Study in UK after 12- The reasons that make the UK a favoured study destination for Indian students who wish to pursue undergraduate courses are many. They range from a wide array of courses on offer to the presence of reputed universities excelling in producing well rounded graduates. More recently, the UK government has today announced a new two-year post-study work visa. This new graduate route will be launched for the 2020/21 intake of students to university.
In the year 2019, around 458,520 international students were studying in the UK. Of these over 56% were enrolled in undergraduate courses. According to the latest quarterly report on Migration Statistics, published by the UKs Office for National Statistics last month, 21,165 Indian students were granted Tier 4 (student) visas for the UK in the year ending March 2019, up from 15,161 for the year ending March 2018, which is a 40% increase.
In this article, we look at some of the main factors that encourage Indian students to apply for undergraduate studies in the UK, popular undergraduate courses and the top UK universities to pursue them from, future prospects for students pursuing undergraduate courses in the UK and more.
Latest reads: Study in UK & College application deadlines UK
Study in UK after 12th – Most Popular Universities for Indian Undergraduates
The UK is home to some of the oldest and most renowned centres of learning in the world. With over 50,000 courses offered by more than 395 centres, students have a wide range of subjects and fields to choose from. Some of the universities that attract the highest number of undergraduate students from India are-
- City University – London
- Heriot-Watt University – Edinburgh (Scotland)
- Middlesex University – London
- Edinburgh Napier University – Edinburgh
- Swansea University – Swansea
- University of Wolverhampton- Wolverhampton (Central England)
- Buckinghamshire New University, High Wycombe, Uxbridge and Aylesbury Campuses
- Keele University – England
- Staffordshire University- Staffordshire
- University of Chester- Northwest England
Check out Reasons to study in UK
Study in UK after 12th – What are the benefits?
Choose from a wide range of courses – Students applying for undergraduate studies in the UK have an option to choose from over 50,000 courses. These courses are offered in every stream of education, ranging from STEM to Fine Arts. Apart from the choice of course, students also have the option to choose from different levels of university education. Based on the different courses students have the option to choose from one of the following degrees -
| 1 year | Level 4 or certificate (C) undergraduate course. |
| 2 years | Level 5 or intermediary (I) level |
| 3 years | Level 6 or Honours (H) level graduate. |
Note:
- Students need to complete at least 3 or 4 years of course to be awarded an honours level degree.
- Undergraduate studies in Scotland require a minimum of 4 years of course work.
A number of scholarships options for undergraduates – Universities in the UK are famed for their excellence, impeccable reputation, long history and the scholarships they offer to meritorious and deserving candidates. Scholarships in the UK are available for students across all streams and backgrounds. Some of the famous scholarships offered by universities in the UK include-
SCHOLARSHIPS FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS PURSUING BACHELORS IN THE UK
| University | Scholarships |
| UNIVERSITY OF WESTMINSTER | This university offers partial and full fee scholarships and grants of 2,500 per academic year to undergraduate students with academic brilliance and financial needs. |
| COVENTRY UNIVERSITY | This university offers the Coventry Academic Performance Scholarship to full time undergraduate students. |
| UNIVERSITY OF HERTFORDSHIRE | The University of Hertfordshire provides merit-based scholarships for undergraduate students. |
| BRISTOL UNIVERSITY | The University of Bristol offers five scholarships to students to pursue their undergraduate courses. |
| UNIVERSITY OF WEST ENGLAND | The University of West of England, Bristol offers Chancellors Scholarships worth more than 100,000 to international students each year. |
| SHEFFIELD HALLAM UNIVERSITY | This university offers Transform Together Scholarships that are open to all international students and offer half fee (50%) waiver to undergraduate students. |
| THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD | The Clarendon Scholarship fund is a prestigious graduate scholarship scheme offering 140 new scholarships every year to eligible applicants. |
Apart from these, there are scholarships offered by most of the universities in the UK that students can apply for. For more information on available scholarships it is advised to check the respective university websites.
Low tuition cost- When compared with countries like the USA and Australia, the tuition costs in the UK are lower. In the UK, the yearly average cost of tuition is around 9,000 ( 10,617) while in the USA, the yearly average is around 10,000 ( 11,797). The three year undergraduate program in the UK against the four years in the UK gives an extra years advantage to the students, making them spend for a lesser duration on their education and starting with their careers earlier.
Low cost of living – Location, accommodation and local taxes, all play a role in determining the cost of living in a country. In the UK these costs are lower than those in the USA. In the UK, the total monthly cost of living is around 901 (763) while the same average around 1082 (917) in the USA.
Post-study work permit – The UK post-study work visa allows international students to stay in the United Kingdom after graduation in order to work or look for work, for up to 2 years.
The new visa rules will come into effect for all international students that begin their studies in autumn 2020 or later. During the first 2 years after graduation, Post Study Work (PSW) visa holders can work in any job they can find, and the goal is for them to acquire a general work visa afterwards.
After two years, they will be able to switch onto the skilled work visa if they find a job which meets the skill requirements of the route.
Exceptional healthcare – A little known and unappreciated fact about living and studying in the UK is the countrys exceptional healthcare apparatus. The UK has a national health system called the National Health Service (NHS). An international student holding a Tier 4 student visa and studying for six months or longer qualifies to have access to NHS.
Opportunity to work part-time – International students in the UK are allowed to work for up to 20 hours a week while their university sessions are on and full-time during the holiday season. This helps them to learn about the local culture, improve interpersonal skills and supplement their finances while studying.
Study in UK after 12 – Popular Undergraduate Courses in the UK for Indian Students
International students and especially Indians studying in the UK prefer the following courses the most for bachelors -
- Undergraduate Law
- Business Studies
- Accounting and Finance
- Economics
- Arts and Design
- Computer Science
- Mechanical Engineering
- Politics
- Electrical engineering
- Biological Science
Other than the above mentioned conventional course choices, universities in the UK also offer undergraduate programs in fine art studies. Wed like to give a special mention to the popular programs and universities offering such programs below -
TOP FINE ARTS BACHELOR COURSES IN THE UK
| University | Prominent Fine Arts courses on offer |
| ROYAL COLLEGE OF ARTS |
Painting
Photography Sculpture Fashion wearings |
| UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON (SLADE SCHOOL OF ARTS) |
Painting
Sculpture Fine arts media (film and photography) |
| UNIVERSITY OF THE ARTS LONDON |
Drawing
Fine Arts Photography Fashion Photography Painting |
| GOLDSMITHS, LONDON |
Fine Art
Fine Art and History |
| THE GLASGOW SCHOOL OF ARTS |
Sculptural and Environmental Arts
Fashion Design Fine Art Photography Painting and Printmaking |
| UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD (THE RUSKIN SCHOOL OF ART) | BFA ( Bachelor of Fine Arts) |
| UNIVERSITY OF BRIGHTON |
3D Design and Craft
Fashion Communication with Business Studies Fine Art Painting Graphic Design |
| EDINBURGH COLLEGE OF ARTS (ECA) |
Intermedia
Photography Sculpture Painting |
| LANCASTER UNIVERSITY |
Art
Theatre Design Film Sculpture Painting |
Study in UK after 12th – Visa options for students in the UK
|
GENERAL STUDENT VISA (TIER-4)
|
Required for an undergraduate course. |
|
SHORT TERM STUDY VISA
|
Required for short term courses (not applicable for undergraduate students) |
The application fee for a general students visa in the is 348 (32,065 INR).
Requirements for a UK Student Visa-
- Should be 16 years or older.
- Should have been offered a place on the course.
- Should have enough money to support own finances and pay for the course- the amount may vary depending on circumstances and institute.
- Should meet other necessary requirements laid down by the govt.
- Healthcare surcharges will have to be paid as part of the application.
- For studies in the UK, a minimum IELTS band score of 5.5-6.5 is required.
Application process timeline- For students hoping to pursue an undergraduate course in the UK it is important to be familiar with the application process and timeline.
The most important thing to note here is that universities like Cambridge and Oxford usually have a much earlier deadline. For international undergraduate students, the usual deadline is around June. Detailed information regarding admission and application timelines can be found here.
Study in UK after 12 – Future Prospects for Students Pursuing Undergraduate Courses in the UK.
For students who choose to pursue their education on the under-graduation level from UK, there are options to stay back in the country.
- Make use of their post-study work permit to stay back in the UK for another 2 years and work.
- Apply for further studies in institutes that sponsor Tier-4 student visa.
- Students can also opt for a Tier1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) Visa which is open to graduating students from all disciplines who can showcase their talent in developing world class business ideas. For detailed information about visa applications and eligibility please check the relevant government website.
Note: Students opting to stay back in the UK and work are required to have a skilled job offer from a licensed employer paying a salary of at least 20,800.
Let us look at the average salaries that graduates in the UK draw -
| Field of Work | Average Salary Drawn by Graduates |
| ART (CREATIVE, VISUAL AND PERFORMANCE) | 15,000 – 27,000 |
| BANKING AND ACCOUNTANCY | 17,000 – 50,000 |
| BUSINESS, MARKETING AND MANAGEMENT | 17,000 – 44,000 |
| COMPUTER SCIENCE | 17,000 – 70,000 |
| EDUCATION | 22,917 – 28,660 |
| ENGINEERING | 25,000 – 26,000 |
| HUMANITIES | 19,000 – 23,000 |
| LAW | 22,000 – 45,000 |
| MEDICINE AND NURSING | 22,000 – 28,500 |
Study in UK after 12 – FAQs
Q. What are the requirements to study in UK?
A. To study in the UK, the following is required -
- A degree from an accredited institute in India.
- An offer letter for a course from a university in the UK.
- Finances to support tuition and stay in UK (have to meet the government stipulations)
- A valid IELTS score.
Q. How much does it cost to study in UK?
A. The actual cost of studying in the UK can vary depending on the university, its location and the tuition fee. The best way to ensure that you choose the best option is to research and consider all your options before going ahead with the application process.
Q. How can I study in the UK?
A. To study in UK -
- Select the university you want to study in.
- Apply for the course.
- Check if you are eligible for scholarships.
- Arrange the finances.
- If you receive an offer letter, apply for a student visa.
Q. Can I study in the UK without IELTS?
A. IELTS test score is required for the visa application for UK. So, you will have to take the test and ensure you get the required score before applying for a student visa.
Q. What are the pros and cons of studying in the UK for Indian students?
A. For Indian students studying in the UK, the pros are numerous.
- International exposure.
- Great job prospects.
- Option to stay back and work in the UK.
- Good job prospects in India.
- Opportunity to make personal and professional relations for life.
- Lower cost incurred than USA.
Cons
- Overall financial costs can be a big burden and can increase with fluctuations in the exchange rate.
