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United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK, or Britain, is a sovereign island country located off the northwestern coast of mainland Europe. The UK includes the island of Great Britain, the northeast part of the island of Ireland and many small islands. Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK with a land border, sharing it with the Republic of Ireland. Apart from this land border, the UK is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, the North Sea, the English Channel and the Irish Sea. The largest island, Great Britain, is linked to France by the Channel Tunnel.
The United Kingdom is a union of four constituent countries: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. The United Kingdom is a parliamentary democracy with its seat of government in London, the capital, and a constitutional monarchy with Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II as the head of state. The Crown Dependencies of the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, formally possessions of the Crown, are not part of the UK but form a federacy with it. The UK has fourteen overseas territories, all remnants of the British Empire, which at its height encompassed almost a quarter of the world's land surface, making it the largest empire in history. As a direct result of the empire, British influence can be observed in the language and culture of states such as Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India, Pakistan, South Africa, Singapore, Sri Lanka and the United States of America, and other less globally influential independent states. HM Queen Elizabeth II remains the head of the Commonwealth of Nations and head of state of the Commonwealth realms.
The UK is a developed country, with the fifth (nominal GDP) or sixth (PPP) largest economy in the world. It was the world's foremost power during the 19th and early 20th century, but the economic cost of two world wars and the decline of its empire in the latter half of the 20th century diminished its leading role in global affairs. The UK nevertheless retains strong economic, cultural, military and political influence and is a nuclear power, with the second or third (depending on method of calculation) highest defence spending in the world. It holds a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council, and is a member of the G8, NATO, WTO, the European Union and the Commonwealth of Nations.
Why Study in United Kingdom?
There are literally hundreds of reasons why you should chose to study abroad in Great Britain. The attraction of the UK stems from is unique ability to provide a balance between a centuries-old tradition, and a cutting-edge modern life that is both exciting and multi-faceted. If you are looking for a country that is sophisticated, interesting, modern, fun, beautiful, challenging, inviting, and stimulating, Great Britain is the destination for you.
The UK’s world-class contributions to literature, art, philosophy, religion, science, technology, commerce and trade, industry, politics - basically, everything - make it one of the best places in the world to pursue your education. Its long-running position as a world-leader has attracted some of the best and most creative minds from around the world, and has fostered a highly developed environment of learning and thought. Universities and institutions of learning are held to a high standard through the Quality Assurance Agency; and the quality of research at British institutions is assessed yearly by the Research Assessment Exercise, a practice that has kept British research competitive and progressive.
More specifically, those interested in the fields of finance, economics, business, political science, advertising, creative design and the arts, music performance/music industry, theater, pharmacy/medicine, and software will find that study in the UK will open up a plethora of opportunities. The UK ranks at least 3rd in the world for study in each of these areas; so not only will students find that they are receiving a globally respected education, but also that their education is equipping them with the skills and knowledge to compete successfully in the global market.
In the fields of finance, business, economics and political science, London has been a center of commerce and trade for over a century. Advances in technology, the telecommunications revolution, and Britain’s growing integration with the rest of Western Europe have only enhanced its position as a financial leader.
Britain’s creative industry -
"The U.K's world-class contributions to literature, art, philosophy, religion, science, technology, commerce and trade, industry, politics, - basically everything - make it one of the best places in the world to pursue your education."
Advertising, creative design, theater, music, and the arts - has experienced a reawakening over the past 40 years, and it is now recognized as a premier Western European locale for the study and pursuit of the arts. Medical research, including pharmaceuticals, genetics, and epidemiology, is also one of the primary reasons students choose to study in the UK. In 2000, 37% of all R&D done in the UK was in the field of pharmaceuticals. Finally, Britain is the world’s 3rd largest consumer of software products, which has resulted in an industry that is consistently at the forefront of innovation and adaptation. In 2001 alone, the British software industry grossed over £20 billion.
The UK has the added allure of offering its visitors four distinctly different cultures, which lie within arms reach of each other - those of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Though a part of the same political unit, these regions’ people, landscapes, social culture, and even language are all truly unique yet close enough to enable you to experience each with relative ease. Furthermore, with the completion of the Channel Tunnel in 1994, an underground tunnel that runs below the English Channel and connects Britain to France, travel to the continent is faster and easier than ever. |
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