LET'S face it - there are so many factors which go into deciding where you'd like to study, and for some this becomes an even more important factor than the quality of the university you're aiming to go to.
That may or may not be a wise approach to deciding where you would like to go, but it's surely sensible to work out whether you would be comfortable living for three years or more in one place.
The truth is that you don't need to make a decision which means sacrificing quality of life for a better quality university education or the other way round because it's all about finding the right balance.
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Take a UK city like Bristol, for example. A lot of water has passed under the iconic Clifton Suspension Bridge since the city was known primarily as the home of musical masters Massive Attack and graffiti God Banksy. The latest authoritative 'Best Places to Live' list compiled by the most respected Sunday newspaper in the UK, The Sunday Times, ranks the city as the best place to live in the UK. Bristol's strengths have now gone far beyond groundbreaking music and street art.
The Sunday Times labelled Bristol, “the obvious choice,” for the top of their list, and reeled off the multiple strengths which make the city stand out, “There are jobs — lots of them glamorous, creative, hi-tech and professional — the food and drink are great, and it crams in all the culture you could wish for.”
Over and above great career prospects, great entertainment and cutting-edge culture, the city's enduring character itself also strikes a perfect balance. On one side of the city, you'll find Clifton Village, where English tradition and heritage come together to form an almost postcard-worthy picture in an area filled with grand Victorian and Georgian buildings. Then on the other side of the city and only half an hour by foot, ambitious regeneration projects such as Wapping Wharf and the Tobacco Factory make clear the city is looking to the future, and thriving too.
The best way to describe how the Bristol we see today has been created is this: the best of the past is preserved passionately, and some of the most ambitious regeneration in Western Europe has brought areas falling behind into the future. This spirited balance of preservation of the best and innovation for the future is perfectly embodied in one of the city's great institutions, the University of Bristol.
The university's grand old buildings dominate much of the city's skyline, and the Wills Memorial Building which dates back nearly one hundred years is perhaps the most recognisable. But the grand old buildings it's located in doesn't quite do justice to the huge impact the university's students and research have made on the city and the wider world.
Around ten percent of the city's population are students, meaning that it's impossible for the city to stand still with such a huge influence on the daily life of Bristol. The university itself is ranked among the top 50 in the world, and due to the calibre of its students is one of the most targeted among employers seeking new talent.
Bristol's oldest university serves as one of the city's great windows to the world, in collaboration with the World Universities Network, Coimbra and the Association of Commonwealth Universities. As a Russell Group member, the University of Bristol is at the forefront of international research too and welcomes international students every year from over 120 different countries. No one doubts that moving to a new country to study holds huge challenges, and this city institution makes sure the support is there for every new arrival.
PhD student Gozde Burger, says she received support throughout the processing of her visa and was able to speak face to face with the university's advisers, “The international office was always there for me and helped me a lot with my questions. They kept me updated and also offered face-to-face meetings to discuss my situation.”
Yunfei Li completed his Masters in Molecular Neuroscience at Bristol in 2011. He always hoped he would be able to return to the University and city he had grown so fond of.
After five years working as a surgeon in his hometown of Henan in China, he was given the opportunity to come back to Bristol thanks to the backing of the Chinese Scholarship Council, and this year he embarked on his PhD in medicine.
“I really enjoyed my first time at Bristol so I am very happy to be here again. I previously made many friends here, with both my classmates and supervisors. Bristol was my first choice for my PhD - it’s really an excellent university,” said Yunfei.
The university guarantees offers of accommodation for new international students, meaning that new arrivals have the security of knowing that there's going to be a good place to start putting down roots in the city – everyone including the university knows that this sort of support is what makes the difference for students who not only need to adapt to a wonderful new city but also want to get on and make the best of their studies.
This editorial was sponsored by the University of Bristol, to find out more about their courses take a look at their profile.
