The United Kingdom has always been known to draw students from all over the world. If you are one of the students seeking to study in the UK, then you have made a good decision. Most students seek to study in the UK for many reasons that fit into their needs and requirements, but one thing is for sure: everyone has a common pursuit, which is qualifying from the best universities in the world.

The United Kingdom is home to some of the oldest universities in the world, which were founded in the 12th and 13th centuries. Any student holding a degree from any of the prestigious universities in the UK is guaranteed to have a promising career in the future. 

So, it’s come as no surprise that the UK is one of the top study destinations in the world. 

Education System in United Kingdom

The education system in UK is divided into:

• primary education (up to Year 6)
• secondary education (Years 7-11)
• pre-university or further education (Years 12-13)
• higher education (undergraduate and postgraduate studies)

In this context, we will discuss more on higher education in the UK.

Higher education means degree education, which consists of UG and PG studies. If you choose to study for a bachelor’s degree in the UK, it will take up to 3 years to finish the programs of study. But, in Scotland, the rule applies differently; it takes up to 4 years to complete a UG study. 

As for professional degrees, these will include studies in medicine, architecture, etc., which may require 5 years to complete the degree. A master’s degree can be completed in one year, whereas a doctorate may take 3-5 years

Admission Requirements to Study in United Kingdom

Each level of education has different entry requirement, but, the general requirements are these listed below:

Standardised Test To Study in UK

English Proficiency Tests Required to Study in UK

Documents Required to Study in UK for Indian Students

If you are from India and plan to study in UK, you need to provide these basic documents. But, please do a more research and get in touch with universities for more details. 

• Your valid passport
• ID proof
• Educational transcripts
• English Test Scores
• Standardise Test Scores
• Recommendation letter
• Statement of purpose
• Proof of funds 

Student visa requirements for United Kingdom

For any student to study in UK, you will need to have a visa to enter the country. And, for this, you will need to submit some document to apply for student visa for UK.

Tier 4 (General Student Visa)

If you are 16 and above or sponsored with this visa for a course in the UK, then this is the type of student visa ideal for you. It requires you to apply 3 months before starting the course.

Short Terms Study Visa

This visa is for students admitted to the UK for short-term courses such as training courses or English language courses. It requires you to apply 3 months before starting the course.

Cost to study in United Kingdom

The UK is an expensive country, but getting a degree from one of the institutes gives students a rewarding career. If you plan to study in the UK, you should have an idea of the cost of tuition fees. This table is only given for general information to give an idea of the fee range. 

Note: The study fee in the UK will vary depending on the course. The level of study and the type of university.

Cost to living in United Kingdom

The living expenses in the UK will differ upon the city and the region. While some places may be expensive, others may be affordable. Let’s take a look at the breakdown of the cost of living in the UK in these popular student cities.

London

• Rent:  It would come to around £1,500 to £2,500/month 
• Groceries:  It would be around £50-£70/week
• Public transport: £160-£180 (monthly travel card)
  

Manchester

• Rent: It will cost around £700-£900/month
• Groceries: It would be around £40-£50/week
• Public transport: £60-£70 (monthly travelcard)
  

Birmingham

• Rent: It will cost around 600-£800 /month.
• Groceries: It will cost £40-£50/week
• Public transport:  £50-£60 (monthly travelcard)
  

Edinburgh

• Rent: It will come about £800-£1,000/month
• Groceries: It will cost £45-£55/month
• Public transport:  £60-£70 (monthly travelcard)
  

Bristol

• Rent: It will come around £700-£900/month
• Groceries: It will cost £40-£50/week
• Public transport: £60-£70 (monthly travelcard)

Top universities to study in United Kingdom

These are some of the top and best universities in UK:

Imperial College London

QS University Rankings: #2

Tuition Fee: 35,000 GBP/year

Acceptance Rate: 14.3%

It is one of the best universities in the UK and offers 67 UG programs and 155 PG programs in all subjects. The college attracts students who are interested in studying in the fields of engineering, science, business and medicine. Over 62% of the students are international students from more than 140 countries.

University of Oxford

QS University Rankings: #3

Tuition Fee:  9,250 GBP/Year

Acceptance Rate: 17%

This is one of the oldest universities in the English-speaking world and still holds the top-ranking university in the world. It has 44 colleges and offers 62 UG and 347 PG programs in various disciplines. Today, it attracts students to get admission into this prestigious university. They have 22,000 students at present while the 40% comprise international students. 

University of Cambridge

QS University Rankings: #5

Tuition Fee:   9,250 GBP – 21,732 GBP

Acceptance Rate: 21%

This is another old university in the world and holds a high reputation in the academic world. It has produced some of the best intellectual achievements of its students due to excellent teaching, world-class research centres and the best faculties to mentor the students. The institution offers 32 UG and 268 PG programs across all disciplines.

UCL

QS University Rankings: #9

Tuition Fee:  24,000 GBP/year

Acceptance Rate: 32.72%

It is another exemplifying university in the UK that offers world-class education at all levels of study. The university offers 403 UG and 624 PG programs across all disciplines. A student who passes from this university finds their perfect career as it is the most targeted by graduate employers.

The University of Edinburgh

QS University Rankings: #27

Tuition Fee:  17725 GBP/year

Acceptance Rate: 40%

The University of Edinburgh is one of the leading universities in the UK and for more than 400 years, its teaching, students and education have influenced the world in many ways – from the depth of human knowledge and improving the lives of people worldwide. They offer 381 UG and 523 PG programs in many levels of study.

Top courses to study in United Kingdom

Here are some of the best courses to study in the UK:

Business Analytics

This is a popular course among students seeking to pursue a business career. It is a study of past performances of a business through the study and analysis of the insights and data. It is a growing field and a demanded skill in both start-up and established companies.

Some of the popular programs are:

• BSc, Data Science and Business Analytics
• MSc, Business Analytics
• MSc, Business Analytics and Management Sciences
• MSc, Business Analytics and Big Data

Management (MIM and MBA)

When it comes to management, the UK is one of the top study destinations and attracts students from across the world. These two types of management broadly focus on the planning and running of an organization. It is another demanding job in the business sector and students who study in the UK are offered placements with associated companies. Some of the popular programs are:

• Master’s in Business Administration (MBA)
• Global Executive MBA
• Master’s in Financial Analysis
• Master’s in Management (MIM)

Computer Sc and IT

Students who study in the UK for this course will benefit from top-class educations, hands-on experience, top mentoring and teaching, etc. Today, in the digital world, there is a demand for skilled professionals in the field of computer sc and information technology. If you are seeking to study this course, the degree has a great market value in high-paying jobs. Some of the popular courses are:

• MSc, Computing Science
• MSc, Data Science
• MSc, Cyber Security
• MSc, Artificial Intelligence
• MSc, IT Security Management

Medicine

If you want to pursue the field of medical research, then the UK have some of the best institutes for medical study. The courses offered are very competitive and enrol only the top students who can meet the requirements of the university. Regardless of the specialisation chosen, a degree in healthcare ensures excellent prospects for the future. Holding the degree of a doctor from the UK can fetch you good jobs with high-paying salaries in any part of the world. Some of the popular courses are:

• BSc Medicine
• MBBS Medicine
• BMBS Medicine
• MB BChir
• MBChB

Nursing

This is another popular course in the UK as it offers students good placement and job opportunities after studies. It is a very demanding job and despite the high pressure involved in the job, nurses report very high levels of job satisfaction and career opportunities. If you seek to study in the UK, you should look into some of the popular courses:

• BSc Nursing (Adult/Child/Mental Health)
• BSc Learning Disability Nursing Practice
• BSc Clinical Nursing Practice
• BSc Midwifery Studies
• Masters in Advanced Practice in Health Care