Study In United Kingdom

Reasons to Study in the United Kingdom (UK)

UK attracts more than 600,000 international students every year to study in its world-renowned universities and colleges such as Cambridge, Oxford and many more. These numbers are expected to grow faster in the coming years with UK changing its laws to offer 2 years post-study visa. For Indian students, UK has always been a popular study abroad destination with many famous Indian leaders such as Mahatma Gandhi and Jawahar Lal Nehru completing their education from UK. A UK degree is universally recognized and gives students the opportunity to explore their career options anywhere in the world. Students can also explore its vibrant culture, rich history, rustic countryside while studying in the UK.  If you wish to pursue higher studies in this historic country, here are some key facts that you must know -

• Wide range of courses (over 50,000) available in 25+ subject areas
• Shorter course duration compared to other popular countries e.g. Master degree is of only 1 year in UK compared to other countries
• Two years of post-study visa to search for employment 
• 28 out of top 200 Universities in the QS World University Rankings are from UK
• Part-time work for up to 20 hours per week while pursuing a full-time degree-level course or a short-term program
• International students are also eligible for free healthcare under the NHS if they are joining more than 6 months duration course 
• Opportunity to work at top companies like Deloitte, KPMG, Ernst and Young, Boots, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) post completion of studies

Highlighted below are a few reasons why an international student should choose to study in the United Kingdom.

Academic opportunities:

UK has always been a leader in the field of education. It is home to several higher education institutions which feature in the QS World University Rankings and are home to 600,000 new international students every year. The universities of UK provide excellent infrastructure, research-based and innovative courses to students. Students can choose to study from a number of programmes offered by reputed educational institutions of the UK.

Find below the list of some of the top universities of UK where international students may pursue their higher education.

List of top universities to study in the UK

Though UK offers a wide range of subjects and disciplines, 50% of Indian students heading to UK have been going for STEM courses. In addition to STEM courses, UK is also popular for law courses as UK law degree is also recognized in India.  UK universities offer research-intensive programmes which promote critical thinking, give industrial exposure and increase the employability of students. Students can pursue cross-disciplinary courses at different levels of studies such as Certificate, Diploma, Advanced Diploma, Bachelor’s degrees, Postgraduate Diplomas/Certificates, Master’s degrees and Doctorate or PhD. Find below the list of top courses offered in the universities of UK.

List of top 5 courses to study in UK

About study visa in UK: 

The students aspiring to study in the UK need to have a Tier 4 Student Visa.  It is a general student visa granted to international students who wish to pursue higher studies in one of the UK universities. This visa is applicable for students who take admission in a course of more than 6 months duration. To apply for this visa, the students need to have an admission offer and a Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies (CAS) from an approved UK university/college. This visa remains valid for the duration of the course and allows students to stay for up to 12 months after the completion of studies.  

Career opportunities:

International students studying in the UK also get the opportunity to stay and work in the UK after completing their studies. However, they must fulfil certain terms and conditions enforced by the Home Office. Recently, the UK Government has announced a new immigration route for international students who wish to stay in the UK after completion of their studies. This Graduate Immigration Route allows the students to stay and work for two years in the UK post their graduation. Here are some key facts about the new route that you must know -

• The new immigration route will be launched in 2021. This means that the students who graduate from a UK university in summer 2021 or after, can apply for this route
• The students need to complete their undergraduate or above level studies at a UK higher education provider with a complying track record
• Having a valid Tier 4 Visa is mandatory for this immigration route
• Immigration Health Surcharge and Visa fee is applicable (as set by the immigration department) while applying for this immigration route
• The successful applicants can stay and work in the UK, or search for work at any skill level for up to two years with this route.

Cost of living in UK:

Being one of the most expensive countries in the world, the cost of living in UK is relatively high. International students need to be aware of the living cost before deciding to apply to a UK university. While calculating the budget, students need to take into account the accommodation cost, travel expenses, food charges and other miscellaneous expenses. Given below is the average estimate of monthly expenses that international students should look out for while studying in UK.

Average Monthly Expenses in UK for Students

* The costs mentioned in the above table are subject to currency exchange inflation and the preference of an individual. 

Study and work opportunities in UK:

Studying in UK gives international students the opportunity to work on a part-time basis while continuing their studies. This allows students to not only earn extra money as a support for their living costs but also gives them the chance to develop confidence, interpersonal skills, creativity and other skills that employers look for in prospective candidates. International students are allowed to work for up to 20 hours a week on a part-time basis during ongoing academic sessions and full-time during the holidays. 

College application deadlines:

Students wishing to pursue higher education from the UK must be aware of the college application deadlines of UK universities. Knowing the dates prior to applying gives international students ample time to prepare for the admission process of universities/colleges of the UK. Given below is a snapshot of admission dates of the top universities of the UK.

Application timelines of top universities of UK

Source: The Complete University Guide

How to apply for colleges in UK:

Follow the steps given below to ensure hassle-free application

Step 1:  Decide on the university/college and course of study while planning to study in the UK. Visit https://admission.buddy4study.com/courses/united-kingdom/ to browse thousands of courses and study relevant information related to universities, courses, tuition fees, course duration, etc. 

Step 2: Once you have finalised the university/college and course of study, the expert counsellors at Buddy4Study will assist you in applying to the university of your choice and help you secure admission there.

Step 3: On being selected, students get an offer of study through email from the university/college. Students need to accept the offer and fulfil all the requirements to secure the seat.

Step 4: Students need to pay the tuition fees after accepting the offer to study in the university/college of UK. Make sure to look for scholarships as you might be eligible for one. 

Step 5: Now is the step to apply for a student visa. The counsellors at Buddy4Study will assist you in completing all the formalities of admission and secure a visa to go to the UK and attend your preferred course of study. You can also consult our counsellors for any further assistance related to funding or accommodation. 

Top scholarships for international students:

Education in UK is quite expensive as compared to countries like Australia and Canada. To attract international students and best talent to the United Kingdom, UK government, universities/colleges, and other organisations offer financial assistance to meritorious students in the form of scholarships, grants, bursaries and tuition fee waiver. Given below is a list of scholarships that you can apply for.

List of scholarships to study in UK