About UK:

• The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom or Britain, is a sovereign country located off the north western coast of the European mainland. The United Kingdom consists of four countries: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Their capitals are London, Edinburgh, Cardiff, and Belfast, respectively. Apart from England, the countries have their governments, each with varying powers. Other major cities include Birmingham, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, and Manchester.

Why Study in the UK

Following are the top reasons to study in the UK:

1. Quality Education: Universities in the UK have the best academic standards in the world. Four out of the top 10 universities in the world are from the UK, such as Oxford and Cambridge. When studying in the UK, you will find that practical and utility-based knowledge is preferred over text-book learning. The Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) is an independent body in the UK that regularly assesses all universities’ education standards and colleges in the country. It ensures that all students have access to the best quality of learning, research, and teaching, irrespective of their choice.

2. Part-time work: As an international student in the UK, you can work part-time for up to 20 hours a week during your term time. You can even work full-time during your semester break. This will help you pay your living expenses and gain valuable work experience in your subject area.

3. The short duration of programs: Compared to most countries, students can complete their education in the UK much faster. Undergraduate programs are three years in length, whereas a masters can be completed within a year.

4. Post Study Work Permit: As an international student in the UK, you will be eligible for a post-study work permit of 2 years, after completing your program.

5. Healthcare for international students: As a student studying in the UK, you will be eligible for free medical treatment while studying in the UK through the National Health Service (NHS). To avail it, you will need to pay a small International Health Surcharge (IHS).

Education System in UK

The responsibility of education in the UK is divided into four jurisdictions – England, Northern Ireland, Wales, and Scotland. All these regions have different forms of education systems, qualifications, and specific laws. The significant differences can be found in general and secondary education resulting in each area having its credit frameworks and qualifications.

Study levels: The education system in the UK consists of four stages:
• Primary education
• Secondary education
• Further education
• Higher education

Qualifications framework: A qualification framework is a principal national reference point that maintains academic standards in the UK’s higher education sector.

The following two frameworks are established for higher education qualifications of UK:

• The Framework for Higher Education Qualifications of Degree Awarding Bodies in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland (FHEQ)
• The Framework for Qualifications of Higher Education Institutions in Scotland (FQHEIS)

Around 160 universities and colleges can award degrees in the UK.

• Quality Assurance System: The unique factor in the UK’s education system is its Quality Assurance Agency (QAA). It is an independent body that assesses and compares universities and colleges in the country through regular audits and reviews. It also identifies the best education practices and provides feedback for areas of improvement. This ensures that the students have access to the best quality of education.

• Higher education: Higher education in the UK mostly comprises bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees. As an international student, you may also transition to university-level studies via pathway programs that generally include English language courses and foundation courses.

Undergraduate programs in the UK:

• Higher National Certificate or Diploma: 1 to 2 years
• Certificates or Diplomas of Higher Education: 1 to 2 years
• Foundation degrees: 6 months to 2 years
• Bachelor’s degrees: 3 years in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland & 4 years in Scotland

Postgraduate programs in the UK:
• Postgraduate certificates and diploma: 9 to 12 months
• Taught Masters (such as MA, M.Sc., LLM, MBA): 1 year
• Research Masters (such as MPhil, Ph.D., DPhil): 2-3 years
• Sandwich programs: 2 years – 1-year master’s with an additional one year of work placement

Pathway programs: These are preparatory courses for seeking admission into universities through English Language learning programs or foundation-level courses. Pathway programs can help enter university-level studies in the country and help strengthen your language skills as well. These are offered by both universities and private institutions to help students who need extra assistance with the English language to gain admission.

Intakes in the UK: The standard academic year in the UK begins around September – October. The deadline for applications for courses commencing in September is generally in the preceding January of that year. The second intake available for programs in the UK in January, which is usually smaller than the September intake. Pathway programs may have additional dates to offer.

Entry Requirements / Eligibility:

Undergraduate: Most ranked Universities require 80-85% for Engineering, Law, and Management. Some Universities with high ranking for specific subjects might also require a minimum of 90%. IB: 38-40 points and A levels -AAA preferred. The entry requirement for Humanities, Arts, Social Science & Computer Science is 70-80%.

Students who wish to study in the UK from India but have scored lower than 60% in the 12th grade can choose a Foundation course, which will help them get into the program of their choice. Students pursuing UG studies should have completed 18 years of age before commencing a degree program.

Postgraduate: Most universities need a minimum of 55% – 60% marks in the 12th grade, while some might require 70-75% for a master’s course.

Students with a low percentage can apply for a Pre-Masters course.

The duration of work experience required for an MBA program is from 0-4 years. Many Universities accept students without work experience as well.

English Language Requirements: The IELTS’s minimum score is 6.5 for PG courses and 6.0 for UG Studies. Some Universities take into consideration the marks scored in English in 12th grade. If students have scored above 65% in English, then some universities waive off the English requirement.

GMAT/GRE: Students will need to either take the GMAT or the GRE to secure admission to a top-ranked university in the UK. Students will require competitive scores on these tests to get admission into an MBA or a master’s program at a prestigious university. Make sure to check with the university.

Tuition Fees in the UK: Humanities and art courses are cheaper, while subjects such as medicine and engineering are likely to be more expensive. If you wish to study at the postgraduate level, the tuition fees are typically higher, and the costs vary depending on the program. As with most other countries, MBA programs are often the most expensive in the UK.

• Bachelor’s degree – GBP 10,000 to GBP 20,000 per year
• Master’s degree – GBP 10,000 to GBP 20,000 per year
• PhD. – GBP 15,000 to GBP 24,000 per year

Accommodation Expenses in the UK: Most universities in the UK offer on-campus residence facilities called the Halls of Residence to international students. Living as a resident, on-campus is a very affordable option. You can also look for a room on rent, homestay, or find localhost. Your university’s accommodation office may help you out in this case too as they often have a list of accommodation options available in the nearby area. The cost will vary from city to city. If you opt to rent an apartment, you will have to additionally pay for utility bills like electricity, internet, water usage, and tenant’s insurance (in some areas of housing). House rent for a one-bedroom apartment generally ranges between £550 and £650 (Indicative). In most cases, universities help the students in finding accommodation, both on-campus as well as off-campus. The student accommodation cost depends on the type and location of the housing. As per the NUS/Unipol Accommodation Costs Survey, London has the highest average weekly rent of approx. £157.48 per week, and the cheapest rooms are in Northern Ireland costs around £83.01 per week.

Other Expenses for a student in the UK:

• Bills (electric/ gas/ water) – £40 – £50
• Food and housekeeping – £160 – £200
• TV license (mandatory with TV or watching BBC online) – £12.56 (or £150.50 per year)
• Mobile phone – £15 – £50
• Clothes and shoes – £25
• Leisure & sports (calculated on membership for the students’ sports centre) – £10 – £20
• Books & stationery – £21
• Socialising – £120
• Travel & transport (based on the monthly cost of a student bus pass) – £32
• Health Insurance – According to the National Health Service (NHS), you must pay £300 yearly for the duration the visa will be granted.

Universities in the UK are generally funded by the Government, which means that in some cases, limited funds are available for the university to disburse among students as bursaries and scholarships. Still, most universities have specific awards given to students based on their merits and their performance during the course. Students who decide to study in the UK from India should be aware that there are special awards for Indian students besides those that individual departments may offer to those pursuing further studies. Another vital source of the scholarship is the British Government sponsored awards like the Chevening Scholarship, Commonwealth Scholarship, DFID scholarship. These are incredibly competitive, and the deadlines are much in advance of the session.

• International students who have completed their degree from a UK University can stay back in the UK for two years upon completing the course. The new visa applies to students studying any subject at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. The new visa will be a distinct one that requires a new application, compromising of payments of visa and health surcharge.

• A significant benefit to study in the UK for Indian students is that it allows them to look for jobs. Once the graduate finds an appropriate position, they can switch to the skilled work segment, a route towards settlement. Another major pro of the said regime is that it does not restrict the type of jobs students are permitted to undertake.

Part-Time Jobs for students in the UK:

• Students holding a Tier 4 can work up to 20 hours a week during their studies and full-time during the holidays.

• You can choose from a range of options when it comes to working as a student in the UK. If you are lucky, you might just land up a job on the campus. You can also work off the campus. Nearly all retail stores and eateries hire students regularly.

• Check for openings at nearby departmental stores, cafes, multiplexes, bars, restaurants, hotels, hostels, and takeaway stores to find a suitable job. Not everyone lands up an office job, but if you have prior knowledge and experience of social media, marketing, sales, web development, etc., you could be employed on a part-time basis as an intern.

Working after graduation in the UK: After completing your graduation, you will be eligible for a 2-year post-study work permit. During this time, you can stay back in the UK and work at a company your choice and your sector. Some of the other career opportunities include Information Technology, Accounting, Oil and Gas, Construction, Finance, Fashion Designing, Healthcare, Data Science, and Business Analytics.

Russell Group of Universities:

Established in 1994, the Russell Group comprises 24 leading universities in the UK, committed to offering world-class research, excellent teaching and learning experience, and a secure connection with the industry. The high impact research-intensive universities play a significant role in the economic, social, and cultural development of the world. Russell Group universities may be as old as 1,000 years or as new as 50, but they together aim to ensure optimum conditions to flourish and grow through their quality research and training. All Russell Group universities are ranked high by the world university rankings such as the QS, Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings, Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU), etc.

The universities that are a part of this group are:
• University of Birmingham
• University of Bristol
• University of Cambridge
• Cardiff University
• Durham University
• University of Edinburgh
• University of Exeter
• University of Glasgow
• Imperial College London
• King’s College London
• University of Leeds
• University of Liverpool
• London School of Economics and Political Science
• University of Manchester
• Newcastle University
• University of Nottingham
• University of Oxford
• Queen Mary University of London
• Queen’s University Belfast
• University of Sheffield
• University of Southampton
• University College London
• University of Warwick
• University of York