Study in United Kingdom - Universities, Cost, Visa, Courses & Work Opportunities

Why Study in UK?

Attracting over 458,490 international students according to the HESA website, the UK has a long tradition of quality education and houses universities dating back to the 12th and 13th centuries. 25 universities from the UK rank among the top 200 universities according to QS World Rankings 2020. And 4 universities lie among the top 10 universities. Universities in the United Kingdom are known to have excellent pedagogy merged with a focus on research.

Among the non- EU countries, China, India, the USA, and Hong Kong send most students to study in UK. The strength of Indian students approximates to 22,000 by June, 2019. A positive aspect for Indian students is an acceptance of 96 percent visa applications.

The country is known to provide generous discounts to students (including international) on public transport, food, books and entertainment; hence students are advised to ask about student discounts everywhere. There's a great deal of second-hand shopping that can happen in the UK.

The main areas of education that the country is known to offer are engineering, science, art & design, business & management, law and finance. Masters in UK is a popular choice that students explore.

Popular Cities, Courses and Universities for international students

Popular cities to study in the UK

Oxford
Cambridge
London
Aberdeen
Manchester

Popular courses to study in the UK

Business and Administrative Studies (MBA)
Engineering & Tech (B.Tech., M.Tech.)
Social Sciences (B.A, M.A in History, M.Phil.)
Creative Arts & Design (Graphic, Film, Media)
Law (LLB, LLM)
Biological Sciences (B.Sc., M.Sc.)
Medicine and allied subjects

Popular universities in UK

University	QS Rank	Times Higher Education Rank
University of Oxford	4	1
University of Cambridge	7	3
University College London	8	22
Imperial College London	9	10
The University of Edinburgh	20	37
The University of Manchester	27	60
King’s College London	33	55

Education System in the UK

Made up of four regions - Scotland, England, Northern Ireland and Wales, the UK offers 50,000 courses in around 25 subjects. Different regions in the UK can have a different set of academic rules. For higher education, there are mainly two bodies to maintain academic standards:

FHEQ - The Framework for Higher Education Qualifications of Degree Awarding Bodies in England, Wales and Northern Ireland
2. FQHEIS- The Framework for Qualifications of Higher Education Institutions in Scotland

Undergraduate Programs

More than 395 universities and colleges offer undergraduate or bachelor courses to students. In the table below, we provide a brief of types of undergraduate degrees for you to explore which you can pursue after 12th:

Degree title	Duration	Eligibility requirements	Key points
Bachelor’s degree	3- 4 years	Minimum 70% in SSC (varies with stream) IELTS 6.0-6.5	Focussed on a particular subject Examples-BA, B.Sc., B.Ed., BEng
Diplomas of Higher Education (DipHE)	2-3 years	Below 60% in SSC ILETS 5.5-6.0	Equivalent to 2 years of Hons. Program Can be stretched to 3 years for Hons. degree For professions such as social work, medicine.
Certificates of Higher Education (CertHE)	2-3 years	Below 60% in SSC IELTS overall 5.5.0-6.0	Equivalent to 2 years of Hons. Program Can be stretched to 3 years for Hons. Degree Designed for you to build confidence to study at university level
Foundation degree	2- 3 years	Below 60% in SSC accepted IELTS 5.5-6.0	Equivalent to 2 years of Hons. Program Usually opted if you wish to work right after secondary school Can be continued to third year for obtaining Hons. bachelor degree
Higher National Diploma (HND)	2-3 years	Below 60% in SSC accepted IELTS overall 5.5-6.0	2 year certificate If you score well, you can go for the third year
Specialized undergraduate Master’s Degree program	4 years	Minimum 70% in SSC (varies with stream) IELTS minimum 6.0	Integrated course Not common Melds first degree with master’s program
Sandwich degree	4 years	Minimum 70% in SSC (varies with stream) IELTS minimum 6.0	One year is dedicated to workplace experience

Postgraduate Programs

Type of Masters	Duration	Eligibility requirements
Taught Masters Courses (Examples: M.Sc., M.A, M.Eng.)	1-2 years	First or upper second class undergraduate degree IELTS 7.0
Research Master’s (Examples- M.Sc., M.Phil., M.Res)	2- 3 years	First or upper second class undergraduate degree IELTS 7.0
MBA	1-2 years	First degree, 2-3 years’ work experience, IELTS 6.5-7
PH.D.	3-5 years	Master’s degree IELTS 6.5-7.0

See some more points:

Most masters programs at the universities in the UK get completed in 12 months, this is also why MS in the UK may cost a little less than other study abroad programs.
Some may take 24 months too.
In most cases. ‘Masters’ in the UK is a course that is to be undertaken after an appropriate 3-year Bachelor’s Degree
In Scotland, most students take up a 4-year undergrad degree combined with Masters.

Cost of Studying in the UK

According to The Reddin Survey for 2017-18, the undergraduate fees approximate in the range of £10,000 to £38,000. It can be higher for medical courses.
On average, MS in the UK may cost about £20,000 per year.
The top universities in the UK may have slightly higher fees.
The government mandates that you will approximately need at least £1265 each month for living expenses.
UK is known to provide generous discounts to students (including international) on public transport, food, books and entertainment, so students are advised to ask about student discounts everywhere. You can know more about living expenses in the UK including accommodation and other living expenses.

Intakes and deadlines

For undergraduate courses in UK, it is advised to check the UCAS website for exact deadlines. However, a general criterion is mentioned below.

Intakes	Deadlines
Fall Intake (September)	Some undergraduate courses have deadlines in October such as medicine, veterinary, dentistry. For other undergraduate courses- January
Spring Intake (March- April)	October - January

For masters programs, it is advised to apply at least one year before commencement of a course. For fall intake, you should apply by June or July. You should keep checking universities' websites as application deadlines vary. For some universities you can apply through UCAS Postgraduate. In case you have not completed your graduation, you may still get a conditional acceptance letter.

Admission Requirements for courses in the UK

Most Universities in the UK do not require the students to appear for GRE, GMAT .

Either of the two English proficiency tests i.e. IELTS/TOEFL is considered.
Academic excellence is sometimes mandatory and a high priority requirement for universities in the UK.
Work experience is also mandatory for certain courses like MBAs.
Students with 15 backlogs or so can apply at several UK universities, but other important factors to be taken into account when you apply are your standardized test scores such as IELTS.
Some UK universities have no specific requirements for backlog acceptance, and a good IELTS score has no stand in granting admissions to students.

UK Application Process

Once you have decided to study in the UK, you must plan at least 12 months before the admission season.
To apply for undergraduate course/bachelors degree in the UK, you must apply through UCAS
For masters you need to apply to individual universities.
Pay the fees. If you apply for one university, the fee is £20 and £25for multiple choices on UCAS
If accepted, you will receive CAS form (Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies).

Documentation

The following are a set of common documents you will need while applying for UK universities.

Proofs of English language proficiency test scorecards
Personal statement
Two or more references and their contact information, if required
LOR
Academic transcripts with certified translations in English
A research proposal, if asked
A CV
A copy of passport

Steps to apply for UK Student Visa

First of all, congratulations on your admit! Now, check if you need the visa. You can only apply after you have received a CAS certificate from the university.
If you have received any scholarships from the university, make sure to check if the CAS certificate mentions that. This may create problems in the Visa interview.
With this, you also need to show the required funds in your bank account.

The earliest you can apply for a visa is 3 months before you start your course. You’ll usually get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks.
You need Tier 4 (General) Student Visa (Fees £310) for a full-time degree and Student Visitor Visa (Fees £83) if you are going for studying for less than 6 months
Get an Immigration Health Surcharge
Book visa at: https://visas-immigration.service.gov.uk/apply-visa-type/tier4
Give your biometrics at the Visa Application Center (VAC) for receiving a Biometric Residence Permit. You can collect it within 10 days of arrival in the UK.
Get your Tuberculosis Screening done from UK approved clinics.

Give your Visa interview either at a VAC or online through a video.

Let’s see the list of documents required in the entire process to procure a visa.

Original Birth Certificate
CAS Form
Passport
Passport size photographs
Academic documents
Proofs to support your finances
English language proficiency test scorecards
Proof of payment for Immigration Health Surcharge
Tuberculosis Screening Certificate

Note:

Visa should be applied within 6 months of receiving CAS form and before 3 months of beginning of course.
You can arrive in the UK before your program starts up to 1 week before if your course length is less than 6 months.
If your course lasts more than 6 months, you can reach the UK up to 1 month before the start of your course.

Financial aid for international students to study in the UK

Several educational institutions offer scholarships to international students. Various government scholarships cover full tuition fees. However, one needs to be exceptional to get them owing to the volume of the applicants.

GREAT Scholarships: Only for graduate students having an Indian passport, covers full tuition fees if you have a confirmed offer letter from a list of 25 specific institutions which includes universities such as Newcastle University, UCL London, and The University of Nottingham. Find the full list of Universities accepting GREAT Scholarships.

Commonwealth Scholarships and Fellowships: Meant for graduate international students from members of all commonwealth countries (includes India). Deadlines close in Jan-Feb.

Charles Wallace India Trust Scholarships: Reserved for students aged between 25 and 45 in arts, heritage conservation and humanities. They even support short, artist residencies and small courses.

Hornby Scholarships: Awards for English language teachers for teaching English as a foreign language. Their deadlines are generally in February.

Go Clean Scholarship- For Bachelors Certificate, Bachelor's Degree, Bachelor's Diploma, Masters Certificate, Master’s Degree, Masters Diploma, Ph.D. Applicants must submit the required essay to scholarships@alltoiletmatters.com before the deadline.
Forktip Women’s Innovation Scholarships - This scholarship is applicable for Bachelor's Certificate, Bachelor's Degree, Bachelor's Diploma, Master's Certificate, Master’s Degree, Masters Diploma, Ph.D. Scholarship is aimed at providing financial support for women around the world to further their education and careers.
Inlaks Scholarships- These aim at helping graduate students to pursue their masters, M.Phil and doctoral programs.
Gates Cambridge Scholarships - These are exclusively for masters and above masters degrees.
Western Union Foundation Global Scholarship Program - Awarded to undergraduate students pursuing a field of science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and business/entrepreneurship.
Academic Excellence Scholarships, University of York
University of Essex Indian Sub-Continent Regional Undergraduate Scholarship
The Rhodes Scholarships for India, University of Oxford- These invite graduate students to pursue fully sponsored postgraduate studies at the University of Oxford.
Cambridge Immerse Scholarship Programme
Oxford and Cambridge Society of India Scholarship (OCSI), UK
Strathclyde Business School Full Time MBA Dean's Excellence Awards
Newcastle University MBA Leadership Scholarships
Department of Film and Television Studies MA Scholarship, University of Warwick, UK
Undergraduate Global Excellence Scholarship Medical School, University of Exeter
Cardiff University Scholarships- These are offered to undergraduate, graduate and research programs.
MBA Scholarships at Brunel University
International Undergraduate Engineering Scholarships- These are Arkwright Engineering Scholarships, IET Awards and Scholarships ,IME Scholarships and Awards , Imperial College London PhD Scholarships in Chemical Engineering , NI Engineering Scholarship Program , QMUL Queen Mary Global Excellence Scholarships , QUEST Undergraduate Scholarships from ICE , University of Manchester Engineering Scholarships, University of Strathclyde Engineering Scholarships , Women’s Engineering Society Awards .
International Scholarships at University of Westminster
University Prize Scholarships- These are meant for PH.D students studying at the university of Sheffield.
The University of Sussex International Scholarships- These are provided for both bachelors and masters studies.
Kingston University London Scholarships- Helping students cover partial tuition fees, these are offered during September intake only.
Bristol University Scholarships- These are available both for graduates and undergraduates. For example, the University of Bristol Think Big Undergraduate Scholarships.
Denys Holland Scholarship - These are meant for undergraduate studies seeking financial support.
Edinburgh Global Research Scholarships
MBA Skoll Scholarships

Other sources of funding you may want to consider are the British Chevening Scholarships, the British Council Fellowship Programme, the Commonwealth Scholarships and Fellowship Programme (CSFP), the Shared Scholarship Scheme and the Overseas Research Students Award Scheme (ORSAS).

Note:

Apart from this, one can look at the scholarship and bursaries page of each shortlisted university to find out scholarship offers, requirements, eligibility and deadlines. Some universities also offer discounts to students depending on their situation such as if their parents are alumni or if their financial condition is very bad.

Life in the UK, Health and Safety

When it comes to studying abroad in the United Kingdom, your way of life will depend on where you stay. A big city like London may seem bustling while a small town like Bangor may seem quiet and at ease. Punctuality, queue system and minding one’s own business are the primary traits of the British. One may seem a little creepy trying to be too friendly with strangers. The British are too polite and you may find no shouting or uncanny noise anywhere.

The cities with maximum students in the UK are London, Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow, Oxford, Cambridge, Edinburgh, Nottingham, Newcastle, and Coventry. Starting from small towns like Essex to big cities like London, one can find courses such as Media Studies, MS and MBA anywhere in the United Kingdom.

For all international students, the visa applications include a payment of Immigration Health Surcharge if they are to study for more than 6 months in the UK. It costs around £150 which will cover you for one year.

Just like life in the UK, the weather also depends on where you stay. Overall, it is known to be one of the most unpredictable. English weather is hardly bad enough that it stops you from doing something but it makes everything less enjoyable. It rains a lot. The hottest it gets is at 38 degrees, at times come triggering storms. The coldest can be -26 degrees.

Salaries

Based on degrees, the following table briefs about the salaries in the UK.

Jobs	Average annual salary
MBA	£108,000 (INR 84,11,000)
Master's in Finance	£85,850 (INR 66,84,840)
Law	£76,620 (INR 59,66,000)
Medical Practitioners	£58,560 (INR 45,60,650)
PhD	£73,850 (INR 57,50,400)
Computer Science	£27,000 (INR 21,02,760)

For other high paying jobs in the UK see the table below.

Job Title	Average Annual Salary
Data Scientist	£35,000
Project Manager (IT)	£42,000
Physician/General Doctor	£51,000
Psychologist	£31,000
Graphic designer	£21,000
Marketing Manager	£28,000
Software developer	£29,000
IT Manager	£38,000
UX Designer	£35,000
Account Manager	£30,000
Web developer	£23,000

Off-Campus Jobs

As a student in the United Kingdom, you can work up to 20 hours per week and full-time during holidays, if you are on a study abroad program at a recognized university. There are various part-time options available depending on what suits you and what you get hold of:

At a cafe, restaurant, back office, store, malls, supermarkets, gas stations, etc.

Social Media Jobs: Companies pay students to create and manage their social media profiles. If you know how to have the skills to do digital marketing, you can get paid a substantial amount of money here.

Coding: If you are an MS in Computer Science student or know how to code well, it will be easier for you to get a job. There is a great start-up scenario too.

Freelance Jobs: If you have a skill, you can share it on YouTube or take a course online. However it is important to know that you can't start a business or work as an independent entity on a student visa.

Tutoring: You need to pre-apply for this. If there is a research opportunity, you can work with a professor as their assistant.

Mentioned below are current national minimum wage hourly rates. These rates change every April and are easily available on the gov.uk website.

Age 25 and above: £8.72
Age 21 to 24: £8.20
Age 18 to 20: £6.45
Underage 18: £4.55
Apprentices: £4.15

Stay back options

Students who are to enrol for courses starting 2020/2021 can stay back for two years after course completion.
Also, students pursuing Ph.D. are allowed to stay up to 2 years after completing their degree.
You can check various visa options on the official website of the UK government.

Note:

You can’t work full time until you have received a work permit (Tier 2).
Self-employment is not permitted, like any freelance or consultancy work

Permanent Residency

Becoming a permanent resident for international students is securing the “indefinite leave to remain (ILR) Visa”. After 5 years of completing a graduate job, a person can apply for the ILR. A stable income along with a full-time job, good moral conduct with no criminal record will help in securing the ILR visa.There are more requirements to obtain ILR such as continuous residence, earnings etc.

FAQs

1. What are the new visa regulations changes for international students in the UK?

According to the latest regulations, starting from international students graduating in 2020-21 will get post-work study rights in the UK. This means that their visa will be extended for two years after their study. Unlike for the past students, they will not have to depend on a single employer to apply for their visa.

2. When should I apply for UK Universities for a master’s course?

You will need to apply the latest by June or July (check each university’s deadlines separately). The classes start in September End or October beginning. To be safe, apply four months in advance.

3. Can I pursue a part-time post-graduate course in the UK?

If you need a Tier 4 visa to study in the UK (unlike national and European students), you can only pursue a full - time course.

4. How much are the tuition fees for international students to study Masters in the UK?

The average cost of study may be about 11000-20,000 a year. Details about the overall cost of education in the UK can be found here.

5. What is the difference between 'ordinary' and 'honors' degrees for undergrad in UK?

Ordinary degrees imply that a student has completed all the classes. Additionally Hons. Degree tells about the achieved level of scores. This depends on a university.

6. Do I need a compulsory need to give Visa Interview?

VISA interview is conditional. UKBA has reintroduced visa interviews, so students applying for a UK visa may be asked to appear for an interview with the visa officers. Those who have once declined a visa or whose scores on standardized tests are low are more likely to be chosen for a visa interview.

7. In what cases will a visa get rejected?

Due to insufficient funds or incorrect financial evidence, your visa may be rejected.

8. What funds do I require to procure a UK Visa?

You need to pay for the first academic year tuition fees mentioned on your CAS. Additionally, you should have funds for supporting your living expenses for the first 9 months in the UK (£1265 per month for inner London, £1015 per month otherwise).

9. What types of financial proofs can I show for funds?

This may be a student loan from a bank, government scholarship, if you have any financial sponsorship from an international organization as per UKVI, bank account statement or bank letter under you or your parent’s names.

10. Can I get a student loan from the UK government?

No, the UK government doesn't provide loans to non-EU students.

11. Can I pursue a part-time post-graduate course in the UK?

The university can sponsor for a part-time Tier 4 Visa for part-time postgraduate degrees.

12. How much are the tuition fees for international students to study Masters in the UK?

For Masters students, the tuition fees are around £10,500 to 33,500 a year.

13. What are the different types of Master courses offered in the UK?

Taught Masters and Research masters are offered in the UK.

14. What is the duration of the Masters in the UK?

It is around 1-2 years in the UK.

15. Name 5 top universities in the UK for engineering.

According to U.S. News and World Report, these are Imperial College London, University of Cambridge, University of Manchester, University of Nottingham and University of Oxford.

16. Which are the four regions included in the UK?

They are England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

17. Describe the climates across the UK.

It has a temperate climate. The extreme weather is rare. The summers and winters are not towards unpleasant sides in the UK.

18. Mention five popular courses to study in the UK.

These are Business and Administrative Studies (MBA), Engineering & Tech (B.Tech., M.Tech.), Social Sciences (B.A, M.A in History, M.Phil.), Creative Arts & Design (Graphic, Film, Media) and Law (LLB, LLM).

19. What is the M.Phil course which is popular in the UK?

This is a Master in Philosophy course which is a research degree.

20. Name 3 popular scholarships popular in UK?

These are Chevening Scholarships, Commonwealth Masters Scholarships and Gates Cambridge Scholarships.

21. What is the Masters with placement option?

These are Masters Courses that have integrated work options. Work in an organization is part of the entire coursework. This adds to students’ resumes.

22. Which universities in the UK require GRE scores?

The London School of Economics requires GRE. But requirement of GRE is university and program specific.

23. How long can I stay in the UK after the completion of MS?

You can stay for two years after completing your course in the UK.

24. What is the point-based system for a UK work visa introduced recently?

There is a list of doctors on a panel suggested by Australian government from which you can get your medical examination done.

25. What's the difference between a taught and research Masters?

Most Masters Degrees are taught courses, consisting of lectures and seminars followed by a dissertation project. Research Masters involves much more independent work, but the exact difference between a taught and research Masters varies. An MRes (Master of Research) usually involves longer (or multiple) dissertation tasks. An MPhil (Master of Philosophy) is entirely research-based and may form part of a Ph.D.. Research Masters are less common outside the UK.

26. What are the most popular subjects for a Masters?

The most popular postgraduate subjects in the UK are: Business Studies, Education, Nursing, Economics, and Biological Sciences. There is a huge range of Masters Degrees out there though, so take the time to find the right one for your interests and career plans.

27. What GPA do you need for a Masters?

Universities in the USA may look at your undergraduate GPA (grade point average) score when considering Master’s degree applications. A GPA of 3.0 or higher is usually considered 'good' – and is roughly equivalent to a UK 2.1. Universities in the UK and Europe don't usually use the GPA system.

28. Can students work during studies in the UK?

All students with Tier 4 visa are allowed to work for 20 hours per week during an ongoing session and full-time during vacations. Doctorate students can work full-time throughout the year.

29. What are Sandwich courses for bachelors in UK?

Usually business, engineering and science related subjects are offered for these programs. You can go to a university's website and check for such courses. Some examples include Bath, Lancaster, Surrey, Loughborough and Aston.

30. What are the types of Sandwich courses?

These are thick (a year long) and thin courses(2-6 months).

31. Do I get any payment during placement in a Sandwich course?

Legally, you are not entitled to get a pay. However, if a company wishes to pay you it can do that. It usually pays £10,000 to £17,000 a year.

32. In what cases do my bachelors degree be converted as hons. degree?

You need to pass three years of your bachelors with at least third class passing marks to get a hons. degree.

33. Name some bachelor's degree courses I can study in UK

You can study Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Science (BSc), Bachelor of Education (BEd) and Bachelor of Engineering (BEng).

34. Is Scottish masters of Arts a bachelor's degree?

Yes, although the name is confusing, Scottish Masters of Arts is not a graduate masters but an undergraduate degree.

35. How many courses can I find on UCAS for my undergraduate degree in UK?

More than 50,000 undergraduate courses can be found on UCAS website.

36. Where can I search for undergraduate courses on UCAS?

You can follow this link to search for undergraduate courses on UCAS in UK.

37. What terminology is followed in UK for undergraduate degree?

These include Level 4 or Certificate (C) for one year of undergraduate study, Level 5 or Intermediate (I) for two years of study and Level 6 or Honours (H) for three or four years of study.

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Why Study in UK?

Popular Cities, Courses and Universities for international students

Education System in the UK

Cost of Studying in the UK

Intakes and deadlines

Admission Requirements for courses in the UK

UK Application Process

Steps to apply for UK Student Visa

Financial aid for international students to study in the UK

Life in the UK, Health and Safety

Salaries

Based on degrees, the following table briefs about the salaries in the UK.

Off-Campus Jobs

Stay back options

Permanent Residency