The United Kingdom is one of the prominently celebrated study-abroad destinations that attracts millions of international students representing over 100 countries across the globe. Often counted in the list of the 3 most coveted countries for international students, including Canada and USA, the UK is renowned for its undisputed reputation in the field of education. The UK has over 150 top universities in the UK ranking globally for their curriculum and research methods. Also Check: Student Guide to the UK
As per the survey results of India Today, UK ranked amongst the most preferred international destinations among Indian students. As per the latest report, there are 605,130 international students pursuing studies in the UK according to statistics from the Higher Education Statistics Agency. Beating Canada and USA to lead at #1 with nearly 28% of the total votes, the country has managed to gather a huge fascination among global applicants. India was amongst the second-highest nations that made up the student body of the UK in 2021 after China (32%).
Check: Intakes in the UK
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While COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic has hit the world hard in almost all respects, the data revealed by Vigo Stacey reflects that currently, over 90% of the South Asians still prefer to study overseas with half of them seeking to study in the UK followed by Canada. The number of international students in the country has seen a huge growth over the years, the trends for which are as depicted below.
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Study in UK: Top Universities for International Students
To help you research your dream university, some of the most reputed and top-ranking universities in the UK and the world are listed below.
Name of the Institute | QS World University Rankings 2022 | THE World Rankings 2022 |
---|---|---|
University of Oxford | #2 | #1 |
University of Cambridge | #=3 | #5 |
Imperial College London | #7 | #12 |
University College London (UCL) | #8 | #=18 |
London School of Economics and Political Science | #49 | #27 |
University of Edinburgh | #16 | #30 |
King’s College London | #35 | #35 |
University of Manchester | #=27 | #50 |
University of Warwick | #61 | #78 |
University of Bristol | #62 | #92 |
Why Study in UK?
From globally reputed institutes to remarkable research alternatives, diverse population and amazing jobs, the UK as a country never disappoints its aspirants. Along with this there are other factors which are responsible for influencing students to study in the UK which includes:
- Internationally Recognised Universities: Universities in the UK have a remarkable international reputation. According to QS World University Rankings, 4 of the top 6 universities in the world are in the UK.
- Two-year Stay Back: Since the UK Government has allowed a standard stay-back time of 2 years in the UK for international students which allows them sufficient time to explore a range of opportunities and apply for jobs post completing their degrees adds to the credit of studying in the UK.
- Shorter Duration of Courses: With over 60,000 courses in top universities in the UK, there are numerous courses fit for the needs of every individual. The short duration courses in the UK that can be completed in the span of 6 to 11 months will not only help reduce the tuition fee but also the accommodation costs.
- Lower Tuition Fee: An average fee for a master’s program in the country is comparatively lower to its other competitors like the US with 17,392 and 38,380 GBP, respectively as the standard fee for most of the graduate courses.
- Strong Research Infrastructure: The latest Research Excellence Framework (REF) classifies 30% of UK university research as 'world-leading'. About 46% is considered as 'internationally excellent'.
- Scholarship and Financial Aid: The UK offers up to 100% Scholarship on tuition fees in some of the most renowned institutes and allows a fair chance to all to be a part of the UK education system.
- Employment/Job Opportunities: With a globally renowned curriculum and research-oriented skills, candidates having studied from the UK have a high employment rate of over 90% for most of its universities.
Popular Courses in UK
For all the prospective applicants, the country offers a plethora of diverse study abroad programs in the UK ranging from STEM programs to Humanities and a varied variety of non-conventional courses. The fascinating part about these thousands of courses is that they are offered from a duration as small as 6 months to a program of 5 to 6 years and fit the criteria of best courses to study for jobs in the UK.
Some of the highly popular programs for masters(MS) in UK comprise Business and Natural Sciences, Engineering and Technology, Medicine, Law, Social Sciences, Media and Communication, Arts, 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 | Best UK University for the Course | Duration | Employment Rate |
---|---|---|---|
MBA | London School of Business | 15 to 21 months | 94% |
Civil Engineering | Imperial College | 3 years | 78.4% |
Masters (MS) in Law | University of Cambridge | 3 years | 93.3% |
Medicine | University of Oxford | 5 to 6 years | 99.3% |
Computer Science | University of Oxford | 3 years | 81.8% |
MS in Psychology | University of Oxford | 3 years | 83.7% |
Education | Durham University | 3 years | 95.2% |
Masters (MS) in Architecture | University of Cambridge | 3 years | 86.3% |
International students form a highly significant part of the student body in the UK. According to the survey results of Higher Education Statistics Agency UK, nearly 127,335 of the international candidates in the country are engaged in Business programs with 22,045 and 32,890 students respectively in the stream of Medicine and Creative Arts. A graph depicting the distribution of international students across major fields of study across the country are as depicted below.
![International Students by Subject Areas in UK](https://images.collegedunia.com/public/image/3dcc1081e9c55cc435560734e4598e1b.png?tr=w-815,h-367,c-force)
How to Study in UK: Application Process
Since you have reached this section of the article reflects that you have made up your mind to apply to an institute in the UK. To help you in the process of application, let’s begin with a few simple steps:
- Research your options: Choose from the globally renowned institutes and over 60,000 courses you wish to apply to in the UK and check eligibility criteria for the same.
- Financial Planning: As per the current UK visa requirements, an international applicant must have a minimum of 12,180 GBP in his/her account as proof of funds and financial stability to be eligible for studying in the country anywhere except London. For London, the cost rises to 15,180 GBP per year.
- Plan your application in advance: Collect all the relevant documents and keep a close track of deadlines. Plan your application at least 2 months in advance to allow sufficient time and avoid last-minute hurdles.
- Submit application and wait for acceptance letter: For all the universities in the UK, students have to apply via the UCAS portal.
- Apply for study in UK visa: Once you have received your offer letter, waste no further time and reach your nearest British embassy along with relevant documents and an acceptance letter to apply for a Tier 4 General Student Visa to study in UK.
Admission Requirements to study in UK
Some basic information regarding the admission process is as tabulated below.
Where to apply | UCAS portal |
Application Fee | 20 GBP for one course with 26 GBP per additional choice |
Basic Requirements | Transcripts, Standardised tests for studying in the UK |
Additional Requirements | Valid Visa, Statement of Purpose, Reference letter |
English Language Requirements (IELTS, TOEFL etc.) | IELTS: 6.0-6.5 and 6.5 to 7.0 for undergraduates and graduates, resp. |
Note: Process for admission into Oxford and Cambridge vary vividly and thus, students seeking enrollment to these universities must get in direct contact with the admissions office of these institutes.
When to study in the UK?
International aspirants must note that there are different deadlines for applying to diverse courses and institutes in the UK and thus it is highly important to keep a close track of all the relevant dates of the program and organization you are interested in. All the complete application forms must be submitted by the first week of September to UCAS.
Final Deadline for Entry applications:
- Mid of October: Deadline for most of the courses at Cambridge and Oxford. Mostly for medicine, veterinary medicine, and dentistry and other institutions.
- Mid of January: Deadline for majority of undergraduate courses.
The international students shall be shortlisted by colleges. Documents must be uploaded timely and applications should be submitted before November. Admission decisions are notified by the college usually around the month of April.
Study in UK Cost
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 fees
The fee for the range of programs available in the country will vary as per different external and internal factors, primarily upon the level of program and the choice of university.
Level of program | Estimated Fee in INR Per Year |
---|---|
Undergraduate level | 10.04 to 26.12 lakh (59 lakhs for medical programs) |
Postgraduate Level | 14.17 lakhs (21.88 lakhs and 19.02 lakhs for clinical and MBA courses, respectively) |
Doctoral Level | 15.08 to 24.13 lakhs |
Some of the highly renowned universities in the UK along with their tuition fee trends for the past 2 years at undergraduate level, as per Reddin Survey results 2020-21, are picturised below.
![Last 2 years of Tuition fee of top 5 Universities in UK](https://images.collegedunia.com/public/image/343c4a83b971ae6817d57c9d4f23153a.png?tr=w-931,h-359,c-force)
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 INR Per Month |
---|---|
Housing | 50,300 |
Bills (electric/ gas/ water) | 4000-5000 |
Food | 16000- 20000 |
TV license | 1260 (or 15000 per year) |
Mobile phone | 1500-5000 |
Clothes and Leisure | 4000-5000 |
Books & supplies | 3000 |
Socializing | 12000 |
Transportation | 3500-4000 |
Visa Application Fee (international candidates) | 34800 (one-time fee) |
How to study in UK with Scholarship?
For studying in the UK, international applicants can avail the use of scholarships and awards to up to 100%. While the UK government provides a wide array of its own awards and studentships to provide financial support for international students to study in the UK, the individual universities in the country also offer merit-based and additional awards for such aspirants. Scholarships for post-graduate and doctoral courses in the UK are not open for all the candidates, as they have strict eligibility criteria.
Scholarships for International Students in UK
Some of the awards that an international candidate looking to finance his/her studies in the UK can avail have been compiled below.
Name of Scholarship | Level of Study | Countries Eligible | Eligibility Criteria | Applications Open | Amount |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chevening Scholarships | Master’s | 144; around 700 scholarships per year | - | - | - |
Commonwealth Scholarships | Master’s and PhD | 62 commonwealth nations | commonwealth citizen, refugee or British protected person and at least 2:1 Honours degree | August before the course is due to start | Covers tuition fees, a monthly living allowance and travel costs |
Saltire Scholarships | Master's | Canada, India, Pakistan, USA and China | - | October, till May | 50 scholarships worth 8,200 GBP |
The Australia Foundation Trust | All levels | - | Australian citizens entitled to live and study in the UK | - | 10,251 GBP |
Mackenzie King Memorial Scholarships | Master's/PhD | - | Degree from any Canadian university with a minimum grade A, across all courses | January | 8,710 GBP worth scholarships plus travel allowances |
China- Great Scholarships | Postgraduate | - | Offer for a course at any one of the participating universities | Varies across institutions | Total 150 scholarships worth 10,24,667 GBP |
BAFTA Scholarships | Master's | - | Chinese national seeking to study a postgraduate course in the field of film, television or games | March (closes in June) | 10,246 GBP as tuition fee plus additional living expenses |
Inlaks Scholarship | All levels (but you must have an undergraduate degree) | - | Undergraduate degree, offer letter from a ‘top-ranking' institution | January - April | - |
Scholarship for students from USA in the UK | Master's/PhD | - | Undergraduate degree; minimum 3.7 GPA and endorsed by applicant’s undergraduate university | Late Spring, the year before the applicant is supposed to start studying | - |
Other awards like the Oxford and Cambridge Society of India Scholarships and Felix Scholarships along with Fulbright Commission Scholarships are also available for international students to study in the UK.
To conclude, the United Kingdom over the years has shown tremendous growth in its number of international students who come every year to be a part of some of the world’s highly prestigious universities. From highly skilled faculty, research methods and employment opportunities to a great campus and student life, the UK is indeed a package deal.
With a total international student population of nearly 80 to 90% formed by 46% of the women candidates make for the diversity that the country offers. This knowledge and exposure of multi-cultures and ethnicities add value to the job profile of an individual which is found highly attractive among top recruiters around the world and help them land high-paying jobs in UK. Thus, the UK has justifiably earned the rank in the list of top 3 overseas destinations among international aspirants and is undoubtedly a worthwhile pursuit.
Study in UK FAQs
Colleges
Ques. How much is the cost to study in the UK colleges?
Ans. Indian students need around 10-25 lakhs to study the undergraduate programs in the UK. The cost of studying the masters and doctoral programs may range from 14 to 50 lakhs or even more depending on the student's lifestyle.
Ques. Can I study in the UK after 12th?
Ans. Yes after completion of standard 12 in India, students can enroll to the undergraduate programs in the UK universities. Students generally require a high school overall grade of at least 50-60% for applying to the UK universities. Additionally, proficiency in English is one of the mandatory requirements for admission to the universities in the UK.
Admission
Ques. Which exam is required to study in the UK?
Ans. Irrespective of their level of study, international students need to demonstrate satisfactory IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, Duolingo or equivalent English proficiency test scores for admission to the UK universities. Students applying to the graduate programs additionally need GRE or GMAT test scores for admission to the universities in the UK.
Ques. What is the IELTS score required for admission to UK?
Ans. Generally students need a minimum score of 6.0 to 6.5 in IELTS examination for admission to universities in the UK.
Intake
Ques. How many intakes are there in the universities in UK?
Ans. There are 2 common intakes in the universities in UK, Fall (September-October) and Winter (January-February). Some universities also offer admission to a limited number of courses in the Summer intake (May-June).
Ques. Which intake in UK is the best?
Ans. Fall intake in UK is often considered as the most compatible intake for Indian students. This is because students can acclimatize to the cold environment in the UK before winter arrives. Also, students of Fall session in the UK universities complete education at least 2-3 months earlier than the other intakes.
Courses
Ques. Which courses are best to study in the UK?
Ans. Some of the best programs offered at the universities in the UK are MBA, Medicine, Law, Computer Science, Architecture, Artificial Intelligence, Economics and more.
Ques. Can I study a free course in the UK?
Ans. Most of the programs at the universities in the UK are paid courses. However, Indian students can avail a plethora of scholarships to study in the UK universities. These scholarships cover from partial expenses up to total expenses.
Scholarships
Ques. How can I get a scholarship to study in the UK?
Ans. International students can avail either university scholarship or external funding to study in the UK. Students need to either apply for the scholarship during filling the application form or apply separately after enrolling.
Ques. Can I get a 100% funded scholarship in UK?
Ans. In both cases of university scholarships or external funds, students can avail partial or total funding or fee waiver. The scholarships sometimes include airfare, local transport and miscellaneous personal expenses.
Placements
Ques. Who are the top recruiters in the UK?
Ans. UK is the headquarter to some of the leading business organizations in the world. The list includes HSBC, Prudential, BP, Unilever, Vodafone, GSK, Barclays and several others. International students graduating from the top universities in the UK are often hired by these globally supreme companies.
Ques. What is the average salary in the UK?
Ans. A person working in the UK generally earn around 78,000 GBP per year. This is equivalent to nearly 74 lakhs INR per year or 6.16 lakhs per month.