Financial Study in UK

Here’s a comprehensive guide for all International students who want to study in the UK.

Study in UK

One of the most popular study destinations, the UK enjoys a proud tradition of education with universities rooting back to the 12th and 13th centuries. Known for its language, history, culture and innovation, the UK has an average student retention rate of 82%. With a comprehensive support systems in place for international students, studying in UK is definitely a life-changing experience.

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	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
Tier 4 (Child) student visa	Students aged between four and 17 who have been offered a place in a course at a UK educational institution with a valid Tier 4 sponsor, such as an independent fee-paying school	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
Tier 4 (General) student visa	Students 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 month before if your course lasts more than six months

Cost to study in the UK

S.no.	Study Program	*Average fee (in Euros)**
1	Undergraduate bachelor 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

Education system in the UK

The UK is globally recognised for its teaching excellence. Let’s find out why.

The United Kingdom (UK) is reputed for its excellent quality of education, interactive teaching methodology, top ranking universities and great student satisfaction. Universities in the UK consistently rank in the world university rankings such as the QS World Rankings, Times Higher Education Ranking, and Academic Ranking of World Universities. Further, degrees earned from the country are globally recognised and preferred by employers all over the world.

Standing at the zenith of research and development, the UK offers students vast scope to build critical and analytical thinking. Here’s why an overview of the education system in the UK.

How does the UK education system work?

The responsibility of education in the UK is delegated to four jurisdictions – England, Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland. All of these regions have different forms of education systems, qualifications and individual laws/regulations. The major differences can be found in general and secondary education resulting in each region having its own credit frameworks and qualifications.

Study levels

The education system in the UK consists of four stages:

Primary education
Secondary education
Further education
Higher education
Qualifications framework

A qualification frameworks is a principal national reference point that maintains academic standards in the higher education sect in any country. Two parallel frameworks run for higher education qualifications of UK degree-awarding bodies:

The Framework for Higher Education Qualifications of Degree Awarding Bodies in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (FHEQ)

The Framework for Qualifications of Higher Education Institutions in Scotland (FQHEIS)

Around 160 universities and colleges are allowed to award degrees in the UK.

Quality Assurance System

The unique factor of education system in the UK is its Quality Assurance Agency (QAA). It is an independent body that assesses and compares universities and colleges in the country through regular audits and reviews. It also identifies the best education practices and provides feedback for areas of improvement. This ensures that the students have access to the best quality of education.

All review reports are public, and can be accessed on the QAA website. However, do note that private institutions are not subjected to assessment by QAA.

Higher education

Higher education in the UK mostly comprises bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees. As an international student, you may also transition to university level studies via pathway programs that generally include English language courses and foundation courses.

Undergraduate courses

Undergraduate courses are designed to help students get exposure to a whole new world after school whilst providing a thorough understanding of a subject of interest. The UK offers a variety of courses in humanities, social science, art, design, business, technology, science and more!

Here’s an overview of the types of undergraduate courses offered in the UK:

Program	Duration
Higher National Certificate (HNC) or Diploma (HND)	1 to 2 years
Certificates or Diplomas of Higher Education (Cert HE/Dip HE)	1 to 2 years
Foundation degrees (Fd A/Fd Sc)	6 months to 2 years
Degrees (such as BA, B.Sc, BEng)	3 years in England, Wales and Northern Ireland 4 years in Scotland
Sandwich degrees	4 years with a year in industry
Integrated courses (where masters is awarded as the first degree such as MEng)	4 years

Postgraduate studies

Postgraduate courses are more specific and involve in-depth study. Most master’s degrees have duration of one year, which means you can be back in the workforce faster than your counterparts pursuing masters in other countries. There is a plethora of courses to choose from including niche courses that are highly valued in the industry.

Here’s an overview of the types of postgraduate courses offered in the UK:

Program	Duration
Postgraduate certificates and diploma (PG Cert/PG Dip)/td>	9 to 12 months
Taught Masters (such as MA, M.Sc., LLM, MBA, MRes)	1 year
Research Masters (such as MPhil, PhD, DPhil)	2-3 years

Fee structure

Your expenditure on tuition fee in the UK depends on two factors:

Where you choose to study – different rules and laws apply in England, Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland

You study level – bachelors, masters or doctorate

Pedagogy in British classrooms

The UK has a high reputation for its education, which is mostly the reason why so many Indian students come here to pursue higher studies. The best part about studying in the UK is the way education is imparted – it goes beyond textbook learning. You’ll be engaged in various activities such as workshops, seminars, tutorials and conferences at all times.

Teachers will expect you to be interactive in the classroom which will involve regular participation in group discussions, quizzes and debates. You’ll also be required to learn to work independently. If you see, education in the UK will eventually enhance your communication skills and help you build critical thought-process, creativity and analytical skills. This may be a little challenging initially but you’ll get the hang of it with constant support from your teachers and classmates.

Academic year

The standard academic year in the UK begins around the month of September – October. The deadline for applications for courses commencing in September is generally in the preceding January of that year. Two other intakes available for programs in the UK are January and April, which are usually smaller than the September intake. Pathway programs may have additional dates to offer. Always check for the intakes available for your course of preference. You can also check about the upcoming intakes in the UK here.

Popular Programs

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