Study in UK for Students – All you need to know!

The UNITED KINGDOM is the most sought-after destination for aspiring students who are passionate about upgrading themselves and keen on getting a global recognition. It has been providing world-class education in a variety of areas like engineering, science, art and design, business and management, law and finance, medicine and public health. Credited with innumerable scientific researches and global scientific publications-UK has been responsible for producing the world’s very best thinkers.

This article is dividing into the following sections, which will guide the entire process step-by-step, from selecting the best university and course to successfully applying for a student visa in the United Kingdom.

Why Study in UK?

As Simon Sinek says, ‘First find your Why’! If you are convinced that the United Kingdom is the right place to pursue higher education, then this guide will help in understanding the complete process. The following points help to decide whether to study in the UK.

• The degrees and diplomas awarded by the colleges and universities in the UK are recognized and respected all over the world.
• Extensive choice of subjects and masters in a combination of subjects as a part of the course is available.
• The universities in the United Kingdom rank at the very top of the top-ranked universities list in the world.
• One can enjoy the multicultural vibes and immerse themselves in the local community while living in the country.
• One can stay in the UK for two years after graduation on a post-study work visa.

Top Courses to Study in UK

UK offers a wide choice of unique study abroad programs in the UK for all possible students, ranging from STEM studies to Humanities and a wide range of non-traditional courses. The distinctive feature of these thousands of courses is that they range in duration from 6 months to 5 or 6 years and match the criteria for the best courses to study for work in the UK.

Among the most popular master’s degree programs in the United Kingdom are business and natural sciences, engineering and technology, medicine, law, social sciences, media and communication, arts, hospitality, and tourism.

Here is the list of popular courses to study in UK

• Business and Management
• Computer Science
• Medicine
• Law
• Nursing
• Psychology
• Fashion Design

How to Study in UK: Application Process

As you have decided to Study in UK, the first thing to learn about is the application process. Here are the basic steps to apply to study in UK.

• Explore your options: Choose from the world’s most prestigious institutes and over 60,000 courses in the United Kingdom to which you wish to apply, and carefully analyze the eligibility conditions.
• Management of finances: International students must have a minimum of 12,180 GBP in his/her account as proof of funds and financial stability to be eligible to study in the UK anywhere other than London. The yearly cost of living in London is 15,180 GBP.
• Prepare your application ahead of time: Gather the necessary papers and keep track of deadlines. Plan your application at least two months in advance to provide for adequate time and to avoid last-minute hiccups.
• Submit your application and wait for an acceptance letter: Students must use the UCAS portal to apply to all UK universities.
• Apply UK Student Visa: After receiving your offer letter, go to your nearest British embassy with the required documents and an acceptance letter to apply for a Student Visa to study in the UK. Students must use the UCAS portal to apply to all UK universities.

When to Study in UK?

International students should be aware that there are several deadlines for applying to various courses and institutes in the UK, therefore it is crucial to keep track of all the important dates of the program and organization in question. By the first week of September, all completed application forms must be sent to UCAS.

The following deadlines apply to entry applications for UK:

• Mid of October: Most Cambridge and Oxford courses have a deadline in mid-October. Medical, veterinary, and dentistry schools, as well as other institutions, are the most common.
• Mid of January: The majority of undergraduate courses have a mid-January as deadline for applications.

Colleges will choose international students for interviews. Applications must be received by November 1st, and documents must be uploaded on time. Admission decisions are often notified around the month of April.

How many intakes are there in the UK Universities?

UK universities have 2 common intakes.

• Fall (September-October)
• Winter (January-February)

Some specific universities also offer limited admissions for some courses in Summer Intake (May – June).

Which Intake in the UK is the best?

Fall intake in the UK is frequently regarded as the most suitable admission for Indian students. This is because Indians students can get used to the chilly weather in the UK before winter hits. Furthermore, students in the Fall intake of UK institutions complete their study at least 2-3 months earlier than other intakes.

Student visa requirements for the UK

To be eligible for a UK student visa, you must:

• Have been offered a place on a course at a licensed student sponsor in the UK
• Meet the English language requirements for your course
• Have enough money to support yourself and pay for your course
• Meet the UK’s tuberculosis testing requirements

English language requirements

You can prove your English language skills by taking a Secure English Language Test (SELT). The UK government accepts a variety of SELTs, including the IELTS, the TOEFL, and the Pearson Test of English (PTE).

Financial requirements

You must be able to show that you have enough money to support yourself and pay for your course. The amount of money you need will vary depending on your circumstances, but you should expect to have at least £1,023 (approx.) per month for living costs outside London and £1,334(approx.) per month for living costs in London.

Tuberculosis testing requirements

If you’re from a country with a high incidence of tuberculosis, you may need to take a tuberculosis test before you can apply for a UK student visa. You can find a list of countries with high tuberculosis incidence on the UK government website.

Find out the Complete guide to get UK Student Visa for Indian Students

Eligibility Requirements To Study in UK

Universities and Colleges in the United Kingdom have set up some standard requirements for students to enter the campus. Along with the academic score, universities look for many other requirements. Wanted to check whether you are eligible to study in the UK or not? Check out this article for deep insights.

Eligibility Requirements to Study for Bachelors’ in the UK

The following are the eligibility requirements to study for Bachelors’ in the UK after completing high school or 12^th grade.

• The minimum age of 18 years old is mandatory or at least 11 years of education is mandatory.
• A minimum score of 65 percent in 12^th grade is mandatory to pursue a course in arts and humanities and a minimum of 70 to 80 percent to apply for a course in science and commerce.
• If scored less than the above-mentioned marks then one can apply for foundation or diploma courses.
• One should provide test scores of their IELTS or TOEFL test to demonstrate proficiency in English.
• The criteria for test scores can differ based on the industries.

Eligibility criteria to study in the UK for Masters program

• One should provide test scores of English language proficiency tests such as IELTS or TOEFL
• Depending on the course and university applied for, one needs to take the GRE or GMAT and submit their scores at the time of applying for admission.
• One should have completed an undergraduate program of 3 to 4 years.
• One should score at least 60 to 75 percent in their undergraduate degree to be eligible to apply for MS in the UK.

7 Steps to Apply for Study in UK

The United Kingdom follows a common and distinctive methodology for the university application process. Universities and College Administrative system (UCAS) is a central organization that handles all the applications from the students who intend to study in the UK.

How to Apply for Admission through UCAS?

Once zeroed in the course selection and universities to study in the UK, then the next important set of steps is to apply for admission through the UCAS system.

Register on the website

Once registered on the website, unique login details will be provided to the applicant to create a personal profile.

Fill in details about your education

After completing the addition of all the details, then add the details of academic records and provide all the transcripts and qualifications from the age of 13 onwards. Know all the requirements to apply for UK Universities before filling up the application.

Personal statement

In this section, the applicant needs to write a personal statement in around 4000 characters explaining the interest in the applied course and university to make a strong case for them. One can take the expert advice of our UK education consultants to draft a compelling personal statement that will appeal to the admissions committee.

Provide a reference

Applicants need to provide recommendation references or letters, from the professors or someone who has worked with them in a professional capacity, such as an employer. If applying directly through the college or school, then they can link the application to the school and get the teacher to provide a reference. Alternatively, if applying individually, then the applicants need to enter the contact details of the referees, and UCAS will get in touch with them.

Work experience and employment history

The employment experience should list it here in chronological order.

Select the choice of course

One should select and apply to a maximum of five courses.

Apply and pay the application fees

After filling in all the details check the preview before finally submitting them. The application fee is 20£ to apply for a single choice and 26£ to apply for more than one in 2024. However, to apply for studying at UK universities in 2025, then pay 22 GBP for a single choice and 26.50 GBP for more than one choice.

Timeline for applying to study in the United Kingdom

Once the applicant is eligible to apply for admission, then it is helpful to have a handy checklist of important dates to make sure to be on track with the applications.

June – July: Register for the standardized tests. Register at least three months before the date of the test for GRE and GMAT, and at least one month before English language tests such as IELTS.

September: Take the standardized tests during this time i.e., September.

August – November: Use this time window to prepare the pitch and shortlist the universities to apply. Get in touch with the professors and ask them for their recommendations. Work on the statement of purpose to apply for UK Universities. One may have to work through multiple drafts before getting it perfect. Make sure that these are ready well in time to apply before the deadline. The deadline for application will differ for each university, and make sure to check with their respective websites for the same.

Dec to April: During this period, universities start rolling out emails. And the applicants can be asked to be present for in-person or virtual interviews. These are typically held during the Jan-March time frame. Once done with the interviews, they need to wait for the decision from the college. And then applicants can notify the university if they are planning to confirm the admission.

May to July: Once confirmed the admission, then apply for external scholarships or financial aid. Also, apply for a student visa, and once the visa is ready, then it is all set to fly to the United Kingdom.

July to Aug: Book the airline tickets, apply for health insurance, make sure all the documents are in order and are ready to fly.

TOP UNIVERSITIES TO STUDY IN UK

The United Kingdom has always been synonymous with high class quality education holding a centuries old reputation and has Universities that are among the 10 best Universities in the world.

The list of top colleges all over the world is updated each year. The latest list of top-ranked universities in the United Kingdom for 2024 as per the QS world ranking is given below.

The University of Oxford: This University is so popular that it does not need any introduction. Ranked 2^nd in the world with an overall QS star rating of 5.

The University of Cambridge: Ranked 3^rd according to QS Global World Rankings and was awarded 5 QS star rating of 5 based on the student reviews.

Imperial College of London: Ranked 7^th in the world this is a one-of-a-kind institute focusing especially on science, engineering, medicine, and business.

University College of London: This prestigious University rank 8^th among the Universities in the world offering various courses with remarkable teaching and employability outputs.

University of Edinburgh: Ranked 5^th among the UK Universities and 16^th across the globe according to the QS Global World Rankings-this University stands out in excellence and is located in beautiful Scotland.

The University of Manchester: It is one of the leading research Universities, ranked 27^th around the world, and is also a member of the prestigious Russell Group.

King’s College London: A Leading university in the heart of London, which is ranked at 35^th rank according to QS rankings 2024 and 7^th best university in the UK.

London School of Economics and Political Science: This institution offers international students to study social sciences in a globally renowned academic institution that has ranked as 48^th in the world as per QS rankings.

University of Bristol: Ranked No 61 in the world and 9^th best university in the UK for international students in 2024 and it is situated in Bristol which is closer to London and well known as the lively and green city.

The University of Warwick: Pioneer in Arts, Social Sciences, and Science, Engineering and Medicine degrees education and ranked No 62 in the World as per QS rankings.

University of Glasgow: Glasgow is the UK’s 3^rd largest city and the university has ranked No 73 in the world and 11^th best university in the UK for international students in 2024

University of Southampton: Over 200 varieties of courses for masters and 90 research groups. This university has ranked No 77 in the world and 12^th best university in the UK for international students in 2024

Durham University: One of the oldest universities in the nation and has the world’s leading experts as tutors and ranked No 82 in the world and 13^th best university in the UK for international students in 2024

University of Birmingham: Over 600 programs to study and riches of research opportunities. Ranked No 90 in the world and 14^th best university in the UK for international students in 2024

University of St Andrews: This is Scotland’s first university and ranked No 91 in the world and 15^th best university in the UK for international students in 2024

University of Leeds: One of the Top 10 Universities in the UK for Research and Ranked No 92 in the world and 16^th best university in the UK for international students in 2024

University of Sheffield: No 1 university for Student accommodation and community in the UK and Ranked No 95 in the world and 17^th best university in the UK for international students in 2024.

University of Nottingham: World-class innovative and best teaching facilities and Ranked No 103 in the world and 18^th best university in the UK for international students in 2024

Queen Mary University of London: One of the popular universities in the UK and Ranked No 117 in the world and 19^th best university in the UK for international students in 2024

Lancaster University: Popular for research-oriented education and ranked No 132 in the world and 20^th best university in the UK for international students in 2024.

Popular Scholarships to Study in UK

The UK provides various modes of financial assistance through scholarships, bursaries, grants, fellowship, financial awards, etc. The scholarships may range from 1000 pounds to 8000 pounds.

• Scholarships are based on merit, international scholarship, and university grants.
• Students should apply in advance to receive any of the financial rewards.

These range from student finance packages to partially or fully paid merit scholarships. There are many scholarships for study in the UK, which are incredibly difficult, and obtaining these scholarships for your course of study is a matter of great prestige. These scholarships are awarded to some of the most talented students from all over the world.

Types of UK Scholarships:

The UK Scholarships are of 2 categories.

• Scholarships funded by UK Government
• Scholarships funded by Private Organizations

And here we are listing Scholarships Specifically Intended for Indian Students.

Scholarships funded by UK Government

• Chevening Scholarships for British Citizens

The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office and partner organizations fund these scholarships for international students. The scholarships provide full or partial financing to full-time graduate students in any subject in the United Kingdom.

• Commonwealth Scholarships for Commonwealth Developing Countries

These scholarships are intended exclusively for international students from Commonwealth-member developing nations. Students studying post-graduate or doctoral courses are eligible for the award. India is a member country, and Indian students are eligible to apply for the award.

• Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Scheme at Universities in the UK

These scholarships are for international students planning to pursue Master’s degrees in the United Kingdom. These programs must be relevant to a field related to technological advancement, the economy, or society, and they must be intended to benefit the student’s home nation.

Scholarships funded by Private Organizations

• Euraxess UK

The European Commission offers this scholarship, and the British Council manages its UK branch. The award provides many graduate research scholarships to overseas students from various nations studying in the United Kingdom.

• CastleSmart Scholarship

This scholarship is given by a private corporation, CastleSmart, and awards 6,000 GBP each year to students pursuing Bachelor’s degrees in the United Kingdom. Any nationality student can apply for this. Applicants must submit a YouTube video outlining their educational and career goals.

Reward – 6,000 GBP

• Surfshark Privacy and Security Scholarship

This scholarship is worth 2,000 GBP and is open to any students presently enrolled in high school or higher in the United Kingdom or many other countries. To apply for the award you should submit an essay.

Reward – 2,000 GBP

• The Royal Society Grants

The Royal Society offers several grants and fellowships to talented researchers studying in the United Kingdom.

What scholarships are available to study in UK for Indian Students specially?

There are scholarships that are particularly for Indian students to aid in UK Education.

Post Study Career Opportunities in the UK

After the completion of graduation in the United Kingdom, then students can stay in the UK to find work opportunities. That is through applying for a post-study visa through the Graduate Route. This route, which was introduced on July 1^st, 2021, is open for all international students in the UK, who have completed their Bachelor’s or higher degree. As per the terms of this program, students who have completed their graduation or are under graduation can stay for 2 years in the UK, while students who have completed their Ph.D. can stay for three years.

Important Features of the Graduate Route for Students in the UK

• • Students can apply for a post-study work visa for UK, through The Graduate Route, if they are holding a valid student visa and have completed their Bachelor’s or higher degree, at the time of application.
  • The institute where the student has completed the studies should demonstrate a steady track record of compliance.
  • Once they have successfully applied for a visa through this route, then they will be entitled to stay in the United Kingdom for the terms stated above and look for work or work if they have already found a job.
  • Once the applicant finds a job position where the employer is willing to sponsor a work visa, they can apply for converting the post-study work visa to a work visa.
  • One can apply for this route if they have graduated on or after the 1st of July, 2021.
  • Submit a fresh visa application from within the United Kingdom for The Graduate Route
  • The fee for the visa is 700 GBP for the application, along with an additional payment of 624 GBP per year of stay for an Immigration Health Surcharge
  • The applicant should be required to know the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) that they have used for the most recent Student visa application to be able to apply for the Graduate Route.
  • Students who have completed their studies online from the outside UK can still apply if they are eligibile to study in UK. This is due to the concessions given by the UK government for international students on account of the Covid pandemic.

Top Jobs in-demand in UK

Before choosing a career, investigate the future of the career in the UK over the next decade. Based on the predictions, choose the best careers for the future in the UK. Here are the jobs that will be in demand over the next ten years.