Advice

Explore the rankings

No matter how much you already know about university options in the UK, you can learn even more detail about individual universities and how they compare with each other by using the Times Higher Education World University Rankings and the subject rankings.

I was lucky to have as good a graduate school experience as one could have. I had a wonderful adviser, attended an excellent programme, and was fortunate to have received financial support from my university.

Yet, even under the best of circumstances, graduate school is demanding and stressful. Like many other graduate students, I postponed many major milestones of early adult life – children, homeownership and saving for retirement – to pursue a career in research.

When considering going to university in the US, a good (and easy) place to start with your research is to watch some films. However, while US university life is often depicted in movies, it’s safe to say that many of them take creative license and portray college life in an unrealistic fashion.

From bursting into song on campus to making up your own university, here are some of the myths put forward by Hollywood that you probably shouldn't base your decision on. 

As an international student, there are so many different processes you’ll need to understand and navigate when applying to universities in the United States. Here’s a breakdown of the three most important aspects: admissions, funding and visas.

Your first year of university is, without a doubt, character-building. Of course, this could be either a good thing or a bad thing.

To help every student make the most of their first year, we got in touch with a group who made it through that awkward transition and lived to tell the tale. These individuals gave us some fantastic tips that will guide you through first year.

For international students, completing your UK university application online using the centralised system, Ucas, is usually the easiest part of the process.

However, the problems tend to arise as students embark on the visa process and look at how much their degree at a British university is going to cost them. So how can you be sure that you’re meeting all the requirements set by your chosen institutions, and be certain that you are able to cover all the necessary expenses?

Twitter can sometimes be an absolute minefield of different opinions, angry comments and just downright rudeness. But every now and then a Twitter thread appears that is helpful and insightful and sparks thoughtful discussion and advice. 

One such thread was by Dr Sara Althari, who recently received her PhD from the University of Oxford making her part of just a small handful of Saudi women who have ever achieved this. 

Remember everything: our university packing list

Packing for university is no easy task. You have to figure out which items are the most important to you. 

It’s pretty inevitable that you will end up forgetting something, no matter how well you pack. To ensure that this doesn’t happen, take a look at our list of all the things that you are likely to forget and add them to your suitcase now.

Campus life at American universities can be intimidating for any student. With more than 3,000 institutions of higher learning across the country, and an average of 20.4 million college students, it is easy for even the most prepared student to feel lost in the system.

Remember that you are not alone. There are more than 1.1 million international students just like yourself studying in the US, and with a few easy tips, you will feel right at home enjoying the American collegiate experience that drew you to the country in the first place.

Remember everything: our university packing list

Now that you've secured your place at university it's time to start thinking about the things you do and don't need to take with you. While it is tempting to pack every single item of clothing you own, your games console and a mini fridge, some of those things just simply aren't necessary. Here's a list of all the things you will need to take with you to college and the items you could probably do without.