for an academic experience that will take you from the snow-capped Alpine mountains to the twinkling waters of Lake Geneva. Having been voted the sixth happiest country in the world, Switzerland is a nation that offers an exceptional quality of life, four national languages, a prosperous economy, as well as some of the world’s finest chocolate and cheese.

The town of Geneva is the leading financial center of the country, while the municipality of Montreux boasts a lively student and a gorgeous setting on the shores of Lake Geneva. Together they are home to more than 140 multinational business headquarters between them, as well as over 300 non-governmental organizations and 200 diplomatic missions, including the World Health Organization and World Economic Forum.

Geneva and Montreux are hotspots for aspiring professionals who want to study business in Switzerland where finance, economy and diplomacy are an instrumental part of everyday life. 

So, what are you waiting for?

Widen your perspectives and embrace an intellectual and culturally enriching study abroad experience at EU Business School, which has a four-star rating for overall excellence in business education by QS Stars.

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Sponsored by EDHEC Business School

The business school curriculum is constantly adapting to reflect current business trends from around the world, which means new and innovative degree programs are becoming just as integral as ‘traditional’ degree programs, such as the MBA.

To find out what it’s like to study one of these specialized business master’s programs, we spoke with MSc in International Finance and Accounting student, Alberto Teodori, and MSc in Strategy, Consulting and Digital Transformation student, Alice Guédel. They shared with us the ins and outs of their academic journey at EDHEC Business School.

What has been your favorite aspect of your degree so far?

Alberto said: “The quality of teaching. The teachers are actually professionals who are still involved in the business world which gives you the chance to get insights from current trends and matters.”

Alice agreed, and said she considers the “various and complementary courses, while working on real business cases” to be her favorite aspect of her degree so far.

What aspects of your degree do you think will help you progress in professional opportunities after graduating?

Both Alberto and Alice believe studying modules that are current and up to date, as well as collaborating with those in the know, has provided them with a great springboard for the world of work after graduating.

“Being able to build a strong network through the associations, group projects and sports” is something Alice considers fundamental to helping her progress after graduating.

“Working directly with companies, meeting different companies, and discovering new jobs,” has also been useful, she added.

While Alberto told us: “All of the modules are perfectly in line with today’s field, and as these were continuously updated to include new emerging trends.”

What opportunities have you experienced at EDHEC Business School?

“The fintech course has been the most important opportunity as it provided me with the knowledge about financial technologies and helped me understand how today’s financial markets work,” said Alberto.

Business school isn’t just about the academic opportunities either. Alice told us she values the importance of studying a master’s degree that offers the chance to seek exciting career opportunities:

“I was able to find my first internship in private equity at Nixen Partners, and am now starting an end-of-studies internship in Venture Capital at Alven Capital.”

What clubs, societies or other non-academic activities have you been involved in whilst studying?

Whether it’s football, or the Finance Club, students are encouraged to take part in extra-curricular activities, whatever their interests may be.

Alice has been a part of EDHEC’s football team for four years and has also worked as a key account manager for Le Chti, a French city guide: “This experience taught me many things such as negotiation, networking and adapting to others.”

What do you like the most about EDHEC Business School?

With five campuses located around the world, one of which sits comfortably on France’s south coast, it’s easy to see why students at EDHEC’s Nice campus enjoy their time studying here:

“Right after the beautiful weather which characterizes the Côte d'Azur, it has to be the education offered by the school. EDHEC is made up of motivated students coming from all over the world and, by being close to them, you are indirectly pushed to be determined like them and you can understand the importance of learning from other students’ work experiences,” said Alberto.

Alice meanwhile praised the school’s ability to prepare its students well for the future, as well as how having the opportunity to meet other people, such as students, professors, and external speakers “teaches you how to adapt to other people and work together”.

What advice would you give to anyone who is thinking of studying the same degree as you?

“I would suggest focusing on the fact the MSc in International Accounting and Finance doesn’t solely deal with accounting matters; rather, it offers courses such as mergers & acquisitions (M&A), corporate treasury management, and management control, all of which allow you to have the passport to work as financial analysts in all types of industries, including investment banking, corporate finance, and management consulting,” said Alberto.

Whereas Alice advised having an open mind about your future career prospects: “Stay open-minded on different professional opportunities instead of rushing into what everyone else does.”

Moving abroad is a huge decision. Starting university is a huge decision. Why not, for at least one part of the university course, combine the two? The US is a huge country, with each state being incredibly different to its neighbor - so the vast range of study abroad experiences available to you in the US is staggering.

Living and studying in another country is challenging and it requires courage and a positive attitude. However, it's an experience that people and employers will recognize, as it can massively help with your personal development.

If you're considering spending a semester (or more) of your studies abroad, here are five reasons why you should consider studying in the US.

Campus life is unlike anywhere else in the world

Major US colleges are pretty much all based on campuses. This creates a familiar, homely atmosphere - you study, live, learn, and party all on your campus. It's your home, and it's entirely different to most universities in the world.

There are a huge range of activities at US universities which can enhance your experience, from sports teams, to fraternities and sororities - the list is endless. If you've ever seen an American teen movie, you'll have caught a glimpse of this world already. Even though universities elsewhere in the world also have sports teams and societies, their American counterparts are completely unique.

Studying here looks great on your CV

The US is home to one of the world's finest education systems as well as its top universities, with excellent programs across all disciplines. At undergraduate level, outstanding program options are available in conventional subjects as well as professional fields.

This is all enhanced by the fact you're getting this education miles away from home - future recruiters will see this and massively respect you and understand both the mental and emotional strength you need to possess in order to choose to study so far from home.

There's limitless academic flexibility

The US has a huge range of degree options available at its universities, along with cutting-edge technology and world renowned professors. This combination of academic prestige and a wide selection of academic majors and minors means you can find the perfect academic program for you. This fleixibility is completely different to the highly structured degree programs in other countries and it's a great way to expose yourself to different types of learning.

As your studies develop, you can combine a huge variety of subjects - such as contemporary jazz with engineering. This means courses can be combined to create an elite degree tailored to obtaining the perfect post university career.

You'll meet people from all over the world

International students, especially those who are on a year abroad, tend to have a huge range of support both from their home university, and their chosen university for the year. This means socials, trips, and lots of opportunities to meet new friends.

These new friends will literally be from all over the world, particularly in the US which is such an attractive destination for the world's best students. As a result, studying in the US is a great way to immerse yourselves in so many different cultures and experience new things.

Be a tourist in your spare time

In most cases, a study abroad year is viewed by universities as a ‘break year’, which means the course is either pass or fail. As a result, you don't have to worry about getting top, top marks, which is fantastic. This means the stress of doing your degree subsides for a while, and you can fully embrace American culture.

Those long holidays can be filled with exploring the west coast of the US, or hiking through one of the many beautiful national parks the US has to offer. Studying abroad in the US is a great way to see the country's top sights in a way that's much easier than it will be once you're working full-time.

France boasts 31 entrants in the QS World University Rankings® 2020, 10 of which are ranked within the world’s top 300. Think you’d like to study in the land of croissants, champagne and camembert? Here’s a closer look at the country’s top 10 universities.

10. Université Paris-Sud 11

Ranked joint 262^nd in this year’s QS World University Rankings, Université Paris-Sud 11 is spread across four campuses in the southern suburbs of the city, and is particularly renowned for its science and mathematics courses.

9. University of Paris

A new entrant in 2020, the University of Paris (not to be confused with the historic institution of the same name), comes in at joint 253^rd in this year’s world ranking. Its 2018 foundation is due to the merger of Université Paris Descartes, Université Paris Diderot (Paris 7) and the Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris (The Paris Institute of Earth Physics, IPGP).

8. École des Ponts ParisTech

École des Ponts ParisTech is up 13 places to rank 250^th in the world this year. It’s one of the smaller French universities, with just over 2,000 students studying here. The university is another founding member of ParisTech.

7. Télécom ParisTech

Télécom ParisTech is another new entrant among the top universities in France this year, coming just ahead of École des Ponts ParisTech at 249^th in the world. It’s known as one of the number one engineering schools in the country, appearing in the global top 300 for engineering and technology according to the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2019.

6. Sciences Po Paris

Sciences Po Paris, a university that specializes in law, economics, social science, politics, history and related fields, is ranked 242^nd in the world in 2020. It has around 14,000 students, of which almost half are international, with more than 150 nationalities represented on campus.

5. École Normale Supérieure de Lyon

École Normale Supérieure de Lyon is down slightly to rank joint 160^th in the world this year, but nonetheless continues to be fifth among the top universities in France.  Another of the grande écoles, École Normale Supérieure de Lyon is an elite public institution which trains researchers and teachers in the humanities and sciences.

4. CentraleSupélec

CentraleSupélec is ranked 139^th in the world in 2020 and was formed by the 2015 merger of École Centrale Paris and the Supélec graduate school of engineering and is a founding member of the Université Paris-Saclay, an association of research-intensive French universities.

3. Sorbonne University

A new institution formed by a merger (in this case of Paris-Sorbonne University and Pierre and Marie Curie University), Sorbonne University is ranked 77^th in the world in 2020 and achieves its strongest score in the academic reputation indicator (one of the six used to compile the rankings).

2. Ecole Polytechnique (ParisTech)

École Polytechnique is up five places to rank joint 60^th in the world in 2020 and is the founding member of the ParisTech collegiate university, which specializes in science and business courses. Located 30km outside the Paris city center, the campus offers 120 hectares of green space for its 4,600 students to enjoy.

1. Paris Sciences et Lettres Research University (PSL)

And finally, ranked 53^rd in the world and first place among the top universities in France continues to be Paris Sciences et Lettres Research University (PSL), a collegiate university which was formed in 2010 and is made up of nine constituent colleges, including the highly selective École normale supérieure (ENS Paris).

PSL achieves its strongest scores in the employer reputation and faculty/student ratio indicators, and maintains strong links with employers as well as strategic partnerships with other prestigious universities around the world.

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The remaining top universities in France are:

11. Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne – ranked joint 305^th in the world.
12. École Normale Supérieure Paris-Saclay – ranked joint 312^th in the world.
13. Université Grenoble-Alpes – ranked joint 351^st in the world.
14. Université de Strasbourg– ranked joint 379^th in the world.
15. Université de Bordeaux – ranked joint 458^th in the world, up 31 places.
16. Université Aix-Marseille– ranked joint 491^st in the world.
17. Université de Montpellier– ranked joint 498^th in the world.

After the top 500, the ranking continues in ranges, starting at 501-510, continuing up to 801-1000. Click here for more information.

18. Institut National des Sciences Appliquées de Lyon (INSA)– ranked 501-510 in the world.
19. Université Paul Sabatier Toulouse III – ranked 511-520 in the world.
20. Université Panthéon-Assas (Paris 2)– ranked 531-540 in the world.
21. 20. University of Côte d'Azur – ranked 561-570 in the world.
22. Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 – ranked 651-700 in the world.
23. Université de Lille– ranked 701-750 in the world.
24. Université Nice Sophia-Antipolis – ranked 651-700 in the world.
25. Université de Lorraine – ranked 751-800 in the world.

The remaining seven French universities are all ranked 801-1000 in the world, making them joint 25^th in France:

=25. Université de Nantes

=25. Université de Poitiers

=25. Université de Rennes 1

=25. Université Lumière Lyon 2

=25. Université Paul-Valéry Montpellier 3

=25. Université Toulouse 1, Capitole

=25. University Toulouse – Jean Jaurès

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This article was originally published in September 2016. It was last updated in June 2019.

If you decide to study in Africa, you’ll find plenty of opportunities to explore different cultures, landscapes, sights and general adventures in this huge and diverse continent. A total of 13 African universities are featured in the QS World University Rankings® 2020, with the majority (eight) of these found in South Africa.

Read on for an overview of the top universities in Africa this year, in reverse order of appearance in this year’s ranking, including information on each university’s location and other details. The first six universities are all ranked in the 801-1000 range* and are therefore joint eighth in Africa.

=8. University of the Western Cape

Starting off our overview of the top universities in Africa in 2019 is South Africa’s University of the Western Cape, located in the Bellville suburb of Cape Town. Founded in 1959, the university played a key role in the fight against discrimination and racial inequality in South Africa’s history.

=8. University of Kwazulu-Natal

The South African University of Kwazulu-Natal is a young university, formed only as recently as 2004 by a merger of previous institutions. Today it has five campuses around the KwaZulu-Natal province in the south east of the country.

=8. Rhodes University

Rhodes University, located in Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa, is named after British businessman Cecil Rhodes. The university is highly residential and relatively small, with around 8,100 students currently enrolled.

=8. Assiut University

Egypt’s Assiut University was established in 1957 as the first university in Upper Egypt, and is located in an urban campus in the large city of Asyut. It offers courses both English and Arabic-taught courses.

=8. Alexandria University

As well as featuring here, Alexandria University is also ranked 12^th in the QS Arab Region University Rankings 2019. It was originally founded in 1938 as a branch campus of Cairo University, but became a separate institution in 1942, gaining its current name in 1952.

=8. Ain Shams University

The last of the top universities in Africa to be ranked 801-1000 is the Egyptian Ain Shams University, which is ranked 13^th in the QS Arab Region University Rankings 2019. Based in Cairo and established in 1950, Ain Shams is a very large institution, hosting approximately 180,000 students in 15 faculties.

7. University of Pretoria

Ranked 551-560 in the world this year (up from 561-570 last year) is South Africa’s University of Pretoria. It’s one of the largest universities in the country, with over 50,000 students at seven campuses. Established in 1908, the university also features in the top 50 of the latest QS BRICS University Rankings.

6. Cairo University

Egypt’s Cairo University is ranked in the 521-530 range of the overall world rankings, and 11^th in the Arab regional ranking. Despite the name, its main campus is actually in Giza, 20km southwest across the Nile from Cairo.

5. University of Johannesburg

Climbing remarkably from the 551-560 to 501-510 range this year, the University of Johannesburg is the youngest university in South Africa to feature in the QS World University Rankings, having been formed from a merger of earlier institutions as recently as 2005.

4. Stellenbosch University

Stellenbosch University is placed joint 427^th in the world and within the top 55 of the BRICS ranking. Founded in 1918, the university is located in the town of Stellenbosch, 50 kilometers east of Cape Town.

3. University of the Witwatersrand

Ranked joint 400^th this year, the University of the Witwatersrand (often called Wits for short) is another South African institution, with five campuses in urban and suburban Johannesburg, the country’s largest city. The university has around 38,350 students, of which about 3,750 are international students.

2. The American University in Cairo

Heading back to Egypt for the next in our look at the best universities in Africa, the 2020 world ranking sees the American University in Cairo climb an impressive 25 places to now rank joint 395^th in the world. Also ranked eighth in the most recent edition of the Arab region university rankings, it teaches in English and possesses Egypt’s largest English-language library collection.

1. University of Cape Town

Leading the way for the top universities in Africa is South Africa’s oldest university, the University of Cape Town, ranked joint 198^th in the QS World University Rankings® 2020 along with the US’ University of Virginia. The campus sits upon the slopes of Table Mountain’s Devil’s Peak, offering fantastic views.

*For more information about ranking categories, and answers to other frequently asked questions, click here.

This article was originally published in September 2016. It is updated for every QS World University Rankings® launch, most recently in June 2019.

It can be difficult to stay social at university when you’re struggling for cash. Luckily, there are plenty of great bars and pubs in Birmingham that offer generous happy hour deals, perfect for a student budget.

Have a read of our top picks for grabbing a cheap drink in the city.

Dirty Martini

Situated in the heart of Birmingham’s city center, Dirty Martini can offer a carefully crafted cocktail within walking distance.

Despite its classy interior, snazzy bar and skilled bartenders, Dirty Martini offers a happy hour to rival all other happy hours. With two-for-one cocktails, £20 bottles of Prosecco and £3.50 bottles of beer every day of the week, you’ll be hard pressed to find better deals in the city center.

Where: City center, Bennetts Hill

Happy hour: 3pm-10pm Monday to Thursday, 12pm-8pm Friday and Saturday, all day Sunday

Be At One

All you need to know about Be At One’s happy hour is that it’s generous, long and gets incredibly busy!

Amazingly, they offer their happy hour every single day of the week, so you’re bound to find a time to go that suits you. Whether you’re looking for a cozy place to catch up over a couple of cocktails or somewhere to dance the night away, Be At One is suitable for you.

Where: City center, Piccadilly Arcade

Happy hour: All day Monday, 4.30pm – 8pm Tuesday and Wednesday, 4.30pm- 7pm Thursday and Sunday, 4pm-7pm Friday, 2pm-6pm Saturday

So Bar

Located slightly out of town in The Arcadian, So Bar is yet to be discovered by many. Despite being less well known than other bars on this list, it’s one of our favorites as it offers the longest happy hours in Birmingham, with two-for-one cocktails available from 11am to 9pm every single day.

This place is busiest during the weekend, but head there in the week and you may just have the bartender all to yourself.

Where: The Arcadian

Happy hour: 11am-9pm Monday-Sunday

Lost & Found

This picturesque bar, which has blossoms cascading down from the ceiling, certainly makes for a beautiful place to enjoy some fancy cocktails. All drinks here have their own unique twist, so you’re guaranteed to experience something new and exciting!  

Although generally quite pricey, happy hour lasts for three hours every day of the week, which means you can have all the class for half the price.

Where: City center, Bennetts Hill

Happy hour: 5pm-8pm Monday-Sunday

Jekyll & Hyde

Head to this quirky cocktail joint if you’re keen to try some rather unique concoctions. Although usually a bit pricier than their competitors, Jekyll & Hyde’s regular happy hours give everyone a chance to try delectable cocktails on a budget.

Where: City center, Steelhouse Lane

Happy hour: 12pm-7pm Monday-Sunday

Turtle Bay

Turtle Bay is incredibly popular, as both a bar and restaurant. This is thanks to the happy hour that runs all day, every day, apart from between 7pm and 10pm.

Grab two delicious Caribbean inspired cocktails for the price of one, take a seat in one of the beach shacks and, if you can ignore that looming grey cloud outside, you may just feel like you’re on holiday.

Where: City center, John Bright Street

Happy hour: 11.30-7pm and 10pm-closing Monday-Sunday

Island Bar

Island Bar is just as exotic as it sounds. Walking into this Tiki Bar, adorned with hula flowers and bamboo, will transport you to any Hawaiian island.

Claiming to be one of the best cocktail bars in Birmingham, the happy hour here is slightly shorter than at other bars, however their drinks are delicious. Situated right next to the train station, you can treat yourself before the commute home!

Where: City center, Suffolk Street Queensway

Happy hour: 6pm-8pm Tuesday-Saturday, all night Thursday

Las Iguanas

More commonly known for its good value South American dishes, Las Iguanas has become a popular watering hole in recent years due to its generous happy hour.

However, it’s questionable whether you can call it a happy hour when the cocktails here are always two for the price of one. However, we’re not complaining!

Where: City center, Temple Street

Happy hour: All day Monday-Sunday

Rose Villa Tavern

With its stained-glass windows and wooden furniture, the Rose Villa Tavern looks a lot like your classic English pub, and, in some ways, it is, serving up delicious two-for-one fish and chips every Tuesday.

However, in many ways it defies the boundaries of a normal pub, offering surprisingly delicate cocktails all week long. Catch them at happy hour and you’ll bag yourself a bargain.

Where: Jewelry Quarter

Happy hour: 4pm-7pm Monday – Thursday, 4pm-closing Friday, all day Saturday and Sunday

Texan Roadhouse

Most of the happy hours in the city tend to revolve around cocktails. However, if all you’re after is a good old cheap beer and some pub grub alongside it, head to Texan Roadhouse.

This joint is not posh, it’s not pretty, but it’s cheap! During happy hour, grab yourself a pitcher of beer and you’ll get a portion of chicken wings absolutely free!

Where: Jewelry Quarter

Happy hour: 5-7pm Monday to Saturday, all day Sunday

Scotland’s capital city is a treasure trove of historical landmarks, impressive architecture and beautiful natural landscapes. Combined with its buzzing atmosphere, friendly locals and some of the best whisky money can buy, a visit to Edinburgh makes for one amazing weekend.

Getting to Edinburgh is remarkably easy, with excellent rail and air connections to the rest of the UK. Waverley train station is ideally located in the middle of the city within walking distance of the major attractions and several hotels.

If you’re travelling from the south of England, it’s worth flying, especially if you’re short on time. Budget airlines have incredibly cheap tickets, often costing less than the train. The tram conveniently stops right at the airport and brings you into the center of the city in just 30 minutes.

Come rain or shine there’s an abundance of things to get up to – explore the winding cobbled streets in the medieval Old Town, peruse the shops in the Georgian splendor of New Town and, of course, roam around the world-famous Edinburgh castle. Here are some of my favorite ways to spend a weekend in the city.

Friday evening in buzzing Grassmarket

Once you’ve arrived in Edinburgh, there’s no better way to kick off your weekend than heading to the lively area of Grassmarket, home to welcoming pubs, a lively atmosphere and a multitude of great restaurants to choose from.

Head to Victoria Street for an Insta-worthy shot of one of Edinburgh’s most photographed streets, then make for The Bow Bar to try a dram of whiskey.

Spend the rest of the evening sampling some of the finest whiskeys in the world – you’ll be spoilt for choice with a mind-boggling 390 single malts to choose from!

Explore the historic heart of Edinburgh

Perched atop an extinct volcano, Edinburgh Castle majestically overlooks the city and is an impressive sight to behold.

Spend your morning exploring the historic battlements and royal bedchambers – start your day early and you’ll be rewarded with a much quieter experience exploring it. For a guaranteed, hassle-free entrance at the best price, be sure to book your ticket in advance online.

From here, you can work your way down the Royal Mile, exploring the shops and historic buildings on the way. Make sure to visit St Giles’ Cathedral, some of the oldest parts of this building have been standing since 1120!

You can also head to the fascinating Real Mary King’s Close. Although this street has disappeared from the modern-day city, you can delve underground and learn about the lives of those who lived there 400 years ago.  

Afternoon views from Arthur’s Seat

At the opposite end of the Royal Mile to the Castle, you’ll find Holyrood Palace, the official royal residence in Scotland and once home to Mary Queen of Scots. This serves as an excellent starting point for a brisk afternoon walk up to Arthur’s Seat.

It only takes around 30 minutes to reach the top of this now-extinct volcano and your efforts will be rewarded with incredible panoramic views of the city and its surrounds.

Treat yourself in New Town

What better way to wrap up a jam-packed day of sight-seeing than with a top-notch meal in classy New Town, where you’ll be surrounded by gorgeous Georgian architecture? Head to Princes Street to work up an appetite with some retail therapy before walking up to Thistle Street. Here you can enjoy a sumptuous meal at some of the finest restaurants in the city.

Picture-perfect Sunday morning

To experience a slice of tranquility in the middle of the city, head to beautiful Dean Village. This area was once home to the water mill workers and is just a 15-minute walk from Princes Street.

A peaceful oasis in the middle of the city, there are picture-perfect spots around every corner. Try the Dean Path bridge crossing over the Water of Leith or wander down Hawthornbank Lane for the best vantage points. 

Alternatively, take a short bus ride to the riverside suburb of Leith. This recently regenerated area is now a bustling port and is where you will find the majority of the city’s hipster population. It’s famous as the home of Scotland’s so-called Michelin Mile, due to the number of restaurants with Michelin stars. So, treat yourself to a fancy Sunday lunch or simply enjoy a stroll along the water’s edge.

New research by the NUS Women’s Campaign has found that sexual abuse is rife at UK universities and colleges, with 75 percent of students stating they’ve had at least one unwanted sexual experience.

The report, which is NUS’ first targeted piece of research into sexual harassment and violence specifically within further education, was based on a survey of 544 students, predominantly women, at UK universities and within three focus-groups at higher education colleges, and also found that one in seven respondents said they’d experienced attempted rape or unwanted sexual intercourse. Three in 10 students also reported feeling pressured to establish an unwanted romantic or sexual relationship, and one in three cases of sexual harassment are happening on campus, 13 percent of which are in the classroom.

Normalized behavior

However, only one in seven (14 percent) of surveyed students who’d experienced any form of unwanted sexual behavior said they’d reported it, with many students citing worries over someone else’s reaction as the reason they didn’t challenge the behavior. Meanwhile, bisexual students were significantly more likely than students of other sexual orientations to say their embarrassment was their reason for not reporting an incident to anyone.

Fear of revenge and violence were also cited as reasons that women didn’t want to report what’s happened to them, showing that more victim support is needed to help soothe these fears. As well as this, over a third of victims of unwanted sexual behavior go on to suffer depression or anxiety, with seven percent even attempting to end their own lives. 

The report has also raised fears over the normalization of sexual harassment and violence at higher education institutions, with some students feeling their experience wasn’t serious enough to report.

Sarah Lasoye, NUS women student’s officer, calls for ‘urgent responses’, in response to the report, arguing that “This culture has been normalized to such an extent that unhealthy sexual behavior has become harder to identify. While students may understand the concept of consent they struggle to put it into practice, with women fearing revenge and anger from men.”

And while NUS recognizes the recent progress made in the issue of sexual abuse at UK universities, it has stated its concern that higher education colleges, which have fewer resources, are trailing behind. It recommends that all higher education colleges work to improve their reporting procedures, provide better support services for the welfare and wellbeing of victims of sexual violence, and work to prevent further incidents by promoting healthy sexual behavior and alternative masculinities through workshops on consent and healthy relationships.

David Hughes, the chief executive of the Association of Colleges, commented on the sobering results of the report: “For most students, campuses are a safe space, with safeguarding at the heart of everything that colleges do. However, one act or threat of sexual violence is one too many.

“Reporting sexual violence and threats of sexual violence is never easy but we would urge students to speak to staff so that they can provide them with the right levels of support and protection and to help them to improve their zero-tolerance policies.”

Joshua Tree National Park is an otherworldly National Park in southern California, famous for its distinct trees (and inpsiring that U2 album your Dad likes talking about).

Ethereal at both sunrise and sunset, this National Park is one of the most magical in the US. Named after the unique trees scattered throughout the park, you'll remember your visit to Joshua Tree for the rest of your life. Whatever you do, bring a good camera as you'll get some amazing pictures while you're here.

Here are six compelling reasons to include a visit to Joshua Tree National Park on your US itinerary.

The trees

These Joshua trees are actually a type of Yucca, and were named by Mormons in the 1850s, who saw their gnarled branches in the arms of Joshua pointing to the promised land. Now these trees make for some pretty epic sights and lend the park a distinctive feel that can't be matched anywhere else.

The park

The park is made up of two distinct deserts: the higher Mojave Desert and the lower Colorado Desert. Each has its own ecosystem, whose characteristics are determined by their elevation. So you'll want to check out both. Be aware that this will take some time though. In total, there's over 3,000 kilometres of desert for you to explore.

The wildlife

As well as a wide variety of plants, the park is also home to a plethora of wildlife which have adapted and learned to survive in this desert landscape. You may come across black-tailed jackrabbits, scorpions, rattle snakes, tarantula, coyotes, non-venomous snakes, bighorn sheep, lizards, kangaroo rats, and lynx (just to name a few!).

The nighttime

There's very little light pollution in Joshua Tree, and this makes the night sky absolutely epic. You'd struggle to find a better place to go stargazing, so camp nearby and make sure you take the opportunity to do so - it will be one of the best stargazing experiences of your life. You can even see shooting stars!

The east side of the park is the best to place to base yourself as the nearest town (and source of light pollution) is 300 miles away. 

The hikes

This National Park has some of the best hikes in the west coast, so make sure to leave some time to hike a small section of the park. There are more than 100 miles of hiking and horse trails in the Indian Canyons, including panoramic vistas and 60ft waterfalls. Obivously you won't get to see them all, but it's worth doing a small, manageable route. Don't push yourself too hard and risk exhaustion or sunstroke.

There’s also Ryan Mountain, which offers a panoramic overview of Joshua Tree’s famous rock formations, and Warren Peak, where you can spot Mount San Jacinto.

The sunsets and sunrises

The park looks amazingly beautiful when its tinged in red and the sky is multicoloured. Try and visit for either a sunrise or sunset and you'll get an epic picture for your Instagram Story.