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ABOUT UK
UK education with cutting-edge research opportunities, internationally acclaimed degrees, contemporary curriculum/methods, high-quality resources and high-standard training is second to none. It offers an invitation to students.
The UK has long been enjoying a widely envied reputation for providing outstanding higher education opportunities not just for its own citizens but for the world community. British educational qualifications are probably more universally trusted and respected than those of any other country.
Although it is a small country, there are considerable variations in climate, People, surroundings, cost of living, and population. The geographical, cultural and social environment will be very different.
The economy - one of the largest in the world - is no longer manufacturing but services-based, with e-commerce of growing significance. The City of London is a global financial centre.
Based on market exchange rates, the United Kingdom is the fifth-largest economy in the world; the second largest in Europe after Germany, and the sixth-largest overall by purchasing power parity (PPP) exchange rates.
Before you understand and adopt the lifestyle of UK it is important to know the various parts that make up the continent. The United Kingdom comprises three major countries, England, Scotland, and Wales. Its province Northern Ireland also forms an integral piece.
You can find Indians almost everywhere in the world. In United Kingdom you find more number of Indians than anybody else. Indians make such a dominant community that they can influence every facet of life in UK. Moreover, you may be surprised to know how diverse ethnicity British society is, especially in the cities. Ethnic minority groups now represent about seven per cent of the British population, including:-
- Over 1.6 million people of Indian descent
- Over 1 million people of Caribbean or African descent
- Over 1 million people of Pakistani and Bangladeshi descent
- In addition, there are significant numbers of people from China, Italy, Cyprus, Poland, Australia, New Zealand, the USA and Canada living in the UK.
People
Nationality :- Noun--Briton(s). Adjective--British.
Population (2004 est.) :- 60.27 million.
Annual population growth rate (2004 est.) :- 0.29%.
Major ethnic groups :- British, Irish, West Indian, South Asian.
Major religions :- Church of England (Anglican), Roman Catholic, Church of Scotland (Presbyterian), Muslim.
Major languages :- English, Welsh, Irish Gaelic, Scottish Gaelic.
Education :- Years compulsory--12. Attendance--nearly 100%. Literacy--99%.
Economy
The economy - one of the largest in the world - is no longer manufacturing but services-based, with e-commerce of growing significance. The City of London is a global financial centre.
Based on market exchange rates, the United Kingdom is the fifth-largest economy in the world; the second largest in Europe after Germany, and the sixth-largest overall by purchasing power parity (PPP) exchange rates.
GDP (at current market prices, 2003 est.): $1.664 trillion.
Annual growth rate (2003 est.): 2.1%.
Per capita GDP (2003 est.): $27,700.
Natural resources :- Coal, oil, natural gas, tin, limestone, iron ore, salt, clay, chalk, gypsum, lead, silica. Agriculture (1.1% of GDP): Products--cereals, oilseed, potatoes, vegetables, cattle, sheep, poultry, fish.
Industry :- Types--steel, heavy engineering and metal manufacturing, textiles, motor vehicles and aircraft, construction (5.2% of GDP), electronics, chemicals.
Trade (2003 est.) :- Exports of goods and services--$304.5 billion: manufactured goods, fuels, chemicals; food, beverages, tobacco. Major markets--U.S., European Union. Imports of goods and services--$363.6 billion: manufactured goods, machinery, fuels, and foodstuffs. Major suppliers--U.S., European Union, Japan.
PEOPLE
The United Kingdom's population in 2004 surpassed 60 million--the third-largest in the European Union and the 21st-largest in the world. Its overall population density is one of the highest in the world. Almost one-third of the population lives in England's prosperous and fertile southeast and is predominantly urban and suburban--with about 7.2 million in the capital of London, which remains the largest city in Europe. The United Kingdom's high literacy rate (99%) is attributable to universal public education introduced for the primary level in 1870 and secondary level in 1900. Education is mandatory from ages 5 through 16. About one-fifth of British students go on to post-secondary education. The Church of England and the Church of Scotland are the official churches in their respective parts of the country, but most religions found in the world are represented in the United Kingdom.
A group of islands close to continental Europe, the British Isles have been subject to many invasions and migrations, especially from Scandinavia and the continent, including Roman occupation for several centuries. Contemporary Britons are descended mainly from the varied ethnic stocks that settled there before the 11th century. The pre-Celtic, Celtic, Roman, Anglo-Saxon, and Norse influences were blended in Britain under the Normans, Scandinavian Vikings who had lived in Northern France. Although Celtic languages persist in Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, the predominant language is English, which is primarily a blend of Anglo-Saxon and Norman French.
Languages
English is the official language of the state. Welsh, Scottish form of Gaelic are the other languages used. The most widely spoken Asian language in the UK is Punjabi, followed by Urdu, Bengali and Gujarati. Cantonese and Mandarin are the main Chinese dialects spoken in the UK. Celtic languages were once widely spoken in Ireland, Scotland, Wales and some parts of England.
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