The United Kingdom is perhaps the first study destination you think of when you decide you want to study abroad, and for a good reason too! It has excellent universities with world-class faculty from all over the world, a high standard of living and a relatively low living cost and a highly international community that is welcoming to foreigners of all nationalities.
Even though there are now over 150 universities for you to choose to study at, there were once only two: Oxford and Cambridge Universities. These universities remain the highest-ranked two and are arguably the most famous in the UK, but until 1832, they were the only institutions that existed in the UK.
Another fun fact is that many inventions were created in the UK, such as the first postage stamp, which was invented eight years later in the UK, in May 1840. This stamp featured Queen Victoria.
If you are considering to study in United Kingdom, you need first to make sure you have a valid passport to start issuing your study visa once you have been accepted into the UK university of your dreams. That is unless you’re the queen of England! An interesting fact is that the Queen of England doesn’t need a passport, as all British passports are issued in her name.
Want to know more interesting facts about choosing the UK as a study abroad destination? Read on to learn everything you need to know about the best universities, the application process and how to obtain your student visa (if you need one!).
When talking about languages, you guessed it! English is the official language in the United Kingdom. However, you will hear so many different accents across the country that every few kilometres, you’ll think you’re in a new country!
Also, even though English is the official language, it is not the only native official one. You may also hear different languages like Welsh in Wales, Gaelic and Scots in Scotland and Irish in Northern Ireland.
The official currency used in the United Kingdom is the sterling pound or the Great Britain Pound (GBP). The pound is made up of 100 pence, and the symbol for it is the £. The sterling pound is the most ancient currency in use. It is ranked as the fourth currency that is most traded in the foreign exchange market, right after the United States Dollar, Euro and Japanese Yen currencies.
In 1999, the United Kingdom was offered the chance to adopt the Euro as its official currency, but it politely declined the option.
The United Kingdom, which includes Great Britain (made up of England, Scotland and Wales) and Northern Ireland and several tiny islands, is located off the northwestern coast of Europe. The country spans an area of 240,000 km squared.
Great Britain and Northern Ireland are the biggest islands that are included in the United Kingdom, although there are many other small ones. Some geologists estimate that there are around 6,000 islands that are a part of the United Kingdom. In Scotland, Wales, and England, you can find a minimum of 82 islands, spanning more than 5 square kilometres. Scotland has the most islands with the third-largest one of the archipelago Lewis and Harris included within them.
The entire mainland is completely walkable with the longest distance in the UK being from Land’s End, located in the city of Cornwall, to the area called John o’Groats in Caithness, being 1956 kilometres. If you choose to cycle the distance instead, it can be minimized to 1350 kilometres. You can also choose to commute the distance using public transport if you prefer!
In the United Kingdom, Christianity is by far the religion with the most people corresponding to it, with around 60 per cent of the population as Christians. Around 26 per cent of the population choose not to identify with a religion, followed by smaller numbers of followers pertaining to the remaining religions. For example, around 5 per cent of the population are Muslims and 1.5 per cent are Hindus. The remaining minorities of the population are Sikhs, Jews and Buddhists, each less than 1 per cent of the UK population.
The United Kingdom is considered a constitutional monarchy, which means that a monarch is head of State, in the case of the United Kingdom Queen Elizabeth the 2nd but she doesn’t head the government. The government is headed instead by the Prime Minister. The United Kingdom is also considered a parliamentary democracy, which means that the Queen accepts advice from a parliamentary body that has been elected democratically by the people. The government, which is headed by the Prime minister, contains members of this parliament.
Economically, the United Kingdom has the sixth strongest economy in the world. It decided to leave the European Union in June 2016, a move called “Brexit”. This move, which happened on the 31st of January 2020, officially ended the United Kingdom’s membership in the European Union, though many agreements and ties were made on how to move forward.
There are many interesting things to do as a tourist in the United Kingdom, so if you decide to study abroad there, there will be many amazing things to see and do. From world-famous landmarks to spectacular natural landscapes and coastal views to music and cultural festivals, there’s always something going on and something to fill your time with and make loads of memories.
When it comes to the top attractions in the country, there are many. One of the most popular tourist destinations is the monument of Stonehenge, which is considered one of the most ancient monuments in the world. It was believed to have been built around the time of 3,000 BC.
Another interesting attraction to visit is the Natural History Museum in London. The museum is a tourist hotspot with exhibitions covering dinosaurs to exhibits about the deep blue sea. The museum is famous worldwide for its amazing collections.
You should also check out the Angel of the North monument in Gateshead. Antony Gormely created the largest angel sculpture in the entire world there. It’s one of the monuments many tourists flock to see when they are in the UK, as it’s a landmark that is renowned.
Finally, a totally different tourist attraction for those who want to relax and have a good old spa day are the Roman Baths. Named after this attraction, you can find the site in the city of Bath. This attraction has over a million visitors annually who go to check out the natural hot water flow and original ancient Roman floors and see the remains.
You might have heard the phrase “have tea with the Queen”, referring to the British people and their love for the hot drink. This couldn’t be more spot-on: The British sure love their “cuppas”, as in “cup of teas”. It’s estimated that they drink 165 million cups of tea a day as a nation.
There are also many dishes that pertain to the British culture from fish and chips to bangers and mash. Read on to learn more about these yummy dishes.
One of the most famous British dishes is fish and chips. Consisting of deep-fried fish, potato french fries (British chips) and a side of mushy peas, this comfort food is a favourite in the United Kingdom. The best place to enjoy it is by the sea, where there are many fish and chips shops open for business.
Another incredibly popular dish is bangers and mash, which is sausage and mashed potatoes. This dish is also often served with mushy peas and topped with rich gravy. You can find this dish on the menu in most pubs and restaurants in the nation. If you are invited to a Brit’s home, there’s a big chance you might find this traditional meal on the menu.
Sunday roast dinners are another infamous British dish. This meal consists of a roasted type of meat, beef or chicken or lamb or pork and then roasted potatoes along with a Yorkshire pudding filled with gravy. They usually serve stuffing and vegetables like Brussel sprouts, roasted parsnips, peas, beans and broccoli, along with a side of gravy to drizzle onto anything you want to.
Funnily enough, many Brits also consider Chicken Tikka their national dish, even though it’s an Indian meal. You can find Indian restaurants almost anywhere in the UK, with a fun fact being that there are actually more Indian restaurants in London than in the Indian cities New Delhi or Mumbai.
Many international students look to the UK to study abroad, in fact, almost 490,000 international students choose to study in the UK. This makes it the second most popular study abroad destination in the world. And who can blame them? There are many reasons why you should choose to study abroad in the UK. Read on to learn why international students decide to venture to the country for their international study experience and how much it will cost you if you decide to do the same.
From the excellent quality of education to the diversity of international students that exist in every institution, students who choose to study abroad love studying in the UK. Here are some of the reasons why!
Universities in the UK are well known for having high-quality education offered to students who study there. The universities there regularly rank highly on the top universities list with about 16 per cent of the universities on the list being UK universities, year in and year out. Important discoveries have been made at UK institutions that affect the lives of people all over the world. High calibre professors and teachers head to the universities to teach there and share their valuable knowledge with students from around the globe.
The UK has a long history of welcoming international students to study at its universities, and those who decide to study in the UK will be rubbing shoulders with some of the brightest minds from all corners of the globe.
You will get the chance to mix, meet and interact with over 200,000 international students from all over the world, learning more about different walks of life in a place of contrasts and culture.
One of the reasons international students choose to study in the UK is the endless variety of courses available to choose from. With over 3,000 course subjects available in the United Kingdom, you will be able to find something no matter what your interests are! You can also combine degree subjects so that you are studying whatever you dream of.
With regular inspections from the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education, you can be sure you are receiving top-level teaching at your intended university in the UK. You will be taught by the best faculty in the world and learn from their skills and develop similar skillsets when it comes to creativity, confidence and research.
Professors also receive a teaching rating by the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF). Research efforts at the university are also inspected by the Research Excellence Framework (REF), so you know exactly what level of education you are applying to receive. This means you can be sure you get a top-class level of teaching and learning.
Another reason why many international students choose to study abroad in the United Kingdom is the fact that the degrees are shorter in duration. Most undergraduate courses will take you three years to complete and some might even take only two years. Postgraduate degrees like master’s take you one year to complete, as opposed to the two years they may take in other European countries and the USA.
Besides being able to go out into the working world earlier and get a headstart, shorter degree courses mean that you spend less money on tuition and living expenses. Quicker graduation means saving your well-earned cash and spending it on other things!
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After learning all these amazing benefits, you may be curious about how much it would cost you to actually study in the UK. In general, whether you are talking about undergraduate or postgraduate degrees, tuition fees range from around 17,000 to 25,000 euros per year.
For your bachelor’s degree, home students or students from the UK pay from 5,000 to 10,000 euros annually, depending on your university and degree subject. Typically, business studies and medical studies are the most expensive kinds of study to pursue.
If you are a student from outside of the UK, you will need to add an average of 5,000 euros to that home student fee. Sometimes, you might have to double or triple the home fee to find out your rate. International students typically pay between 10,000 and 20,000 euros per year if they are attending a public university.
At private universities, students can pay a wide range from 10,000 to over 35,000 euros per year.
When it comes to other degrees such as a foundation year, you’ll pay the same as the fees for one year of bachelor study. For postgraduate degrees, you can expect to pay from 5,000 euros to around 30,000 euros per year, depending on discipline and university, for UK students. The price is higher when it comes to international students, about 2 or 3 times as mentioned previously. If you are pursuing a specialized master’s degree like an MBA, you can expect to pay between 15,000 and 40,000 euros annually.
For Doctorate degrees, you will need to set aside from 3,000 to 6,000 euros per year if you are an EU or UK student and more if you are from outside of the EU. Fortunately, tuition fees for PhD students are typically cheaper because most PhDs are partly or fully funded. This is due to the fact that each university typically receives around 4,000 euros for each PhD student from the UK research councils.
When talking about living costs in the UK, students need around 1,500 euros per study month, though this may be lower if you live outside of London, or higher if you live in London. Besides accommodation costs, you’ll also need to factor in other costs of living so make sure you look at the entire picture when making a decision on how much to set aside for living costs. Read on to learn more about exactly how much you’ll need to live in the UK while studying there.
When it comes to accommodation for students, there are many options available to choose from, from student residences to shared apartments to homestays. As usual, accommodation takes up the biggest part of living costs. That’s why it’s important to be smart when choosing a place to live that you can afford and that will suit your needs.
Many students choose to live in student residences that are provided by the universities in the UK. These residence halls are typically well priced and offer you a room, as well as utilities included within the costs. First-year students tend to prefer this accommodation option until they get used to living in the UK and are able to head out on their own into a private apartment.
Rooms can be for one student or shared with a roommate, or even 5 of them! They are mostly mixed-sex dormitories but some universities may give the option for same-sex dormitories so be sure to check beforehand if this is a point of concern for you. They differ in size and may have bathrooms or kitchenettes included. You can usually find the basic furniture you need like a bed, desk and chair, though you’ll need to buy anything else you may need.
You can also get the option for catering, purchasing meals for a fixed fee or going without this fee and cooking your own meals.
When it comes to costs, you can expect to pay from 400 to 600 euros per month if you are staying at student university residences.
Another option for students that is popular is renting a private apartment. These apartments can be shared among several students to reduce costs, with each student receiving a separate room or having a room with a roommate. Rent varies greatly in this case and you can find yourself paying from 10 euros to 800 euros per month.
For a one-bedroom apartment outside the city, costs are typically 600 euros while one in the city centre can cost around 750 euros. If you rent out an entire flat with multiple bedrooms, you will probably pay from 300 to 1,500 euros per month depending on size, location and amenities.
You could also choose to rent a studio apartment which means that the bedroom, kitchen and living room share the same area. You will pay anywhere from 400 euros to 8,000 euros per month, based on the size, where the apartment is and the services that come along with it.
A third option popular among students is a Homestay. This means that you live with a family that takes in international students. If you are going on an exchange semester, this can be a good way to immerse yourself in British culture and get a more hands-on experience, as you’ll be able to share their daily lives and activities. They will typically provide you with a private room, food and utilities. If you choose this accommodation option, you will typically pay somewhere between 10 to 60 euros per night.
Besides rent, you should consider other costs of living when choosing to study in the UK. You should set aside from 100 to 150 euros per month for utilities like water and electricity. Most students also spend an average of 200 euros on groceries per month and higher if you tend to eat out a lot. If you want to have a TV, you’ll need to pay around 13 euros a month or 150 euros yearly for the subscription cost. Your mobile phone bill will add an average of 30 euros to your monthly living costs.
When it comes to transportation, full-time students get a 30 per cent discount on a Young Persons Card, which would otherwise cost around 35 euros. You also receive a 30 per cent discount on the underground ticket if you buy the Oyster student card.
Finally, you’ll need to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge which allows you access to the NHS service, which costs you around 500 euros a year.
As previously mentioned, UK universities are among the best in the world, with many of them taking the top-ranked spots. There are also different degrees available, apart from the regular bachelor’s, masters and doctoral degrees. You can learn more about these and about the top universities in the country in this section of the country profile.
When it comes to the types of degrees available, there are several kinds for international students to pursue. From Bachelor’s to Foundation Degrees to Master’s, read on to get more familiar with the types of degrees offered in the UK, so you can decide on the best one for you.
The first undergraduate type is the infamous bachelor’s degree, which is the most common undergraduate degree in the country. Bachelor types available in the UK are Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Science (BSc), Bachelor of Education (BEd), Bachelor of Engineering (BEng), Bachelor of Laws (LLB) and Bachelor of Medicine or Bachelor of Surgery (MB ChB).
Bachelor’s degrees will usually take you three years to study full time (and longer if you choose a part-time study program), though some degrees that have a year abroad may take up to four years. If you choose to study medicine or architecture, you may need five years to complete your degree.
A foundation year degree, sometimes called a foundation diploma, is a one year course for international students who haven’t met the entry requirements for their desired bachelor’s degree. Another undergraduate degree, the foundation year degree is offered by most universities as a transition between high school and university education. It will take you one year to complete this degree if you study full-time.
Also an undergraduate degree, a top-up degree works a bit the opposite of a foundation year degree, allowing students to add an extra year to their bachelor’s degree. Students who have done a foundation degree could add this year to their study program to make it into a full degree program. This degree can also be completed in a year on a full-time basis or in 18 months if you are studying part-time.
An undergraduate degree similar to a foundation year degree, a Higher National Certificate is a practical degree pursued by students who want to get trained to go into a certain career path. They can also use it to hop into the second year of their chosen bachelor’s degree. It would also take you a year to complete.
A Higher National Diploma (HND) is comparable to an HNC but it takes you two years to complete. Also an undergraduate degree, this degree is equivalent to the first and second year of a bachelor’s program. This degree is for students who want to excel in practical skills or jump right into their third bachelor’s degree year once they are done with it.
A master’s degree is a postgraduate degree offered in universities in the United Kingdom. Common master’s qualifications offered in the UK are Master of Arts (MA), Master of Science (MSc), Master of Engineering (MEng), Master of Education (MEd), Master of Research (MRes), Master of Philosophy (MPhil), Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Master’s Degree in Law (LLM) degrees.
Even though most master’s degrees offered in the UK are taught master’s degrees, some students also choose to study research master’s. These degrees are more independent and tend to be more intensely focused on researching and handing in an extensive research project, rather than theoretical subject studying. In the UK, a master’s degree will take you 1 year to complete if you are studying full-time and two years if you are studying part-time.
Finally, a doctorate or PhD degree is the highest level of education you can receive in the United Kingdom. It focuses on handing in an independently researched thesis project, based on a research proposal.
In the UK, you can study two types of doctorate degrees: academic and professional doctorates. Academic doctorate degree students conduct thorough research to generate new knowledge and improve n the knowledge already existing in the field of their study. These degrees include PhD and DPhil (Doctor of Philosophy). On the other hand, professional doctorate degrees also focus on research but have more practical learning goals. Examples of professional doctorates include MD (Doctor of Medicine) and PhD(Eng)/EngD (Doctor of Engineering).
It will take full-time students pursuing doctorates three to four years to finish their degrees. Sometimes, these deadlines can be extended if needed. If you choose to pursue your PhD on a part-time basis, you can expect to take from six to seven years to acquire the degree.
The United Kingdom has some of the best universities in the world and some of the most prestigious ones that everyone knows. From the University of Sunderland to the Queen’s University in Belfast, these excellent universities are renowned for their high standard of learning and knowledgeable professors and alumni. Read on to learn more about great universities in the United Kingdom.
Location: Belfast
Queens University in Belfast, Northern Ireland is one of the prestigious Russell Group universities. It was founded in the year 1845, as the Queens College of Belfast and is a public research university. The school has state of the art laboratories such as ones for health science and great facilities for the business, engineering and computing schools. It also has an award-winning library, called the McClay library, that has over 50 million pounds invested in it and blends traditional and technologically advanced library features together into the perfect study environment for students.
It also offers students a great social life, with almost 200 clubs and society and international student support so you’ll always feel at home. It also offers many scholarships for international students to come join the school. Belfast is also considered the perfect student city, close to both London and Dublin so you can always go there if you get bored! The campus is also historic and with many multinational corporations and a technological hub around it so it makes it the perfect place to pursue a career after graduation, if you choose to continue in Belfast.
Location: Loughborough
Another great school to consider in the UK is Loughborough University, a public university found in Loughborough, located in Leicestershire, England. The school was founded as a university in 1966 but started off as a Technical Insitute in the year 1909. The University is ranked in the top 10 in the UK and has a beautiful campus, full of green areas so you’ll be able to really relax and focus on your studies if you choose to study there. Every degree course there also gives you the chance to gain practical experience through a placement internship program.
The school is also passionate about the environment and has a highly sustainable campus, ensuring a positive impact on surrounding communities. Examples of this include planting 7,500 trees and using less disposable cups and plates in cafeterias. The university also offers degrees in many areas such as engineering, business, computer science and arts, so whatever you’re interested in, you’ll find a great program for you. It also has many student clubs and societies so you can enjoy a good social life during your university experience.
Location: London
The University of Law is another top school in the UK, though it’s a private university, unlike the previous ones. The school, which was founded in 1962 as a university, has a focus on law degrees and specialist legal training, as well as continuing education for barristers and solicitors.
The school is considered the largest law school in the UK. The school encourages teaching students with a realistic, practical and modern approach, including one-to-one support for students. The school has 15 locations in 14 UK cities, in addition to international campuses in Berlin and Hong Kong. The school also has connections with many top law firms, as well as exclusive relationships with many of the best firms in the UK and the US so it’s a great choice for students who want to study a law degree.
Location: Sunderland
The University of Sunderland is a university located in Sunderland in the United Kingdom. It was originally established as the Technical College in 1901 as a training college then went on to become a university in 1992. It has four campuses, with two in Sunderland, one in London and one in Hong Kong.
The school offers courses in many degree areas such as Engineering and Project Management, Tourism, Nursing and Health and English for Academic Purpose Preparation courses. It also has MBA programs in Finance, Human Resource Management and Supply Chain Management areas for those interested to study a master’s degree there. It also has key links with industries in all course areas, allowing guest lectures and work placement opportunities for students. These industry partners include organisations such as Accenture, Sage, North East Automotive Alliance, Caterpillar, Northumbria Police, Sunderland and South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trust, Army Medical Squadron, Dance City, BBC and the Arts Council of England, among many more.
Location: Durham
Durham University is a public research university founded in 1832, the first university to open in england after it had only been Oxford and Cambridge for 600 years. It has 17 colleges, between which academic subjects are divided.
Durham ranks in the world’s top 10 for Archaeology, Theology, Religion, Ancient History and English Studies so for students who are interested in these fields, the university is a great choice.
Location: Warwick
Warwick University also ranks highly worldwide with a great reputation for welcoming international students and having excellent faculty members from around the globe. It is most famous for its research projects, which help students put the theoretical knowledge they learn from professors in the classroom into practical use.
The university’s best subjects include Creative Writing, Classics and Ancient History and Communication and Media Studies, ranking highly among world university subject rankings in these fields.
Other universities that are considered great universities in UK include Imperial College London, Bath University, University College London, University of Glasgow and University of Edinburgh. When diving into exploring the study abroad options in the UK, you should definitely consider these universities as options to apply to.
When trying to get a study visa to study in the UK, you need to first apply to the university and get an acceptance letter, much like many other European countries and the system that works there. You will need this letter of acceptance to start your student visa application. Read on to find out whether you actually need a visa to study in the United Kingdom and how to apply for it if you do.
Things after Brexit have become a bit confusing, especially when international students want to study in the UK or who are already studying a degree and don’t know what should be done. However, whether you need a visa or not depends on your nationality and when you arrived in the UK.
For example, if you come from the EU/EEA or Switzerland and arrived in the UK after the 1st of January 2021, you may probably need a visa, even if you were already studying there. You should look into the regulations about how to apply for a settlement so you can continue your study or start studying there. If you come from Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein these might be the same rules but you should check up what visa regulations currently apply to you before applying for a visa.
If you are a Non-EU/EEA student, you will need a visa to study in the UK, no matter where you come from. However, depending on the length of your degree program, you will need to apply for either a short term visa or a General Student Visa, which is sometimes called the Tier 4 Student Visa.
The two types of study visas available to Non-EU students are short term visas, which are available for 6 or up to 12months or General student visas. Short term visas are for students who will take a language course or research for less than a year, as part of a study abroad program.
On the other hand, General student visas are for those who join a full degree program, whether undergraduate or postgraduate. The length of validity of the visa depends on your study program’s length and will be catered to it.
If you want to apply for a study visa in the UK, you’ll need to fulfil certain requirements to even be considered for one. For example, you need to be over 16 years of age and need to be accepted already into a degree program. You also need to support yourself financially and have proof that you will be able to cover your living expenses and course fees. Furthermore, you must fulfil the English language proficiency requirements and if you are younger than 18 years, you will need to have permission from the parents with regards to your program study, and written proof of this.
When you are able to apply for your study visa depends on whether you are coming from inside of the UK or outside of it. If you are applying from outside of the UK, you won’t be able to apply for a visa before 6 months prior to your course, at the earliest. Typically, you’ll receive a response regarding your visa approval or rejection within 3 weeks of your application.
If you are applying from inside the UK, you are eligible to apply three months before your degree program begins. Make sure to apply before the visa you are staying in the UK on expires. You will usually get feedback on your application status within 8 weeks of submission.
However, in both cases if you are a priority student, you can pay some extra visa fees and receive your visa in 5 days.
If you want to know how long you can stay in the UK on your visa, this depends on how long your degree course is and whether you have already studied previously in the UK. If you are over 18 years old, you will probably be allowed to stay in the UK for up to 5 years if your course is a degree level course. However, if it isn’t a degree-level course, you’ll probably be able to remain in the UK for 2 years.
You may be eligible to stay longer in the UK, if you are going to continue studying in the UK or if you will change your visa from a study visa to any other type of visa, such as a graduate visa. This graduate visa gives you at least two years of stay in the UK after you graduate from your degree program.
When travelling to the UK, you can arrive before the start of your course either one week before if your course is a maximum of 6 months. If your degree program lasts longer than 6 months then you can go to the UK a month before it starts. However, be sure to travel to the UK only after the start date on your visa, even if your course starts earlier than the aforementioned dates.
When it comes to the required documents for the student visa, you’ll need to hand in the completed visa application, some valid identification like a passport and one passport sized photo. You’ll also need to submit proof that you can cover both costs of course fees and living expenses, through bank statements that are either yours or your parents’. These must be sufficient to cover a minimum of 9,000 British pounds outside of London and 12,000 British pounds if you are living in London. You should show this through bank statements covering at least the last 3 months, with the money settling in the account for more than 28 days with no major transactions happening on the account.
If you’re under 18 years old, you’ll also need a written consent from parents. If you come from countries where tuberculosis is widespread, you’ll also need test results so check to make sure if you need to fulfill this requirement.
You’ll also need to submit proof that you paid the visa application fee of around 360 euros if it’s a new student visa, or 475 euros to extend your visa from inside UK. You should also show evidence that you paid the immigration health surcharge to the NHS, which is around 150 euros for each year of your study program.
Be sure to check that your home country doesn’t have any extra requirements when handing in your visa application form.
Be sure to check that your home country doesn’t have any extra requirements when handing in your visa application form.
So you’ve learned about the costs of living, how much it would cost you to study in the UK and how to apply for a study visa, among other important facts about studying in the UK. The next important thing to learn is how to apply to universities there. Read on to learn more about this simple process.
The first step to study in the UK is choosing the institution you want to study at and the degree you have chosen to study. You should look into the courses available and read about them and what they cover so that you can make sure you are choosing something you are passionate about.
You should also look into course entry requirements and make sure you fulfil them all so that you don’t waste your time. You can find information about requirements on degree profiles that are on institutions’ websites. You can also directly contact the universities to ask them anything that is unclear to you.
You should also check if you need to fulfil any language proficiency requirements through English language tests like IELTS or TOEFL, as degrees in the UK are all in English and you’ll be able to speak good English to be able to succeed in them. Other tests that you can take to prove your proficiency in English are the C1 Advanced and PTE Academic exams.
You will need to submit documents that prove your academic history and that prove your identity. For example, you will need to submit photocopies of your birth certificate and passport. You will also need to hand in reference letters from trusted academics and evidence of your English language skills (in the form of the exams mentioned above or other forms of confirmation).
Academic documents you’ll need to hand in are previous diplomas and transcripts. If you are applying for a postgraduate course, you may also need to submit a research proposal for a unique research topic. The university or program of your choice may also ask for other documents to be submitted so make sure you know all the requirements for your own specific case by checking up on the website.
All documents submitted will need to be certified and confirmed by an authority and if any documents are in a language other than English, they’ll need to be translated by an official entity approved by the British Council in your home country.
When registering and applying to the university of choice, the process will differ if you are an undergraduate or a graduate degree seeker. If you are seeking an undergraduate degree, it’s pretty simple to apply using UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service). This is a service provided by the UK to easily apply to all UK universities and colleges in one place. You register there and apply through the system, following the simple process.
If you are pursuing a postgraduate course like a master’s or a PhD degree, you’ll need to look into the university’s own website to check the necessary requirements and entry process. The websites will give you specific instructions on how to apply to the postgrad university program you desire. Postgraduates
After applying, you will usually be contacted by the university you have applied to through email. They will inform you whether or not you have been accepted to the study program or not. If you are applying for an undergraduate program through UCAS, you can log in at any time and track your application progress.
If you receive a reply that you have an unconditional offer to the university, you can accept right away and take your place at the University. If your offer is conditional, you’ll need to meet more requirements and conditions in order to join the program.
For some courses, you might be required to carry out an interview before you are accepted, either on Skype or the phone or in person. You can find out the acceptance process on the website if your degree program before you apply to see if this is necessary or not.
The next step after being accepted is to organize any financial matters and insurance matters. You might be able to apply for a scholarship for your program and save some money. You can learn more about this in the next section.
As an international student, you will probably also need to apply for a visa to study in the UK. We go into more details about this in the previous section.
An important point is settling your health insurance. If you come from the EU or EEA, you can probably use your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) to cover costs. If you are non-EU or your card is expired, you’ll need to pay from 80 to 160 euros monthly to cover your health insurance.
You may also need to sign up at a police station in the UK within a week of arrival if your passport visa sticker says “police registration” so keep an eye on this to see if it’s needed for you.
It’s important to also check if you need to enrol prior to arriving in the UK on the university website, as some universities require students to do so.
Finally, when it comes to application deadlines for studying in the UK, you should keep the deadlines in mind so you don’t miss them and risk losing the chance to apply.
Mid October is the deadline for all Medical, Dentistry and Veterinary Medicine degree programs, with mid-January being the UCAS deadline. For international students, the deadline is the end of June. Be careful about this UCAS deadline as high-rank universities won’t accept any applications after the deadline.
Please keep in mind that many universities have special deadlines for international students, especially in postgraduate degree applications. It’s important to always keep track of the websites for the universities you are applying to so that you don’t miss any important dates.
In August, the UCAS offers its clearing process which opens up all remaining places for late applicants or for applicants who haven’t been accepted to programs but could still be eligible.
Finally, international students who go to study in the UK have many forms of financial support available to them from scholarships to grants and bursaries. To successfully receive a scholarship, you will need to meet the admission requirements for the scholarship.
Entities offer students scholarships based on requirements like financial need, nationality and previous academic achievements, among other criteria. Read on to learn more about some of the different scholarships offered to international students interested in studying in the UK.
The Chevening scholarships are some of the most well-known scholarships offered by the UK government to students around the world. They typically pinpoint excellent students academically and those who have great potential for leadership.
British embassies around the world select these candidates to give them the chance to become future decision-makers in their home countries and develop themselves academically. They also get the chance to create powerful international professional communities and experience the UK culture.
The Chevening scholarship offers candidates a one-year scholarship to pay for a master’s degree at any top UK University. There are over 1,500 scholarships awarded annually.
Also offered by the British council, Euraxess is an online portal that can give researchers the chance to advance in their fields. Euraxess grants allow international researchers help while moving to the UK and also help local researchers in the UK travel abroad to pursue their research interests.
The program supports researchers in all their levels from postgraduate level to postdoctoral levels to experienced researchers levels, with over 6 years of experience post-doctorate degree.
The commission that awards the Commonwealth Scholarship hands out a variety of scholarships such as Commonwealth PhD Scholarships
Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships and scholarships for distance learning at UK universities.
These scholarships are given to international students from Commonwealth countries that are low or middle income. These students couldn’t afford to study in the UK without these scholarships.
Selection is based on academic records and how likely they are to make a difference in their home countries after graduation from their degree programs in the UK.
The Royal Society is made up of many scientists all over the world with three main goals. The first goal is to encourage excellence in scientific studies. The second is to support collaboration and communication between scientists all over the world and the third is to establish and prove how important science is to everyone worldwide.
They award grants to scientists to help them support their scientific studies and advance scientific research across the world.
Another type of scholarship worth looking into are those offered by UK universities. Many universities in the UK give international students scholarships to be able to join the university, based on academic or financial criteria.
It’s easy to find these scholarships by looking at the official website of the institutions. These scholarships are typically listed in sections regarding funding and tuition fees. If the university you are applying to doesn’t have anything written, you can reach out to the university and ask them what scholarships they offer and how to apply. They’re usually more than happy to help you out.