After a long and divisive campaign, the United Kingdom announced on June 24^th 2016 that it was to begin the slow process of withdrawing its membership from the European Union. The run-up to the vote had left both the country’s public and politicians deeply divided on the issue, and one year on the dust is still yet to settle.

The UK has long been a hugely popular destination for international students, but the uncertainty triggered by Brexit has caused some to speculate as to whether this will continue to be the case. We took to the streets of London to find out how students in the UK are feeling, and what they make of Brexit one year on. Click through the slideshow below to find out what they had to say.

This year, QS launched a new scholarship aimed at helping talented students secure funding for an undergraduate degree. The QS Undergraduate Scholarship is worth up to $10,000 and is for students starting their first year at undergraduate level at a QS-ranked university this year. 

The first ever recipient of this scholarship is Canadian student Matthew Clennon. Matthew is currently studying at St Patrick's Catholic Secondary School in Toronto, but plans to travel across the Atlantic to attend the University of Edinburgh later this year. Matthew will be studying English Literature at the Scottish university, a subject that will allow him to combine his love of reading and poetry with a high-quality education.

Matthew says: "When thinking of what universities I would to apply to, I knew that I wanted to go somewhere that was big enough that I could explore the area and find new opportunities, but at the same time maintain a relaxed environment. Edinburgh seemed the perfect match, it has the urban qualities that I enjoy. Yet, at the same time, Edinburgh has still held onto its natural landscape and historic buildings which makes it such a tranquil setting. 

With the start of his first term now just months away, Matthew is looking forward to studying and expanding his perception of the world. He says: "As someone that’s interested in creative writing and journalism, I recognise that possessing a worldview that is open-minded and well-rounded is key. As much as I enjoy secondary school, I feel university will do a better job at challenging my perspectives and developing my critical thinking."

Matthew learned of the scholarship while visiting the Top Universities website and says the scholarship will have a big impact on his ability to cover his fees. Although he would have pursued a degree course at the University of Edinburgh regardless, it's definitely made it more feasible for him to enjoy the education he's always wanted.

After university, Matthew hopes to pursue a career in journalism, writing about culture and identity. He says: "I want to take my passion for writing and turn it into a career that not only entertains readers, but also helps people who have felt similarly to me and who struggle to find their place in society."

Advice for other applicants

"I would say the most valuable advice would be to make your entry original and unique. The competition for scholarships can be so competitive these days and it’s not uncommon for hundreds of people to apply for the same award. If your entry sounds superficial or uninspired then your chances of winning the award may be slim. The best thing to do is think critically of what the scholarship question is asking and create an answer that’s reflective of who you are as an individual."

Each year, QS and EDHEC Business School partner to offer exclusive business school scholarships to support students enrolling in an MSc or MiM program at EDHEC. Covering 50% of tuition fees, the QS-EDHEC Business School scholarships are awarded to applicants who demonstrate high levels of academic excellence, alongside a clear vision of how studying at EDHEC will help them achieve their educational and professional goals.

This year, the scholarship, open to any attendees of the QS World Grad School Tour, was awarded to Italian student Violetta Grimani.

Having studied a bachelor’s in economics and finance at the University of Bologna, Violetta was attracted to EDHEC’s MSc in Corporate Finance & Banking and the way the course integrates theory with real business cases and applications.

Violetta hopes the course will provide the perfect foundation for a career in investment banking and, eventually, work at a venture capital firm. She says: “I have a short-term and long-term career objective. First, I’d like to work in mergers and acquisitions at an investment bank as I’m attracted to the role’s challenges. However, in the long run, I would like to return to Italy and work for a venture capital firm. I believe innovation and entrepreneurship are key factors in every developed economy and deserve greater attention.”

Until then, Violetta will live in France where EDHEC is based. She says she’s looking forward to studying and living in an international environment.

Advice for other applicants

“You don’t need to perform a cost-benefit analysis to understand you have nothing to lose when applying for a scholarship (apart from some sleep time). The most important thing when applying is to be genuine. Your story, your goals and also your failures make you who you are and it’s important to show all of these things. Talk about the obstacles you had to face, the path you decided to take and the motivations that make you unique. Don’t be arrogant, and instead recognize your limits and try to turn them into strengths.

This year's lucky recipient of the QS Connect Masters scholarship is Sambhav Golechha. 

The scholarship, worth US$2,000, is awarded every year exclusively to a student who has participated in the Connect Masters scheme. Connect Masters, part of the QS World Grad School Tour, is a free service which allows prospective postgraduates to meet face-to-face with university representatives from around the world, allowing them to professionally discuss next steps for their career and studies.

Having worked at one of the world’s biggest data analytics firms, Sambhav has decided to return to education to learn more about the financial side of business and will be studying a master’s in finance at IE Business School in Spain. The internationally renowned school attracts the brightest minds from all over the world and Sambhav is looking forward to being one of them.

He says: “The master’s course at IE is one of the most practical programs out there. Coming from a society where theoretical learning is over-emphasized, this will be a very different experience for me. It will be interesting to learn from the diversity of backgrounds of my peers and expand my boundaries.”

Advice for other applicants

“This scholarship is a humbling honor and has really encouraged me to work harder and smarter from this point onwards. If you’re thinking of applying, don’t be put off by the fact lots of students across the world will probably also be applying. You have to believe in yourself and give it your best shot. Trying is the only way to win.”

We're pleased to announce that this year's QS Leadership Scholarship has been awarded to Afghan student Neelofar Rahimi. The $10,000 scholarship is awarded to outstanding candidates who have demonstrated strong leadership skills.

Neelofar is currently studying at Norasonde Adult Learning Center for Norwegian Language in Norway, where she lives with her parents and four siblings, and plans to study a master’s in International Business at Hult International Business School in the US.

Neelofar’s extraordinary life story makes her an extremely fitting recipient of this particular scholarship. Born in a country where education for women is a challenge due to religious, cultural and governmental issues, Neelofar has overcome a series of obstacles, from being shot to experiencing depression and losing her big brother, and speaks of her determination to positively impact the lives of other women through her own work ethic. Fittingly, her thesis is on Women Empowerment and Employment.

Neelofar learned of this scholarship after attending the QS World Grad School Tour in Oslo. She says: “I believe this scholarship was one that gave everyone a chance despite their nationality or race. Having been rejected elsewhere many times for these reasons, I appreciated the chance QS Scholarships was willing to give me and this scholarship will have a significant impact on my ability to continue my graduate degree. By lightening the financial burden, this scholarship enables me to shift my focus toward making progress in my studies.”

After finishing her studies in the US, Neelofar hopes to continue working to empower women around the world through business, entrepreneurship and employment.

Advice for other applicants

“Take your time searching for scholarships and read carefully through the requirements for each one. When writing application essays, be true to who you are as what you write should reflect your personality. Nothing comes easy, so make the effort to have someone experienced check your essays before you submit them. It will definitely pay off in the end!”

We're delighted to announce that Juliette Perche is the winner of this year’s QS Academic Excellence Scholarship.

The scholarship is awarded to support one master’s or PhD student anywhere in the world. Awarded annually, the QS Academic Excellence Scholarship is worth US$10,000, providing support for a student embarking on a master’s or PhD course anywhere in the world. Applicants are assessed based on their academic achievements to date, as well as the potential they show to make a contribution within academia or another area.

Currently studying in Paris, Juliette plans to specialize in environmental economics at master’s level at the London School of Economics next year.

Although she’s visited London a few times, Juliette says she doesn’t know the UK capital that well and is looking forward to the wide range of cultural activities on offer. She says: “I’m really looking forward to meeting people from all backgrounds who share my interests and desire to work for a sustainable future. Being at LSE will give me the opportunity to attend numerous fascinating conferences and meet great scholars in my study area.”

Juliette had initially planned to rely upon a student loan and a part-time job to fund her MSc in London but can now afford to take out a smaller loan and dedicate more time to her studies and getting involved in LSE’s academic circles, attending conferences and participating in student groups.

Advice for other applicants

“Always try your best and never lose hope. If you’re clear about what got you this far and what your career and academic motivations are then all should go well. Even if you don’t think you have a chance, it’s worth applying and seeing what happens. I honestly didn’t believe I would be accepted into LSE or this scholarship.”

Following hot on the heels of last month’s QS World University Rankings 2018, the QS Top 50 Under 50 2018 is here.

Ranking the top young universities in the world, the QS Top 50 Under 50 is supplemented by an additional ranking of the next 100 universities under 50 years old, allowing more young universities to be featured than ever before.

This year, seven of the top 10 young universities come from just four countries: Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea and Australia. In fact, the Asia-Pacific region dominates the ranking, with more Australian universities featuring this year than any other country. Malaysia has also made great strides this year, with four universities making it into the top 25.

Elsewhere in the world, only one UK university is included, Oxford Brookes, which drops to 41^st place. Many UK universities are now too old to be featured in this ranking, which means several institutions that were founded in 1966 have dropped off the list since last year.

The top young university in Europe is Finland’s Aalto University, ranked seventh, although Spain can proudly boast to having more institutions featured than any other European country with a total of six.

Ben Sowter, Research Director at QS, said: “This year, we see Asia-Pacific universities make considerable headway on their European and North American counterparts, a testament to the growing renown of these young, STEM-focused universities.”

2018’s top 10 young universities

Find out more about how this year’s QS Top 50 Under 50 ranking was put together by clicking here, or click here to see this year’s ranking in full.

Following the publication of last month’s QS World University Rankings® 2018, it’s nearly time to reveal the 50 hottest young universities in the world.

On July 13, the QS Top 50 Under 50 will be published, along with a rundown of the Next 100 Under 50, ensuring more of the world’s young universities than ever before can be included.

First published in 2012, the QS Top 50 Under 50 celebrates universities which have established a strong position in the international ranking tables in an impressively short space of time. Accumulating the levels of reputation and research impact to secure a place in the world rankings is hard enough, but it’s even more impressive when a university is under 50 years old.

What to expect

Each year, several institutions drop out of the list simply because they have passed the 50-year marker, making space for new entries. For example, several UK institutions included in last year’s ranking were founded in 1966, and therefore will now no longer be eligible.

Those institutions which are featured this year provide an example for other new universities to follow, demonstrating how a reputation can be forged quickly. This rapid rise is particularly notable in Asia, for instance, with previous Top 50 Under 50 rankings dominated by universities in countries such as Hong Kong, South Korea and Singapore.

So, check back on July 13 to see which young universities have risen up the rankings this year and tweet us @TopUnis with your reactions and questions.

To see last year's Top 50 Under 50 rankings, click here.