The United Kingdom (UK) is home to some of the world’s oldest universities and colleges having their roots in the 12th and 13th centuries. Coming from such a strong legacy, education in the UK has become a benchmark for other countries.
Big News for International Students: The UK Is Ready to Welcome You!
Here’s why the UK has become a popular destination among international students:
Student-friendly cities: The UK is home to some of the best student cities in the world, with London being ranked #1 in the QS Best Student Cities 2024. Also, 8 of the top 50 and 15 of the top 100 student cities are in the UK! Amazed?
Popular among international students: More than 6,79,970 international students around the world are studying in the UK.
World-recognised universities: The UK has years years-old history of education with some of the oldest universities that to date are on the top university list. According to the QS World University Rankings 2024, 4 of the top 10 and 8 of the top 50 universities in the world are in the UK.
Attractive scholarships: UK universities offer attractive scholarships to qualified students.
Here are the programs that the UK universities offer:
Qualification | Duration | Graduate Immigration Route (GIR) |
Degrees (Such as BA, B.Sc., BEng) | 3 years | 2 years |
Sandwich degrees | 4 years including one year in the industry | 2 years |
Tauch masters (such as MA, M.Sc., LLM, MBA, MREs) | 1 year | 2 years |
Research masters (such as MPhil, PhD, Dphil) | 1-2 years | 3 years |
The cost of living in the UK is GBP 1334 per month approx. for up to 9 months (Inside London). While outside London it comes up to GBP 1023 per month for up to 9 months.
Colleges and universities in the UK offer three intakes. Intakes may also be referred to as terms in some institutions. The three intakes available in the UK are:
Intakes | Start date |
Summer Intake | May-June |
Autumn Intake | September-October |
Spring Intake | January-February |
You need to start preparing your application a minimum of 9-10 months in advance before the commencement of your program.
Studying in the UK offers a wide range of programs across various fields, appealing to students worldwide. Some of the most popular and prestigious programs that attract international students include:
Physiotherapy
Law
Actuarial Science
Sports Management
Psychology
Data Science
Medicine and Surgery
Computer Science
Engineering
Business Studies
Business Analytics
Here are the top universities for higher education in the UK:
S.No. | Institution | QS Ranking 2024 (Globally) |
1 | 3 | |
2 | 2 | |
3 | Imperial College London | 6 |
4 | 9 | |
5 | 22 | |
6 | 32 | |
7 | 40 | |
8 | London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) | 45 |
9 | 55 | |
10 | 67 |
Here are some of the scholarships that UK universities offer to international students:
Chevening Scholarship
Common Wealth Scholarship and fellowship
GREAT Scholarships
Scotland Saltire Scholarships
University-specific Scholarships
Be prepared for the following documents before you apply for a student visa to study in the UK:
Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS)
Academic Documents, IELTS (if applicable)
Work Experience Documents (if applicable)
Passport and financial documents
Proof of relationship document
Medical documents
Ques 1: Can I work part-time during my studies in the UK?
Ans: Yes, you can work part-time. As per the mandate, you can work usually around 10 or 20 hours per week, as per what is mentioned in your visa.
Ques 2: How much will I spend while studying in the UK?
Ans: The cost of living varies by location, with London being more expensive than other parts of the UK. Your budget should be around £7,300 to £15,400 annually for living costs, depending on your location. Also, rent tends to be cheaper outside London, and the overall cost of living is relatively lower in cities in Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
Ques 3: Can I study in the UK without IELTS?
Ans: Yes, some universities in the UK accept students based on their English marks in the 12th standard or based on a Medium of Instruction (MOI) certificate, allowing for admission without IELTS in certain cases. But you will have to check with the university for the same.
Ques 4: What is a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS), and why is it important?
Ans: A CAS is essential for applying for a UK student visa, indicating an unconditional offer from a university. It includes a unique reference number that must be included in your visa application, used by visa officers to verify the offer from the university
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