Study abroad

Spain, South Africa and Singapore have some of the cheapest weekly rates for student accommodation in the world, according to new research. 

Accommodation search engine Student.com found that the lowest rents for students around the world were in Albacete (Spain), Johannesburg (South Africa) and Singapore. In fact, four Spanish cities (Albacete, Murcia, Granada and Alcalá de Henares) are among the top 10 cheapest for weekly rents. 

Three US cities feature in the top 10 (Tallahassee, Athens GA and Columbia MO). Derby in the UK rounds out the top 10. 

The rising rate of student mental health problems is a global issue and needs to be tackled with a "whole university approach", according to a new study.

The Global Student Accommodation Group (GSA), analysed more than 10,000 pages of evidence from more than 280 studies from the UK, Germany, Spain and Australia to understand how student well-being has evolved over the last decade. 

More and more Chinese students are heading overseas to study. In fact, China continues to be one of the leading countries sending students to study abroad and this demand for overseas education remains strong.

Here are the top nine reasons why Chinese students are choosing to head overseas for their university education. 

1. Enriched experience

The majority of Chinese students decide to study abroad to develop a better understanding of other cultures and to gain a global mindset.

Why are Dutch staircases so perilously narrow? How come most Italian students live at home? Is there really a curfew in Bulgarian student residences? When I embarked on my own Erasmus exchange, moving from Glasgow to student halls in sunny Toulouse, in France, my biggest problem was working out how my wall-bed worked.

Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) in South Korea has been named the most innovative university in the Asia-Pacific region, according to Reuters.

Dear Friend,

I have been worried about you since you mentioned that you felt stressed about getting good grades while you’ve been at university in America. I have been researching this issue because I will also be an international student next year.

For all international students, it is essential to deal with the stress from studying, otherwise we will be exhausted and will find it difficult to adapt to our new environment. It is just as important to enjoy your time at university than it is to achieve good grades.

As May comes to an end, my time in London is almost finished. I only have a week left here – how bizarre that feels.

Coming to Harvard University has certainly changed me. I have had both positive and negative experiences, which have helped me to grow and progress. 

The highs

Building strong friendships 

Until I joined the University of Bristol, I didn't really know much about student politics. Based on what I had seen of student politics on the internet, I envisioned it being messy and suited to loud, hot-blooded people. It could not, however, be further from the reality.

Joining any university in the UK means automatic admission into the university’s Students’ Union – a place for meeting new people, joining societies and clubs and enjoying a drink every now and then.

To get in to your ideal course at your ideal institution, an international student needs more than good grades (although they certainly don’t hurt). The people in charge of reviewing university applications will sift through hundreds – sometimes thousands – of personal statements, so it’s important to make yours stand out. 

So how do you create a high-quality personal statement that makes you the obvious choice for your institution?