Study, work and live in The United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland comprises England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. It is today one of the most important players on the world stage, and is a member of the European Union, a permanent member of the UN’s Security Council, and a founding member of NATO and of the Commonwealth. The UK has the fifth largest economy in the world, and is a member of the G8 group of nations. It is also one of the major nuclear powers.

At it’s height in the mid nineteenth century, the British Empire spanned much of the world’s surface, and today the UK is home to a multicultural population, partly as a result of imperial legacy. It has a rich cultural heritage and has spawned some of the greatest figures in the arts and sciences, such as rock n’ roll band the Beatles, poet William Shakespeare, and physicist Sir Isaac Newton.

Quick facts:

• Population- 60,609,000 (est 2006)
• Principal Language(s)-English
• Capital- London
• Other major cities- Birmingham, Leeds, Glasgow
• Monetary unit- 1 Pound Sterling = 100 pence
• Internet domain- .uk
• International dialling code- +44