London 'by far the most educated city in Europe'

Most educated: The city is topping the tables for the number of graduates across Europe. Students come to study at institutions such as UCL, pictured
Steve Cadman/Flickr
Chloe Chaplain24 August 2016

London is the most educated city in Europe, with the capital boasting the highest concentration of graduates.

An increasing number of students from deprived families in London are going to university, and the capital is also attracting many who move from other parts of the UK to study.

In some parts of the city more than two out of three adults have a degree or equivalent.

Eurostat figures published have also revealed that London’s inner regions independently top the table of the highest concentration of graduates in Europe.

Eurostat report: London is the most educated city in Europe, with the highest concentration of graduates
Eurostat

Percentage of graduates by London regions

Inner London West - 69.7% (Camden and City of London, Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea, Hammersmith and Fulham, Wandsworth)

Inner London East - 58.3% (Hackney and Newham, Tower Hamlets, Haringey and Islington, Lewisham and Southwark, Lambeth)

Outer London South - 55.2% (Bromley, Croydon, Merton, Kingston upon Thames and Sutton)

Outer London West and North West - 53.2% (Barnet, Brent, Ealing, Harrow and Hillingdon, Hounslow and Richmond upon Thames)

Outer London East and North East - 43.4% (Bexley and Greenwich, Barking Dagenham and Havering, Redbridge and Waltham Forest, Enfield)

“Inner London west” – covering Camden, City of London, Kensington and Chelsea, Hammersmith and Fulham, and Wandsworth and Westminster - has the highest concentration of graduates with 69.7 per cent of adults attaining a degree.

In second place is "inner London east", with 58.3 per cent, including Haringey, Islington, Hackney, Newham, Lambeth, Lewisham, Southwark and Tower Hamlets.

The OECD's director of education, Andreas Schleicher, says the rise of graduate cities is the "new normal" for the modern economy.

He told the BBC that it is driven by supply and demand - increasing amount of families encouraging their children onto further study and flourishing city economies drawing in extra graduates.

Mr Schleicher said: "Today higher education is the new normal that reflects labour demand in the high-wage, knowledge-based economies of large cities."

Educating London: The city attracts students from all over the country
Erik Tham/Getty Images

According to the report, regions rivaling London include south Brussels and Oslo, both of which contain 54 per cent graduates, and those ranking the lowest include southern Italy, southern Portugal and Romania.

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