Why study in the UK?
UK academic standards are among the best in the world
The UK offers a diverse and flexible range of courses in globally ranked institutions.
There are more than 395 universities and colleges, offering over 50,000 undergraduate-level higher education courses across the UK. UK courses are generally shorter than other countries, helping to reduce overall tuition fees and accommodation costs. Furthermore, in comparison to the level of education offered to you, British universities are more affordable. It can be possible to work while you study too.
Courses in the UK education system are shorter and more intensive than many other countries, so you will graduate sooner without compromising quality. This will save you time and money in tuition fees and living costs.
Universities are monitored closely to ensure that they uphold the highest standards of teaching, learning and research. They also work hard to ensure a safe, caring and supportive environment for all international students.
Quality institutions
The quality of UK universities and colleges is assessed by the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA). Research standards are examined by the four UK higher education funding bodies, who publish their findings every five years.
The UK has the second highest number of universities ranked in the top 100 by the 2013-2014 Times Higher Education World Reputation Rankings.
Education system in the UK
With an outstanding international reputation, the UK education system offers an excellent standard, a wide range of English language, pathway, undergraduate (bachelor) and postgraduate courses and fantastic teaching facilities.
English language schools and pathway providers offer pre-university preparation either through English language courses or foundation-level courses. These can help you to achieve entry to university or to prepare for university-level studies in the UK. Additionally, English language schools offer stand-alone courses for students wishing to improve their English for personal, academic or business reasons.
Undergraduate (bachelor) degrees in the UK are essential for many top-level careers and are normally studied over three years in England and Wales and four years in Scotland. They are mainly taught degrees, with teaching varying in format but usually taking place in large group lectures and small group tutorials.
An undergraduate course it usually takes 3 years to finish, while Scotland makes an exemption because it takes 4 years to finish an undergraduate course. The higher education in the UK education system is having an extended number of universities that are offering 4-year undergraduate courses, also known as “sandwich courses”. This program includes one year in a workplace, usually in your third year.
Postgraduate degrees in the UK can be academic or focused on a particular industry you are looking to enter. You will generally need to have achieved an undergraduate (bachelor) degree or equivalent to be accepted into a postgraduate course.
Some of the more prestigious universities in UK offer postgraduate degrees. If schools offer postgraduate degrees, they offer Master’s Degrees (typically one year, sometimes two years if your degree is research-based) and/or Doctorate degrees (three-year degrees). These are only available if you have obtained a bachelor’s degree at an accredited university (not necessarily one in England).
There are two types of postgraduate study:
– Postgraduate Taught (such as master’s by coursework) are usually one year in length.
– Postgraduate Research (such as PhDs) can be three or more years in length.
Cost of studying
Studying in the UK offers excellent value for money and although the UK is sometimes thought of as expensive, the reality is quite different
The annual tuition fee in a good British University varies from £10000 to £20000.
Shorter courses
Courses in the UK are often shorter and more intensive than in other countries. This will help you to save on tuition fees and living costs.
Course fees may cover a range of things you might not expect, including library access, sports, student union membership, and other practical facilities.
Part-time employment opportunities
If you enter the UK on a Tier 4 student visa, you may be able to work a certain number of hours per week during term time and in the holiday/vacation period. If you go to the UK on a student visitor visa, child visitor visa, or prospective student visa, you will not be eligible to work in the UK. For the latest detailed information visit: the UKBA website.
Access to discounts
As a full-time student in higher education you will have access to a National Union of Students (NUSA), card which gives a range of discounts on study essentials, travel, entertainment, clothes, food and drink, shopping and more. Student rail (train) and coach (long distance bus) cards can provide excellent discounts.
Accommodation
For the international students most of the universities at UK provide on campus accommodation and also a variety of accommodation options are available to you. The college or university usually has halls of residence. If you are not offered on campus accommodation you can look for other accommodation options that will suit your monthly budget.
Students choose to move into flats/houses in the second or third years of their campus life. If you do move into a flat or house, you will have to sign a tenancy agreement, which is a legal document outlining the terms of the tenancy. It will be better to seek the assistance of the international student advisor regarding the procedures.
Scholarship Opportunities
First, you must know what to expect while studying in the UK. Following a governmental decision in 2017, UK universities are allowed to charge their home and EU students with tuition fees capping at €9,250 per an academic year (the highest that ever was at UK universities).
Meanwhile, non-EU foreign students in the UK are charged with a lot higher tuition fees which in some particular courses range up to over £50,000 per an academic year. If you’re an EU student, you can use the benefits of student loans, but if you’re a non-EU and non-EEA student financial help is needed.
UK scholarships for international students can be divided into two major group:
- Governmental Scholarships
• Non-governmental Scholarships
Governmental Scholarships
As a global educational attraction, UK maintains a strong awareness toward international student financial matters. Thus, the British government runs two large scholarship schemes for international students.
- Chevening Scholarships
• Commonwealth Scholarships
Chevening Scholarships – Is the main state-governed global scholarship programme in UK. This scheme has a long-term goal to support students with high academic potential. Since its foundation in 1983, students aim to support students with high academic potential. Since its foundation in 1983, thousand of students benefited from this scheme.
Chevening funds are provided from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and their partners including universities. The programme awards two types of grants
- Scholarships
2. Fellowships
Typically, a Chevening scholarship is awarded for a one-year Master course at a UK university but it can also be granted for other postgraduate courses. To apply for this type of scholarship you must first be a citizen of a Chevening-eligible country
Other requirements to be eligible for this scholarship are:
1. You have an undergraduate degree
2. You have 2+ years work experience
3. You meet the English requirements
Commonwealth Scholarships- Commonwealth Scholarships is a rich scheme of UK scholarships for international students governed jointly by 53 countries (former British colonies) plus UK part of the Commonwealth of Nations or Commonwealth as it’s shortly regarded. Commonwealth Scholarships are funded by the Department for International Development at it’s open to all students who are citizens of a Commonwealth countries and want to seek a university degree in UK.
Typically Commonwealth Scholarships are awarded for these courses
• One-year Master taught or equivalent courses.
• Doctoral degrees lasting for 3-4 years.
A Commonwealth Scholarship covers your tuition fees, airline airfares, essential living costs plus other allowances. Currently this type of scholarship is awarded to students of these subjects
• Engineering & Technology
• Theoretical and Applied Science
• Agriculture
• Humanities and Social Sciences
UK University Scholarships
In addition to scholarship programs described above, there are a lot of other scholarship resources in the UK. First, there are several scholarship schemes, funded by governmental or non-governmental organizations, designed for students coming from particular countries.
Besides, many universities have established their own programs of UK scholarships for international students. To see if the University of your Choice has such programs on offer you must reach them by email.
Visa requirements for the UK
Applying to live, work or study in the UK? Go with IELTS
If you make a visa application to stay or move to the UK, you need to be aware of changes made by United Kingdom Visas & Immigration (UKVI).
In addition to the IELTS General Training and IELTS Academic tests, which you may already know of, a new test called IELTS Life Skills will be introduced.
Changes in the UK government policy will be effective from 6 April 2015. If you have taken a test before or on 5 April 2015, the result can be submitted to UKVI with your application until 5 November 2015.
Student visas
The most common visa for international students entering the UK is the Tier 4 student visa. This is a points-based system.
As a Tier 4 (General) student, you must have 40 points to qualify.
You can score:
• 30 points for having a valid confirmation of acceptance for studies, which you get for studying a course at an acceptable level with an approved education provider (also known as a ‘Tier 4 sponsor’), and for having acceptable English language skills; and
• 10 points for having enough money (also known as maintenance or funds) to cover your course fees and living costs. Source: UKVI
Important note for Tier 4 Student Visa (without a pre-sessional)
UKVI has confirmed these changes do not affect you if you are entering directly at degree level or higher at an institution in the UK listed as Tier 4 Sponsors (previously known as Highly Trusted Sponsors). UK universities currently choose their own method of testing students’ English language ability and this will not change.
All British universities and colleges accept IELTS results. This means that you do not need to take the IELTS test under UKVI specified condition, unless your institution has required you to.
Professional advice and guidance by UIEF counsellors
Your experienced UIEF counsellor will be able to provide advice and guidance throughout the UK student visa application process.
All visa applications to the UK should be submitted through the UK Visas and Immigration or one of its commercial partners (VFS Global and WorldBridge).
UIEF counsellors are experts in guiding students through the student application process. If you have any questions about student visas to enter the UK, contact us (can you put hyperlink to our contact us page or get the form here) today.
Living in the UK
Studying abroad is an ideal opportunity for a student who wants to broaden their horizons and is aiming towards academic excellence and development. The UK has proven to be a marvelous academic destination for internationals arriving from all around the world. In the academic year 2017/18, the number of international students enrolled in UK universities reached 458,490; and the numbers just keep growing. The UK is the second most favored place of study for internationals after the US. Thousands of internationals enroll each year in some of UK’s top universities.
The UK has a multicultural society, with a rich diversity of cultures, languages, and faiths. You’ll find widely varied cuisine, strong transport links, famous music festivals, and international sporting championships.
It is important to stay informed and read about the country you will reside in, beforehand. As an international student, you should always be attentive of your surroundings, making sure you won’t get lost – since the UK is quite large. The crime rate in the UK keeps decreasing and with that in mind, as well as the excellence of UK universities, be ensured you have chosen quite a special academic destination to spend your students years in.
Employment prospects in the UK
In UK, similar to most of the top international study destinations, foreign students are allowed to work part-time. In the UK as an international student, you’re allowed to work up to 20 hours at maximum per week during term-time and full-time during holiday breaks. But there are many restrictions and conditions you must stay in line with in order to be allowed to work.
Your eligibility to work in the UK while studying depends on two major restrictions: those set by your university and those by state-run official institutions. First, you must ensure that your university doesn’t have any constrain pulling you back from working before dealing with state officials. For example, depending on your study course your university may limit working hours to you, aside from governmental restrictions.
In the UK, particularly in big cities like London, international students can easily find a part-time job. Some universities may only allow you to work inside the campus, but there is no need to worry because there are still many options available to you. However, before getting out hunting part-time jobs you must check if you’re eligible for such work. It all starts with your Tier 4 visa, the official student visa in the UK. The first criterion you must check is your age. If you’re under 16 and don’t have a Tier 4 (General 4) you’re not qualified to work in the UK.
For information on employment prospects and career tips and advice visit www.educationuk.org