London isn’t just a city of red buses and tea shops-it’s one of the top places in the world to study. Every year, over 150,000 international students choose London for their degrees, and for good reason. The city pulls together top universities, industry leaders, and real-world opportunities in ways few other places can. If you’re thinking about what to study here, four fields stand out: finance, AI, public policy, and design. These aren’t just popular majors-they’re where London’s economy, culture, and innovation actually move.
Finance: Where the World’s Money Meets the Classroom
If you want to learn finance, London is the place. The City of London, the capital’s financial district, is home to the London Stock Exchange, Barclays, HSBC, and dozens of hedge funds and fintech startups. You won’t just read about markets-you’ll walk past them every day.
Universities like London School of Economics (LSE), Imperial College London, and King’s College London offer finance degrees with direct ties to industry. At LSE, over 60% of finance graduates land jobs at firms like Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan, or BlackRock within six months of graduation. Many programs include internships with City firms, and some even let you sit in on real trading floor simulations.
What makes it different from studying finance in New York or Singapore? London’s regulatory environment is globally influential. You’ll learn about EU financial rules (even post-Brexit), UK tax law, and how global sanctions work-all from professors who’ve worked at the Bank of England or the FCA. The city’s time zone also lets you cover markets from Asia to the U.S. in a single day.
AI: Learning Machine Learning in the Heart of Tech Innovation
London doesn’t just use AI-it builds it. The city has the second-largest AI ecosystem in Europe, after Berlin, and the third-largest globally, behind only San Francisco and Beijing. Companies like DeepMind (owned by Google), BenevolentAI, and Hugging Face have major labs here. And universities are feeding them talent.
Imperial College London’s MSc in Artificial Intelligence is one of the most rigorous in Europe. Students build neural networks using real healthcare datasets from the NHS. University College London (UCL) offers a specialization in AI for Social Good, where students work with local councils to reduce homelessness through predictive modeling. At King’s, you can take a course on AI ethics taught by a former advisor to the UK Parliament.
What’s the job market like? In 2024, London posted over 12,000 AI-related job openings-more than any other UK city. Salaries for entry-level AI engineers start at £45,000, and for those with a master’s and internship experience, £60,000+ is common. Many students land roles at startups funded by London’s venture capital scene, which poured £2.1 billion into AI firms in 2024 alone.
Public Policy: Shape Laws from the Seat of Power
Want to understand how laws are made? Study public policy in London, where Parliament sits, the Cabinet meets, and NGOs like Oxfam and Transparency International have their UK headquarters.
The London School of Economics is the go-to for this field. Its MSc in Public Policy and Administration is ranked in the top 5 worldwide. Students don’t just write essays-they shadow MPs, attend committee hearings, and draft policy briefs for real government departments. One recent project involved redesigning London’s air quality monitoring system after students noticed data gaps in low-income neighborhoods.
Other strong programs come from King’s College London and the University of Westminster. King’s partners with the Greater London Authority to offer internships in transport policy, housing, and climate adaptation. Westminster’s program includes a mandatory placement with a think tank or charity.
Graduates don’t just go to government. Many work for international organizations like the World Bank or the UN, or for lobbying firms that influence EU and UK legislation. One 2023 graduate now advises the Department for Work and Pensions on disability benefits reform.
Design: From Fashion to UX, London Builds the Future
London’s design scene is messy, brilliant, and everywhere. You’ll find it in the street art of Shoreditch, the apps you use daily, the fashion shows at Somerset House, and the packaging of your favorite tea brand.
Central Saint Martins (part of UCL) is the most famous design school in the world. Its MA in Fashion is where Stella McCartney and Alexander McQueen started. But design here isn’t just clothes. The Royal College of Art offers an MA in Service Design that trains students to redesign hospital workflows or public transit systems. Goldsmiths, University of London, has a top-rated MA in Design for Social Innovation, where students work with refugee communities to build better housing apps.
UX/UI design is booming too. Companies like Spotify, Meta, and Monzo have major design teams in London. Many programs include industry projects-students at the University of the Arts London recently redesigned the NHS app for elderly users, cutting error rates by 40%.
Graduates don’t just become designers. They become product leads, design strategists, and startup founders. One 2024 graduate launched a sustainable packaging startup that now supplies Tesco and Waitrose.
Why These Four? The Overlap That Makes London Unique
What ties finance, AI, public policy, and design together isn’t just the city-it’s how they interact. A finance student might use AI tools to predict market crashes. A public policy student might design an app to track carbon emissions from transport. A design student might build a financial literacy tool for teens in East London.
London’s universities encourage this crossover. LSE offers a joint degree in AI and Public Policy. UCL has a Design Innovation Lab where students from all four fields collaborate on real problems. Even the city’s startup incubators, like Techstars London and Google for Startups, push interdisciplinary teams.
This isn’t just about getting a degree. It’s about learning how to solve real problems in a city that never stops changing. You’ll study alongside people from 180 countries. You’ll hear French, Mandarin, Arabic, and Nigerian Pidgin in the library. And when you graduate, you’ll have skills that matter everywhere.
Costs and Realities: What You Actually Pay
Let’s be honest-London isn’t cheap. International tuition for these programs ranges from £28,000 to £42,000 per year. Rent in zones 1-2 can cost £1,800-£2,500 a month. Food, transport, and books add another £800-£1,200 monthly.
But here’s what most people don’t tell you: many students offset costs with work. The UK allows international students to work 20 hours a week during term and full-time in holidays. Many land paid internships in their field-finance students at banks, AI students at startups, design students at agencies. Some even get paid to do research with professors.
Scholarships exist too. LSE offers the Global Masters Scholarship (up to £10,000). Imperial has the President’s Scholarship for AI. The Royal College of Art gives need-based aid to design students. And the UK government’s Chevening Scholarship covers full tuition and living costs for high-achieving international students.
What Happens After Graduation?
London doesn’t just educate you-it connects you. The UK’s Graduate Visa lets you stay for two years after graduation to work. Many students use that time to build a career. In finance, 78% of international graduates from LSE stay in the UK for at least three years. In AI, 65% of UCL graduates join London-based companies. Designers often launch their own brands or join global firms like Apple or Nike, which have major design hubs here.
And if you want to move elsewhere? London degrees are respected worldwide. A degree from LSE or UCL opens doors in New York, Singapore, Dubai, and Sydney. But most don’t leave. They stay because London keeps evolving-and so do they.
Is it worth studying in London despite the high costs?
Yes-if you’re focused on your field. London’s job market pays back the investment faster than most cities. A finance graduate from LSE earns an average of £65,000 within two years of graduation. AI roles start at £50,000+. Many students cover costs through internships, scholarships, or part-time work. The networking and real-world exposure you get here can’t be replicated in a classroom elsewhere.
Do I need to speak another language to study in London?
No. All programs are taught in English, and you’ll need proof of English proficiency (like IELTS or TOEFL). But you’ll hear dozens of languages on campus and in the city. Many students pick up basic phrases in other languages, but it’s not required for your studies or daily life.
Which university is best for AI in London?
Imperial College London has the strongest technical program, with ties to DeepMind and NHS data projects. University College London (UCL) leads in AI ethics and social applications. King’s College London offers the most hands-on experience with government and public sector AI. Choose based on whether you want to build models, understand their impact, or apply them in policy.
Can I switch between these fields after starting one?
Yes, and many students do. It’s common for finance students to take AI electives, or design students to minor in public policy. Universities encourage this. UCL even has a “Cross-Disciplinary Project” module where you team up with students from other departments. Your degree title won’t change, but your skills will expand.
Are there scholarships for design students in London?
Yes. The Royal College of Art offers need-based aid covering up to 50% of tuition. Goldsmiths has the Design for Social Change Scholarship for students working with marginalized communities. Central Saint Martins gives merit scholarships based on portfolio strength. Applications usually open in October for the following year.
Next Steps: How to Get Started
Start by picking one field. Then research the top three universities offering it. Look at course modules-not just rankings. Does the program include internships? Who teaches the classes? Are there guest speakers from industry?
Apply early. Deadlines for international students are usually between October and January. Prepare a strong personal statement that shows why you want to study in London specifically-not just why you want to study.
And don’t wait for perfect grades. London values real experience. A portfolio, a volunteer project, or even a blog about finance trends can make your application stand out. This city doesn’t just want smart students-it wants curious, active ones.