Study In UK

The UK is known for its outstanding education system and has been attracting students worldwide for several years now. Over the years, it has come out as the key destination for scientific research. The country only accounts for 1% of the world population, however, it accounts for eight percent of all scientific publications in the world!

The UK assures unmatched student experiences. From its world-recognized universities to innovative teaching methodologies to progressive study curriculum, the country offers everything that a student needs to accomplish a successful global career.

• The UK hosts some world-renowned universities and colleges, including Cambridge and Oxford. 
• UK has impressive 90 universities that feature in the QS University Rankings 2022.
• London hosts 18 universities and is ranked first in the QS Best Student Cities 2023.
• The Universities of Oxford and Cambridge boasts of their alumni lineage that include many thinkers, Nobel Laureates, artists, and politicians like TS Elliot (writer), Amartya Sen (economist), Hugh Grant (actor), Oscar Wilde (Poet), David Attenborough (broadcaster), Charles Darwin (naturalist), Bertrand Russell (philosopher) and many more.
• Every year, the universities in the UK are subjected to inspection by the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA). These checks ensure that the universities comply with the government-set guidelines for research, learning, and teaching.
• The students studying in the UK for more than six months can take advantage of the National Health Service.
• The country allows students to work 20 hours every week and they can earn a minimum wage of GBP 118 a week. 
• The UK has a 90% student satisfaction rate, which is quite high among all Anglophile countries like the US, Canada, Australia, and Ireland. 
• Most UK universities have student support centres that guide international students on various issues, making their study and stay in the UK hassle-free.
• China, India, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Italy, France, Germany, Nigeria, and Greece are a few countries that send most students to the UK.

1. Widely Recognized Universities

UK continues to be an international student’s favourite study abroad destination because of the widely recognised universities present. The country is home to multiple highly-ranked universities with an academic reputation of 75-100. As per QS World University Rankings 2023, over 79 USA universities are on this list. Each of these universities excels in terms of academic and employer reputation. 

Thus, here are a few examples of highly-ranked UK universities:

•   University of Cambridge (Ranked 2)
• University of Oxford  (Ranked 4)
• Imperial College of London  (Ranked 6)
•   UCL  (Ranked 8)
•   University of Edinburgh (Ranked 15)

2. Access 1-Year Master Programs

UK’s 1-year masters programs are another reason the country sees high growth among students who wish to pursue higher education here. 

There are multiple UK universities, like London School of Economics, University of Oxford, etc., that offer 1-year master’s programs in MBA, Master of Science, Master of Arts, etc. Despite the 1-year study duration, the course has been designed to equip the students with the knowledge and skills required to perform their job roles better. Since you complete this program in 1-year, students can join the corporate world early and put all their learnings into practice instantly. 

3. Encourages Student Retainment After Graduation 

When it comes to catering to international students’ needs, UK leaves no stone unturned. Gaining work experience after graduation can help students develop the knowledge and skills required to improve their profession. Thus, UK encourages graduate students to stay in the country to help pursue multiple job opportunities available.

In fact, in 2021, UK introduced the Graduate route visa to cater to this purpose. With this visa, students can stay in the UK for up to 2 years (for PhD students 3 years) after graduation to avail professional opportunities. 

4. Multiple Places To Explore

The UK comprises multiple places, such as England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. This allows students to explore the country better and learn from diverse cultures. UK is also the abode for what a student’s life should be like. Experience the nightlife and various kinds of festivals to understand what the UK culture is. 

The top places to visit in the UK include the Tower of London, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Edinburgh Castle, Snowdonia National Park, Dunluce Castle, and much more. 

5. Hub For Top Corporates

Apart from being an excellent location to pursue academics, UK is also widely recognised for the big corporate names that reside there. Its central location, London, is home to prestigious corporate brands such as Tesla, HSBC, and much more. 

Most fortune 500 listed companies, such as Linde, Barclays and many more, are in the UK under various cities such as London, Cambridge, Newbury, etc. Students can be assured that with their great academic performance, capturing the interest of such high corporate brands becomes easy.

Most international students enroll for the following programs:

• Undergraduate: This is the bachelor’s program, which spans over three years. Most degrees are awarded at honors level. It takes three years to complete in Wales, England, and Northern Ireland. This may take four years in many Scottish Universities. Many vocational and professional courses may take longer to complete. For instance, dentistry and medicine courses may take six years to complete.  
• Graduate: In the UK, students can enroll for taught and research master’s degree. The taught master’s degree would take a year to complete and the research master’s degree would take 2 years, as well as the doctoral degree would take 3 years to complete. The Master of Business Administration takes 1 to 2 years to complete. The PhD programs would take 2 to 7 years for completion. 
• Vocational Diplomas: There are many vocational sub-degree diplomas offered in the UK. The Diploma in Higher Education (Dip HE), the Higher National Certificate (HNC), and the Higher National Diploma (HND) are a few popular ones among them. These diplomas usually take a year or two to complete. International students can enroll for 2-year vocational diplomas at state colleges, which exempts them from attending the first year and second year of the degree program. Many tutorial colleges offer a one-year diploma program, which is usually equivalent to one-year of university. Students who earn these diplomas can gain entry to the second year at the university.

The universities in the UK follow a letter grade system to indicate the student’s academic performance. The grade A shows that student has outstanding performance, where grade F shows the student has failed the exam.

Below mentioned are grades and their definition that students get at universities in the UK

In the UK, the higher educational institutes are categorized as:

1. Autonomous and diverse institutions: They are public-funded, independent, and autonomous.  

2. Universities: There are five types of universities, including ancient universities, civic universities, plate glass universities or 1960s universities, new universities, and Russell Group universities. 

3. Publicly funded higher education providers: These are approved by a higher education institution (HEI) and possess degree awarding powers. Pearson is an example of publicly funded higher education provider.

4. Alternative education providers: These institutions provide education to students who couldn’t complete education for some reasons.  

5. Groups of Institutions: These include institutions of common interest that have formed groups. The Russell Group, the University Alliance, and the Cathedrals Group are some examples of Groups of Institutions.

The UK has 90 universities, which has made to the list of QS World University Rankings 2022. Of these, 4 universities are listed in top 10 entries.

Many universities in the UK admit students without IELTS/TOEFL. However, they may ask students to submit alternative English scores.

The cost of education in the UK is high and average tuition fees may range between £10,000 and £26,000 annually for different courses. However, a few public universities assure high quality education at low tuition fees, making education in this country accessible to international students. They charge students anything between £10,000 and £15,000 annually for the undergraduate to postgraduate courses.

The admission process in the UK is streamlined and needs to be followed meticulously for effective results. 

• Choose the university, course, and college. 
• Register on Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) providing all the personal details. 
• The UCAS will share a unique username for your perusal. 
• Sign in to fill in the necessary details, including funding options, special needs (if any), residential status, and more
• Add course choice, you can choose five courses without any course order
• Complete full education background with evidence, employment history, and other details
• Submit personal statements that include the candidate’s strengths and weaknesses
• Review the application before submitting it.
• Lastly, add a reference, pay the fees, and submit your application. 
• Track the application status through the UCAS.
• Next, accept your offer, as the college or university will contact you to inform if you have received the offer to study or not 
• Arrange your funding. 
• Apply for your visa.
• Get ready to fly to your destination!

Graduate Admission Process:

• Students can apply directly on the university website for postgraduate courses. These websites provide course information and step-by-step guidance on the application process.
• Many drama, dance, and music courses require application through UCAS Conservatories at postgraduate level.
• Students planning to take teacher training courses at postgraduate courses must apply through the UCAS Teacher Training portal.

Eligibility criteria across UK universities and colleges vary depending on the type of institution, degree level, course, and subject. They must satisfy those requirements to be admitted to these institutes. 

• For undergraduate courses: The students must possess at least 12th state boards or IB or IGCSE to apply for most courses. Most courses may also require students to submit scores of pre-16 qualifications like GCSE Maths and English, and so on.
• For postgraduate courses: The students must possess 2:2 in the bachelor’s program. Some courses require students to possess degrees in science-related subjects. However, others may require students to submit details regarding industry experience.
• The students must possess 2:1 in the Russell group University for bachelor’s program. Some courses require students to possess degrees in science-related subjects. However, others may require students to submit details regarding industry experience.
• PhD: The students must possess 2:1 in the master’s program and are required to submit a research proposal explaining the study scope.  
• For all courses, the applicants must demonstrate their English proficiency by undertaking tests like TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE Academic.
• Some universities may conduct candidate interviews, too. 
• Lastly, the university may also ask for information on student’s health, finance, and more information.

In addition to the above, the students required to submit additional documents such as: 

• Letter of Recommendation
• Resume/CV
• Statement of Purpose

• Undergraduate Programs: If students are planning to do their Bachelor’s in the UK, they must obtain at least 70-80% in grade 12. Apart from this, the minimum score at IELTS should also be 6.0.
• Postgraduate Programs: Students will require at least 60% in their Bachelor’s in the field they have applied for, and the accepted CGPA in the most of the top Universities 8.0 – 8.5. The IELTS score should be around 6.5-7, and the TOEFL score should be around 95-110.
• Doctoral Programs: For a Doctoral Program in the UK, students need at least 60% in their Master’s Degree. The scoring should be as follows – TOEFL score 100, IELTS score should be 7, PTE score 66, CAE score 185 and CPE score 185.
• Diploma Programs: The eligibility for Diploma Programs for students would be the requisite standardized tests plus a relevant bachelor’s degree depending on the course you wish to apply for. Students may also need to appear for tests like TOEFL, IELTS, PTE etc.

Universities in the UK accept students in three intakes and follow an academic calendar that begins in September and ends in July. 

• Fall: This is the September/October intake or primary intake, which attracts a maximum number of applications from international students.  Let’s look at the timeline. 
  • June to August – Take standardized tests like IELTS, TOEFL, GMAT, and GRE.
  • August to October – Shortlist the colleges and courses.
  • October to January – Make the applications, submit the forms and pay application fee wherever required
  • February to May – While awaiting the decisions, start working on the financial part
  • May to August – Accept the offer and apply for the VISA
• Winter: This is January/February or secondary intake, where universities accept applications for only a few courses. The application period for winter intake is June to September. Let’s look at the timeline.
  • June to August – Take standardized tests like IELTS, TOEFL, GMAT, and GRE.
  • March to June – Shortlist the colleges and courses.
  • July to October – Make the applications, submit the forms and pay application fee wherever required
  • September to November- While awaiting the decisions, start working on the financial part
  • October to December – Accept the offer and apply for the VISA
• Summer: This is Spring or May intake and is less competitive than the other two types. The application period for May intake is January to February.

The UK is the second most-preferred country by international students for overseas education. The cost is undoubtedly not too low, and multiple things need to be considered before making a decision.

Any international student willing to study in UK must possess any of the following visas: 

• Student Visa: This visa is issued for most high education courses, including graduate and postgraduate programs or long study courses.
• Child Student Visa: This visa is issued to minors below 16 studying at an independent school. The duration for this visa is usually 6 years and 4 months. However, this visa duration would be 3 years and 4 months for children aged 16 -17 years. 
• Short-term Study Visa: This visa is usually issued to students wishing to learn English in the UK. The duration for this visa is usually 6–11 months.

The UK is known as one of the best countries to study in, as chosen by several international students. The intake pool and student applicants have never been low, even after the pandemic. The reality that the UK is home to several top universities leads to the enormous popularity that the country enjoys.

Follow the below mentioned guide to applying for your student visa:

• Step 1: Apply to the preferred University (or universities) and receive an unconditional offer.
• Step 2: Once candidates have received their unconditional offer and have accepted it, the University will give them a document called a Certificate of Acceptance of Studies (or CAS).
• Step 3: Once students have their CAS, they can begin the visa application process. 
• Step 4: Get your documents ready for visa application process. 
• Step 5: You can pay your visa application fee through a demand draft from Standard Chartered Bank or online through Visa Card or MasterCard. Else, you can pay the application fee at selected branches of Standard Chartered Bank or at the visa application centre.
• Step 6: Visit the nearest British Embassy/Consulate on the appointed date. You can book the appointment at the embassy or consulate office, submit your application form, with fingerprints and photographs. 

Most graduate or undergraduate programs in the UK require the following tests to succeed. 

Law

• Cambridge Law Test
• LNAT – National Admission Test for Law

Mathematics

• Mathematics Admission Test (MAT)
• Sixth Term Examination Paper (STEP)
• Test of Mathematics for University Admissions

Medical Courses

• BioMedical Admissions Test (BAT)
• Graduate Medical Schools Admissions Test (GAMSAT)
• Health Professionals Admission Test (HPAT Ulster)
• University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT)
• Thinking Skills Assessment
• Thinking Skills Assessment Cambridge (TSA Cambridge)
• Thinking Skills Assessment Oxford (TSA Oxford)
• Thinking Skills Assessment University College London (TSA UCL)

 However, there are also other subject-specific tests. For instance, the GMAT for Business Degrees, GAMSAT for Medical School, etc.

Below mentioned are the exams that prove English proficiency and are required for any non-native English speaker to study in UK, and students are free to choose one among them according to their university and course.

•  TOEFL:  The TOEFL is welcomed in almost all universities in the UK. The minimum score required varies according to the chosen university and chosen course. 
• IELTS: The band score for IELTS vary from 6.0 to 6.5, however, many Russell Group universities may need 7.0.
• PTE: PTE is another prominent test among universities in England, Scotland, Ireland etc. A PTE score ranging from 50 – 75 is required to pass the test and receive admission in the preferred University.

The UK provides numerous scholarships to international students, and they can also be categorized based on your course and University. A few scholarships provide students with a specific amount of money every year or the first year alone. Some other scholarships tend to cover the tuition fees wholly or partially, so one shouldn’t feel burdened about the course fees.

Note: Many universities in UK like the University of Cambridge, University of Oxford, University of Sussex, University of Bristol, University of West London also offer scholarships to international students. You can apply for these scholarships in case you are planning to study at these institutions.

The UK’s Graduate Route or Post-study Work Visa allows international students to work and stay in the UK for up to two years after completing their masters and three years after completing PhD.  Once the visa term expires, you can apply for a different visa like a Skilled Worker visa. 

There are several benefits of pursuing the Graduate Route: 

• The visa is unsponsored, you can find work by yourself for any skill level. 
• There are no minimum salary requirements. 
• Once you find suitable employment, you can switch to Skilled Worker Visa. 

You are eligible to apply for this visa, if: 

• You are currently living in the UK
• You hold a Tier 4 General Student Visa
• You have studied a bachelor’s, postgraduate, or any other government-approved course for a minimum period of time while on a Tier 4 Student Visa
• Your college or university informs Home Office about the completion of the course

Note: In May 2022, the UK government introduced a High Potential Individual (HPI) Visa, which allows students from non-UK universities to work in the UK. They must possess a degree awarded five years before the date of application. The degree must be obtained from the university that appears on the list of UK’s approved global university list. This visa is granted for a period of two years or maximum of three years if the student has a qualifying PhD. This visa doesn’t guarantee permanent residence in the country.

On-campus Jobs:

In UK, the students can work on-campus at university libraries, receptions, computer laboratories, cafeterias, gyms, and other areas.

Off-campus Jobs:

Many international students in the UK find off-campus jobs in cafeteria, call centers, hotels, tourism-related businesses, and so on. Nowadays, students are also taking up online part time jobs to support their fees. 

The following are in-demand and highest paying careers in the UK.

If one has planned to pursue higher education in the UK, they may have several questions about studying and living there, and this section answers some of the common questions that students may have in mind.