Student life

In June 2015, Aaron Chapman travelled from his home in the UK to Japan, hoping to study for a master’s degree there the next academic year. His motivation was almost entirely selfless; he felt a duty to become a cultural ambassador.

“I feel like it is my mission to ensure that a good level of understanding happens between countries,” he says.

Welcome to THE Student

From now, you’re getting even more than you bargained for at Times Higher Education – in a good way, of course.

For 12 years we’ve given you rankings, data and table upon table for you to use in one of the most important decisions of your life: which university to choose.

But we want to make that decision process even smoother for you, by guiding you each step of the way and using our resources to help you to really understand all the options on offer and factors to consider.

The cheapest region of the UK for students has been named as the East of England, according to research by a money-saving website.

Students in the East, which includes Cambridge, Norwich and Essex, get the best deal, say the money-saving team at PromotionalCodes.org.uk.

Eleven regions were judged on the cost of catered student accommodation, nights out, alcoholic drinks and public transport, all of which drain the bank accounts of many a student.

Studying abroad can be an eye-opening experience wherever you go. But if you want to maximise your opportunities and get the most out of your experience, it is crucial to make an informed decision about where to study.

Luckily, there are plenty of resources to help you make a good decision, and I’ll take you through all the factors you should consider.

University rankings

Rankings should not be the sole basis of your decision, but there are many good reasons to use them as a starting point.

Studying far from home is an exciting prospect, full of new places, people and adventures in an unfamiliar land.

But what if your desire to go abroad is more strategic? Securing that sought-after graduate job is a worthwhile aspiration to keep in mind, and a study abroad experience can be important for your future career.

Whether or not you hope to use multiple languages in the workplace, international experience gives you precisely the skills that employers are looking for in a global business environment.