On a global scale, this natural endowment covers a small area—approximating that of the U.S. state of Oregon or the African country of Guinea—and its internal diversity, accompanied by rapid changes of often beautiful scenery, may convey to visitors from larger countries a striking sense of compactness and consolidation. Why take an exam with the British Council? The name Britain is sometimes used to refer to the United Kingdom as a whole. The UK education system is flexible, so you can study in a way that suits your lifestyle and career aspirations. The archipelago formed by Great Britain and the numerous smaller islands is as irregular in shape as it is diverse in geology and landscape. The UK has become one of the top destinations to study around the world. As a student you get the opportunity to be taught by the world's leading academics and experts; you also benefit from their constant academic support. From football hooligans to endless rain, here are some of the worst things about living in the UK. Higher education is expensive, but youâll be pleased to know that tuition fees are less expensive in the UK than in the US. Wales lies west of England and includes the island of Anglesey to the northwest. Costly food. Nancy on August 28, 2014: Royal family and English literature were the things why England was love. England, occupying most of southern Great Britain, includes the Isles of Scilly off the southwest coast and the Isle of Wight off the southern coast. Scotland, ruled from London since 1603, formally was joined with England and Wales in 1707 to form the United Kingdom of Great Britain. A line running from the mouth of the River Exe, in the southwest, to that of the Tees, in the northeast, is a crude expression of this division. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. The people of UK usually respect the freedom of people to ⦠The excellent educational infrastructure, top-notch distinguished teaching methodology, quality research, rich heritage and diverse culture of the UK make it an amazing place to study. The course of the 700-foot (213-metre) contour, or of the boundary separating the older rocks of the north and west from the younger southeastern strata, provides a more accurate indication of the extent of the highlands. The United Kingdom's international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities.A registered charity: 209131 (England and Wales) SCO37733 (Scotland), English training for educational institutions, EnglishScore for Business - mobile English test. Diversity: There is a wide mix of cultures in the UK. Northern Ireland contains a westward extension of the rock structures of Scotland. The United Kingdom retains links with parts of its former empire through the Commonwealth. What is the world’s largest archipelago? At its widest the United Kingdom is 300 miles (500 km) across. Here are 14 reasons why you need to book that trip to the UKâs shining star, Englandâ¦. 40) The Great British Fry Up We are interested and associated, but not absorbed.” Indeed, in June 2016, in a referendum on whether the United Kingdom should remain in the EU, 52 percent of British voters chose to leave. In the past few years, the average price of food in England has risen at a much faster rate than the rest of the European Union. Apart from the land border with the Irish republic, the United Kingdom is surrounded by sea. Why is the whole of Ireland not in the UK? Please select which sections you would like to print: Corrections? The United Kingdom comprises the whole of the island of Great Britainâwhich contains England, Wales, and Scotland âas well as the northern portion of the island of Ireland. Perhaps Britain’s greatest export has been the English language, now spoken in every corner of the world as one of the leading international mediums of cultural and economic exchange. Terminology for the British Isles, the United Kingdom, Great Britain, and Ireland. Rich in tradition, complex in culture and endlessly diverse⦠itâs partly down to its unique constitution that the UK is such an endlessly fascinating place to discover. These common rock structures are breached by the narrow North Channel. From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, simply called the United Kingdom (UK), Great Britain or just Britain, is a sovereign country. If you need any more reasons to study in the UK you will find StudyLinkâs UK Universities & Studying in the UK guide very helpful. The origins of the United Kingdom can be traced to the time of the Anglo-Saxon king Athelstan, who in the early 10th century ce secured the allegiance of neighbouring Celtic kingdoms and became “the first to rule what previously many kings shared between them,” in the words of a contemporary chronicle. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the official term! Thus, on January 31, 2020, the United Kingdom would become the first country to withdraw from the EU. UK universities are among the best in the world, and consistently perform well in world rankings. Great Britain is traditionally divided into a highland and a lowland zone. Sort out the facts about islands across the globe. To the west of Wales and northern England and to the southeast of Northern Ireland, the Irish Sea separates Great Britain from Ireland, while southwestern England, the northwestern coast of Northern Ireland, and western Scotland face the Atlantic Ocean. Many Britons, however, were sometimes reluctant EU members, holding to the sentiments of the great wartime prime minister Winston Churchill, who sonorously remarked, “We see nothing but good and hope in a richer, freer, more contented European commonalty. UK These are some of the features of the UK which you may want to consider when deciding if you wish to study, work or live there: Culture Note that there are good and bad sides to each characteristic, and there are many exceptions to these stereotypes. From our world-recognised universities to our innovative teaching approach and the leading minds who deliver it, we have what you need to reach your potential. Through subsequent conquest over the following centuries, kingdoms lying farther afield came under English dominion. If you live within the EU you can move to the UK without too much red tape being involved. These tensions relaxed somewhat during the late 20th century, when devolved assemblies were introduced in Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. Read on to know why the UK is preferred by students as opposed to their home country. Know more about the Library offer across our British Council centres, Search for UK universities or colleges that teach your chosen subject. Scotland, occupying northern Great Britain, includes the Orkney and Shetland islands off the northern coast and the Hebrides off the northwestern coast. The UK is not particularly democratic. Those include Abbotsbury Abbey, Alfredâs Tower, Amberley Castle, Antony House, and many more. United Kingdom, island country located off the northwestern coast of mainland Europe. The UK's score in this measure was 11.5, compared to the OECD average of 7.3. The capital, London, is situated on the tidal River Thames in southeastern England. It also benefits from historical and cultural links with the United States and is a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). .uk is the Internet country code top-level domain (ccTLD) for the United Kingdom.It was first registered in July 1985, seven months after the original generic top-level domains such as .com and the first country code after .us.. As of February 2016, it is the fifth most popular top-level domain worldwide (after .com, .cn, .de and .net), with over 10 million registrations. Shutterstock There are plenty of bars and booze-filled parties in the United States, but the drinking culture in the UK is something else.. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. In 2014 the top 40 countries in terms of the number of scientific papers published were listed in order. The UK, with its GDP having grown during World War 2, felt a closer union with Europe would weaken its economic strength and so refused to join. Wales, a congeries of Celtic kingdoms lying in Great Britain’s southwest, was formally united with England by the Acts of Union of 1536 and 1542. There are many different museums that you can visit to learn about the history of different parts of the U⦠The supremacy of Northumbria and the rise of Mercia, The church and scholarship in Offa’s time, The decline of Mercia and the rise of Wessex, Alfred’s government and his revival of learning, The Danish conquest and the reigns of the Danish kings, The reign of Edward the Confessor and the Norman Conquest, Rebellion of Henry’s sons and Eleanor of Aquitaine, Political struggles and Richard’s deposition, Domestic rivalries and the loss of France, The exclusion crisis and the Tory reaction, William III (1689–1702) and Mary II (1689–94), Domestic responses to the American Revolution, Ireland and the return of the Conservatives, The return of the Conservatives (1970–74), The Margaret Thatcher government (1979–90), The Falkland Islands War, the 1983 election, and privatization, Racial discrimination and the 1981 England riots, “Black Wednesday,” epidemic scandals, and Major’s “Citizens Charter”, New Labour, the repeal of Clause IV, and the “third way”, Navigating the European monetary system and the EU Social Chapter, London’s local government, House of Lords reform, and devolution for Scotland and Wales, The royal family’s “annus horribilis,” the death of Princess Diana, and the Millennium Dome, The battle for the soul of the Conservative Party, Weapons of mass destruction and the Iraq War, Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition rule (2010–15), The 2011 riots, the European sovereign debt crisis, and Cameron’s veto of changes to the Lisbon Treaty, The 2012 London Olympics, Julian Assange’s embassy refuge, and the emergence of UKIP, The birth of George, rejection of intervention in Syria, and regulation of GCHQ, The resignation of Cameron, the rise of May, and a challenge to Corbyn’s leadership of Labour, The Manchester arena bombing and London bridge attacks, The Grenfell Tower fire, a novichok attack in Salisbury, and air strikes on Syria, The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Chequers plan, and Boris Johnson’s resignation, EU agreement and Parliamentary opposition to May’s Brexit plan, Objections to the Irish backstop and a challenge to May’s leadership, Parliamentary rejection of May’s plan, May’s survival of a confidence vote, and the Independent Group of breakaway MPs, “Indicative votes,” May’s pledge to resign, a third defeat for her plan, and a new deadline, Boris Johnson’s ascension, the December 2019 snap election, and Brexit, Prime ministers of Great Britain and the United Kingdom, https://www.britannica.com/place/United-Kingdom, British Library - Windrush Stories - How Caribbean Migrants Helped to Rebuild Britain, British Library - Windrush Stories - Windrush and the Making of Post-Imperial Britain, Central Intelligence Agency - The World Factbook - United Kingdom, United Kingdom - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), United Kingdom - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). (The adjective “British” came into use at this time to refer to all the kingdom’s peoples.) The benefits of studying in the UK The UK institutions consistently rank among the best in the world and qualifications are internationally valued and recognised. Ireland came under English control during the 1600s and was formally united with Great Britain through the Act of Union of 1800. Frank Baird, Jr., Professor of History, Harvard University. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. Great Britain is England, Scotland and Wales. But we have our own dream and our own task. Get exclusive access to content from our 1768 First Edition with your subscription. Relations between these constituent states and England have been marked by controversy and, at times, open rebellion and even warfare.