The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a sovereign state in Europe. Lying off the north-western coast of the European mainland, it includes the island of Great Britain (the name of which is also loosely applied to the whole country), the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland and many smaller islands. Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK that shares a land border with another state—the Republic of Ireland.

Name of country: United Kingdom
Capital: London
Area: 243.610 km²
Population: 64.1 million (2014)
Currency: Pound sterling (GBP)
Time zone: Winter GMT (UTC+0); Summer: BST (UTC+1)
Language: English
Geography and Climate
United Kingdom lies between the North Atlantic and the North Sea, the southeastern coast United Kingdom, close to the northern French coast within 22 miles (35 km), separated by waist English Channel.

England accounts for just over half of the total area of the UK, covering 130,395 square kilometres (50,350 sq mi).Most of the country consists of lowland terrain, with mountainous terrain north-west of the Tees-Exe line; including the Cumbrian Mountains of the Lake District, the Pennines and limestone hills of the Peak District, Exmoor and Dartmoor. The main rivers and estuaries are the Thames, Severn and the Humber. England’s highest mountain is Scafell Pike (978 metres (3,209 ft)) in the Lake District.

Scotland accounts for just under a third of the total area of the UK, covering 78,772 square kilometres (30,410 sq mi) and including nearly eight hundred islands, predominantly west and north of the mainland; notably the Hebrides, Orkney Islands and Shetland Islands.

Wales accounts for less than a tenth of the total area of the UK, covering 20,779 square kilometres (8,020 sq mi). Wales is mostly mountainous, though South Wales is less mountainous than North and mid Wales. The main population and industrial areas are in South Wales, consisting of the coastal cities of Cardiff, Swansea and Newport, and the South Wales Valleys to their north.

Northern Ireland, separated from Great Britain by the Irish Sea and North Channel, has an area of 14,160 square kilometres (5,470 sq mi) and is mostly hilly. It includes Lough Neagh which, at 388 square kilometres (150 sq mi), is the largest lake in the British Isles by area. The highest peak in Northern Ireland is Slieve Donard in the Mourne Mountains at 852 metres (2,795 ft).

The United Kingdom has a temperate climate, with plentiful rainfall all year round. The temperature varies with the seasons seldom dropping below −11 °C (12 °F) or rising above 35 °C (95 °F). The prevailing wind is from the south-west and bears frequent spells of mild and wet weather from the Atlantic Ocean, although the eastern parts are mostly sheltered from this wind since the majority of the rain falls over the western regions the eastern parts are therefore the driest. Atlantic currents, warmed by the Gulf Stream, bring mild winters; especially in the west where winters are wet and even more so over high ground. Summers are warmest in the south-east of England, being closest to the European mainland, and coolest in the north. Heavy snowfall can occur in winter and early spring on high ground, and occasionally settles to great depth away from the hills.

Economy
The UK has a partially regulated market economy. Based on market exchange rates the UK is today the sixth-largest economy in the world and the third-largest in Europe after Germany and France.

The UK service sector makes up around 73% of GDP. London is one of the three “command centres” of the global economy (alongside New York City and Tokyo), it is the world’s largest financial centre alongside New York, and it has the largest city GDP in Europe.

The automotive industry is a significant part of the UK manufacturing sector and employs over 800,000 people, with a turnover of some £52 billion (2011). The aerospace industry of the UK is the second- or third-largest national aerospace industry in the world depending upon the method of measurement and has an annual turnover of around £25 billion. The pharmaceutical industry plays an important role in the UK economy and the country has the third-highest share of global pharmaceutical R&D expenditures (after the United States and Japan).

Agriculture is intensive, highly mechanised and efficient by European standards, producing about 60% of food needs with less than 1.6% of the labour force (535,000 workers).

Politics
The United Kingdom is a unitary state under a constitutional monarchy. Queen Elizabeth II is the head of state of the UK as well as monarch of fifteen other independent Commonwealth countries. The monarch has “the right to be consulted, the right to encourage, and the right to warn”.

The position of prime minister, the UK’s head of government, belongs to the person most likely to command the confidence of the House of Commons; this individual is typically the leader of the political party or coalition of parties that holds the largest number of seats in that chamber. The prime minister chooses a cabinet and its members are formally appointed by the monarch to form Her Majesty’s Government. By convention, the Queen respects the prime minister’s decisions of government.

Education
Whilst education in England is the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Education, the day-to-day administration and funding of state schools is the responsibility of local authorities.Universally free of charge state education was introduced piecemeal between 1870 and 1944. Education is now mandatory from ages five to sixteen, and in England youngsters must stay in education or training until they are 18. In 2011, the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) rated 13–14-year-old pupils in England and Wales 10th in the world for maths and 9th for science. In 2010, over half of places at the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge were taken by students from state schools, while the proportion of children in England attending private schools is around 7% which rises to 18% of those over 16. England has the two oldest universities in English-speaking world, Universities of Oxford and Cambridge (jointly known as “Oxbridge”) with history of over eight centuries.

Culture
The culture of the United Kingdom has been influenced by many factors including: the nation’s island status; its history as a western liberal democracy and a major power; as well as being a political union of four countries with each preserving elements of distinctive traditions, customs and symbolism. As a result of the British Empire, British influence can be observed in the language, culture and legal systems of many of its former colonies including Australia, Canada, India, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa and the United States. The substantial cultural influence of the United Kingdom has led it to be described as a “cultural superpower”.

WHY STUDY IN UK
With the long education, UK has three leading universities of England are Oxford, Cambridge and Imperial College London which are ranked 4th, 6th and 8th respectively in the list of the world’s most prestigious schools. It also is a place to nurture the “brains” of the world’s eminent as Mr Tim Berners-Lee (the creator of the Internet) and Stephen Hawking (who contributes to knowledge about black holes – black holes, space and time).

Highly Ranked Education
Courses in the UK has been recognized worldwide for the excellence, diversity, quality, with faculties, expertised staffs and modern facilities. These features will definitely bring you the wonderful experience in the UK, one of the best training centers in the world.

Famous universities in the United Kingdom are well-known worldwide for the innovative teaching methods and high academic standards. The world-renowned library, expertised faculty, and innovative research will help you maximize your ability, not only in school but also in the external environment.

Active Life
England is a great diversity of cultures, connected together by a traditional and consistent identity. Any type of music, sport, art or what is your favorite food, you can find in the UK.

If you prefer a fast lifestyle, you should choose to study in the bustling city of the United Kingdom, but if you love life with a peaceful nature, you should study in the towns or the suburbs.

The Expenses Are Lower Than Your Thoughts
UK education brings the value you deserve for your investment. Although the annual tuition fees in the UK can be a little bit higher than other countries, but the degree of the United Kingdom to be rated higher on world markets. Besides, the courses here are usually shorter than in other countries so the total study costs were lower. Moreover, because the learning time is shorter in the UK, students will work and earn money earlier than peers studying in other countries.

Besides, the benefits and preferential treatment that international students are entitled minimize the cost of their daily lives. As a member of the national student unions, students can save up to 50% for all expenses from books to the entertainment activities. All the students studying in the UK for a period of 6 months or more are also entitled for free health insurance through the National Health Service. Therefore, you do not need to calculate the cost of health insurance when planning your budget.

The average cost for a master’s degree (1 year): € 20,645.
The average cost for a college degree (3 years): US $ 53,808.
The average cost for one year of college (pre-university): US $ 13,491.
Open The Door To Your Dreaming Career
The courses in the UK gives you the skills, qualifications and relationships you need for your job. Besides, the UK qualifications are respected by employers worldwide – this gives you a major competitive advantage when applying for a job.