London. The City on the Thames. Old Foggy London Town. Whatever you call it, one thing remains constant: so much of what worldwide citizens are familiar with today, from the books we all read to the music we all listen to, as well as that aforementioned vital language the whole world is learning to speak, owes its very existence to London. A number of foreign students see the United States as the great origin of these things, and it's true that much of today's popular culture stems from America, specifically New York and LA. But much of what exists in that country stems from England, specifically London. For centuries, this city, with its own theater district, Shakespeare's globe, the National Museum and Tate Modern and many other important artistic and cultural centers, has been both the pillar and the centerpiece of Western civilization, and that history is omnipresent at every charming twist of the road.

But London's charm is not limited to its past. Today, the city is as exciting as it has ever been, as is the rest of this surprisingly small island-nation in the North Atlantic. From the White Cliffs of Dover in the north to the rolling greenery of the border with Wales in the west, England has more to offer foreign students than can ever be seen in a lifetime. Great civilizations have repeatedly made their home here, and the evidence of their influence can be seen in the famously ordered pillars of Stonehenge, the Roman ruins at the aforementioned Bath and the undeniable Celtic influence throughout the countryside.

Studying in England, even more than merely visiting, is an experience that will change your life in ways you may never have thought possible. After all, some of the most well know authors of all time - William Shakespeare, Charles Dickens and Jane Austin, to name a few -- are from this glorious country. And some of the greatest and most influential minds in the history of the world were educated in England's world-renowned colleges and universities. While many foreign students think of Harvard and Princeton when they consider top colleges, none should forget the experience and prestige of England's powerhouse universities Oxford and Cambridge. These two world-renown institutions have set the standard for higher education for centuries, and if you have the opportunity to either enroll in one of them or even simply audit a class or two, your life will be enriched more than you could even imagine, or I could illuminate in this article.

But Oxford and Cambridge are far from the only universities offering stellar educations in England. Indeed, from the halls of the University of Leeds to the august classrooms of the London School of Economics, the options are limitless when it comes to your choices for a world-class British education. This is, after all, the country which educates royalty, and if it's good enough for a future king, it's perfect for you.