Study in UK Consultants
Did you know that more than 395 universities and colleges offer over 50,000 courses across the UK? Yes, UK houses some of the world’s top-ranking universities and colleges, Yet does not require IELTS. It is renowned for its high-quality academic standards.
Why should a student study in UK?
Ever thought about why you should consider studying in the UK? Is it because it is a progressive country and you fancy living and studying there? Your decision to study in the UK should be based on why it is a valid and viable option to study abroad. Facts worth considering are:
UK universities and colleges are known to offer quality education and high academic standards. The cost of living and health in the UK for a student is reasonable. The UK provides a multi-cultural atmosphere making it easy for students to adjust to the new environment in a new country.
UK education offers you a variety of courses to choose from and study. Above, we have shared with you just the tip of the iceberg to get you to start thinking about the UK as a viable study abroad option for you.
Read on to learn more.
Read MoreLess
Ever thought about why you should consider studying in the UK? Is it because it is a progressive country and you fancy living and studying there? Your decision to study in the UK should be based on why it is a valid and viable option to study abroad. Facts worth considering are:
UK universities and colleges are known to offer quality education and high academic standards. The cost of living and health in the UK for a student is reasonable. The UK provides a multi-cultural atmosphere making it easy for students to adjust to the new environment in a new country.
UK education offers you a variety of courses to choose from and study. Above, we have shared with you just the tip of the iceberg to get you to start thinking about the UK as a viable study abroad option for you.
Read on to learn more.
Take first step towards your Study Abroad Journey
Benefits of Studying in the UK
A significant decision when looking at higher study options abroad is the country choice. It is essential to shape your prospects. For example, suppose you plan to study an undergraduate or postgraduate program in the UK. In that case, you must know about the benefit it would offer to you. It will help you compare with the benefits provided by other countries too.
Here are Fantastic 5 Benefits for studying in the UK
Read MoreLess
1 – Teaching-Learning-Research
The standard of teaching-learning and research at UK colleges and universities follows a proper and consistent system of assessment which official organizations grade to check adherence to the set quality standards.
Further, there are independent audits that the Quality Assurance Agency conducts for Higher Education (QAA).
2 – Permission to Work
Well, UK permits their international students to gain experience by working while they study. So students to increase their credentials in their resume can work part-time, do an internship, or even just volunteer for some cause.
Some colleges or universities in the UK provide a work placement as a part of the study course and even offer placements.
3 – Medical is free!
Students going to study in UK are eligible to receive medical treatment by the National Health Service (NHS) at a premium of 704 GP per year. It applies to the student if you are enrolled in a full-time course in a UK college or university.
Another crucial point to consider is that you are married in the case of a student and have moved to the UK to study along with your spouse and children. They will also receive free medical treatment just like you, provided NHS premium has to be paid for them.
In addition, some UK colleges or universities also have a particular health policy for their students that you should find more about from them.
4 – Cultural diversity
You will experience a multi-cultural environment, meet new people from across the world while studying in the UK. It supports you in shaping your personality, getting a global perspective, and preparing you to become a part of the global workforce in the future.
5 – Avail Scholarships
UK becomes a good study abroad option, especially for students who wish to do a postgraduate or research program from the UK. UK Universities offer many scholarship opportunities to students.
However, remember for availing of the scholarships offered by UK universities, you will need first to get the acceptance to the course of study to become eligible to apply for the scholarship.
Education System in the UK
You should know that colleges and universities in the UK are consistently rank in the World University Rankings like QS World Rankings, Times Higher Education Ranking, and Academic Ranking of World Universities. When you study in the UK, your degree is valued by employers worldwide, making your prospects bright.
Four jurisdictions in the UK are responsible for education –
- England
- Northern Ireland
- Wales
- Scotland
Read MoreLess
The education systems, qualifications, and individual laws/regulations are all different in these four jurisdictions, especially in each region with its credit frameworks and qualifications.
UK education system consists of four stages/levels:
- Primary education
- Reception to year 6
- Secondary education
- Year7 to Year 11
- Further education
- Year 12 & Year 13
Higher education-The Higher education in the UK consists of bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees.
Undergraduate courses
Undergraduate courses give students an in-depth understanding of a subject that is opted for. The UK offers various courses in humanities, social science, art, design, business, technology, science, and more streams!
Different types of undergraduate courses offered in the UK:
- Higher National Certificate (HNC) or Diploma (HND)-One to two years
- Certificates or Diplomas of Higher Education -One to two years
- Foundation degrees (Fd A/Fd Sc)- Six months to two years
- Degree courses -Three to four years
- Sandwich degree courses -Four years
- Integrated courses-Four years
Post Graduate course
Postgraduate courses consist of a Master’s degree, which is generally for a year in the UK and involves in-depth study.
Different types of postgraduate courses offered in the UK:
- Postgraduate certificates and diploma (PG Cert/PG Dip)-9 to 12 months
- Taught Masters (such as MA, M.Sc., LLM, MBA, MRes)-1 year
- Research Masters (such as MPhil, Ph.D., DPhil)-2-3 years
It is essential to know the academic year for study in the UK. The academic year in the UK begins from around September – October. However, there is an intake for courses in January and April too of students in various courses.
Top Universities in the UK
As you must by now have understood, UK houses some of the top universities in the world due to its high academic quality. So you would be happy to know that a degree that you earn from a UK university will be recognized internationally. What more can you ask for!
List of TOP Universities in the UK to consider:
Read MoreLess
- University of Oxford
- University of Cambridge
- Imperial College, London University College London (UCL)
- University of Edinburgh
Remember, a valid Academic IELTS/UKVI IELTS score can help you secure admission to the top Universities.
Affordable Universities in the UK
Affordability plays a considerable aspect to consider for majorly all students planning to study abroad. Students belonging to affluent families have studied abroad as a way of life, a non-negotiable, but a student’s belonging to higher or middle-class families is yet a dream to be achieved. Keeping this in mind, knowing universities or colleges which can be affordable in the UK must be considered. Here is a list to share after conducting research.
- Staffordshire University
- Teesside University
- Leeds Trinity University
- University of Cumbria
- University of Bolton
- Buckinghamshire New University
- Coventry University
- York St John University
Courses to Study in the UK
There are a plethora of courses that you can study in UK. However, we have narrowed it down to some most renowned in the UK.
- Physiotherapy
- Law
- Actuarial Science.
- Sports Management.
- Medicine & Surgery.
- Computer Science.
- Engineering
- Business/Management.
For more details, you should get in touch with an Education Consultant for study in UK to narrow down your choice of course based on your interest.
Student life in the UK
There are myriad questions in student’s minds about how their lives will be while studying in the UK! So let us address some of these questions.
Q. Can I work part-time while studying?
A. Yes, you can work part-time while studying in hospitality, academic tutoring, or your student union. However, international could have restrictions regarding the number of hours in a week that they are allowed to work. Thus this should be clear by way of a sticker showing the number of hours allowed to work part-time in your passport.
Q. What are student halls in the UK?
A. Some universities in the UK provide student halls where students can stay, especially their first-year students. These halls are on the campus only and provide easy access to all facilities.
Q. Can I get support to improve my English in case required?
A. Your university would have a language support facility to help you improve your writing, speaking, and listening skills. Take benefit from it.
Intakes
- September: September intake is the major intake, and all the Universities will be open for Admissions for Bachelor’s & Master’s programs.
- January: January intake is the minor intake, and only 30% of the Universities offer admissions in this intake, and courses offered are limited. Students can apply for Bachelor’s & Master’s program in this intake.
- May: Only a handful of UK universities offer only Business & Computer science-related Master’s degrees, and very few Bachelor’s degree courses for May intake and competition will be high.
Scholarships to Study in UK
UK offers excellent scholarships for students, especially those going to do their masters or research in the UK. You can get university-specific scholarship details by contacting an Education Consultant for study in UK, which is the best way to go about it.
Additionally, to navigate on your own, you can:
Read MoreLess
Visit the website of the UK Council for International Student Affairs to find out if you are eligible for a scholarship.
Some institutions in the UK offer financial assistance. Check their websites for more information.
Sharing a list of most popular government scholarship programs in the UK to apply for:
- Chevening Scholarship
- Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship
- Scotland Saltire Scholarships
- Charles Wallace India Trust Scholarships (CWIT)
- GREAT Scholarships
Required Tests
- English Proficiency:Â To gain admission into UK universities, students need to prove their English proficiency through any of the following methods.
IELTS: Students can prove their English proficiency by securing an IELTS Score equivalent to CEFR Level B2 in IELTS Academic/UKVI IELTS. Some Universities accept PTE/TOEFL & Duolingo scores as well.
High School English Scores: UK Universities provide IELTS waiver depending upon the High school English scores. Generally, students need to achieve more than 70% in their High school English to avail themselves of the IELTS waiver.
Read MoreLess
Proof that Previous Education was in English: Students need to provide documented evidence that students did their previous education in English. This is applicable only for the students intended to pursue their Master’s Degree.
For few bachelor programs, students need to qualify for additional standardized tests to gain admission. For example, PLAB is required for students who intend to pursue MBBS in the UK.
- GMAT:Â GMAT is required to gain admission into premier Universities in the UK.
- MAT:Â Mathematics Admissions Test (MAT) is required to gain admission into the University of Oxford & Imperial College London to pursue Computer science, Mathematics & Philosophy related courses.
- STEP:Â Sixth Term Examination paper (STEP 2 & STEP 3) tests have to be cleared by the applicants who wish to pursue Undergraduate in Mathematics at University of Cambridge, University of Warwick & Imperial College London.
- UCAT:Â University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) is conducted by group of 25 Universities to get admission in their Medical & Dental programs
- BMAT:Â Biomedical Admission Test (BMAT) has to be cleared by the applicants who wish to pursue their bachelors in Medical & Health related courses.
- GAMSAT:Â Graduate Medical School Admission Test (GAMSAT) is for aspirants who wish to pursue graduate programs related to Health Care in UK, Australia & Ireland.
Application Requirements
Language proficiency:Â IELTS Academic, UKVI IELTS, PTE & TOEFL are accepted by the UK Universities and student needs to achieve scores equivalent to IELTS 6/6/5 with no band less than 5.5. Majority of the UK universities provide IELTS waiver depending upon High School English marks.
Read MoreLess
- IELTS:Â Overall 6.0 or 6.5, preferably no band less than 5.5.
- PTE:Â a combined score of 58 or 62, preferably no band less than 51.
- TOEFL IBT:Â Overall 79 or 90, preferably no band less than 71.
Standardized Tests:Â Depending upon the University and course student wish to undertake student needs to take-up additional tests like GMAT, MAT, STEP, UCAT, and BMAT & GAMSAT.
Documents:
- SSC Marks Sheet.
- HSC Marks Sheet.
- Bachelors semester wise mark sheets, Provisional certificate & consolidated marks memo.
- Original Degree if more than 2 years since last Bachelors.
- IELTS Score Card/Medium of Instructions (If applicable).
- Passport.
- Letter of Recommendations-3(Date should be typed and not hand written and not more than one month old at the time of application).
- Resume.
- Statement of Purpose.
- Experience Letters (If any)
Application Procedure
Step 1:Â Application submission along with all required documents
Step 2:Â University will decide in 2-4 weeks depending upon University. Accepted students will receive a conditional offer.
Read MoreLess
Step 3:Â The student needs to fulfill conditions as outlined in the offer. Once conditions are fulfilled, the student will receive an unconditional offer. Conditions in offer usually include an Initial fee deposit, Credibility interview with University.
Step 4:Â Upon receiving an unconditional offer, the student needs to make a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) request. Students need to provide financial as well as a medical certificate to request CAS.
Step 5:Â Once CAS is received, the student needs to book an appointment at the nearest VFS and submit the visa application and all the required documents.
Cost of Study in UK
- Tuition Fee:Â Depending upon the University and course you are enrolling in, the tuition fee will vary. It will cost you an average of 30,000 GBP if you wish to study in Premiere institutions like the University of Oxford, Cambridge, and so on. If you wish to study in some of the best Universities in the UK, the average tuition fee will be 15,000 GBP.
- Living Expenses:Â On average, living expenses in the UK will be 1200 GBP which includes Accommodation, Food, and Transportation & Utility bills.
Read MoreLess
- Immigration Health Surcharge:Â 704 GBP per year. If your course duration is for 3 years, you have to pay 704 GBPX3=2112 GBP at the time of visa application submission.
- Visa Fee:Â Standard visa fee of 348 GBP for Student Visa & Child student visa. 95 GBP for a Standard Visitor visa & 186 GBP for a short-term study visa. Under standard visa submission, it will take 15 working days to get a visa decision. If you wish to expedite the process, you can avail services mentioned below at an additional cost.
- Priority Service:Â Additional fee of 500 GBP for visa decision in 5 working days.
- Super Priority Service:Â Additional fee of 800 GBP for visa decision by the end of next working day.
Should you have Insurance? If yes, what are its Benefits?
International students need to pay the IHS fee during visa application. It covers free medical treatment (including emergency or hospital care, if you need it) and reduced-price dental care at an NHS dentist in the UK.
The most important benefit of having this healthcare insurance for students while studying in the UK is that you gain high-quality service in hospitals, private offices, emergency rooms, and more. Moreover, in case of emergency, you don’t have to worry about the medical bills, making your stay comfortable while in the UK.
Student Visa Requirements
Suppose you are thinking of studying in the UK. In that case, you should be aware that all international students planning to study in the UK require to procure their student visa ( previously Tier 4). Well, this type of visa is only available to full-time university students pursuing a degree in the UK and not short-term or language courses. In such intricate details and decisions, the advice of an expert education consultant is a must!
Keep ready the following documents for procuring your Tier 4 Student Visa:
Read MoreLess
- Passport
- Evidence of funds to support your living expenses for the duration of your course in the UK.
- CAS Reference number.
- Passport-sized color photographs
- Assessment documentation
- Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) clearance certificate (if required)
- Any other based on the current rule applies when you are applying.
Employment Opportunities
Working part-time is permitted while studying in the UK for international students, as you already know. However, along with it, you should be aware of your work rights not to get cheated.
- If you have a Tier 4 Visa, you can work part-time while studying.
- You can work up to 20hours per week part-time and full-time during holidays.
- The wages per hour for a student in the UK are
Read MoreLess
- On average, a student aged between 18 and 20 is paid £6.15 per hour.
- For a student aged 21 and above, the NMW is £7.70 per hour.
Before we discuss the employment opportunities in the UK, you should know that if you wish to stay back in the UK for employment after your studies, you need to apply for your visa extension.
There are employment opportunities for students in various fields which you can pick up after your degree, and you have the option of starting your own business too.
Some of the popular areas that offer graduate job opportunities in the UK are:
- Consulting
- Oil and Energy.
- Law
- Retail
- Armed Forces.
- Investment Banking.
- Accounting and professional services.
