For many excited young Spanish students, the desire to explore and find their own adventures outside of Spain is irresistible. In 2019, more than 850,000 students used the Erasmus programme to study abroad, and while 2020 has been a terrible year for travel, the future looks brighter.
With many countries beginning to vaccinate their populations against COVID-19, international travel and studying may open up for the 2021-22 year. Keep reading to learn about the best cities for Spanish students and the UK universities with the best reputations.
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Where to move to?
Lots of European students have London in mind for their study abroad time, but we wouldn’t necessarily recommend it. While London is full of culture, fun and life, it’s expensive and hard to relax. Costs will be very tight on a student budget, and seeing friends can be challenge.
We would advise looking to some of the bright and growing second and smaller cities of the UK. These five cities below are our favourite and each has its own charm and draw.
Birmingham – With a million people, a rich multi-cultural mix and some of the finest Asian food in the country, Birmingham is a welcoming and inclusive city for Spanish students looking to study abroad.
Canals, parks and a great night life make it an attractive prospect, plus it’s fairly cheap.
Manchester – Half a million people call this city home, as well as two of the best football teams in the country.
Historical and industrial at once, Manchester is a stunning mix of the old and the new, with architecture, night life and a really fun student vibe.
Cardiff – With Roman and medieval walls, an active port, and bars and music venues all over the place, Cardiff is an ideal student city.
Around 400,000 people live here, enjoying modern entertainment and traditional landscapes.
Newcastle – Although a little further north, and a little colder, Newcastle is a charming, architectural, and compact little city.
Around 300,000 people live here, and life is cosier and more inside than in southern cities. The beautiful Waterfront area and Quayside are central and inspirational.
Bristol – This is one of the most southern large cities in the UK, and enjoys more sun, outside dining and beach culture than other place. maybe an ideal transition for Spanish students.
Almost 500,000 people live here, and it’s one of the best places to find work, study or enjoy the British countryside.
Bristol is one of the fastest growing cities in the UK, and brilliant place to get your first experience of living in the UK.
A few great universities to consider
University of Birmingham – With a green, open and perfectly-kept campus, life at the University of Birmingham is all-inclusive, with more than 1000 different sport, hobby and interest groups to join.
Not only can you enjoy a world-renowned educational institute, you can meet anyone and everyone, and try out any activity.
The 13th best university in the country, and an averagely expensive city.
University of Cardiff – One of the strongest research universities in the country, and around 33,000 students, full and part time, study there. That means an incredible opportunity to explore new social circles and get the most from your study abroad experience.
The 14th best university in the country, and quite a cheap city.
University of Bristol – Located at various campus’ and buildings around the city, this is a fantastic university to be independent, and learn to live on your own. Many students choose private apartments rather than the relatively cramped city-centre halls, so it’s a perfect chance to try it out.
The 10th best university in the country and an averagely expensive city.
University of Manchester – With the largest selection of undergraduate courses in the UK, there’s something for everyone in Manchester.
That means you’ll spend time with people from all types of backgrounds and courses, which is exactly what a year abroad is all about. Around 26,000 students annually study here.
The 6th best university in the country, and a relatively cheap city.
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Let us know if you’d like more tips about what it’s like to study abroad in the UK. Many of our students take classes with us, as they get ready to speak English while studying abroad. If you’d like more information, get in touch here, or learn more about our classes here.
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