When it comes to picking which universities to apply to, there’s no better way to get a feel for whether an institution is right for you than attending an open day or visiting the university in person. Unfortunately, this isn’t always possible. It might be your preferred universities are abroad and too difficult to visit, or you’re unable to find time to travel and visit. Whatever the reason, your next-best option is to attend a university fair near you.

Packed to the rafters with admissions staff and current students from dozens (if not hundreds) of top universities, fairs such as those organized by QS allow you to speak to people who will be directly involved in assessing student applications, allowing you to get first-hand advice on how to catch their eye. They also allow you to learn more about each university than you could possibly get just from looking at a prospectus or a website, helping you to whittle down your list of preferred universities to a select few.

The one down-side of these events is it can be tough to fit everything in. With multiple universities to speak to, and only so many hours in the day, it’s important you head into a university fair with a clear idea of what questions you’re going to ask. To help, here’s our list of the essential questions to ask at a university fair.

What to ask at a university fair…about the university

Does your university offer the course I’m interested in?

This might seem obvious, but it really needs to be the first question you ask. Don’t waste time on a university that can’t offer what you want. Even if you’ve found the course advertised on their website or in their prospectus, it’s worth double-checking as there might be plans to change the course format or remove it altogether.

Why should I apply to your university?

University staff at fairs will be in a relentless PR mode, repeating the same sales pitch to student after student. That doesn’t mean it’s not worth hearing though, as you’ll surely still learn something from hearing what they think the university’s best qualities are. Don’t be afraid to ask follow-up questions either, as this will be your opportunity to break away from their pre-prepared script and get information which might be a little more honest.

What are the university facilities like? Is the library open 24 hours a day?

It’s easy to forget in the rush to learn about a course and its structure that you also need to get a feel for what it will be like to actually study at the university. Learning more about the facilities, whether it’s labs if you’re a science student or provision of library books if you’re a humanities student, will give you a better idea of the wider university experience and also how well you’ll be supported academically. If a university hasn’t bothered to invest in upgrading their teaching facilities and keeping their library stock up to date, how can you trust them to bother investing in you?

Is accommodation guaranteed? How much do students typically pay in rent?

Away from the academic side of university, you’ll also want to learn more about university accommodation. Not all institutions guarantee accommodation to students, so find out if you’ll definitely have somewhere to live. This, and financial considerations such as how much rent costs, might be the decisive factor if you’re struggling to choose between two university offers.

What to ask at a university fair…about the course

What’s the weakest aspect of this course at your university?

Obviously, you’ll hear a lot about how a university’s course is amazing, the best in the world, absolutely top-notch, can’t be beaten. But once the hyperbole has died down, asking this question is a good way to gain insight into where the course perhaps still has some improvement to do. If this weak area is something which is really important to you (e.g. number of contact hours, focus on a particular module), you’ll probably be better choosing another university.

What are the employment prospects for this course? What have previous graduates gone on to do?

There’s little point in going to university unless it’s going to boost your career prospects once you’ve graduated, especially with tuition fees rising in most, if not all, countries. Asking these questions will give you an idea of how well-prepared you’ll be for the working world when your degree is over, and may even provide inspiration in terms of the types of careers available to you.

What to ask at a university fair…about the application process

How do you select applicants? What aspects do you look for in an application?

If you’ve asked the questions above and still feel the university may be right for you, it’s time to get some more detail about the applications process. If you’re chatting to an admissions officer, there’s a good chance they’ll be the person who will eventually read your application, so learning what will impress them the most will give you a massive advantage over other applicants.

What should I read to improve my personal statement?

As well as learning which of your attributes you should be highlighting in your application, it’s a good idea to also learn of ways you can self-improve before writing your personal statement. Asking about extra reading you could be doing demonstrates a willingness to learn too, which will create a positive impression. If the person reading your eventual application remembers you asking a question like this at an event, and your application shows you took their advice on board, they’ll undoubtedly be impressed.

Is there an advantage to submitting my application early?

This is a more functional question, designed to learn more about how applications are actually handled. Even though universities won’t often say places are operated on a first come, first served basis, there can be an advantage to being one of the first applications that’s reviewed instead of one of the last. Don’t harm your chances by leaving your application to the last minute if it’s going to penalize you.

What bursaries and scholarships are available?

This is always a good question to throw in there, especially if figuring out how you’ll afford tuition is already making your head hurt. Rather than having to deal with impersonal leaflets and brochures explaining the various financial options available to you, you’ll be able to explain your own situation and receive tailored advice about how to handle the cost of attending university.

Armed with these questions, you should come away from a university fair with priceless information. Find a QS event near you by clicking here.

Lead image: COD Newsroom (Flickr)

It’s no secret that job interviews are nerve-wracking, but your nerves are made even worse by the stress of choosing an outfit that screams “hire me”. While obviously your skills and qualifications are going to be far more critical in getting hired, first impressions count, and what you wear can impact your interviewer’s lasting opinion of you.

When deciding what to wear to an interview, you want to pick something which makes you feel confident, professional, and well prepared to answer whatever strange or difficult questions your interviewer throws at you. Finding this perfect outfit isn’t always easy though, especially if you’re trying to buy a new outfit without breaking the bank.

When in doubt, wear a suit

A failsafe if you’re stuck for what to wear to an interview, a suit is particularly ideal if you’re interviewing for a role in a very formal, corporate environment such as banking, accounting, insurance, finance, sales or management. Other workplaces may have a more relaxed dress code but unless you’ve specifically been told otherwise, there are few occasions when a suit won’t make a positive impression.

Suits are worth investing in and spending a bit more money on for better quality and a perfect fit, but if you’re on a budget, Asda in the UK have suit jackets for £35, matching trousers for £15, and shirt and tie sets for as little as £8, to a total of £58 (not including shoes or socks). Or if you’re in the US, Amazon has a suit set for $79.99, (including the jacket and trousers). As well as checking budget stores, try searching charity shops and thrift stores – you might find a total bargain.

For shoes, guys can’t go wrong with black or brown leather lace-up shoes like this £32/$51/€43.99 pair from ASOS. If you already have a pair of interview shoes, make sure they’re not noticeably worn or scuffed. Investing in some polish is an inexpensive way to make old shoes look much newer and smarter.

Women should be wary of showing too much cleavage or wearing a skirt that ends any higher than just above the knees, as either of these could give the wrong impression about your level of professionalism. In terms of color, pink, orange and red can seem too bright in particularly formal settings so are probably best avoided unless you’re interviewing for a more casual workplace. However, a pretty color shirt underneath your jacket is an effective way to show a bit of personality while still being smart. Depending on how confident you are walking in them, you might like to team your outfit with a pair of low-to-mid heels (these black block heels from ASOS for £22/US$35/€29.99 look quite easy to walk in), but I personally always prefer staying on the safe side with flats like these black ballet pumps, which are just £9.99 (or US$16/€13.49).

It’s a good idea to research the workplace culture of your prospective employer beforehand, which may give you an understanding of how formally employees are expected to dress. If the company culture is quite casual, you may feel slightly out of place in a suit, but it’s always better to be overdressed than underdressed, and your prospective employer will appreciate the effort.

Smart dresses

Another excellent choice when deciding what to wear to an interview is a smart, elegant work dress. Neutral colors like grey, black and blue (particularly navy) are usually the best options, but that doesn’t mean others are out of bounds – as usual, don’t go too garish or revealing. This dress from Oasis (£55 or £49.50 with student discount) comes in interview-friendly blue or black, is a great length, and features scallop details on the sleeves and the hem that add a little something different. It’s a little pricey, but will also serve you well as a work dress once you get hired. As the weather turns colder, it’s a good idea to find warmer fabrics such as this long-sleeved dress from Next (£32/US$58/€38), which can be paired with tights and boots to see you through particularly frosty winter days.

Another good choice is this black belted dress, also from Next, which is only £28 and comes in petite for those 5’3” or under. A pencil dress like this $27 option from Amazon is also ideal for job interviews and can easily be styled for other occasions. For a bag, keep things classy and neutral – this one from ASOS is just £20/$32/€27.99 and is a good size for fitting in your CV and any samples of previous work to show the interviewer. If you’re already wearing black, try a different color for your bag, such as this one from Glamorous, which is £28.

Dos and Don’ts to remember when deciding what to wear to an interview

• Do be yourself – interviewers want to see the real you, and this won’t work if you don’t feel yourself in what you’re wearing
• Don’t overload on perfume, aftershave, makeup or jewelry
• Do be well-groomed, with freshly washed and styled hair and clean fingernails (avoid bright nail polish)
• Don’t wear shoes you’re uncomfortable in
• Do inject a little personality into your outfit, without being too bold
• Don’t wear denim or leather (unless it’s leather shoes!)
• Do pay attention to your body language – make eye contact, smile and don’t slouch. Find an outfit that makes you feel confident, and then project that confidence (without appearing arrogant)

What’s your go-to interview outfit? Let us know in the comments below.

Of all the possible career paths available to STEM graduates, working at Disney probably isn't the one that comes to mind first. For Alexey Stomakhin, it wasn't until he saw the 2010 film Tangled that he realized the amount of mathematics required to make animated films. Having studied applied mathematics and physics at the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Alexey knew this was an industry he could work in.

"After watching Tangled, I contacted a professor who specialised in physically-based animation, and who also was a scientific consultant to Walt Disney Animation Studios," he told us. "At that time, Disney was working on a project on simulating flesh for animal characters. To develop a flesh simulation, you build a bone frame first, then you add muscles and skin to the model. Muscles and skin are bodies that are described by elasticity equations. Then they are computed to get a high-quality animation. The animation method they were employing at Disney was quite good, but it was too time-consuming, so the artists had to just sit and wait until the computing procedures were done. I was given the task of improving the situation.

"By the end of the first summer of my internship, I had managed to speed up the process by just 1.5 times, but the following year I made the operating speed 25 times faster than it was in the beginning. The flesh and muscles I was working on 5 years ago were eventually used in the movie Zootopia. Before then, the flesh project had been going on fruitlessly for several years, and no one wanted to take it on, and, honestly, no one believed that it could ever be finished."

Having cracked how to simulate flesh on animals, Alexey was offered a full-time job, working on a snow simulation for Frozen, a project he eventually used in his doctoral dissertation. Frozen went on to win the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, the first Walt Disney Animation Studios to ever win this award (the category was created in 2001). 

Hi Alexey. Why did you decide to study mathematics and physics at university?

As a kid I enjoyed studying math, but from a practical point of view, physics appealed to me much more — I always wanted to do something useful, something that could be applied to the real world. So I went to MIPT as it ranked first among the top technical universities in Russia. MIPT offers students a whole range of excellent courses to choose from, so the chances are you’ll eventually come across something that will spark your interest. When I graduated, I decided to do a master's degree in mathematics at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

What are the most exciting or interesting parts of your job at Disney?

Working with artists is extremely rewarding. In science, the tasks are set clearly and explicitly, but when working with artists, the first thing you need to do is to render their abstract ideas in technical terms.

For example, an artist says, “In Moana, we want the ocean in the closing scene to split before the character, and we want it to look energetic”. To get such an effect, we changed the gravity field, created a waterfall, which was actually flowing up (I must admit it looked really weird because it started right in the middle of the ground), then we modified Neumann boundary conditions for the pressure in the water to make it look like it was flowing from behind. Two months later, we achieved the final result that you can see in the movie now.

Another challenging task is to bring all special effects in line with the Disney animation style. For example, princesses in Disney movies do not look like real people, and they don't move like them either. Rapunzel has very swift and jerky movements, so when they gave her a dress modeled according to the actual laws of physics, it would hitch up as high as her head whenever she started running. Consequently, they had to surround her with special force fields to keep the dress in place.

I can give another example: the dolphin scene in Moana. In order to comply with the Disney animation style, the dolphins were supposed to swim at 100 mph, so when they jumped into the ocean, the splashes looked like bomb explosions. We had to make the water more viscous, so in that scene the dolphins swim in a glycerin-like substance.

What would other people be surprised to learn about working on big Disney blockbuster films?

Many people don’t realise how much work it takes to create an animated movie. If the audience watches a scene and doesn’t notice the technical side of it, it means we have done our job well. The more realistic it looks, the more work lies behind it. The audience takes it for granted, but in reality each tiny detail demands the joint efforts of 700 people. One animated movie takes about five years to produce. 

What’s it like to work on a big blockbuster movie? What’s a typical working day like?

When the first draft of the movie script is ready, we talk to the special effects supervisor to get a general idea of what needs to be done animation-wise. Then we start the research process: we look through scientific papers that have been published on the topic so far and also try to come up with something on our own. Then we move on to iteration - that’s when we work closely with the artists, try different designs and eventually get a clearer understanding of the task.

The next stage is about active development: we integrate our simulations into a production pipeline. To give an example, let’s say we have developed a method for a water simulation. We cooperate with a department that is responsible for character animation, because they need to know how water will be flowing in the movie so that they can make the characters move correctly in a boat. A department in charge of lighting needs to know how to lay the light over the water to make it look realistic. We work as a huge group, gather to discuss all these details, and test our simulations.

Now I am working on a hair simulation. I have some ideas of a very cool hair model for the characters. The project is going through the research stage - I am looking for a suitable equation that could describe hair and make it look more consistent on screen. Disney princesses have many hair styles: straight, curly, round and elliptical in cut, and each of them responds differently to deformations. I know so much about it now that I could probably easily become a hairstylist!

How has your job affected the way you enjoy other movies?

I always pay attention to special effects and technical details when I watch movies, because I am curious to know what algorithms they used to create the simulations. But it doesn’t get me too distracted from enjoying a storyline.

How did it feel to work on a film that won the Oscar for Best Animated Film?

When the directors brought the Oscars (they were given four different Oscar statuettes in total) to the studio, it was amazing. We had a chance to hold it and take some pictures with it.

But for me, the most important thing was the fact that Frozen won the award at all, because Disney movies hadn’t won for a long time at that point. All of us were watching the ceremony on a big screen and when they announced that Frozen was the winner, we jumped to our feet and started clapping. No one had expected it would happen.

Given so many people are responsible for making a film successful, how connected to the award do you feel?

There are 700 employees working in the studio, so I suppose you could say my contribution to the film was only 1/700, but we had a huge amount of work to do.

What do friends and family say when you tell them about your work on such a successful film?

When I say I work at Disney, the most common response is, “Do you mean you work in Disneyland?” I have to explain that actually those are two different things. People get curious and start to ask me lots of questions about my job. My sister has always been an avid Disney fan, so she was head over heels when she found out I’d become a Disney staff member. On her first visit to Los Angeles, I took her to Disney Studios as soon as she arrived. She was really excited to see it.

What are you working on now? Any Disney secrets you can share?

We are working on a movie where there’ll be a lot of hair. That’s why I am modeling hair simulations at the moment. They will also be used in all movies that Disney will release in the future. It is hardly a secret, because practically all characters have hair!

What advice would you give to current students who want to work in the same job?

They should be really good at math, physics and computer programming. Unlike artists, we do not fall into a certain category. Artists have art schools where they learn to paint, build up a portfolio of their work, and then get a job. But there isn’t a place that would teach you to work in the Disney Department of Technology. We take interns with a scientific education from all over the world, with different skills and abilities for particular projects. That’s why my advice is to acquire skills in a specific field that you really love.

The UK’s capital city has long been regarded as one of the world’s top destinations for anyone looking to study or work in the creative industries. With London’s rank as the world’s third-best city to be a student, the city is likely to continue to draw students of all disciplines from across the globe.

Since 2003, the London Design Festival has been celebrating and promoting ‘London as the design capital of the world.’ 2017 sees the festival celebrating its fifteenth birthday, and with more attractions than ever, there’s a lot to see. Here’s our pick of the events and exhibitions you don’t want to miss.

Flynn Talbot, ‘Reflection Room’

Reflection Room by Flynn Talbot, photo by Edmund Sumner for LDF

Designer Flynn Talbot’s installation can be found at the historic Victoria & Albert Museum, which has long been a key design centre and archive for London and indeed the wider UK. Though the V&A has served as a hub for the London Design Festival in previous years, Talbot’s ‘immersive coloured light experience’ is the first installation to be housed in the museum’s grand Prince Consort Gallery.

Ross Lovegrove, ‘Transmission’

Transmission by Ross Lovegrove, photo by Edmund Sumner for LDF

While you’re at the V&A, don’t miss Ross Lovegrove’s impressive ‘Transmission.’ The sculpture is made of over 20 meters of folded material, and is cleverly housed in the museum’s tapestry gallery. This setting provides an interesting contrast between old and new, but also challenges the viewer to re-evaluate their views on textile art and its role in the world we live in.

Bankside Design District

OXO Tower Wharf, Bankside Design District, LDF

One of nine designated districts across London, Bankside Design District ‘promises to excite and engage’ visitors to the festival by encouraging them to get directly involved with design. The initiative shines a light on the area’s rich and varied past, with workshops and installations open to all. Expect pop-ups, secret gardens, and multiple nods to the history and future of the Thames, all located in this beautiful riverside setting.

Camille Walala, ‘Villa Walala’

Villa Walala by Camille Walala, photo by Andy Stagg for LDF

Located at Exchange Square in Broadgate, in the east of the City of London, textile designer Camille Walala has developed a brightly coloured set of inflatables, decorated in trademark patterns of the UK capital. Walala explains that she wanted to ‘introduce a sense of the unexpected.’ Nestled among the metal and glass of London’s main financial district, the bouncy castle’s vivid colours do just that.

London Design Fair

London Design Fair, photo by Alexander Mueller for LDF

Running from the 21-24 of September, this year’s London Design Fair features over 500 exhibitors comprised of established brands as well as up-and-coming designers who are creating a stir. Located in venues across creative East London, the fair also includes country-specific pavilions, and aims to spotlight design trends that may have previously been limited to country-specific markets.

designjunction2017

Ton, designjunction2017, LDF

The designjunction initiative seeks to showcase the direction the design industry is taking on a commercial level, as well as the ever-changing role of design in daily life. This year, over 200 interior design brands from around the world are in attendance, aiming to share their craft with London’s design professionals, as well members of the wider public who might—like me—be after a new table.

100% Design 2017

The Egon Collection for Alki, 100% Design, LDF

Now in its 23^rd year, 100% Design is a trade show for architects and designers. Over four days, the show is expected to attract 27,000 design enthusiasts to the Kensington Olympia, and features talks, exhibitions, and installations. This year’s theme is ‘elements,’ with the fair running from 20-23 September.

The London Design Festival 2017 runs from 16-24 September 2017.

The college football season in the US officially started a couple of weeks ago, with a flurry of games captivating the attention of fans nationwide. The level of attention given to college sports in America can be baffling to an outsider. Not only do games attract massive crowds (sometimes nearing 100,000), they are also shown on television, followed by hundreds of thousands of people and endlessly debated and scrutinised in newspaper columns and sports radio shows. It may be early days, but this season’s potential winners and losers are already beginning to emerge, but one clear winner is set to upstage all others: the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

The extremely high level of attention and interest in college sports such as american football and basketball means the NCAA, the non-profit organization responsible for managing college competitions, is hardly short of money. According to CNN, revenues from broadcasting rights and ticket sales were estimated to be somewhere around the US$3 billion mark in 2014. However, none of this money finds its way to the athletes themselves. By contrast, college coaches and NCAA employees’ salaries aren’t capped.

The debate about whether student athletes should be paid rears its head every year, with the most common arguments made against doing so pointing to the fact college-level sport is supposed to be an amateur enterprise. It may attract large amounts of attention and financial investment, but - the argument goes - it’s still no different to playing sport at school or a university elsewhere in the world. In this light, being part of a sports team at college is seen as part of the education students are paying their fees for, rather than as a job or a career.

However, the problem with taking this view is college is becoming increasingly more expensive. It’s a common misconception that college athletes graduate debt-free or studied on a full scholarship. In many cases, especially among those who don’t have the ability to play professionally after college, student athletes struggle for money. A majority of NCAA athletes come from black, disadvantaged, inner-city families, living below the poverty line and relying upon loans to cover basic costs such as room and board. For these students, one bad injury or a sudden loss of form could be the difference between a professional sports career and a lifetime in serious debt.

The racial divide

As NCAA revenue continues to climb, pressure to pay student athletes is growing. Last year, NFL player Michael Bennett told ESPN: “Hell yeah college players should get paid. NCAA gets paid. Rose Bowl gets paid. Everybody gets paid except the people making the product. In some countries, they call that slavery.”

Bennett’s reference to slavery is deliberately loaded. As previously mentioned, black athletes are disproportionately affected by the decision not to pay students, and a recent YouGov poll suggested support for paying college athletes is considerably higher among black people. Only 11% of black respondents said they were somewhat or strongly opposed to paying NCAA athletes, compared to 43% of white respondents.

Another recent study found that “negative racial views about blacks was the single strongest predictor of white opposition to paying athletes”. Racial resentment was deemed more important than all other factors, including political affiliation, age, education, and even experience playing college sports.

Tatishe Nteta, professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and one of the study’s authors, said to Vice Sports: “What [researchers] found is that when whites thought about welfare, the first picture they had [in their minds] was a black welfare queen, and that this person was stealing from hard-working Americans, who in the perceptions of most folks are white. It turned out those perceptions colored the way people responded to any question about the expansion of welfare."

Change is unlikely to happen soon, although the issue regularly rears its head in court, with former players coming forward and making the argument they should have been paid for their services. Mike McIntire, a journalist with the New York Times, has predicted it will take government-level intervention for the NCAA to start paying athletes, something which admittedly doesn’t seem likely anytime soon. Until then, the financial imbalance at the heart of college sports is only going to get worse.

Sponsored by Curtin University

We asked Ahmed Elsayed, a fifth year student at Curtin University, about the realities and joys of his life as an architecture student.

I love space, in all senses of the word. Before setting my heart on becoming an architect, I wanted to study astrophysics. I applied to a few courses in America, but the tuition fees were too expensive for me. Thankfully, I eventually came around to the idea of studying architecture partly because both my parents are architects, and I sort of grew up in the industry. I’m now in my fifth year of studying architecture, having reached postgraduate level at Curtin University, and I’ve never looked back.

Today, I worked on my master thesis which is due in November, mostly doing some research in the library and working on designs. In architecture, you either have the option of doing pure research, writing a 17-20,000 word report or submitting a design-based thesis, which is essentially a project with a 10,000 word report about your findings. Mine is coming along slowly, but nicely. I’m designing a small scientific outpost for 40 to 60 people on Mars. Like astronauts, early settlers are likely to experience psychological shock, from being stuck alone in space with nothing to look at outside, so my main aim is to design a livable space, both emotionally and literally, including elements I’ve studied such as biophilic design. It’s really interesting. You can grow plants naturally in Martian soil. Scientists recently conducted a test in a lab with imitation soil, and they found that things like wheat, corn, and tomatoes grow normally because Mars has many minerals that match our soil as well as a similar geological structure.

My favourite thing about architecture is I get to be creative. One of my role models is an architect by the name of Mies van der Rohe. He was the first architect to standardize design using steel and modular construction methods in the twenties and thirties. At the time, it was new and exciting, and it’s fun to think that there are lots of similarly innovative ideas being developed now which will eventually also enter the mainstream.

I’m planning on doing a PhD for another six to seven years. It’s a long process. I’ve been studying architecture for six years, and I’m still not done. I love learning. I absorb information like a sponge, and if I’m interested in something, I’ll apply it in my everyday life. I’ll have to work for a couple of years and try to find a sponsor for a PhD. I’m planning on working for a small to medium-sized architecture firm because it’s the best way to get hands-on experience. Once that’s done, and I’ve had enough experience, I’ll either open my own practice or move to a bigger firm.

The most challenging thing about life as an architecture student is keeping up with the workload. It’s important to be well-organized and plan each day. Usually, I’ll work from nine-to-five with a few breaks in between when I can play games, have a nap and some food and drink.

My one piece of advice to prospective students is to research the course fully beforehand and know it’s right for you. If you’re very interested in being an architect, you’ll find you have passion for your work, which will ensure you stay focused.

Looking to study in the US, and specifically interested in a positive campus environment for LGBTQ students? Every year, the Campus Pride Index publishes a list of the 25 most LGBTQ-friendly colleges and universities in the US, aiming to highlight the institutions offering a positive, inclusive and safe experience for LGBTQ students.

The list is based on eight factors, including LGBTQ policy inclusion, housing, academic life and student life. The recently published 2017 results feature universities from a total of 16 states, including institutions from Kansas, Kentucky, and North Carolina.

Below, we’ve picked out 10 of the most LGBTQ-friendly US universities, all of which received a perfect five out of five stars in their overall Campus Pride index score. These universities have also all been featured in the QS World University Rankings® 2018.

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey-New Brunswick

Rutgers University - New Brunswick, ranked joint 283^rd in the World University Rankings, was established in 1766 and has a student population of 48,000. Rutgers has a Center for Social Justice Education and LGBT Communities (SJE) which aims to provide an inclusive, supportive environment for LGBTQ students and provides support in the form of counseling, career advice, networking, service referrals to those in need, drop-in centers, training initiatives and more. Rutgers also offers scholarships for LGBTQA students.

Tufts University

Located in Medford, Massachusetts, Tufts University is ranked joint 243^rd in the World University Rankings and earns its top-25 place in the Campus Pride index due to its efforts to include LGBTQ students by providing gender-inclusive housing, healthcare options, and name/pronoun changes. Tufts helps ensure LGBTQ students feel welcome through organizations such as the LGBT center, which offers a space for all students and staff members to “explore their unique relationship to gender and sexuality through personal, activist, or academic lenses”.

The Ohio State University

Ohio State University, located in Columbus, Ohio, was founded in 1870 and is currently ranked 86^th in the World University Rankings. The university’s Multicultural Center in its Office of Student Life offers a range of “Q*mmunity” groups for LGBTQ students such as CORE: Coming Out for Racial Equity, the First Year Q*mmunity, and Q*mmunity of LGBTQ Students and Allies. The center also hosts a number of LGBTQ events throughout the year, including LGBTQ History Month and National Coming Out Day in October.

University of Colorado at Boulder

The University of Colorado at Boulder is ranked joint 182^nd in the QS World University Rankings and is both welcoming and celebrative of LGBTQ students. Its Gender and Sexuality Center offers scholarships, services and resources for students as well as running the annual TRANSforming Gender Conference. The university was also an official sponsor of this year’s PrideFest, one of the largest pride events in the US.

University of Massachusetts Amherst

Next in our look at the US universities ranked among the most LGBT-friendly is the University of Massachusetts Amherst, which has just over 30,000 students and is currently ranked 249^th in the world. Its LGBTQIA+ resource center, the Stonewall Center, was one of the first of its kind to open in the US (opening in 1985), and serves the student community with cultural and educational programming, a speaker’s bureau on LGBTQIA and ally issues, and information, support and referrals to students in need.

University of Oregon

The University of Oregon, located in Eugene, Oregon, is ranked 551-600 in the world this year and has around 23,600 students. Its Office of the Dean of Students aims to maintain a positive and inclusive experience for all students by offering LGBTQIA+ scholarships, as well as student organizations, speaker’s panels, career advice and more. The University of Oregon also offers specialized communities which allow students to select the halls which best suit their needs, beliefs, and lifestyles.

University of Pennsylvania

Ranked 19^th in the world, the University of Pennsylvania (Penn) is located in Philadelphia and currently has around 21,350 students enrolled. Penn’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Center is one of the oldest in the US, having served the university’s LGBTQ community for over 30 years. The center provides a space to study and socialize, and offers peer mentorships as well as various LGBTQ events which are held throughout the year. It also acts as a hub for over 25 undergraduate and graduate student groups.

University of Washington

Located in Seattle, Washington, the University of Washington is ranked 61^st in the world and earns a place in the top 25 of the Campus Pride index for its (mainly student-run) resource center for LGBTQ students, the Q Center. On Washington’s Campus Pride report card (showing how it ranked for the eight categories) it receives perfect scores for its academic life, student life, counseling and health, and recruitment and retention.

Princeton University

Princeton University is already well known as one of the most prestigious universities in the US, (ranked 13^th in the world) but also achieves a spot in the top 25 of the Campus Pride index. Princeton’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Center was created in 2005 and aims to provide an affirming, supportive place for students to discuss topics on gender identity, attend events, and get support, advice and referrals on LGBTQ issues.

Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania State University, founded in 1855, is ranked joint 93^rd in the latest QS World University Rankings and has around 99,000 students. Its LGBTQA Student Resource Center (SRC) offers a wide range of programming, education, information, and advocacy services and the university also offers a minor in sexuality and gender studies, as well as LGBTQA scholarships. The SRC also offers students opportunities to get involved with LGBTQ student groups.

Other LGBTQ-friendly US universities

The Campus Pride index doesn’t end there, with 15 more US universities and colleges featured as being the most LGBTQ-friendly in the country, and therefore well worth considering if you’re an LGBTQ student looking for an inclusive and supportive university.

These universities are: Augsburg University, Elon University, Harvey Mudd College, Indiana University Bloomington, Ithaca College, Kansas State University, Macalester College, Montclair State University, Portland State University, San Diego State University, Southern Oregon University, University of Louisville, University of Wisconsin – Green Bay, University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee and Washington State University.

The Shame List

Sadly, some US universities and colleges are still lagging behind their peers when it comes to LGBTQ inclusivity. Campus Pride’s Shame List identifies the “absolute worst campuses for LGBTQ youth”. These institutions may have applied for an exception to Title IX to enable them to discriminate against LGBTQ youth, and/or have demonstrated a history of anti-LGBTQ practices. Universities in this list include Brigham Young University, Oklahoma Baptist University, the University of Dallas, Yeshiva University and Spring Arbor University.

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Tuition fees in the UK could be slashed to £7,500 a year, creating a saving of at least £5,000 over a three-year period, according to The Sunday Times. The proposed cap, which is to be revealed in the government’s Autumn Budget in November, comes amid increasing concerns that universities may not be offering students value for money, with students graduating with the burden of huge debts.

The news is a surprising U-turn for the Conservative government, given previous announcements pledged to increase domestic university tuition fees in the UK to £9,250 a year from this academic year, and £9,500 the year after, provoking fears students would be deterred from attending university.

However, student finance has become a key priority since June’s general election, which saw Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour party attract a significant number of younger voters thanks to a promise to scrap tuition fees altogether and reinstate maintenance grants.

Would the cap really make a difference?

While fees decreasing would undoubtedly be great news for students, the change would likely only benefit the very richest graduates, as they will now be able to end their student loan repayments earlier in their careers. Currently, three-quarters of graduates will never pay off their student loan.

However, The Times reports chancellor Philip Hammond is also considering raising the threshold at which graduates start to repay their student loans, from the current £21,000 up to £25,000 in line with inflation. This would ensure anyone earning under £25,000 as a graduate would not need to repay any of their loans. Cuts to the interest rate on student loans are also being considered, although the chancellor is thought to be dismissive of the idea.

Different fee levels for certain subjects are also reportedly being considered, in order to reflect the differing costs of running particular courses. Arts and humanities degrees, for instance, require universities to spend less than science or engineering degrees. If tuition fees in the UK are lowered, the government would also provide institutions with a top up payment of up to £1,500 to help cover the higher costs of running STEM or similar courses. 

What next?

According to The Sunday Times, these changes could be delivered within a year or less, making it increasingly unlikely fees will rise to £9,500 in 2018/19 as previously expected. It remains to be seen whether Mr Hammond and the government will follow through with these suggestions though, which have been criticized by both the Labour party and the National Union of Students (NUS), whose president, Shakira Martin, said: “While reducing tuition fees would represent a step in the right direction, the Government is not going far enough.

“There has been no commitment to bringing back maintenance grants which would support the poorest students through their study. We also hold strong reservations about creating differential tiers of tuition fees which wrongfully imply a gulf of difference between institutions based on flawed metrics of quality.”

What do you think of this proposed change? Have your say in the comments below!

Concordia University and QS have joined forces to offer a scholarship to one lucky student at the Canadian institution. The scholarship, which allows its winner to be exempt from paying tuition fees at the international rate, has been awarded this year to Indian student Debdeep Chatterjee from Calcutta.

Debdeep is studying a master’s degree in supply chain management at Concordia University, having previously studied engineering in India and worked as a consultant at Schneider Electric. Drawn to studying in Montreal by the high quality of life and multicultural atmosphere, he told us about his hopes to complete a doctoral degree after his masters, something which should be more possible because of this scholarship.

He said: “I’d like to get formally trained in the art of doing research. Although I’ve done some in the past, it was limited in style and scope. During my masters, I wish to invest a large portion of my time in improving the methodologies and techniques I use in my research.”

Debdeep learned of the scholarship after attending the QS World Grad School Tour. He said: “It will definitely lessen my reliance upon a student loan or part-time job to cover my expenses. I’ll be able to dedicate more time to my studies and also find more time to be involved in different clubs and activities.”

Advice for future applicants

“My suggestion would be to spend time exploring different opportunities for financial assistance and to apply to each one, no matter how unlikely your chances of being successful. When writing a scholarship application, it’s important to develop your own ideas and spend time proof-reading to make sure you achieve the right balance of being brief, meaningful and original.”

Studying abroad is full of challenges, from learning a new language to making new friends, but one of the biggest hurdles is often getting a place at a university in the first place. With the majority of places at most top universities going to domestic students, it’s fair to say you need to take every advantage available to you in order to boost your chances of being accepted by undergraduate admissions staff.

One of the most successful ways to make your application stand out is to attend a university fair in your country (such as the ones organized by QS), and meet admissions staff directly.

Learn straight from the horse’s mouth

Remember that in addition to promoting their university, admissions staff also attend these events to be on the lookout for great candidates. Asking the right questions and making a good impression might mean they remember your name when it comes to going through applications. Failing that, it’s also an opportunity to pick their brains for any admissions pet peeves or insider tips that could make your application stand out.

Whether you’re wondering about the SAT, IELTS and TOEFL scores actually expected of you as an international student, or the finer points of the degree curriculum, you’ll get a chance to speak to admissions representatives from a wide range of universities.

Another perk of the QS World University Fair is that you’ll also be invited to attend free seminars and workshops to learn how to perfect your university or scholarship application.

Apply for scholarships to study abroad

Attend a QS World University Tour fair in your home country to find out about a wide range of study abroad scholarships you may be eligible for and get a head start on your application. Attend a free workshop or seminar at the fair to learn simple ways to make your application stand out and increase your chances of receiving funding.

Discover colleges you hadn’t considered

While the QS World University Rankings can be a good starting place when comparing universities abroad, keep in mind that rankings never show you the full picture. Consider the course curriculum and reading list, the faculty’s values and approach to your field, and of course, the university’s location, to make sure you’re a good fit for the faculty and campus.

Most events on the QS World University Tour will have around 30 universities, if not more, represented from all around the world. At the fair, try to retain an open mind. You might find the university you had in mind isn’t right for you at all and that you’d be much happier at a lower ranking one. You don’t want to be snooty about university reputation, especially with universities in the higher echelons of the rankings, when your wellbeing and mental health could be in the balance.

Find a fair near you and register for it here.