The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom consists of four constituent countries: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The United Kingdom's capital and largest city is London, a global city and financial centre with an urban area population of 10.3 million. Other major cities include Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow, Leeds and Liverpool. The United Kingdom is a developed country and has the world's sixth-largest economy by nominal GDP and ninth-largest economy by purchasing power parity. It has a high-income economy and has a very high Human Development Index rating. 

The UK education system is worldwide reputed for its high quality and standards. The education system in the UK consists of four stages as primary education, secondary education, further education and higher education. Children in the UK have to legally attend primary and secondary education which runs from about 5 years old until the student is 16 years old.

Primary Education

Primary education begins in the UK at age 5 and continues until age 11, comprising key stages one and two under the UK educational system. 

Secondary Education

From age 11 to 16, students will enter secondary school for key stages three and four and to start their move towards taking the GCSE's - learn more about secondary education in the UK and what it will involve. Primary and secondary education is mandatory in the UK; after age 16, education is optional.

Further Education

Once a student finishes secondary education they have the option to extend into further education to take their A-Levels, GNVQ's, BTEC's or other such qualifications. UK students planning to go to college or university must complete further education.

Higher Education

Probably the most important subject area on this site, this explains more about the higher education system in the UK and how it works for international students. Most international students will enter directly into the UK higher education system, after completing their home country’s equivalent to the UK’s “further education.”

Here’s an overview for undergraduate and postgraduate courses offered in the UK:

The UK is home to some of the best higher education institutions in the world and continues to welcome international students. Now International students are to be offered a two-year work visa after graduating from a British university, the Post study work visa will allow eligible students to work, or look for work, in any career or position of their choice, for two years after completing their studies. 
Under the new policy, the visas would have no cap on numbers and would allow graduates to apply for jobs regardless of their skills or the subject they studied. The government said part of the aim was to recruit talented graduates in disciplines such as math’s, engineering and technology. 
The Department for Education (DfE) said the route would allow students to look for work at any level, and allow them to later apply for longer-term work visas.

The United Kingdom is an extremely safe place to study and enjoy life. According to an official survey conducted in households across the country reductions in thefts in particular led to a considerable decrease in overall crime of some 7 percent during the past year. Studying in the UK is exciting and rewarding, every individual needs to make personal safety as a priority by taking few sensible security measures which ensures safety during the entire stay period. 

The police of UK, who are generally regarded as friendly and approachable, are also a useful resource in terms of locational information. Some international students still need to register with the local police within seven days of arriving in the UK – this provides an ideal opportunity to ask any specific questions you may have. Even those who are not subject to this requirement often have the chance to meet the police at briefing sessions delivered as part of university induction programmes. In any country there are areas people feel comfortable in and those that are better avoided. Getting to know which areas are which is all part of the learning curve when arriving in a new study destination. University support services provide information and advice on all aspects of life in the UK and this includes guidance on safety issues in their particular area. 

Students who enroll for a course in the UK can get support in the form of scholarships, bursaries, grants, fellowships, and financial awards. These may be funded by the government, public/private organizations or institutions.  Following are few best-known scholarship opportunities for international students .

The Chevening Scholarships - These scholarships are offered by the UK government to individuals with high academic performance who demonstrate high leadership potential. This programme offers financial support to study for a Master’s degree at any of the UK’s leading universities, with over 1,500 Chevening Scholarships on offer globally every academic cycle.

Euraxess UK – This is offered by British Council, and is aimed at aiding researchers in their career development, supporting mobility and acting as a support mechanism for researchers moving abroad or moving to the UK. Euraxess UK provides support, with the funding database providing a good source of funding opportunities.

The Commonwealth Scholarships - This is for those who want to pursue a Master’s or PhD and every year this is offered to students coming from the Commonwealth countries. Candidates are selected based on their previous academic history and their potential to aid in developing a better life for citizens of their home countries. Each scholarship provides airfare to and from United Kingdom, tuition and examination fees, personal maintaining allowance, thesis grant (if applicable), and initial arrival allowance, among others.

The Royal Society Grants - The independent scientific academy of the UK and the Commonwealth is dedicated to promoting excellence in science, and thus, offers a significant number of scholarships to talented and promising students. The Royal Society is a Fellowship of many of the world's most eminent scientists and is the oldest scientific academy in continuous existence.

UK - China Research Partnership for PhD Studies - These are grants to sponsor PhD students and their supervisors from the UK and China to spend a period of study at higher education institutions in China or the UK. The UK - China Research Partnership for PhD Studies aims to promote increased research and innovation collaboration between the two countries resulting in long-term partnerships.

Scholarships from British universities - Top universities in the UK usually provide generous funding for international students, based on their previous achievements. Following are few university details which provide the same

1. University of Cambridge
2. University of Oxford
3. Imperial College London
4. King’s College London
5. London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)
6. University College London

The Global Study Awards - The partnership between Study portals, ISIC and British Council encourages young people to study abroad to experience and explore new countries, cultures and languages. A scholarship of 10,000 GBP will be offered twice a year to two future international students committed to expanding their intercultural understanding and to changing society for the better.

1. Engineering and Technology
2. Business
3. Arts
4. Natural Science
5. Medicine
6. Law
7. Social Sciences
8. Sports Science
9. Media and Communication
10. Hospitality and Tourism

Most of the United Kingdom has a temperate climate, with generally cool temperatures and plentiful rainfall all year round. The temperature varies with the seasons seldom dropping below −20 °C (−4 °F) or rising above 35 °C (95 °F)

British culture is influenced by the nation's history; its predominantly Christian religious life, its interaction with the cultures of Europe, the traditions of England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland, and the impact of the British Empire. Although British culture is a distinct entity, the individual cultures of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are diverse and have varying degrees of overlap and distinctiveness.