When overseas students are considering UK universities, options in Oxford, Cambridge, London or Edinburgh often top their wish-lists.
The attractions of these cities and their iconic institutions are fairly obvious - but course fees can be high and costs of living prohibitive.
But all is not lost, because there are several outstanding outlying towns with good higher education offerings and decent student living standards - Luton in Bedfordshire being a prominent example.
So if you're prepared to study slightly off the beaten track, here are three reasons Luton's a great place to learn.
1. University of Bedfordshire
When you're investing in a university course, you'll naturally seek a good ROI from a reputable organisation.
And international students studying at the University of Bedfordshire benefit from a convenient town centre campus with a seven-storey library, sports therapy and science laboratories, state-of-the-art gym and industry-standard TV studio.
But depending on course choice, you might be based in neighbouring campuses in Bedford, Milton Keynes, Aylesbury or Putteridge Bury - all of which have their own distinctive charms.
