Home to two universities, Canterbury is a lively student city with a lot to offer. Read our reasons to study in Canterbury to find out why it’s so popular.
Updated: 10 Mar 2025
Canterbury is home to both the University of Kent and Canterbury Christ Church University, meaning there’s a large student population here. And a large student population means only one thing – loads of places that cater to students! Canterbury is no exception to this rule, so if you want to find out more about the reasons it’s great to be a student in Canterbury, read on.
The two unis in the city offer some amazing academic opportunities, with courses across almost any subject area you could imagine. Naturally, this means there are hundreds of courses to pick from should you wish to study in Canterbury, so you shouldn’t have a problem finding something that matches your academic interests.
The city is super student-friendly thanks to the high student population, which means you’ll be benefitting from exclusive student deals and discounts at businesses across the city. You’ll also find lots of events catering for students, including club nights.
You’ll find lots of art galleries, museums, theatres and more across Canterbury, offering plenty of opportunity to check out art from local, national or international sources. There’s plenty of different ways to engage with art in Canterbury, so there’s something for everyone.
Where there are students, there is nightlife. That may not be an actual saying, but it’s certainly true in university cities across the UK, and Canterbury is no exception. Whether it’s a chill pint in a pub you’re after, or a night out at the theatre, or to dance the night away in a club, you’ll find it in Canterbury.
Canterbury West offers trains towards London or Margate, while Canterbury East has trains heading towards Dover or London. There are lots of stops along these routes, offering plenty of options, and you can get to practically any major UK town or city by changing in London, which is just a short trip from Canterbury.
The area has a strong sense of community, which you’ll see through the calendar of events that happens across the city. The welcoming nature of the city helps students to settle in, feel at home and make friends.
Kent is known for its beautiful countryside, so you’ll have plenty of natural beauty on your doorstep. In Canterbury, you’ll find locations including Westgate Gardens and Dane John Gardens, both great places to spend some time outdoors and admire the beauty of nature.
Canterbury is most well-known in the UK for its religious significance – it is of course home to Canterbury Cathedral and the Archbishop of Canterbury. Although the Archbishop is now one of the senior leaders of the Church of England, Canterbury’s connection to Christianity dates back much further than the creation of the Church of England – as far as 597! The history here offers lots of interest to a wide variety of people, regardless of their religion.
There are some very famous people with connections to Canterbury, including actor Orlando Bloom. If it’s not exciting to be walking the same streets Orlando Bloom did in his youth, then we don’t know what is!
If you’re interested in classic literature at all, you’re probably at least a little bit familiar with Geoffrey Chaucer, author of The Canterbury Tales. Unsurprisingly, there is a link between the city and the 24 short stories. The Canterbury Tales are actually presented as a story-telling contest which takes place between pilgrims on their journey from London to Canterbury.
With the amount there is to do in Canterbury you’d be forgiven for thinking you’d need public transport to get around – the city is actually compact and walkable. There are, of course, local buses offering transport in and around the city should you need to travel a bit further afield, but most of the time, students are able to walk around the city.
Yes, it sounds made up, but apparently it’s true! The verb ‘to canter’ originated from the phrase ‘Canterbury gallop’ or ‘Canterbury pace’, which referred to the way medieval pilgrims would travel to Canterbury. While it’s hard to determine the exact origin of words, this theory seems pretty widely accepted.
There’s lots of green space in and around Canterbury, which means you’ll have plenty of chance to cycle, walk, hike, picnic and more! Even better, these activities are free or low cost (assuming you already own a bicycle), so it’s friendly to a student budget.
Thanks to the high student population, the city has a thriving local economy, which in turn means lots of student-friendly jobs. Thinking further on, past graduation, you’re also in luck. There are lots of job vacancies and opportunities in and near Canterbury, and it’s also within commutable distance to London.
Kent is, on average, one of the warmest areas in Britain, so if you live in Canterbury, you can expect temperatures to be a bit above average. Of course, warmth is all relative, so don’t go expecting a tropical climate!
So, have we convinced you to give studying in Canterbury a shot? Yes? Then start searching for courses in Canterbury now!