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United Kindom, counted amongst the top 5 study abroad destinations, annually attracts over 300,000 students representing over 150+ nationalities. In addition to being an incredible mix of contemporary thinking and tradition, UK is recognized for its world-class teaching standards with 16 UK universities ranking in the top 100 as per QS 2022 world rankings. The country is known to undertake 5% of the world’s scientific research and has the second-highest number of Nobel Prize winners in the world.
The UK government is also keen on inviting students to study in UK and diversifying the education system by enrolling around 600,000 international students by 2030. Starting 2021, the government introduced a two-year stay-back policy for international students after the completion of their degree. This decision has not just resulted in an influx of international student applications even for courses like Education, Psychology, Pharmacy, Social work. Irrespective of the level of study, students will be able to apply for a work visa 3 months prior to the completion of their studies and get their student visa converted to a work visa.
Top Universities to Study in UK
Over the years, several UK universities have made their mark amongst domestic as well as international students. As per 2022 World Rankings by QS, around 90 universities of UK rank amongst the top 1000 in the world with the University of Oxford being the top-ranking UK university. Listed below are the top 15 UK universities as per QS and THE:
| Name of the university | QS Ranking 2022 | THE Ranking 2021 |
|---|---|---|
| University of Oxford | 2 | 1 |
| University of Cambridge | =3 | 6 |
| Imperial College London | 7 | 11 |
| University College London | =8 | 16 |
| University of Edinburgh | 16 | 30 |
| University of Manchester | =27 | 51 |
| King’s College London | 35 | 35 |
| The London School of Economics and Political Science | 49 | 27 |
| University of Warwick | 61 | 77 |
| University of Bristol | 62 | 91 |
| University of Glasgow | 73 | 92 |
| University of Southampton | 77 | 127 |
| Durham University | =82 | 149 |
| University of Birmingham | 90 | 169 |
| University of St. Andrews | 91 | 201-250 |
Student Life in UK
Moving away from home to live in a totally new country is both exciting and daunting. Home to some of the greatest cities in the world, United Kingdom is a diverse and multi-ethnic society. With over 330,000 international students, the country is known to welcome students from all backgrounds and nationalities. Some of the top cities in UK for international students include
| QS Ranking | UK City | Cost of Living (GBP per month) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | London | 843 |
| 2 | Edinburgh | 646 |
| 3 | Manchester | 658 |
| 4 | Glasgow | 745 |
| 5 | Coventry | 653 |
| 6 | Nottingham | 712 |
| 7 | Birmingham | 647 |
| 8 | Aberdeen | 698 |
How to Find Accommodation in UK?
Once students receive their confirmation of admission, their travel preparations begin. No matter who you are, where are you from, finding accommodation is going to be on the top of your list. A hassle-free platform for finding student accommodation in the UK ensures you have a safe and stress-free stay. A one-click platform, AmberStudent houses over 150K+ rooms all around the UK, over 200+ lavish properties in the posh areas of Australia, and numerous properties nearby major academic hubs of the world, namely- USA, Ireland, Germany, etc.
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Their catalog has a vast range of private studios, shared en-suites, and other single & dual occupancy rooms located right next to the major universities of the UK, Ireland, and Australia, etc. They provide a free of cost, hassle-free, 24/7 end-to-end service to students worldwide, tipped with a free cancellation policy especially devised to help students during Covid-19.
Admission Process to Study in UK
To study in the UK, applicants will need to apply with the institution of choice and a student visa from the UK government. Generally, students planning to apply to UK Universities begin their applications at least one year prior. Depending upon the type of program, the admission process, and requirements to study in UK varies. However, a general criterion is followed by all popular institutions.
- Where to Apply?
- UG students can apply via UCAS.
- PG students must apply using the university’s online portal or via a representative
- Application Fees?
- Undergraduate: 20 for single courses and 26 for multiple courses
- Postgraduate: 50-150 GBP
- Supporting Documents?
- Transcripts
- Tests for studying in UK such as IELTS, TOEFL, GMAT
- Valid Visa
- Statement of Purpose
- Reference letter
Requirements for Popular Courses to Study in UK
Some of the highly popular programs for masters(MS) in UK comprise Business, Engineering and Technology, Medicine, Law, Social Sciences, Media and Communication, Hospitality, and Tourism, among others. The details of some of the conveyed choices in the list of programs for international students are as tabulated below.
| Popular Program | Admission Requirements | Program Fees |
|---|---|---|
| MBA | 50-60% in UG GMAT score of 600+ minimum 2 years of work ex. IELTS score above 6.5 1-3 LORs and 500-word personal essay | 65,000-90,000 |
| Civil Engineering | GPA above 3.0 GRE score SOP and 2 Academic LORs IELTS score above 6.5 | 25,000-32,000 |
| Masters in Law | 65-75% in UG IELTS score above 7.0 SOP and 2 LORs | 25,000- 45,000 |
| MS in Computer Science | 65-75% in UG IELTS score above 6.5 SOP and LOR | 30,000-45,000 |
| MS in Psychology | Above 60% in UG SOP and 2 LORs IELTS score over 6.0 | 20,000-45,000 |
| MS in Education | IELTS score above 6.0 50% or above in UG SOP and LORs | 20,000-30,000 |
| Masters (MS) in Architecture | Above 60% in UG IELTS score over 6.5 SOP and 2 LORs Digital Portfolio (recommended) | 20,000-40,000 |
UK Student Visa
Before applying for the visa to study in the UK, international students are required to obtain CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies). For those who don’t know, CAS is a unique reference number that confirms that the chosen UK university will sponsor the Tier 4 UK student visa.
International students can begin the visa process a maximum of 3 months prior to program commencement. While applying online for the visa, students must provide the following documents:
- CAS number
- Current passport
- Financial statement
- Tuberculosis Test results
- Proof of proficiency in English, minimum B level
The UK visa application fee is GBP 348, mandatory for all international students. UK student visa decisions are declared within 3 weeks of application.
Cost of Study in UK
The cost of living in the UK for an international student comprises a range of factors like basic tuition, food, travel, accommodation etc. The estimate of this cost to help you plan your finances is compiled as follows:
Tuition by Study-level
| Level of program | Estimated Fee (in GBP, per year) |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate level | 10,000 to 26,000 (58,600 for medical programs) |
| Postgraduate Level | 14,096 (21,767 and 18,914 for clinical and MBA courses, respectively) |
| Doctoral Level | 15,000 to 24,000 |
Tuition fee for Top Universities
| University Name | Avg Annual UG Fees (in GBP) | Avg Annual PG Fees (in GBP) |
|---|---|---|
| University of Cambridge | 28,000 | 37,000 |
| University of Oxford | 33,880 | 33,000 |
| University College London | 24,780 | 26,000 |
| Imperial College London | 43,500 | 42,900 |
| University of Manchester | 31,200 | 31,200 |
| University of Edinburgh | 34,700 | 34,700 |
| King’s College London | 35,200 | 28,000 |
Cost of Living in UK
The cost of accommodation and other expenses in the country will highly depend upon your personal choices and the city you live in. For instance, While the average student accommodation price in the UK is approximately 125 GBP per week, a similar rental will cost a student living in Northern Ireland around 91 GBP while to the one living in London it will be nearly 182 GBP which is exactly double.
Thus, while it is hard to calculate the exact amount, an estimated average cost of living and other expenditures for a student hoping to study in the UK is as follows:
| Types of Expenses | Cost (in GBP, per month) |
|---|---|
| Housing | 500 |
| Food | 160- 200 |
| Entertainment | 100-150 |
| Mobile phone | 15-50 |
| Clothes and Leisure | 40-50 |
| Books & supplies | 30 |
| Transportation | 35-40 |
Scholarships to Study in UK
There are hundreds of scholarships, grant schemes, and bursaries offered by UK institutions. International students get up to 100% scholarship on tuition fees in selected UK universities. Furthermore, to encourage the participation of international students in UK Universities, its government has already initiated tie-ups with various organizations such as British Council. Apart from this, universities and third-party agencies also offer scholarships and bursaries to ease the financial burden on students.
Scholarships by UK Universities
| Name of Scholarship | Eligibility | Benefits |
|---|---|---|
| Imperial Women Scholarship | Meritorious female candidates with high and well-balanced GMAT | Variable |
| BK Birla Scholarships- LBS | Academic excellence and honoring legacy and values of BK Birla. | Partial or full tuition |
| St. Catherine’s Benavitch Cambridge MBA Scholarships | Minimum GPA score of 3.7 and a GMAT score of 700 | 10,000 GBP |
| Edinburgh Global Research Scholarship | Full-time Ph.D. student pursuing research work on any course of their choice from the University of Edinburgh | Varies |
| Gates Cambridge Scholarships | Commencing Ph.D., M.Sc. or M.Litt. or PG course of 1 year at University of Cambridge | Upto 20,000 GBP |
| International Postgraduate Scholarship at University of Sheffield | Commencing PG-level courses at the university | 2000-2500 |
Scholarships by Organizations
Some of the popular scholarships, available for Indian students, to study in UK are:
| Name of Scholarship | Eligibility | Benefits |
|---|---|---|
| Chevening Scholarships | Member of Chevening-eligible country; above 70% in UG degree program | Tuition fees, airfare, monthly stipend |
| Commonwealth Scholarships | Commonwealth citizen with above 70% in an Honours degree | Covers tuition fees, a monthly living allowance, and travel costs |
| Saltire Scholarships | Commencing masters degree in Science, Medical Science, Technology, Healthcare, Renewable & Clean Energy, or Creative Industries | 50 scholarships worth 8,200 GBP |
| GREAT Scholarships | Offer for a course at any one of the participating universities | Total 150 scholarships worth 10,24,667 GBP |
| Inlaks Scholarship | Undergraduate degree, offer letter from a ‘top-ranking’ institution | 100,000 USD |
Jobs After Studying in UK
As one will expect, one of the key attractions of studying in UK is the two-year stayback policy established by the government for international graduates. The policy allows graduates to work/look for work in the UK without any stress of deportation. With a huge market of 6 million private sector organizations, finding a job in the UK is not much difficult for top-tier graduates. As per the salary explorer 2021 statistics, the recent graduate working in the UK can earn up to 55,000 GBP per year.
Top paying jobs in the UK for international students are:
| Industry/Business sector | Average Salary (in GBP) |
|---|---|
| Accountant | 49,400 |
| Charted Accountant | 66,200 |
| Architect | 82,800 |
| Business Analyst | 91,300 |
| Civil Engineer | 68,700 |
| Nurse | 54,000 |
| Biomedical Engineer | 64,000 |
| Pharmacist | 82,000 |
Overall to study in UK means that it will bring in a variety of options to explore, job and research opportunities, a multicultural environment, and much more to look forward to at a cheaper cost when compared to other popular study destinations like USA, Canada, Australia, etc. The country undoubtedly opens doors to fantastic careers for international students by training them with impeccable skills in the English language. Most employers desire these qualities and help you land a good job in your field soon once you graduate. In short, studying in the UK proves to be the best of both worlds for international students-fun filled and top education.
