The UK is full of diversity, and its multicultural nature makes it an exciting and welcoming place to live. As well as being home to many immigrant communities, the UK sees millions of tourists, business visitors and international students from all over the world. International pupils typically make up about 50% of the student body at UK boarding schools, and British higher education see more than half a million international students enrolled each year.
Over the last 70 years in particular, the UK has welcomed people from across the globe. In fact, migration statistics published by the UK House of Commons reveal that in 2021, there were around 6 million people with non-British nationality living in the UK. That’s about 9% of the population! On top of that, there were 9.6 million people living in the UK who were born abroad. Even within the United Kingdom, there are multiple different cultures. Each of the four countries (England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales) has its own culture, languages, and traditions.
So what exactly is it that makes the UK so multicultural? We’ve outlined some of the things that contribute to the UK’s multiculturalism.
Whilst English is the official language of the UK, there is a vast range of other languages spoken all over the country. For example, the UK’s capital city, London, is home to around 300 different languages! The variety of languages spoken in the UK means that you’re not alone if you come to the UK speaking another language. You’ll feel at home in such a multilingual and multicultural society.
The UK is home to many traditional restaurants run by people who have immigrated here. In fact, there are thousands of restaurants which offer Chinese, Indian or Italian cuisine, but you will also have the opportunity to try food from almost any country in the world. From Nigerian to Cuban to Nepalese – the options to try something new are endless. The UK welcomes these different cuisines so much so that the adopted national dish of Britain is often said to be chicken tikka masala! This symbol of a multicultural Britain shows that we hold these different dishes close to our hearts. If you come to a UK boarding school, you will still be able to find comfort in your home foods whilst also trying new things.
Living in our multicultural UK means exposure to different ideas. Engaging with a diverse mix of people is much more interesting than having everybody be exactly the same! Entertainment, fashion, music and art are different all over the world. We feel lucky to have learnt so much from different nationalities bringing their ideas and cultures with them.
When you get to boarding school, other students will be excited to give you a warm welcome to the UK and learn more about your culture. In fact, most boarding schools welcome students from dozens of countries around the world, so you’ll be able to learn more about their cultures and feel comforted that there are other people in the same situation as you.
Our multicultural society will welcome you with open arms to the UK. You will still be able to access home comforts, whilst learning all about different cultures from around the globe. You’ll learn that people hold different religious or political beliefs from you. In turn, you will become much more open-minded and able to work well with a range of people in the future. What are you waiting for?
Do you want to study in the UK and benefit from all it has to offer? Contact us to find out how we can help you find a UK boarding school.
This article appears in the following categories Boarding School Life
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