The touted ‘financial capital of the world’ is also one of the most vibrant and diverse cities you will set foot in. For students and professionals alike, London offers much more than just a place to study and work. The multicultural, fast-paced and dynamic life of London is what sets it apart from a lot of other cities. The cosmopolitan city boasts a grand skyline, which is home to the headquarters of some of the largest multi-billion-dollar companies in the world.
Student Life
Ranked as the No. 1 student city in the world by QS rankings, students will find themselves awestruck by the number of exciting activities and learning opportunities London offers; whether it be exquisite art galleries or historically rich museums such as the Natural History Museum, or the modern and grand skyline accentuated by buildings like the Shard.
The city is also home to the University of London group of universities, which includes prestigious higher education institutes like Kings College London, known for being the number 1 school in the world for Dentistry; the highly acclaimed London School of Economics and Political Sciences, a premier institute for undertaking study in economics and finance-related subjects; and the University College London, number 8th in the world according to the QS rankings, and ranked 1st among all the higher education institutes in London. So, with no shortage of academically excelling institutions, students will surely find a place for themselves where they can unlock their true potential.
Zooming away from the study aspect, the extensive tube network that is the lifeline of the city, is an affordable and quick option to travel across London. Areas like Oxford street and Covent Gardens allow students to indulge in some weekend shopping. In contrast, areas like the St. Pancras station spoil students for eating options, with multicultural restaurants offering cuisines from around the world.
Working in London
Working in any of the iconic offices located amongst the impressive London skyline is every student’s dream. Financial giants like PwC, HSBC, and Barclays all have their headquarters in Central London. For students focussing on finance, accounting and any other related fields, they will get plenty of opportunities to undertake lucrative internships at these firms and get a feel of corporate life, and form life-long connections which will enable them to secure a steady foothold in the professional world later on in their lives.
However, don’t let the name ‘financial capital’ deceive you into believing that there’s no place in London for professionals in other fields! GlaxoSmithKline, Aviva, Unilever and BP also have their main offices in London, and these too offer engineering and pharmaceutical internships for budding students. Smaller, but quickly growing companies, such as the Starling Bank, have begun their operations from the very heart of London, and this opens a world of opportunities for people with the right skills looking for enticing and out-of-the-box work experiences.
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