Study in UK: 

The UK offers an excellent academic experience for students who are looking to learn in some of the world-leading Universities that are known for high quality of academics and research. As per the Ministry of External Affairs data, of Indian students studying abroad, there were 55,465 Indian students studying in the UK in 2022. The statistics reveal that the UK is becoming a popular destination for international students. Some of the Universities in the UK such as Imperial College London, University College London, etc. have had academic and research ties with Indian Universities since a long period of time. Universities in the UK have recorded an excellent career outcome rate.

As per the ‘What Do Graduates Do?’ report from Prospects and AGCAS, following career outcomes, 15-months after graduation, were noted in the UK for first-degree graduates: 57.3% were working full-time in the UK, 11.4% were working part-time in the UK, 10.6% were working and studying, 9.2% went on to study further, 5.7% were involved in other activities, and 5.9% were unemployed or were due to start work.

Why Study in UK

Studying abroad is a life changing decision for every students. Students need compelling reasons to finalize a study destination and academic institution out of a number of choices. Below are a few reasons why you can think of choosing the UK as your study destination:

• Academic Quality: According to the QS World University Rankings 2023, 4 Universities in the UK come under top 10 ranks. These include University of Cambridge, University of Oxford, Imperial College London, and University College London. According to the Times World University Rankings 2023 University of Oxford is at 1st position. The rankings of these Universities are a testament to their high quality of academics and research.
• Research Quality: The latest Research Excellence Framework 2021 assessed research work of 157 UK universities. The overall quality of research submissions was noted as world-leading (41%), internationally excellent (43%), internationally recognized (14%), and nationally recognized (2%). UK universities have produced excellent research and students, who are willing to pursue research, can definitely think of the UK as an option.
• Student-friendly Destination: In the academic year 2020-21, nearly 605,000 international students, both EU and non-EU, were studying in UK higher education institutions. Nearly 16% (approximately 55,000) of all new enrollments come from India. Increasing number of international students in the UK show its increasing popularity as a study abroad destination.
• Scholarships: Students have access to excellent scholarships in the UK Universities. Some of these include International Scholarships Award, Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship, Chevening Scholarships, GREAT Scholarships, Charles Wallace India Trust Scholarships, just to name a few.
• Leisure and Travel: The UK is an interesting place when it comes to exploring the historical places, music concerts, cuisines, and various other cultural festivals. Universities in the UK have a long history associated with them, and studying in those Universities gives you an opportunity to be a part of that heritage.

Read Top 10 Reasons to Study in the UK to make up your mind for one of the best study abroad destinations. 

Key Highlights

Here are some of the key highlights of studying in the UK:

Education System in UK

Education system in the UK comprises of five stages that include:

• Early Years: Students up to 5 years of age can avail early years education and childcare in various state nursery schools, nursery classes and reception classes within primary schools.
• Primary Education: It covers children from the age of 5 years to 11 years. This is further divided into two Key Stages. Key Stage 1 comprises of children from 5 years to 7 years of age and Key Stage 2 comprises of children from 7 years to 11 years of age.
• Secondary Education: It covers students from the age of 11 years to 16 years. This is further divided into two Key Stages. Key Stage 3 comprises of students from 11 years to 14 years of age and Key Stage 4 comprises of students from 14 years to 16 years of age. At the end of this education, students usually take external examinations such as GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education) in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and Standard Grades in Scotland.
• Further Education: It consists of students from 16 year to 18 years of age. It is post-compulsory education and covers non-advanced courses. These might include skill development, higher vocational education such as City and Guilds or Foundation Degree. This does not include university education.
• Higher Education: Higher education is provided in colleges and universities and includes undergraduate and postgraduate degrees (includes Doctoral programmes).

• Cost of Studying in UK

  The following data is meant to provide you an estimate of the cost of studying in UK on the basis of academic level. For accurate fee details, students are advised to check the official webpage of that particular course.

  • Undergraduate Level: Undergraduate tuition fee can be in the range of £11,000 to £38,500 per year. This translates to an average of nearly £24,500 per year.
  • Postgraduate Level: Postgraduate tuition fee can be in the range of £8,000 to £39,000 per year per year. This translates to an average of nearly £23,500 per year.
  • Certain courses such as medicine might cost more than £50,000 per year.

UK Student Visa

UK Student Visa,formerly called as Tier 4 (General) Student Visa or Tier 4 Student Visa, is applicable for those who want to pursue higher education in the UK.Students can apply for UK Student Visa 6 months before the commencement of their course, and not before that. Students can expect to receive a decision within 3 weeks of application. On the UK Student Visa, students can stay in the UK for up to 5 years if their course is at degree level. If a student is applying from outside the UK, he/ she needs to pay a visa processing fee of £363. Moreover, students are also required to a healthcare surcharge.

Student Visa Requirements for UK

Students, who wish to apply for UK Student Visa, need to meet the following criteria:

• An unconditional offer to pursue a course with a licensed student sponsor. This can be proven with the help of Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS).
• Sufficient financial resources to support yourself during the course of study. Students are expect to show £12,006 for nine months (£1,334 per month) if living in London and £9,207 for nine months (£1,023 per month) if living outside London.
• Able to speak, read, write and understand English. This can be proven with the help IELTS, PTE, etc.
• Consent from parents if the student is 16 or 17 years old.
• Application fee of £363 and healthcare surcharge.
• Medical test reports (tuberculosis test).
• Academic documents and test scores.

UK Permanent Residence Permit

Once a student has completed his/ her academics, students need to apply for the UK Post-Study Work Visa (PSW UK or Graduate Route Visa). It allows a student to stay back in the UK and work for 2 years (3 years in case of Doctoral qualification). Once the Graduate Visa expires, students need to apply for skilled work visa or general work visa (Tier 2 visa) or any other relevant visa, if they wish to stay back in the UK. Students can apply for PR in UK if they have stayed in the UK for 5 years and fulfilled other conditions such as indefinite leave to remain in the UK, indefinite leave to enter the UK, English-language proficiency, life in the UK test, etc.

Admission Requirements to Study in UK Universities

Admission requirements to study in UK Universities vary depending on the course and academic level of the students. However, the following points will provide you an overview of requirements to study in the UK:

• Formal Schooling
• Graduate/ Postgraduate Degree (if application)
• Academic Transcripts
• Test Score of SAT/ GMAT/ GRE (as per the course)
• English proficiency test scores of IELTS/ TOEFL/ PTE/ Other (as per the course)
• Personal Statement (UCAS Personal Statement in case of undergraduate applicants)
• Essays
• Resume
• Letters of Recommendation
• Portfolio (in case of creative courses)
• ID Proofs
• Financial Proofs
• Medical Proofs