‘Universities in London’ the Most Popular Search Term Made By US Students

If you are a US student wanting to study in London, you are not alone. London is the most popular city among US students who are looking to study overseas, according to recent internet search results published by Google.

‘Universities in London’ is the most popular term amongst all generic searches made by US students relating to international study – that places London ahead of Paris, Berlin, Barcelona and Singapore. The research also reveals that universities in the ‘Golden Triangle’ of London, Oxford and Cambridge dominate internet searches.

Head of Google Education Industry, Harry Walker said: “We took a deep dive into the London education market to see how it ranks against other world cities. No matter how we looked at it, by university brand or just generic keywords, there is no doubt that London and the United Kingdom are the biggest magnets for US students seeking to study abroad.”

The use of London in searches confirms the brand value of the capital, and in recent years universities have added London to their title to attract more students.

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: “Google have used their search data to prove what we’ve known for years – that US students love to come to London. It is no wonder we are the number one destination for US students studying abroad because London offers world class universities, has heritage and culture oozing from every pore and is the gateway from which to explore the rest of the United Kingdom and Europe.

The report showed that there are five London institutions in the top 10 of the search, including King’s College London who were in 3rd place.

When speaking to Vice-Principal (International) of King’s College London, Dr Joanna Newman  she said she was delighted that King’s was found be in the top 10 for most searched universities for US students:

‘Studying at King’s in London is an enormously attractive prospect for international students and we are keen to encourage more students to come. We have worldwide reputation for excellence in research, a truly global campus and a thriving, accepting, multicultural city in London. We are also fortunate in having our Global Institutes offering world class expertise on China, India, North America and Brazil.

‘We are proud of our strong ties with the US, our large and active alumni network there and our work with partner universities. That work is part of our growing commitment with international partners to developing research that speaks directly to tackling global questions and needs. There is so much that both King’s and London have to offer and we look forward to seeing and welcoming more students from the US on campus in future.

Close behind King’s College London was University College London in fourth place. The University said: ‘Beyond academics, London is a centre for politics, business, finance and media. UCL, which has been rated 5th in the QS World University Rankings, enjoys all of these benefits as well as being surrounded by the greatest concentration of museums, galleries and professional bodies in Europe – all of which make UCL an attractive choice for US students.

‘Staff from UCL make regular visits across the US to meet prospective students in schools, universities, education exhibitions and study abroad fairs to provide them with advice and information about studying at UCL.’

The report also showed that the most searched for subject by US students looking to study in London is business and finance, followed by fashion, with University of the Arts’ London College of Fashion among the most highly searched specialist institutions.

Other London universities that are also heavily searched by US students include: The London School of Economics (5th), Imperial College London (7th) and the University of the Arts London (9th). City University London (56th most searched), Brunel University London (75th), London Metropolitan University (87th), London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (89th) and Goldsmiths, University of London (97th) make up the list for London universities.

If you’re interested in studying in London, be sure to check out our student accommodation in London.