The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly referred to as the UK or Britain, is a sovereign nation situated off the northwestern coast of continental Europe. Governed as a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system, its capital and largest city is London.

The UK is comprised of four constituent countries: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Each of the latter three has its own devolved government with varying degrees of legislative power, headquartered in Edinburgh, Cardiff, and Belfast, respectively.

Beyond its borders, the UK has influence over fourteen British Overseas Territories. This influence is evident in the language, culture, and legal systems of many of its former colonies.

As a developed country, the UK possesses the world’s sixth-largest economy by nominal GDP and ranks eighth in terms of purchasing power parity. It earned the distinction of being the first industrialized nation and was the preeminent global power throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries. Today, the UK continues to wield substantial economic, cultural, military, scientific, and political influence on the global stage.

One of the most popular study destinations, the UK enjoys a proud tradition of education with universities rooting back to the 12th and 13th centuries. Known for its language, history, culture and innovation, the UK has an average student retention rate of 82%. With comprehensive support systems in place for international students, studying in UK is definitely a life-changing experience.