2018 was another roller coaster year for higher education, but among the headline-grabbing articles about student debt and “too many first-class degrees”, there were some positive stories.
The conversation around student mental health has never been louder and universities are pushing this issue higher up their agenda than ever before. International student mobility is another topic that universities are prioritising, with the global higher education sector regularly expressing the benefits of studying overseas and investing in attracting students from abroad.
On top of all that, we at Times Higher Education had a bumper year of rankings, with the 2019 World University Rankings being the biggest ever, and the introduction of brand new student-focused rankings that are set to expand even further in 2019.
So without further ado, let’s explore the most popular articles published in 2018.
15. A guide to UK tuition fees and student visas: preparing for university as an international student
The application process for a student visa for the UK might seem complicated and daunting but this essential guide breaks down exactly how you should go about it.
14. Packing for university: items you do and do not need
As students began to pack up their most prized possessions to head to university, we put together a list of the items that you absolutely must take and those that you can do without. We also included a handy downloadable PDF checklist so you can be sure that you have everything that you need.
13. Where did UK royals go to university?
The British royal family has had quite the year, with two major weddings, a new baby and a pregnancy announcement, and 2019 looks set to be just as exciting. We took a look back at what some of the royals did before they took up their royal duties, including the newest addition, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex.
12. The 10 most beautiful universities in East Asia
Universities in East Asia are among some of the best in the world; they excel in teaching and research and are becoming more desirable study-abroad destinations thanks to recent government initiatives and growing scholarship opportunities. This article reveals that they also happen to be some of the most beautiful.
11. Which visa do you need to stay in the UK after university?
Many international students in the UK hope to remain and work in the UK after graduation. Here are details of the visa that you need and how to apply.
10. A guide for international students choosing a university in Australia
Australia is an attractive place for many international students, with its high-ranking universities, bustling cities, beautiful scenery and glorious weather. Explore how to apply to an Australian university in this detailed guide.
9. How to choose a UK university
The UK remains one of the world’s most attractive higher education destinations. This article outlines the many factors to consider when choosing a British university.
8. Scholarships available in the US for international students
It’s a well-known fact that studying in the US can be quite expensive. But students are able to access scholarships and financial aid to help ease the burden and this article lists a huge range of scholarships that students can apply for.
7. Graduate employability: top universities in the UK ranked by employers 2018
November marks the annual release of our Graduate Employability Ranking created in partnership with HR consultancy Emerging. As well as looking at graduate employability rates for universities in the UK, we also release a graduate employability ranking for the world, the United States, Canada, Australia, the Netherlands, France and Germany.
6. Hoping to apply to a US university as a foreign student?
There are many different processes you’ll need to understand and navigate when applying to universities in the United States as an international student. Here’s a breakdown of the three most important aspects: admissions, funding and visas.
5. Most-recommended universities in the United States
The THE/WSJ US Student Survey of more than 200,000 students across the US revealed which university they were most likely to recommend to their friends or family. The survey was carried out as part of theTHE/WSJ US College Ranking 2019.
4. Most international universities in the world 2018: top 200
More and more students are choosing to study abroad and so we analysed World University Rankings data to determine which universities around the world were the most international in terms of students and staff, research collaboration and global reputation.
3. The top 50 universities by reputation 2018
The Times Higher Education World Reputation Rankings explore which universities academics believe excel at teaching and research. We’ve listed the top 50 universities with the highest reputations based on academic opinion.
2. Subject rankings
Every year Times Higher Education releases 11 subject rankings exploring the best universities in each field of study. These rankings are among the most popular articles on the student site but the three most read were the best universities for medicine, best universities for business degrees, and the best universities for psychology degrees.
1. Best universities in...
And as always, the most popular articles on the THE Student site are the “best universities” pages. Compiled using THE World University Rankings data, these articles detail the best universities in a particular country, as well as student blogs and advice pieces on studying in those nations. The ones that were the most popular were the best universities in the UK, the best universities in Canada, best universities in the United States, best universities in Australia and the best universities in Europe. But there are many more so be sure to check them all out.
Read more: The most festive universities on Instagram
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