UK CITY GUIDE
Study in Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a county just north of London and one of the UK's most efficient study destinations for international students. The University of Hertfordshire is based in the town of Hatfield (population around 40,000), 25 minutes by direct train from London King's Cross — making Hertfordshire one of the closest UK university locations to central London for cost and convenience. The county is home to Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden (where the entire Harry Potter series was filmed), a substantial aerospace heritage going back to de Havilland, and a growing life sciences cluster around Stevenage. For international students, Hatfield offers a manageable, student-focused environment with exceptional rail access to the capital, and the University of Hertfordshire has one of the strongest programmes in the UK for animation, VFX and computing. AEN works with the University of Hertfordshire and with Hertfordshire International College (HIC).
72 courses currently available in Hertfordshire — browse them all →
Quick facts about Hertfordshire
Why study in Hertfordshire?
The University of Hertfordshire is a modern university based primarily in Hatfield, with a strong international student community and particular strengths in animation, visual effects, computer games design, computing, engineering, business, nursing and aerospace. The university's £75m de Havilland and College Lane campuses include modern teaching, animation studios with industry-standard software, an aerospace flight simulator, and substantial sports and library facilities. The school of creative arts has built a reputation as one of the leading UK destinations for animation and VFX, with strong industry links to Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden and the wider London creative industry. Hertfordshire International College (HIC), AEN's direct partner on the Hatfield campus, runs Foundation Year, International Year One and Pre-Masters routes designed specifically for international students who need an academic and English-language bridge into University of Hertfordshire degrees. On successful completion of your HIC pathway, you progress directly into the relevant University of Hertfordshire degree on the same campus, with the same student services. Our Hertfordshire placements focus on Animation and VFX, Computing, Engineering and Business routes.
Cost of living
Hertfordshire is more affordable than central London but more expensive than midlands or northern cities because of its commuter-belt location. For 2026, budget £950-£1,250 a month. A room in a shared house in Hatfield or nearby Welwyn Garden City typically costs £550-£750, while purpose-built student accommodation close to the University of Hertfordshire campus runs £650-£950 a month with bills included. Food shopping at Lidl, Aldi, Sainsbury's or Hatfield's various supermarkets is around £150-£200 a month. Local transport is the main practical difference from a city — buses are run by Uno (the university's own bus operator, with discounted student rates) and Arriva, with passes typically £35-£50 a month. Mobile, broadband (typically included in PBSA), gym and books add £70-£100. Social spending of £120-£180 covers eating out, cinema at the Galleria, weekend trips into London (25 minutes by train) and nights out. Part-time work is widely available locally and in London via the fast train link.
Where to live as a student
Hatfield Town Centre
Hatfield is the main town for University of Hertfordshire students and Hertfordshire International College, with the campus right on its edge and the railway station (for trains to London) a 15-minute walk away. Most student accommodation here is modern purpose-built student housing on or near the campus, typically £650-£950 a month with bills, Wi-Fi and security included. Best for first-year international students who want a simple, convenient first year.
St Albans
St Albans, eight miles west of Hatfield, is a historic Roman city with a beautiful cathedral, handsome high street, lively restaurant scene and direct trains to London (20 minutes to St Pancras). More expensive than Hatfield — rooms in shared houses typically £700-£900 a month — and a 20-minute bus or 15-minute drive to the university. Popular with postgrads and mature students who want a more attractive base and don't mind the commute.
Welwyn Garden City
Welwyn Garden City, just north of Hatfield, is a planned 1920s garden city with wide tree-lined streets, a beautiful central park, and quick rail links into both London (25 minutes) and Hatfield (5 minutes). Rooms in shared houses typically £500-£700 a month — slightly cheaper than Hatfield town centre — and the atmosphere is peaceful and well-connected. Suits second/third-year students who want a calmer base.
Getting around
Hertfordshire's defining practical feature is its rail link — direct Great Northern and Thameslink services from Hatfield run to London King's Cross in around 25 minutes, with trains every 5-15 minutes during peak hours. This makes daily commuting, internships and regular weekend visits to the capital genuinely realistic. The University of Hertfordshire's own Uno bus network is the primary way of getting around Hatfield and the wider campus area, with student passes meaningfully discounted. The main A1(M) motorway runs alongside the campus, making car travel quick to north London or further afield. Cycling between Hatfield, Welwyn Garden City and St Albans is feasible on quiet country lanes. Luton Airport is 30 minutes by car or about 45 minutes by train (via Luton Airport Parkway), and Stansted is around an hour away — useful for European trips. The wider Hertfordshire countryside, with stately homes (Hatfield House, Knebworth), the Chilterns to the west, and the Lee Valley Park to the east, offers excellent weekend hiking and cycling options.
Student life in Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire's student life is shaped by the university's concentration in Hatfield and the proximity to London. The university itself has substantial on-campus social infrastructure — student union venues, sports facilities, the Hertfordshire Sports Village (a £25m investment with Olympic-standard facilities), a multiplex cinema and a large student-focused shopping centre (the Galleria). Hatfield town centre is relatively small but provides everyday amenities and a handful of bars and restaurants. For broader nightlife and cultural variety, most students use St Albans (which has a famously strong pub and restaurant scene) or London — the 25-minute train means London is a realistic destination for nights out in Camden, Soho or Shoreditch. The food scene is improving with growing diversity in Hatfield itself and excellent restaurants in St Albans, Welwyn and across the county. Sport is exceptional at Hertfordshire — the Sports Village hosts major BUCS competitions and the university runs more than 50 sports clubs. Cultural infrastructure benefits from proximity to London plus distinctive local options — Knebworth concerts in summer, Hatfield House film locations and events, and St Albans' Roman heritage and beer festival. Warner Bros. Studio Tour London at Leavesden is a major destination for film and Harry Potter fans — students can visit easily by bus or train.
Famous landmarks & things to see
Hatfield House
A Jacobean stately home built in 1611 for Robert Cecil, principal minister to King James I — set in 1,000 acres of historic parkland and now used regularly as a film location, including for The Crown and Batman Begins.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
de Havilland Aircraft Museum
The UK's oldest dedicated aviation museum, on the site of de Havilland's original Hertfordshire factory, with the prototype Mosquito and a substantial collection of post-war British aircraft — particularly relevant for aerospace students.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
St Albans Cathedral
A medieval cathedral and former Benedictine abbey nine miles from Hatfield, with the longest nave of any cathedral in England and substantial Roman heritage in the surrounding city — free to visit.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Knebworth House
An Elizabethan-Tudor stately home eight miles from Hatfield, host to legendary outdoor concerts (Led Zeppelin, Oasis, Robbie Williams) and a regular filming location for major productions including Batman, Eyes Wide Shut and The King's Speech.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
The Galleria Shopping Centre
A modern outlet shopping centre built into the A1(M) motorway just outside the university campus, with restaurants, a cinema and dozens of designer outlets — a popular weekend destination for students.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Verulamium Park
A 100-acre St Albans park built on the Roman city of Verulamium, with surviving Roman walls, a hypocaust mosaic floor and the Verulamium Museum on site. The ornamental lake and proximity to the cathedral make this the most popular day-out spot in the county.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Major industries & employers
Aerospace and defence
Hertfordshire has a deep aerospace heritage — the de Havilland Aircraft Company was based in Hatfield, and modern operations include BAE Systems, Airbus Defence and Space, and a wider engineering supply chain serving the UK aerospace sector.
Film and television production
Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden in south Hertfordshire is where the entire Harry Potter film series was shot, alongside The Batman, Mission Impossible films and Wonka — making Hertfordshire one of the UK's most active film and TV production locations.
Creative industries
The University of Hertfordshire is internationally recognised for animation, VFX and computer games design, and the wider Hertfordshire creative sector benefits from proximity to London's media industry and the Leavesden studios.
Life sciences
GlaxoSmithKline has substantial operations in Stevenage just north of Hatfield, and the wider Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst hosts a growing life sciences cluster — important for biosciences and pharmacy graduates.
Advanced engineering
Hertfordshire hosts a strong advanced engineering base including precision manufacturing, automotive and electronics firms across Hatfield, Welwyn Garden City, Stevenage and St Albans.
Logistics and distribution
Hertfordshire's position on the M25, M1 and A1(M) makes it a key UK logistics corridor, with major distribution centres for Tesco, Ocado and others providing significant graduate employment in supply-chain and operations management.
Annual events & festivals
Hertford Music Festival
October
A music festival held across multiple venues in Hertford (the county town, just north of Hatfield) featuring touring acts, local bands, and a programme of free events — popular with students from the University of Hertfordshire.
Hatfield House Living Heritage Country Show
May
An annual country show on the Hatfield House estate with vintage tractors, country crafts, live music, food stalls and demonstrations — one of the largest spring events in southern Hertfordshire.
Knebworth Concerts
Summer
Knebworth House regularly hosts major summer headline concerts (historically Oasis, Robbie Williams, Liam Gallagher) drawing 100,000+ attendees — an iconic part of the British music calendar in years when concerts are scheduled.
St Albans Beer Festival
September
A long-running CAMRA beer festival in St Albans — the historic Roman city just west of Hatfield — with hundreds of cask ales, ciders and food stalls over four days.
St Albans International Organ Festival
July (biennial)
One of Europe's most prestigious organ festivals, held in St Albans Cathedral and surrounding churches with international competitors and recitalists.
St Albans Christmas Market
Late November to mid-December
A large annual Christmas market in the city centre with 80+ stalls, food trucks and entertainment over multiple weekends.
Top subjects in Hertfordshire
Animation & VFX
The University of Hertfordshire is internationally recognised for animation, VFX and computer games design, with industry-standard studios and strong links to Warner Bros. Leavesden, Framestore and the wider London creative industry.
Computing & Software Engineering
Hertfordshire has a long-established computing department with growing strengths in AI, software engineering and cybersecurity, and the proximity to London creates exceptional graduate employment routes.
Aerospace Engineering
Hertfordshire's de Havilland heritage continues in modern aerospace teaching, including a working flight simulator and links to BAE Systems, Airbus and the wider UK aerospace supply chain.
Business & Management
Hertfordshire Business School runs well-regarded undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, with strong industry links across the South East and easy access to London for placements.
Nursing & Health Sciences
The University of Hertfordshire runs one of the largest nursing programmes in the UK, with the East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust providing substantial clinical placement environments.
FAQ — studying in Hertfordshire
Why does AEN list Hertfordshire as a study destination — isn't it a county, not a city?
We list Hertfordshire as a destination because the University of Hertfordshire and Hertfordshire International College (HIC) — AEN's direct partner — are both based in Hatfield in the county of Hertfordshire, and the wider county provides the practical environment students live in. Hatfield itself is a town of around 40,000 people rather than a major city, but the university is one of the largest in the South East and the student experience is concentrated around the Hatfield campus. The county includes St Albans (a historic small city), Welwyn Garden City, Stevenage and other towns within easy reach. We use Hertfordshire as the destination label because it accurately describes where students study and live — and because the county's identity is shaped by the university more than any single town.
What is HIC and how does it lead into the University of Hertfordshire?
Hertfordshire International College (HIC) is a pathway college located on the University of Hertfordshire campus in Hatfield, designed specifically for international students who need an academic and English-language bridge into University of Hertfordshire undergraduate or postgraduate degrees. Typical routes are an International Foundation Year (leading into year 1 of an undergraduate degree), an International Year One (leading into year 2 of selected undergraduate degrees), and a Pre-Masters (leading into a postgraduate Masters degree). On successful completion of your HIC pathway, you progress directly into the relevant University of Hertfordshire degree on the same campus, with the same student services and access to the university's facilities. Multiple intakes run through the year. AEN works directly with HIC and we handle the full application, accommodation and visa support process.
Is Hertfordshire really good for animation and VFX?
Yes — the University of Hertfordshire is one of the UK's leading institutions for animation, visual effects and computer games design. The school of creative arts has industry-standard animation studios, a strong focus on portfolio development and direct links to the major UK animation and VFX studios — particularly Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden (where the Harry Potter, Fantastic Beasts and other major films were made), which is in Hertfordshire itself. Graduates have gone on to work at Framestore, MPC, DNEG and the major studios. For international students with creative ambitions in film, animation or games, Hertfordshire offers an unusually direct route into the UK creative industries, and HIC's pathway programmes can include foundation-level creative work that builds toward these degree programmes.
How easy is the commute into London from Hatfield?
Hatfield to central London is one of the easiest commutes in the UK for any student town. Direct trains from Hatfield station run to London King's Cross in around 25 minutes (Great Northern services) or to Moorgate via the City branch (also around 25 minutes), with trains every 5-15 minutes during peak hours and continuing through late evening. With a 16-25 Railcard you save a third on most fares. From King's Cross you can connect to most London tube lines and walk to major employers in Bloomsbury and the City. Many University of Hertfordshire students do part-time work in London during term and full-time work there during vacations, and a lot of dissertation and final-year placements happen in London-based firms. The commute is realistic — and notably faster than many parts of London itself when measured door-to-door.
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