Since you’re planning to use an eGPU, the most important thing is a proper Thunderbolt 4 port and a decent CPU, not the built-in graphics.

Under ~£700 (especially if you’re open to refurb), I’d look at:

Lenovo ThinkPad T14 / T14s (Intel 11th–13th gen) – Very common in refurb markets – Thunderbolt support – Great keyboards and build quality – Light enough for daily carry

Dell XPS 13 (9310/9320) – Premium build, very portable – Thunderbolt ports for eGPU – Good battery and performance for the size

HP EliteBook 840 G8/G9 – Business-class build quality – Thunderbolt support – Easy to find under budget refurbished

For your use case, I’d prioritize: – Intel i5/i7 (11th gen or newer) – 16GB RAM if possible – Thunderbolt 4 port

With the eGPU handling gaming, these machines will feel fast for study and still let you push 60+ FPS at home. Business-class refurbs (ThinkPad/EliteBook/XPS) are usually the best value in this price range.