Overview

Geographical Conditions:

The United Kingdom, world`s 7th largest island country, is a sovereign state located off the north-western coast of continental Europe.  The UK is bordered by four seas - English Channel to south which links the UK with France, North Sea to east, Irish Sea and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. It shares am international land boundary with the Republic of Ireland.

The surrounding sea gives England a varied climate. Weather cannot be predicted due to variable climate. In general, warm summers and cool winter persists.   Summers are cooler than those on the continent, but the winters are milder; therefore overall climate in England is temperate maritime.

Political & Legal System:

The UK is comprised of - Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales), Northern Ireland, British Overseas Territories ( fourteen territories under the jurisdiction and sovereignty of the United Kingdom) and the Crown dependencies (three island territories off the coast of Great Britain that are self-governing possessions of the Crown: the Bailiwick of Guernsey, the Bailiwick of Jersey and the Isle of Man). The capital city of the United Kingdom is London, which is also the capital of England.

The United Kingdom is governed within the parliamentary democracy under which monarch is the head of state while the Prime Minister is the head of government. Executive power is exercised by the British government, on behalf of and by the consent of the monarch, and the devolved governments of Scotland and Wales and the Northern Ireland Executive. Legislative power is vested in the two chambers of the Parliament: the House of Commons and the House of Lords, as well as in the Scottish Parliament and Welsh and Northern Ireland assemblies. The judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature. The constitution of the United Kingdom is uncodified, being made up of constitutional conventions, statutes and other elements such as EU law. This system of government is known as the Westminster system. UK withdrew from The European Union by separate legislation – Brexit.

The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom is the highest court in the land for all criminal and civil cases in England and Wales and Northern Ireland, and for all civil cases in Scots law. UK law arises where laws apply to the United Kingdom and/or its citizens as a whole. The United Kingdom has four legal systems: English law, Scots law, Northern Law and Welsh law. Welsh law is not a separate legal system per se, being merely the primary and secondary legislation generated by the National Assembly for Wales, based on the doctrines of English law, and not impacting upon English common law.

Economic Status:

The economy of the United Kingdom is highly developed and market-orientated. It is the sixth-largest national economy in the world. The service sector dominates, contributing around significantly to the GDP. London is the second-largest financial centre in the world. Britain`s aerospace industry is the second-largest national aerospace industry. Its pharmaceutical industry, the tenth-largest in the world, plays an important role in the economy. Of the world`s 500 largest companies, 26 are headquartered in the UK. Vodafone, GlaxoSmithKline, Barclays, International Airlines Group, BT Group, Aviva, Royal Bank of Scotland, Rolls-Royce Holdings, and London Stock Exchange and so on are the prominent industries in the UK.

Soceity and Culture

Language:

The de facto official language of the United Kingdom is English, which is the most widely spoken language of the United Kingdom. There are 14 indigenous languages used across the British Isles. There are also many immigrant languages spoken in the British Isles, mainly within inner city areas; these languages are mainly from South Asia and Eastern Europe. Welsh is the official language in Wales and the only de jure official language in any part of the UK.  People in the UK speak Scots.

Cuisine:

Although Britain has a rich indigenous culinary tradition, its colonial history has profoundly enriched its native cooking traditions. Well-known traditional British dishes include full breakfast, fish and chips, the Christmas dinner, the Sunday roast, steak and kidney pie, shepherd`s pie, and bangers and mash. People in Britain, however, eat a wide variety of foods based on the cuisines of Europe, India, and other parts of the world. British cuisine has many regional varieties within the broader categories of English, Scottish, Welsh, Northern Irish and Anglo-Indian cuisine. Many are geographically indicated foods such as Cornish pasties, the Yorkshire pudding, Cumberland Sausage, Arbroath Smokie, and Welsh cakes.

Tourist Attractions:

The United Kingdom is the world`s 10th biggest tourist destination, therefore large number of foreigners visit.

Tourism plays a significant part in the economic life of England. England`s long history and pervasive culture make it a popular tourist destination. UNESCO Bath, Salisbury Cathedral, Clifton Suspension Bridge, UNESCO English Lake District, Westminster Abbey, Tower of London, York Minster, Palace of Westminster, Leeds Castle, etc. are some of the important tourist spots.

Scotland is a well-developed tourist destination, with tourism generally being responsible for sustaining the service sector. It is seen as a destination with beautiful scenery combined with thousands of historic castles, houses, and battlegrounds, ruins and museums. Old and New Towns of the Edinburgh constitute a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Glasgow attractions include the Burrell Collection, Glasgow Cathedral, the Glasgow Science Centre and the Kelvingrove Museum.  Aberdeen, the "Granite City" is renowned for its gothic architecture.  Perth is a small historic city which stands on the River Tay. Dundee, a "City of Discovery", is the home of V&A Dundee.

Wales is an emerging tourist destination. Cardiff Castle, Millennium Stadium, SWALEC Stadium, National Museum of Wales, National Waterfront Museum, Dylan Thomas Centre, Plantasia, Oystermouth Castle, etc. are the important tourist attractions.

Off late, Northern Ireland is considered a ‘must-see’ tourism destination. The tourism infrastructure has been bolstered by the development of five high profile visitor attractions – Saint Patrick and Christian Heritage; the Mournes; Causeway Coast and Glens; the Walled City of Derry; and Titanic – which have international standout and world-class excellence.

Lifestyle:

The UK has a very diverse population, as people from all over the world live in the country. There are no strict etiquette rules; however, it is advisable to demonstrate decent manners and respect to the local culture and traditions. People in the country are very friendly and helpful to foreigners. They are very punctual and disciplined. They are not very keen on displaying affection in public as they prefer to maintain personal space.

The UK is a tolerant society; as such they do not discriminate against people because of their race, religion, gender, sexuality or disability. Generally the people wear formal clothes, although there are no restrictions. It is important to respect the British desire for privacy. It is easy to find good food in the UK as they have some of the world`s top restaurants. Supermarkets are good places to find cheap options for lunch and snack, to reduce the cost of living.

Health Care:

All four countries of the UK have a publicly funded health care system referred to as the National Health Service (NHS), founded in 1948. The NHS was adopted with a long-held ideal that good healthcare should be available to all, regardless of wealth. It has at its heart three core principles: That it meet the needs of everyone, that it be free at the point of delivery, and that it be based on clinical need, not ability to pay. 

Cancer Research UK, Alzheimer`s Research UK and Together for Short Lives are among hundreds of health charities in the UK. Florence Nightingale founded the St. Thomas’ Hospital in London as a nursing school. Her social reforms improved healthcare for all sections of society in the UK and around the world.

Education in UK

Quality and standards of education in UK is among the best in the world. The degrees and certificates awarded in UK institutions are internationally respected. The higher education system in the UK includes some of the world’s top ranked universities. They have 150 higher education institutions, which provide overseas students an opportunity to put their passions into practice at any of the leading institutions. The number of international students studying in the UK has been consistently rising.

All UK universities are independent bodies and enjoy autonomy. The country operates under the three-tier higher education system like the rest of Europe, which is divided into undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate study including research.  No matter the level of study, studying in the UK is a surefire way to make a positive step towards your prospective career in any field.

Reasons to Study in UK

• Quality and standards for UK universities are among the best in the world and credentials from UK institutions are generally internationally respected.
• The United Kingdom currently has six renowned institutions in the Global University Rankings with the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge both scoring 100% when it comes to their academic reputations.
• The quality of the universities in the UK is excellent; therefore the degrees awarded will be held in high regard by employers world over, giving an edge.
• The graduates from UK Universities are incredibly talented and many of its alumni are Nobel Laureates.
• The cost of education in UK is substantially cheaper than other English-speaking study abroad destinations such as US and Australia when it comes to paying for higher education.
• Students from abroad are surrounded by like-minded individuals from diverse backgrounds.
• Under National Health Service of UK, students who have studied for 6 months or more are able to access healthcare completely free of charge. This comes as a great benefit to students who are worried about funding their study abroad experience.
• The hassle free student visa in UK enables them to work up to 20 hours per week in a part-time job. The UK also has a guaranteed minimum wage, which help fund the studies.
• International students can undertake internship through the university in which they are studying with leading companies such as the BBC, Rolls Royce, or Burberry.
• Experience gained by the students in part time or internship will add to their CV.
• The University concerned may assist in providing placement after studies. Further the students are eligible to stay back in the UK for 2 years after completing their degree under the new Graduate Immigration Route.
• Most UK universities offer merit based scholarship programs and funding opportunities to international students to support their studies and cost of living.
• The UK boasts one of the highest student satisfaction rates amongst English speaking countries; with over 90% students in the UK express their happiness with their experience.
• UK is a better destination to study than that of other countries.
• There are many different international communities, and international students will feel welcome.
• Every year, the UK government arranges functions to extend a warm welcome to lakhs of international students with open arms.