Kingston upon Thames, simply known as Kingston, is a town in southwest London, England. This town attracts a large number of tourists from all over the world. It is known for its vibrant shopping areas, including the Bentall Centre, and riverside restaurants. Besides, the town has royal connections, and many Anglo-Saxon kings were crowned here.
Furthermore, Kingston is considered a good town for students. Numerous international students visit Kingston for higher education.
Kingston UK: A Unique Study Abroad Destination
There is no doubt that Kingston, UK, is a unique study-abroad destination. In Kingston, you find Kingston University and Kingston College. Kingston University ranks 601-610 in the QS World University Rankings 2025. Some of you will not consider this ranking high but as a matter of fact, QS has ranked a total of 1503 universities in the world. Besides, there are thousands of universities in the world which are still unranked. So, Kingston University is above around 900 ranked and thousands of unranked universities in the world.
Kingston is a unique study-abroad destination because:
- Kingston University is known for its strong focus on employability, entrepreneurship, and industry connections. It has specialized programs in business, design, and engineering, providing students with a practical education that aligns with career aspirations.
- The area is culturally rich and welcoming, with a lower crime rate than central London. It is unquestionably ideal for students adjusting to life abroad.
- Kingston upon Thames is located at a prime location. It is close to both central London (30 minutes by train) and beautiful green spaces. Therefore, it offers a balanced lifestyle of academic focus and leisure, allowing students to enjoy the best of both worlds.
Balancing Studies and Travel: Strategies and Tips
When international students visit Kingston, they need to create a balance between study and travel. Quite obviously, when students come to Kingston for higher education, they also like to explore the city. Here are some strategies and tips for balancing study and travel.
#1. Plan Ahead
A major thing you need to do is to plan ahead of everything. You should create a schedule to mark the assignment deadline. Keeping everything in mind, make a prior planning for studies and travel.
#2. Set Your Priorities
Set your priorities for weekdays and weekends. It will help you effectively balance travel and studies, ensuring you meet academic requirements while enjoying your time in Kingston.
#3. Get Accommodation near Your Institute
Whether you are in Kingston University, Kingston College, or any other institute, it will be good for you to get accommodation near your accommodation. If your student accommodation in Kingston upon Thames UK is near your institute, you will have to spend a short time commuting. So, you will be able to save a lot of time for travel and self-study, and you can create a balance between travel and studies, ultimately achieving a better balance between both.
#4. Use Technology and Online Resources
Online resources are very helpful today to study from a remote location. You can attend online lectures from a distant area. Besides, you can also watch online videos. You can do this even if you are in a travel location when you are in your hotel room. Before travelling, you can download notes, readings, or videos to study offline on flights, trains, or during downtime.
#5. Make a Routine and Stay Disciplined
Making a routine and staying disciplined will make it easier to get time for everything. If you study on time and keep your course up-to-date, you will easily be able to travel across Kingston and other parts of the United Kingdom without stress.
#6. Go for Travel on Off Days
Going for travel on off days can help you create a perfect balance between travel and studies. Exploring on weekends or during breaks can rejuvenate you, making your study sessions more productive.
Case Studies of Successful Students
Here are the case studies of two successful students, according to the website of Kingston University.
- Neha Prasad Ainsworth, a PhD student at Kingston University’s Faculty of Engineering, Computing, and the Environment, exemplifies balancing intensive research with extracurricular involvement.
- Yousaf Khan, a research student in the Faculty of Health, Science, Social Care, and Education, is developing new hybrid materials for solar cell technology.
Conclusion
Kingston upon Thames, UK, is one of the unique destinations for study abroad. Kingston University and Kingston College are the major educational institutions here. Kingston University is known for strong employability and entrepreneurship. The area is culturally rich and has a low crime rate. Students also like to travel during their studies in Kingston. They can easily balance studies and travel in Kingston. For this, they need to plan, set their priorities, get accommodation near institutes, make a routine, and stay disciplined. Besides, they can also take the help of technology and online sources to study from distant areas. It is also advised to them to travel in the off-days.
Also Read: Balancing Studies and Travel: Study Abroad in Bolton