Study Abroad UK

Let’s know why Indian students prefer the UK as a top study destination

The United Kingdom (UK) is home to some of the world’s oldest universities and colleges having their roots in the 12th and 13th centuries. Coming from such a strong legacy, education in the UK has become a benchmark for other countries.

Student visa requirements for the UK

Here’s an overview of the types of study visas and their application requirements:

Type of student visa

Who it’s for

When to apply

Arrival in the UK

Tier 4 (General)
student visa
Students aged 16 or over who have been offered a place in a course at a UK educational institution with a valid Tier 4 sponsor Three months before the start of your course Up to one week before if your course lasts six months or fewer.
Up to one month before if your course lasts more than six months
Short-term study visa Students who have offered a place in a short-term course in the UK, such as an English language course or training course Three months before your date of travel to the UK Depends on your nominated travel dates

*For detailed information, please visit the e

Cost to study in the UK

Your expenditure on tuition fees depends on the type of qualification and university or school you opt for. There are many high-ranking universities and colleges in the UK with their own fee structures. Here’s the basic cost of studying.

S.no. Study Program Average fee (in Euros*)
1 Undergraduate bachelor’s degree GBP 10,000 to GBP 20,000 per year
2 Postgraduate master’s degree GBP 10,000 to GBP 20,000 per year
3 Doctoral degree GBP 15,000 to GBP 24,000 per year

*Please note that: all figures are indicative and PhD costs might differ as fully funded options are also available in the UK
If you want to bring down your educational expenses, it is best to apply to various scholarships available for Indian students.

Scholarships to study in the UK

The amount of money available and the type of award varies between institutions. Certain research programs may provide up to 100% of the tuition fee besides covering a part of your living expenditures.
Here are some popular government scholarship programs you can apply to study in the UK as an Indian student:

S.no. Name of the scholarship Description
1 Chevening Scholarship  Supports talented professionals who have shown prior leadership skills and exceptional performance in their respective fields. With Chevening, you can apply for a scholarship or fellowship, the selection of which is done by the high commission and British embassies.
2 Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship The commonwealth scholarship aims to give international students from commonwealth countries a chance to pursue postgraduate degrees in the UK. Basically, the scholarship scheme caters to students from commonwealth nations to study in the UK.
3 GREAT Scholarship This scholarship is jointly funded by the UK Government’s GREAT Britain Campaign and the British Council under the Study UK campaign. This program includes 99 postgraduate scholarships from 36 UK universities in a variety of subjects. However, for Indian students, 12 of the UK higher education institutions are offering 13 postgraduate scholarships.
4 Charles Wallace India Trust Scholarships (CWIT) Charles Wallace India trust scholarships (CWIT) is the scholarship fund of Charles Wallace India Trust that provides grants to Indian students currently living in India in the early or middle stages of their career and either working or studying in the heritage conservation, arts, or humanities.
5 Scotland Saltire Scholarships Scotland’s Saltire Scholarships is a scholarship program of the Scottish Government in collaboration with Scottish universities offered in the areas of creative industries, technology, science, medical sciences, healthcare, and renewable and clean energy.

 

Intakes in the UK

Colleges and universities in the UK offer two major intakes, but few of the universities also offer summer intakes.

Intakes

Duration

Autumn/Fall intake

September to December

Spring intake

January to April

Summer intake

April to June

Top courses to study in the UK

With world-class universities and experienced faculties, and multiple opportunities in different fields, the UK is a top choice among international students. Know all the popular courses of UK universities so you can make the best of your career choice

  • Business management
  • Engineering and technology
  • Medicine
  • Law
  • Social Sciences
  • Media and communication

 

Top universities to study in the UK

When deciding which university to study at, it is crucial that you also look at the world university rankings. This helps you compare and understand where a university ranks and how your desired institution fares on the global map. Here are the top UK universities according to QS World University Rankings 2023

S.No. Institution QS Ranking 2023 (Globally)
1 University of Oxford 4
2 University of Cambridge 2
3 Imperial College London 6
4 UCL (University College London) 8
5 The University of Edinburgh 15
6 The University of Manchester 28
7 King’s College London 37
8 London School of Economics
and Political Science (LSE)
56
9 The University of Warwick 64
10 University of Bristol 61

Check where these UK universities rank on the Times Higher Education charts.

Job prospects in UK

The UK is a hub of opportunities for international students. According to the data from the World Bank, the UK is the 5th largest economy in the world, which makes it a perfect place for building a successful career.
Read more here.

Highest paying degrees in the UK

With a huge job market, UK universities offer some popular degree courses that are in demand in the job market, and professionals in the fields are paid well. Here are the highest-paying degrees in the UK.

  • MBA
  • Executive MBA
  •  Masters in finance
  • LLM
  • Doctorate

Popular sectors with job opportunities in the UK

There are various career opportunities post-graduation for international students studying in the UK. Here are the popular fields you can opt for higher education:

Technology and telecom

Insurance

Financial services

Law Apps, web, and e-commerce Energy, Mining, Chemicals, Environmental
Pharmaceuticals & Biotech Consumer goods Transportation and logistics
Consulting and professional services Retail and trade Media and communication
Public sector and education Service, tourism, restaurants Health care
Charity and not profit Sports, culture, and recreation Construction and real estate

Cost of living in the UK

Here’s a list of the minimum monthly amount you should expect for living expenses in the UK:

Expenses

Monthly cost

Bills (electric/ gas/ water)

£40 – £50

Food and housekeeping

£160 – £200

TV license (mandatory with TV or watching BBC online)

£12.56 (or £150.50 per year)

Mobile phone

£15 – £50

Clothes and shoes

£25

Leisure and sports
(calculated on membership for the students’ sports centre)

£10 – £20

Books and stationery

£21

Socializing

£120

Travel and transport
(based on the monthly cost of a student bus pass)

£32

Childcare (if needed)

£656

Please note that all figures are indicative

FAQs related to UK Education

We know you have a lot of questions in your mind, so have answered common questions students as you raise about studying and living in the UK.