United Kingdom

Studying at a University in the UK is a great way to develop knowledge and build foundations for a future career.

With over 50,000 courses in more than 25 subject areas, the UK has one of the most diverse ranges of internationally respected programmes of any study destination. With over 500,000 international students studying in the UK from over 200 countries around the world, it is ideal to build a global network of contacts.

UK Universities are advanced in the support that they provide for students and can ensure a quality experience and lots of opportunities to make the most of your time abroad. The UK contrasts world-leading cities with spectacular nature. Alongside this there is also some of the best shopping and entertainment of anywhere in the world.

Visa For EU citizens
Visa For International (non-EU) citizens

For EU citizens with ‘settled’ or ‘pre-settled’ status in the UK, no visa is necessary in order to study at an institution in the UK.

If you are not domiciled in the UK, a visa which permits study in the UK is likely to be required. The Student route is the visa currently required for most international and EU students.

Please also see our ‘Visa for International Students’ information for further advice.

In order to apply for a UK Student visa you will need to show:

that you have been accepted on to a specific course at a specific UK University which holds a sponsor licence. A Confirmation of Acceptance to Studies (or CAS letter) will be issued by your chosen University so that you can demonstrate this.
that you have enough money to support yourself for the duration of your study.
that you can speak, read, write and understand English to the required level.
a current and valid passport.

List of institutions

List of institutions that sponsor migrants under tier 4 of the visa category

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If you are applying for your visa from outside the UK, you're advised to apply around three months before the start of your course. Decision times vary but you'll usually receive a decision within a month.

To apply you must be prepared to provide:

a valid passport
your academic qualifications
your English qualifications
proof of sufficient funds
a negative Tuberculosis test result from a UKVI approved clinic (dependent on your country of residence)

Graduate Immigration Route (Post study work)

A ‘post-study work visa’ was reintroduced in September 2019, after being previously abolished in 2012. This is now called the Graduate Immigration Route. The visa, aimed at international students who have completed their studies at an approved UKVI Student sponsor university in any subject, at undergraduate level or above, allows graduates to work, or look for work, at any skill level for a period of two years after completing their course.

The Graduate Immigration Route is now available. After two years on this route, students will be able to switch to the skilled work visa if they find a job that meets the requirements of the route.

The immigration rules and guidance change regularly so updated information will be provided here as and when changes occur.

As an international student coming to the UK, the Home Office also advises

make sure you are familiar with the conditions of your visa, including the number of hours you are allowed to work
declare any sums of cash of £10,000 or more (or the equivalent in another currency) if you are travelling from a country outside the European Union

Costs of a Student visa application

Applying for a Student visa from outside of the UK currently costs £348. From inside the UK, it is £475. You can also pay more to request a quicker decision.

You will also be required to pay an Immigration Health Surcharge which will be based on the length of your course. This will give you free access to the UK’s National Health Service during your time in the UK.

UK Education

The UK has been attracting students from around the world to study at its Universities for centuries. The reputation for a world class education remains to this day and can be demonstrated by the most recent Times Higher Education World Rankings (2022). This year the University of Oxford is ranked the top University in the world and the University of Cambridge also appears in the top 10. In total, four UK Universities can be found in the top 20. Especially relative to the size of the country, these are impressive statistics.

Higher Education in the UK is strictly regulated by the UK Government. For an institution to be able to award degrees, the Government must have granted the institution degree awarding powers. Databases of these recognised institutions and qualifications are published for England, Wales and Northern Ireland and Scotland.

All Universities are subject to inspections for quality assurance and must complete annual data returns. This ensures that the quality of education delivered at each university in the UK remains high, consistent and provides value for money.

Degrees in the UK are taught using a variety of techniques. Alongside the traditional lecture model, other innovative methods are also used. Practical experience and technology are also utilised to assist this. Due to this, graduates from UK universities will have gained experience of independent learning and problem solving and will have been trained to be analytical and critical thinkers.

These are just some of the reasons why degree holders from UK universities are sought after by employers around the world.

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Costs

Although the cost of going to University in the UK can vary (for example, depending on whether you study at undergraduate or postgraduate level), we have created a simple guide as to typical annual fees you might expect for particular academic subjects.

You can find more specific information on each of our University profiles and links to the individual University websites there too.

Universities

The cost of living varies in the UK depending on the city. The cost of living, including accommodation, is typically £800-1000 in the smaller cities and around £1,400-2200 in London. It also depends on what sort of lifestyle you want to live while you are abroad!

  
      Undergraduate
      Postgraduate
  
      Business
      £12,354
      £14,620

      Engineering
      £13,754	
      £16,222
    
      Science & Technology	
      £13,754	
      £16,222
    
      Arts & Humanities	
      £12,354	
      £14,620
    
      Medicine & Health Sciences
      £21,500	
      £22,732

Accommodation

Accommodation costs can vary greatly in the UK but as a rough guide…

Halls of residence - £400-£1,000 per month (average)
Off campus room - £350-800 per month (average)
Off campus house or apartment - £1,000+ per month (average)

FAQS

What is UCAS and do I have to use UCAS to apply to study at a UK University?

UCAS stands for Universities and Colleges Admissions Service and it is a UK-based organisation whose main role is to operate the application process for British universities. Some Universities insist that applications for their undergraduate programmes are made through UCAS. However, many institutions will also accept direct applications especially for their postgraduate programmes. UCAS allow you to complete one application which can be submitted for courses at up to 5 UK institutions at once (or different courses at the same institution or a combination of the two up to a maximum of 5 choices). This year, the deadline for all 2022 applications to be received by UCAS is Thursday 30 June 2022. The 2022 application fee is £22 for a single choice, rising to £26.50 for two choices or more.

Are there scholarships available to International students to study in the UK?

Many UK universities do offer fee discounts, bursaries or partial fee scholarships to International students. This varies from institution to institution as do the terms and conditions of these offers. Some universities offer scholarships based on academic achievement (i.e. Merit Scholarships). Some offer discounts based on early or prompt fee payment. It is best to check on the individual university's website to see what may be available. There may be subject specific scholarships available. In addition to these, there are some Scholarship schemes at a national level. One example is the Chevening Scholarship.

Do I have to wait until I have received my high school qualification to apply to University in the UK?

No, you do not have to wait. You may apply to University before you have completed your qualification. Almost all UK universities will issue an offer for place subject to you completing the required qualification (perhaps requesting that you achieve specific grades). This is called a conditional offer as the offer of a place is conditional on certain things.

Can I get a job while I study?

Usually student visas permit 20 hours of work per week during term time. However, you must check the terms of your visa when it is issued to you to be sure.

Rankings

There are a number of well known and respected league tables and rankings that compare universities in the UK and beyond.

We have included two of the most prominent UK University league tables in our university profiles to help inform your decision making process.

The two we have chosen are The Guardian’s ‘The best UK universities – rankings’ and The Complete University Guide’s ‘University League Tables’.

Each of these league tables include, and can be sorted by, student satisfaction, degree outcomes, money spent per student and staff to student ratio amongst other things.

Both sources also provide league tables by subject area. As some universities have certain subjects in which they specialise, it is definitely worth using these tables to search for your chosen subject as you may find some surprising results.

There are other highly regarded league tables you might also wish to consider. For example, The Times Higher Education rankings (THE) and the QS World University Rankings.

Alternative aspects which can be considered are the quality of teaching and rankings based on research which are measured by the Teaching Excellence Framework, or TEF and the Research Excellence Framework, or REF, respectively.

Whilst ranking can form an important aspect of choosing your ideal UK university, it may not be everything. It is important to consider what is important to you and if there are other things which might help you to succeed in your chosen degree. At Study Britain, we aim to help you with this decision making process.

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Things to do in the UK’s capital, London

What’s great about the UK?…

Range of Universities and courses
Value and perception of a UK degree
Shopping, Nightlife and Entertainment!
Post study work options
Internship opportunities with global companies

Things to think about…

Cost of living varies between cities
Tuition fees
Accommodation
Food - Traditional food is not everyone’s taste!
Weather - it can get a bit cold in the winter