Country Facts
- Capital – London
- Language – English
- Currency – Pound Sterling (GBP/£)
- International Students – 6,05,130
- Number of Universities – 160
- Cost of Study – GBP 12k – 35k per year
- Cost of Living – GBP 9k – 13k per year
- Intakes – Sep & Jan
- Visa – Tier 4 (General) Student Visa
- Part Time Work – 20hrs per week
- Post Study Work – 2 Years
Why Study in UK
- Universities in the UK are ranked among the top Universities in the world and are well recognised internationally across the world.
- UK has one of the best education systems with a diverse range of courses and study options from business and engineering to art and design and sciences.
- The education system is similar to that of India, and hence most Indian qualifications are directly acceptable at the point of entry.
- The courses are shorter in duration as compared to other popular international destinations, with most Bachelors courses of 3 years duration and Masters of 1 year duration.
- It maybe possible to get admission in UK universities without IELTS/TOEFL.
- The Overall Cost of Study comes out to be lower than other popular study destinations, attributed to shorted duration of courses.
- The academic excellence and quality of teaching is excellent in the UK as 38% of the Nobel Laureates were educated in the UK.
- 17 of the World’s Top Universities are from UK.
- 5% of the World’s scientific research is conducted in UK.
- There are plenty of attractive scholarships, grants and bursaries available for international students.
- Universities offer courses with 1 year paid placements/internships integrated into the Bachelors and Masters programs.
- Students may work Part-time for 20 hours a week during term time and full time during vacation to earn some money and gain exposure.
- International students who have successfully completed an undergraduate or master’s degree may apply for a Graduate Visa for 2 years to stay back and work in UK.
Top Universities in UK
- University of Oxford
- University of Cambridge
- University College London
- Imperial College London
- King’s College London
- University of Edinburgh
- London School of Economics & Political Science
- University of Birmingham
- University of Southampton
- University of Bath
- University of Nottingham
- University of Warwick
- University of Manchester
- City, University of London
Courses and Degrees
Top Courses in UK
- Business Management
- Architecture
- Engineering and Technology
- Medicine
- Law
- Media and Communication
- Psychology
- Social Sciences
- Computer Science & Data Science
- MBA
Types of Degrees
UK is popular for students coming to study at both undergraduate and postgraduate level. The student may choose from the below degree types:
- Foundation Courses/Diplomas
- Bachelors Degree
- PG Diploma
- Masters Degree
- Doctoral Programs (PhD)
Course Duration
- Foundation Courses: These preparatory, pre-university courses tend to be 9 months to 12 months
- Bachelors Courses: Courses at undergraduate level are typically three years in England and Wales and four years in Scottish Universities. However, the duration for some professional courses go upto 5-6 yrs.
- Masters Courses: The postgraduate courses are typically 1 year long, with some specialized courses going upto 2 years.
- Doctoral/PhD Courses: PhD courses are mostly research-based courses and take three to four years of full-time study to complete.
Admissions
Intakes
There are 2 major intakes in UK, however, some universities also offer certain Masters degrees that start during different times of the year.
- Fall intake – September
- Spring Intake – Jan
When to Apply?
The deadline for applications to different universities and courses vary, but below is the general guidelines on the deadlines
Undergraduate Programs:
- University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, Medicine and other allied courses – Mid Oct (of the previous year)
- All other undergraduate programs – January
- However, as an international student, you maybe able to apply until June subject of courses being available
Postgraduate Program:
While different university courses may have different deadlines, but it is advised to apply by March to April for the Fall intake, eventhough universities may continue to accept applications until as late as end of June.
In case of applicants for the Spring intake, its best to apply at the latest three months prior to the course start date. This leaves enough time for the University to make an application decision and for you as an international student to apply for the VISA.
Tests to be Taken
Students are required to take the below standardized tests for the admission process to UK Universities. While courses such as Medicine and Law require specialized tests.
- IELTS
- TOEFL
- PTE
- GRE (for limited PG courses)
- GMAT (for limited PG courses)
Documents Required for UK University Applications
- Academic Transcripts and Degree Certificates
- English Proficiency tests like IELTS/TOEFL/PTE
- Valid Passport Copy
- Statement of Purpose (SOP)
- Letters of Recommendation (LOR’s)
- Work Experience Docs (if any)
- CV or Resume
Application Journey
- Application
- Decision from the University (either an offer or a rejection)
- Conditional Offer
- Unconditional Offer
- Offer Acceptance
- Pay the fees
- CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies) is received to start the VISA application
- VISA Application
- Make necessary travel arrangements
- Enrol online for the course
- Arrive on time for course commencement and welcome week.
To understand the entry requirements of different universities and courses in UK and for guidance on the admission process, please contact Team Aspirebig now.
Costs
Tuition Fees
Cost of Study varies from course to course and university to university, with Laboratory based courses and professional courses costing higher than the others. However, the average Tuition fees in UK universities ranges from GBP 12K – 35K per year i.e. INR 12 Lacs to 35 Lacs per year.
Costs of Living
Cost of Living in UK depends on the location and lifestyle choices. Living outside of London costs lower as compared to London.
However, average Cost of Living ranges from GBP 1,000 – 2,000 per month
Scholarships
There are multiple scholarships available to international students to study in UK. These scholarships may be offered by the University, the faculty, the government or external organization. The scholarship may be available to high calibre students who have shown academic consistency and may be awarded on the basis of strong merit or need.
The scholarships may cover full your full cost of study or just the tuition fees or a part of the tuition fees. The scholarships for the subsequent years of study usually come with condition of consistence performance in academics in the initial year of study.
For more information on Scholarships available to international students in UK.
You may also contact your Adviser at Aspirebig for guidance on the suitable scholarships for your course and profile.
Student VISA for UK
Tier 4 (General) Student VISA
International students intending to study in UK for a course of 9 months or more in duration, must apply for the Tier 4 (General) Student Visa. The VISA is granted for the duration of the study period.
Cost of Tier 4 (General) Student Visa is GBP 363 (subject to change)
Short Term Study VISA
Short-term study Visa is granted to international students who would like to enrol to study a short-term course such as English language course or a training course.
It is important to apply for the student VISA for UK with the right documents and sufficient of amount of time at hand before the course start date. Compiling the documents for the VISA can be tedious and take a lot of effort. Need guidance with UK study VISA? You can reach a UK VISA expert at Aspirebig Now!
Work Opportunity
Part Time Work
While on a Student Visa, you may work part-time along with your studies. Part-time jobs may be sought on-campus, in retails or hospitality, tutoring or researching and in offices or doing freelance work. You will be permitted to work 20 hours a week or full time during vacation time.
Post-Study Work
On completing a full-time degree program from a UK University, you may be eligible to apply for the Post study Work Visa under the Graduate Visa scheme for 2 years after completing a Bachelors or a Masters degree.
Popular area of employment for international students are:
- Banking & Finance
- Business, consulting and Management
- Retail sector
- Marketing
- Construction Management
- Engineers
- Media Sector
- Public sector and education
FAQs
What are the foundation courses in UK? Do I need to do one?
Foundation courses are university preparation courses that are taken up before the start of the degree program. The foundation programs can be 9-12 months in duration and can be taken up if you do not meet the requirements of the university for direct entry to year 1 of the undergraduate program. i.e. if you do not have the right marks or the right mix of subjects. Foundation courses prepare you for the undergraduate program.
You do not need to enrol for a foundation course if you are meeting the requirements of the university program directly. However, you may do so out of choice.
Am interested in applying to Oxford and Cambridge. What are the requirements?
Different courses at Oxford and Cambridge have different entry requirements. But in general Oxford and Cambridge would need a minimum of 90-95% in Grade 12 for most UG courses and 65-70%+ in Bachelors for PG courses. There might be additional entrance exams required depending on the course you choose.
Can IELTS be waived off by UK universities?
A number of universities in UK can waive off IELTS at both the UG and PG level.
UG Level – Evidence of Grade 70%+ in Grade 12 English
PG Level – provide evidence that the medium of instruction of the Bachelors degree was English
Waiving off IELTS is at the discretion of the university.
To know which universities can waive off IELTS, contact your Aspirebig adviser.
Can I do MBA from UK universities without any work experience?
Most of the top universities require a minimum of 3 years of post study work experience (i.e. 3 years of experience after completing your Bachelors degree) for admissions to MBA program. This is because MBA is accredited by a professional body called AMBA, which only allows MBA to be offered to people with experience.
However, there are 10-15 universities that offer MBA without any work-experience.
Are there scholarships in UK? Can I apply for any as an international student?
There are plenty of scholarships offered to study in UK. These are offered by either the University or external organizations. Scholarship amount can range £1,000 to Full fees scholarship.
As an international student you may apply to scholarships offered for your particular study program OR the scholarships offered by the international office OR that offered by the external bodies such as British Council.
Do I need to pay a deposit before VISA?
Need for paying a deposit to the university before VISA depends on the conditions of your offer from the university. Some universities might require you to pay a small deposit to confirm your place on the course before you can move to the next steps.
When can I apply for my student VISA for UK?
Once you’ve met all the conditions of your offer, the university will make your offer “Unconditional” and start CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies) process. Once you receive your CAS number from the university and you are ready with your funds, you can apply for your student VISA.
Do I need to take health insurance when I go to study in UK?
When you apply for your UK student VISA, you also pay for “health surchage” i.e. IHS which gives you access to the NHS when in UK. The health surcharge is paid for the entire duration of the study VISA. Hence, you do not need to get an additional health insurance.
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Explore Other Study Abroad Destinations
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