This morning (August 14 2019) Labour’s education secretary, Angela Rayner, announced a new plan for the university application process, which would be put in place if Labour got into power “by the end of [their] first term in office”. Under the proposed new plan, students would only be able to apply for university after they had received their A level grades, to avoid giving any advantage to those from privileged backgrounds over those from underprivileged backgrounds. Rayner said that “radical change” was needed to counteract this.

How does the current system disadvantage students from less privileged backgrounds?

The current application system relies on universities giving students an offer based on their predicted grades. Labour argue that this is discriminatory for two reasons; firstly, they say, universities may predict grades that are lower than students’ actual grades will be, causing them to miss out on potential opportunities from universities that they otherwise would’ve applied for, or being rejected from universities due to low predicted grades not reaching the university’s entry requirements. Secondly, they suggest that universities may over predict, leading to students applying for universities with higher entry requirements.

How accurate are predicted grades really?

As with all predictions, there is likely to be at least some discrepancy. A 2011 study from the Department for Business Innovation and Skills backed this up, claiming that only 51.7 percent of predicted grades were accurate, with 6.6 percent under predicted, and 47.7 percent over predicted.

David Hughes, chief executive of the Association of Colleges, claims that this figure is much lower; “with only 16 percent of applicants achieving their predicted A-level grades, it is clear that pre-results applications are problematic."

We asked current students if their predicted grades were accurate, and whether or not this affected their university choices.

One student says, “I actually got higher than my predicted grades and could’ve applied for other unis if I’d known beforehand.” Another says, “I didn’t get into my first-choice university but that’s because I applied for one with much higher entry requirements than my predictions – my predicted grades were spot on.” In contrast, one student tells us “my predicted grades were higher but I didn’t get an offer from my first choice university because I didn’t pass the interview.”

So is this a good idea or not?

What do you think about this situation? When we asked a group of students their opinions on the subject, we got very mixed reactions.

It’s a good idea

Adam, a current history and international relations student, says that he agrees with Labour’s proposed idea, and says that he feels like the current system is “a bit of a gamble”, explaining “not knowing can make you more conservative in your choices – as in you aim lower to ensure you get in.” On the other hand, he adds “or the opposite can happen, where people are too confident, then don’t get their predicted grades and can’t get in.”

One hopeful student, Hattie, who is currently waiting to see whether she has got into the university of her choice, says, “I don’t think predicted grades are very accurate anyway, so applying afterwards saves you having false hope” adding that she didn’t think it would make much difference to the application system as “everyone applies all at once anyway.”

Not so much…

However, some strongly disagree with the idea. One student argues that “you might not reach out to unis with the higher grade boundaries who might accept you anyway. For example, I was predicted AAB and got ABC and still got accepted.”

Another student suggests that the proposed changes are unnecessary, stating, “you can already do that in clearing and adjustment” adding that “it could be useful if you’re taking a year out, because you have more time, but if you’re not taking a year out I just think it’d just be more stressful because of limited spaces.”

Recent chemistry graduate, Andy, raises an interesting point that “it would be a rush to interview” for universities under the proposed new system, adding “my interview before my final grades was a very important factor in getting to university.”

Aima, another recent graduate, says “I just think the window between applying and receiving offers would be too small and schools may not be able to give enough support throughout that time.”

What could happen instead?

Arguably, another solution to this problem would be to go back to the old system of taking into account AS level grades when applying for university. This used to be the case, where until 2017, students in the UK would take half of their A level in year 12 (AS level) and the other half in year 13 (A2 level) and universities would make their decisions based on this AS achieved grade and the predicted grade.

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What do you think about this proposed plan? Have your say in the comments below.  

Lead image: Crawley College (Flickr)

By Jenny Scott Russell – Local Leo

It came as quite a surprise to me that eating out in London can be affordable, even on a student budget. You just have to be smart and look out for deals, food markets and cheap eats. If you’re anything like me, after a long day of uni, the last thing you want to do is cook. I often find myself picking something up on my way home. And that doesn’t always mean fast food or unhealthy food, in fact most of my favorite places are relatively healthy! So, these are my top recommendations for cheap eats in London…

Camden Market

There’s so much variety in Camden Market and I’m still overwhelmed every time I visit! However, some of my favorite cheap stands include Maize Blaze which is Colombian street food, Vburger and Magic Falafel. There is a lot I haven’t tried here though, including endless stalls selling Chinese, Thai and Indian at amazingly inexpensive prices. Camden Market is perfect for a group outing because you can all get exactly what you want. However, it is open air so make sure to check the weather first!

Pizza Express with o2 discount

Two main courses for £10 at Pizza Express basically means you can eat out as much as you want! Okay maybe not, but that is a great deal. If you’re on o2 make sure to make the most of your priority discounts. This one is my favorite along with the Café Nero free coffee voucher. I’m sure all students out there can appreciate how great a free coffee tastes.

Andu Café

If you haven’t tried Ethiopian food then Andu Café is a must. Take away is £5 and it’s a you get what you’re given situation although you can always count on the food being delicious. If you decide to eat in there is a bit more choice but the menu is pretty small. Andu Café is a really popular spot in the center of Dalston and for the price you get a huge portion of healthy, home cooked food.

Too Good to Go

A must download app for all students on a budget in London, Too Good To Go is an amazing resource for finding cheap eats. The way it works is, at the end of the day traders who have surplus food sell everything at a discounted price on the app, rather than creating food waste. You can find some amazing bargains on here and can keep an eye out for your favorite places easily on your phone.

Pizza Union

There are Pizza Unions all over the city and with 12” pizzas starting at £3.95, you can’t go wrong. Sides and drinks are cheap too and the restaurants always have a fun, lively atmosphere.

Dou Dou

A vegan option for you, Dou Dou is an all you can eat Chinese/Thai buffet in the center of Camden. During the day it costs £5.90 while for dinner and weekends it costs £6.90. The food here is really inventive with interesting meat alternatives for all traditional dishes. You can also get a takeaway box for even less.

Foodilic

Another all you can eat buffet for you is Foodilic, costing just £7.50. The food is very healthy, locally sourced and always delicious with a wide variety of food catering to all dietary requirements including gluten free and vegan. It doesn’t look like much from the outside but it’s the perfect spot for students based around Kings Cross.

Mercato Metropolitano

You can find this indoor food market in Elephant and Castle and it’s a great place to go as a group with plenty of cheap street food to choose from. They also have a distillery, brewery, and cinema and put on a variety of great events. The market is centered around communal benches which are often full come the evening.

Berwick Street Food Market

Next in our look at the best cheap eats in London is one of the oldest street food markets in the city, ideal for grabbing lunch at when you’re in the center. The market operates Tuesday to Friday with different stands every week. On Mondays the market is specifically vegan. I love this market for trying new and exciting foods. They support up and coming businesses and generally attract a very trendy crowd.

Yo Sushi with Unidays discount

Sign up for a Unidays account with your university email to access lots of amazing student discounts on cheap eats in London. My favorite discount through this app is for Yo! Sushi where you get 25 percent off all items at any time. If you combine this with a third off vegetarian dishes on Wednesdays you can eat here like a king for a fraction of the price it would normally cost.

Your local kebab shops!

Not very specific, I know. But kebab shops in London are a really cheap way to eat and actually pretty good quality on the whole. I have my favorite local kebab shop which makes an amazing falafel wrap. They even have vegan mayo so I can’t complain about anything. You’ll have to do some research to find your best one but it is always worth knowing where to head, especially at the end of a night out.

Franco Manca with Unidays discount

Another pizza place but this time with Unidays you can save with a meal deal that gets you any pizza and a drink for £7.40. Franco Manca pizzas are by far my favorite in London and this deal makes eating out there an even more attractive option!

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Have you ever wanted to go to an Open Day at Imperial College London but never had the physical opportunity to do so? Being far away or having a lack of funds can make it very difficult to physically visit your prospective university.

Luckily, we’ve partnered with Imperial to give you an in-depth look at what you expect if you study there…and we mean everything! From location to accommodation, to studies and free time, plus so much more. Watch our video to see what else we chatted about with Lawrence Barnard, the International Officer at Imperial College London. And if you enjoyed it, subscribe to our channel for more!

Video by Pavel Petrov for TopUniversities.

One major draw of studying abroad is the opportunity to meet with other students from various locations and backgrounds, opening your mind to people from different walks of life, and often forming real friendships in the process. So, if you see diversity as an important factor in where you’d like to study, you may be interested to read about the 10 cities below – all included among the top 120 places in the world to be a student in our QS Best Student Cities 2019 index.

Unsurprisingly, the majority of the cities below also achieve an excellent score in the student mix indicator, one of the five categories used to compile the rankings, which looks at the student make-up of a city.

Read on as we count down the best student cities with the highest ratio of international students out of its total student population, plus more info on why they’re great places to study.

=9. Brisbane

Starting off with a slightly overlooked Australian city, Brisbane is the third highest-ranked of Australia’s seven entrants in the Best Student Cities index at 22^nd, and comes fourth in the student mix indicator. 36 percent of the student population in Brisbane comes from outside Australia, making it an ideal choice for students looking for a sunny, laid-back and diverse student city. For example, more than 18,000 of the 53,700 students at the University of Queensland (the highest-ranked university in the city) are international.

=9. Edinburgh

Heading to the UK, the Scottish capital is joint ninth with Brisbane for diversity, with 36 percent of its student population of 51,300 coming from outside the UK. Edinburgh came 15^th overall in this year’s Best Student Cities index, with its best score for the student mix indicator. 

When asked in our student survey what the best things are about studying in Edinburgh, one respondent told us “Feeling safe, being surrounded by an abundance of nature and meeting people from all over the world” while another said “A combination of many things: nature, history, world-class facilities, diversity. Everything was in a perfect balance.”

8. Auckland

Heading back to Oceania, New Zealand’s largest city is also one of the most diverse places to study abroad, and places joint 27^th in the city ranking this year, achieving fifth place in the student mix indicator. The city’s highest-ranked university in the QS World University Rankings®, the University of Auckland, is also number one in New Zealand and consistently places in the global top 100. More than 8,000 of the university’s 42,759 students come from outside New Zealand, and one person has this to say in our survey: “There are many places to go, many things do and so much to see, it is a diverse and multicultural city indeed”.

=6. Canberra

Australia’s capital is another ideal choice for those looking for a multicultural study destination – 6.9 percent of the population are students, and of these, 39 percent are international. Canberra also placed 23^rd overall in the QS Best Student Cities index, with one individual in our student survey stating: “Almost the entire population is made up of students or diplomats so it’s a pretty cool mix of people.”

=6. Sydney

The joint sixth most diverse city according to the QS Best Student Cities index is Sydney, which was also rated ninth overall. It gets the second-highest score in the city ranking for the student mix indicator, thanks to its large and multicultural student population. Respondents in our student survey said they loved the opportunities to meet people from other countries, while others pointed out the relaxed lifestyle, friendly people and employment opportunities.

5. Melbourne

The final of the four Australian cities to feature in this list is Melbourne, which is the most diverse city in the country according to our data. Students in Melbourne make up 4.7 percent of the population, with 40 percent coming from abroad – no doubt attracted to the amazing lifestyle, cityscape and cultural offerings available. Melbourne was ranked third in the QS Best Student Cities this year, and first in the student mix indicator.

4. London

In fourth place in our list of the most diverse cities for students is London, which was also featured in first place overall in the QS Best Student Cities index in 2019. Perhaps unsurprisingly given its huge population (over 14 million, depending on who you ask), London has the highest number of international students of any student city (more than 107,000), making up 41 percent of the student population. It also boasts the largest number of ranked universities in the World University Rankings (18).

3. Coventry

As well as being the third most international location in the QS Best Student Cities index this year, Coventry boasts the highest ratio of students to overall population in this list, with students making up 8.1 percent of its 652,000 population. Located in the West Midlands of England, Coventry’s highest-ranked university, the University of Warwick, is consistently ranked in the global top 65 of the QS World University Rankings.

2. Abu Dhabi

Given the huge expatriate population in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), it’s probably unsurprising to find Abu Dhabi in this list. 46 percent of students in the Emirati capital are international, and around 80 percent of the overall population is made up of expats. Abu Dhabi was a new entry in this year’s Best Student Cities index at 88^th, with Khalifa University its highest-ranked university in the world rankings at joint 268^th.   

1. Dubai-Sharjah-Ajman

And finally, the number one student city when looking at the ratio of international students is the combined metropolitan area of Dubai-Sharjah-Ajman in the United Arab Emirates, which was ranked joint 60^th in the Best Student Cities index and is home to around 5.6 million people. Half of its student population of 20,800 are from outside the UAE, reflecting the diversity of the country itself. One student said this about Dubai in our survey: “Very diverse but very friendly and tolerant. Also, the city has so many activities, you can never get bored.”

Other diverse places to study abroad…

Of course, you’re not limited to Australia, New Zealand, the UAE or the UK if you want a diverse study destination. Other diverse cities featuring in this year’s QS Best Student Cities index include:

• Brussels – 33 percent of students at Belgium’s capital are international, and the city is ranked joint 43^rd overall in the QS Best Student Cities index
• Vienna – 32 percent of students come from outside Austria, and the city was ranked 13^th overall
• Hong Kong – Ranked 14^th overall in the city ranking, 32 percent of Hong Kong’s 90,800 students are international
• Tomsk – The Russian city of Tomsk is home to nearly 5,000 international students, or 30 percent of the student population. It places 73^rd overall in 2019.

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So you’ve just settled down for the long university summer holidays. You’ve spent time with your friends, binged-watched Netflix and you’re now looking for something slightly more fulfilling to do with the rest of your summer. What better way than to prepare for your future career?

Read on for 10 handy tips on how boost your employment prospects this summer!

1.Research your chosen career (or careers that you think you might be interested in)

Firstly, it’s important to recognize that it’s fine if you don’t know what you want to do with your life. You’re not alone in not knowing – the majority of students (and graduates) either have no idea what they want to do for a career, or even end up changing their minds at some point down the line.

Despite this, it’s always good to try and get a vague idea of the industry or role you may want to get into once you graduate; find out how here. Once you’ve narrowed down a few roles or industries that sound interesting to you, take time to really research them, including qualifications needed, what the job entails etc. Take notes of any findings you come across to go back to them in the future – you never know when they might come in handy further down the line.

2. Develop your self-awareness

Take time to get to know yourself a bit better. What do you perceive to be your strengths and weaknesses? Outline them, and then come up with smaller bite sized steps as to how you plan to improve them.

If one of your weaknesses is, for example, networking, you can make a list of people you can get in contact with, or lecturers to get to know better, whom you may be able to use as references in the future (LinkedIn is a very useful tool for building contacts.) This will help improve your graduate employability majorly.

Getting to know your strengths and weaknesses early on, and taking steps to improve them, will stop them potentially tripping you up in the future, and also help you figure out which careers and industries may suit you.

3. Rewrite your Resume/LinkedIn

Your resume is probably something you’ve overlooked at university, and is most likely not up to date and polished, or perhaps you don’t even have one yet. Not to worry, the summer is the perfect time to brush it up and add any new things you’ve done this year! Learn how to spruce up your CV here.

You should also set some time aside to set up a LinkedIn account. LinkedIn is a type of interactive, online CV, and is an excellent way to find jobs and meet useful contacts, as well as keeping potential employers up to date with what you’re doing. You can even follow specific companies or job roles, and get alerts when they have new opportunities coming up. LinkedIn doesn’t seem to be going away any time soon, so it’s worth investing some time into.

4. Get a summer internship

Although this seems like an obvious way to boost your employment prospects, it’s still a very important one. Internships are a great way to earn a bit of extra money, while learning some important workplace skills.

You may think that doing an internship in something when you have no idea what you want to do is pointless, especially when your friends seem to know exactly what they want to do. Nevertheless, doing an internship in something you think sounds interesting but don’t know much about might be the catalyst to spark a passion in that industry for you, or alternatively show you that that specific career is not for you. The least you will gain is some valuable workplace experience, and improve your graduate employability.

For example, in my second year of university, I had absolutely no idea what I wanted to do. I was taking a degree in economics, but knew I liked reading and writing, so that summer I decided to do a marketing internship. Although I soon realized that marketing wasn’t the career for me in the long run, that six-week internship taught me many valuable skills about working and interacting in an office, as well as the importance of prioritizing my workload. It was also great to have produced professional work that I could show and discuss with future employers in interviews.

See here for some tips on how to get a summer internship.

5. Get a summer job

Whether it’s at your local coffee shop or on a busy shop floor, you’re likely to pick up qualities that will appeal to prospective employers, such as teamwork, leadership, and communication skills; all of which will be useful in competency based interviews when you’re asked to give examples.

For example, if you ever have to deal with an unhappy customer, you can talk about how you dealt with the difficult situation, and the steps you took to resolve this, which also gives an example of your ability to problem solve. You’re also likely to pick up some commercial awareness, as you will get the chance to experience how the business operates on a day to day basis.

Find out how to get a student job here >

6. Start a new hobby

Starting a new hobby may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of improving your graduate employability, but trying something new, like a sports club or a musical instrument, is a great way to meet new people, and learn a new skill. Having an interesting hobby on your CV can help you stand out from the crowd and give you that extra edge over other applicants.

It’s also good if the hobby pushes you slightly out of your comfort zone, as not only is this great for building your confidence, but it’s also good preparation for your working life, where you will undoubtedly be put into situations in which you sometimes feel out of your depth, and it’s useful to find effective ways to deal with these moments. You’ll also most likely end up making some great new friends!

7.Take on volunteer work

Like starting a new hobby, volunteering is a great way to meet new people and build connections, whilst boosting your skills. Volunteering is also ideal for boosting your graduate employability. Find out about the benefits of volunteering here.

The great thing about volunteering is the sheer variety of different areas available, and you can even volunteer abroad. It’s up to you how many hours you want to put in, and many opportunities offer extensive training, so you’ll be helping yourself while you help others – really a win-win situation!

8. Try an online course

 Online courses are a great way to boost your employment prospects without even leaving the house! With the sheer volume of courses available on the internet, you’ll have no problem finding something that interests you. Learn coding with codeacademy, digital marketing with Google, or anything else with futurelearn, vision2learn or coursera.

You will also be pleased to know that most of these online courses are free, although you may need to pay for a certificate to prove that you have gained a recognized qualification.

One student tells us what she liked about the business and administration online course she took to enhance her career prospects; “the course gave me a good general insight into admin and business which can be applied to lots of different things”.

9.Start a blog

Starting a blog is a great way to find your voice and write about what you’re passionate about. This is particularly useful if you're looking to go into a more creative role or industry, as it gives you a chance to express yourself in a professional way. You should make it relevant to the industry you are applying for and write about relevant topics that interest you.

Blogging is a great way to complement your CV, and it is easier than ever to create a free blog. Find out how here.

10.Network

That old phrase, ‘it’s not what you know but who you know’ props up once again. Before you roll your eyes and look away, it’s worth noting that research has shown that up to 60 percent of jobs are not advertised. It is now more vital than ever to network, and luckily for you, with social media, apps and the internet, it’s easier than ever as well!

There are even specific websites available which inform you of networking events in your area, for example, Eventbrite, which gives details of networking events of all kinds. Read our tips on effective networking here.

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Have you tried any of these? Let us know in the comments below.

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As the eclectic and multi-cultural center of the UK, Birmingham’s festival scene is vast and varied.

There are a whopping 50 festivals on every year in Birmingham, celebrating everything from St Patrick’s Day to Caribbean culture and 1920s swing! To help you choose from the abundance on offer, we’ve compiled a list of our favorites.

MADE Festival, Perry Park

First on the list is Birmingham’s biggest music festival, bringing together the best urban music acts and showcasing the city’s top creative industries.

Taking place every summer since 2014, MADE Festival has grown year on year, consistently booking internationally acclaimed house, drum and bass and garage acts.

The one-day festival pays homage to Birmingham’s long-established rave culture and warehouse clubbing scene and if you still have the energy, you can continue the party the following day at the Sunday dance festival, Legends in the Park.

Birmingham Pride, Gay Village

This is the largest, two-day LGBTQ festival in the whole of the UK and an extravaganza that’s not to be missed. Welcoming people of every gender, race and religion, this huge street party brings together the whole community every May bank holiday for a fabulous celebration.

There are six stages to choose from, including a cabaret tent and lip-sync stage, each showcasing world-famous musicians, the UK’s best-known drag queens and top local talent. Also check out the amazing shows on at the local pubs and clubs where the party continues into the early hours.

St Patrick’s Festival, Digbeth High Street

Birmingham’s St Patrick’s Day celebrations are the biggest in the UK and the third biggest in the whole world!

Every year the beginning of the parade kicks off with a giant confetti blast followed by the drums of the marching band as they lead the procession through the city center.

But it’s not just Irish culture being celebrated, Birmingham’s Paddy’s Day has a long running tradition of celebrating the city’s multicultural heritage, which explains why you will also see Caribbean dancers, Welsh dragon flags and Chinese dragons dancing down the street.

Foodies Festival, Cannon Hill Park

Birmingham also puts on one of the biggest food festivals in the UK, this time bringing together top chefs, incredible food, creative cocktails and live music for a two-day foodie celebration in one the city’s most loved parks.

There are a huge range of activities to choose from. Sharpen up your culinary skills and take part in a masterclass led by a Michelin-starred chef or join in the chili eating competition if you’re feeling brave!

What’s not to love about a weekend spent sampling the very best of the city’s food and drinks scene? Best of all, it’s free!

Swingamajig, Botanical Gardens

Set amidst the beautiful backdrop of Birmingham’s Botanical Gardens, this one-day festival celebrates all things 1920s.

Expect electro swing music from live bands and DJ sets that put a fun, modern twist on vintage tunes. Join in the fun by getting dressed up in 1920s costume and learn the classic moves in a swing dance class.

There are also gravity-defying circus acts, spectacular dance performances and an extravagant burlesque finale to finish off an incredible day of entertainment.

Mostly Jazz, Funk and Soul Festival, Moseley Park

Recently celebrating its 10-year anniversary, this has become a firm favorite in Birmingham’s festival calendar.

Over the years it has drawn huge acts such as The Jacksons, Grandmaster Flash and Craig Charles for a celebration of jazz, funk and soul music. Taking place over three days, you’ll have plenty of time to soak up all the action at a leisurely pace and relax in the beautiful surroundings of Moseley Park.

They also have some incredible food on offer, with Indian and Caribbean street food stalls as well as pop-up stalls from some of the city’s top restaurants.

Lead image: metrogogo (Flickr)

London boasts a jam-packed festival line-up all year round, but the summer months are when festival season really kicks off. There are a dizzying array of music festivals catering to every genre, with one taking place almost every weekend!

If you’re studying and living in London, it’s a great opportunity to see live music and enjoy the festival experience without having to worry about camping or booking accommodation.

Not sure where to start? Here are some of our favorites from London’s epic summer festival line-up.

British Summer Time Festival, Hyde Park

This 10-day extravaganza includes two show-stopping weekends, with the 2019 line-up including musical legends Stevie Wonder, Celine Dion and Florence + The Machine.

As if that’s not enough, there are heaps of free mid-week activities to keep you entertained, from open-air movie nights to circus performances and live screenings of Wimbledon.

With the sheer amount of entertainment on offer, this event is an amazing all-rounder with something for everyone.

Wireless Festival, Finsbury Park

If hip-hop, grime and garage are more to your taste, then you can’t miss out on Wireless, the UK’s biggest urban music event.

Taking place over one weekend, usually in July, the line-up is guaranteed to be packed with hip-hop heavyweights and the biggest names in rap. The huge 2019 line-up was headlined by Cardi B, Travis Scott and Migos.

Lovebox, Gunnersbury Park

London’s most loved summer dance music festival is a buzzing two-day event that happily doesn’t take itself too seriously.

Taking place in Gunnersbury Park in West London, it’s just a hop on the tube to Acton Town and a short walk before you’re in the middle of the action.

A mix of house, techno, hip-hop and R&B acts draw in an eclectic mix of friendly revelers who are all ready to dance the day away. Beyond the tunes, the park is also dotted with some great extras such as a vintage fair and roller disco.

Citadel, Gunnersbury Park

If Lovebox left you pumped and wanting more, fear not! Citadel takes place almost immediately after Lovebox wraps up and is a slightly more chilled way to finish off your weekend.

The one-day Sunday festival is packed with indie heavyweights such as Catfish and the Bottlemen, Bastille and Friendly Fires. Alongside the music there are workshops, talks and activities for all ages. Fancy a mass yoga class or space pub quiz? Citadel has it covered.

The Mighty Hoopla, Brockwell Park

The ultimate pop festival, The Mighty Hoopla is now in its third year and is quickly becoming known as London’s most fun, welcoming and glitter-filled festival.

The 2019 line up was packed with pop superstars, with Chaka Khan, All Saints and Artful Dodger all taking center stage over the one-day festival.

If your idea of the perfect festival includes a day packed with cheesy tunes, pop classics and extravagant outfits, then this is the event for you.

South West Four, Clapham Common

Now over 15 years old, this festival has established itself as one of London’s leading dance festivals and is well-known for its humungous and diverse line-ups, catering to EDM, techno, grime, house and drum and bass fans alike.

Taking place on Clapham Common, the event is very easily accessed from the tube’s Northern Line. Another bonus is that it’s always held on August bank holiday, meaning you get an extra day to recover!

All Points East, Victoria Park

Although only a few years old, All Points East has established itself as one of the biggest and best of London’s festivals.

Similar to British Summer Time, there are two headliner weekends with free activities taking place all week in between, but this Victoria Park festival has a slightly more alternative feel to it. The 2019 line-up included world-famous acts such as The Chemical Brothers, The Strokes, Bring Me The Horizon and Christine & The Queens.

Earning the title of the best student city in the world (according to the QS Best Student Cities 2019), London has undoubtably captured the heart of many students around the world. Containing no less than 18 world leading universities, more than its fair share of famous landmarks, and enough history to amuse history buffs for a lifetime, London really does have something for everyone.

In this article we have done our best to take some pictures which truly capture why London is the best city to study in (although pictures can barely do it justice). Read on to find out why you should study in London!

1. Because you can buy cute vintage clothes in Camden Market

Camden Market, Camden

2. Because when you study in London, you can causally walk past and admire views like this

The Houses of Parliament, Westminster

3. Because the parks here aren’t too shabby!

Regent's Park

4. Because Sherlock Holmes lived here* (what better reason is there to study in London!?)

Sherlock Homes' house, 221b Baker Street

*What do you mean he’s a fictional character?

5. Because there are open air theaters you can visit in the summer dotted around the city.

The award winning Open Air Theatre, Regent's Park

6. Because if you study in London, you can walk past the Queen’s house and watch the changing of the guards.

Buckingham Palace, Westminster

 If you're lucky she might invite you in for afternoon tea... 

7. Because it feels like several cities in one.

Little Venice, Paddington 

8. Because you can watch the whole city go by on the London Eye.

The London Eye

9. Because the street food is unparalleled

The food stalls at Camden Market

10. Because you can walk up a hill and see the entire London skyline, even on a cloudy day!

Parliament Hill, Hampstead Heath 

Get ready to study in London with our complete guide on How to Study Abroad in the UK

Every year, QS partners with Alliance Manchester Business School to offer the QS-Alliance Manchester Business School Masters Scholarship, offered exclusively to attendees of the QS World Grad School Tour who have been accepted at Alliance Manchester.

The scholarship covers 50 percent of tuition fees for two students to study a one-year MSc program at the school, and this year’s winners were Gabriela Souto Cardoso and Umberto Banfichi. We spoke to both of them to learn more about their plans and to ask what advice they’d offer other scholarship applicants.

Why did you choose Alliance Manchester Business School?

Gabriela: I chose the University of Manchester and Alliance Manchester Business School because it’s one of the best ranked institutions and among the most innovative universities in the United Kingdom. It also has an impressive employability rate according to recently published surveys.

Additionally, the city of Manchester manages to be the perfect blend of a warming environment and vibrant student city, with vast multicultural diversity. This is constantly celebrated by outdoor events, museums, restaurants, sports events, and music scenes, which makes Manchester the perfect city for me.

Umberto: I chose the University of Manchester because of its resounding academic reputation and because it provides a program that seems to better meet my needs. Indeed, I was looking for a course where the class composition would have a blend of cultures, and I found Manchester to be the best option, with more than 22 nationalities represented on the course.

What do you hope to gain from your degree? How will it affect your career plans?

Gabriela: With this course, I hope to acquire knowledge of the most important aspects in the field of administration, so I can develop myself professionally.

Umberto: During my bachelor’s degree, I had the opportunity to study in other two countries thanks to the Erasmus+ program. In those years, I realized how important it is to develop the ability to think and work across boundaries and borders.

For these reasons, I chose this program and I expect to acquire and develop skills to help me better understand today's globalised economy.

How did you find the scholarship application process? How many sources of financial aid did you approach?

Gabriela: I constantly used TopUniversities.com to consult rankings and I knew QS also organized several events about studying abroad. During one of my visits to the website, I came across the scholarship pages and since I’ve attended the fairs, I found out I could apply.

Umberto: In my opinion, the scholarship application process was very clear and intuitive. Once I had satisfied the eligibility requirements, I had to write an essay of 700 words explaining how this master’s would affect my career. 

I have to admit that I was quite lucky to have won this scholarship because it was the only one that I applied to. I wrote the essay just a few days before the deadline due to being busy with exams and this is also the reason why I did not approach other sources of financial aid.

What was your experience of a QS event like? What were the highlights of your time there, and what would you recommend to future attendees?

Gabriela: My experience of the QS event was wonderful. I discovered some great institutions with scholarships that I did not know existed. There were some interesting panels and discussion groups with some relevant topics and tips for students that were in the same situation as me.

I took many notes and asked questions and it was splendid to have contact with people that knew exactly what I was going through.

I had the chance to meet someone from the Alliance Manchester Business School. Jemma was the most helpful person, giving me advice on scholarships and loans. Meeting her gave me confidence and was the step I needed to be sure I wanted to attend The University of Manchester for my master’s.

Umberto: I attended the QS World Grad School Tour in Bologna and it was a fantastic opportunity to meet and better understand the universities that were there. Thanks to it, I had the pleasure to talk with the admissions officer from the University of Manchester who answered all my questions with incredible patience.

Some face-to-face meetings were also arranged with representatives of highly ranked business schools which I really enjoyed. Having the possibility to talk privately with them was very helpful as I could find out what admission managers were looking for in a student. 

What advice do you have for other prospective students who are applying for scholarships?

Gabriela: My most valuable advice is to plan ahead! The earlier you start planning, the better.

You will be able to spot every possible scholarship, work on your essays as much as you need to and make your applications as strong as possible.

Make a list of priorities, write down the name of your favourite universities, search which ones have scholarships and check what you need to apply for them. When you have all that information, make a calendar with all the scholarships and application deadlines so you don’t miss anything. It’s all about organization and always having a backup plan.

Umberto: My advice for all future candidates is to try to stand out. Try to catch the attention of the person reading your application right at the beginning and then maintain their interest for the entire length of your essay.