About Study in the UK
With over 25,000 Indian students studying in the country, the UK, despite its dwindling number of international students, presents a fulfilling education experience for Indian students seeking high-quality education at some of the World’s most renowned universities. One of the major factors that draw students to the country is its wide range of scholarships which provide partial to full study waiver to the students. In fact, the British Government, as well as many university and private trusts, provide a plethora of scholarships for Indian students studying in the UK.
In terms of ranking, the UK is one of the most represented countries in the World ranking. Home to grand universities like Oxford and Cambridge, Imperial College London and University College London among others, UK is always featured in the top 10 countries in the world in terms of high-quality Introduction education. Not just that, UK clinches the ranking deal with the greatest number of universities in the World’s most international university ranking by Times Higher Education.
The UK at a Glance
Studying in the UK is a multicultural experience, with 330,000 foreign students from over 200 countries, including around 25,000 from India. The UK mainly has three types of education institutes:
Universities and University Colleges: Institutions which have the power to grant taught degree and have a minimum of 4000 full-time students with 300 registered on the degree are termed as a university in the UK.
Higher Education Institutions: These institutions do not have degree award powers themselves but can provide courses leading to recognized UK degrees. There are over 700 such institutions in the UK.
Further Education Institutions: Programmes by these institutions are generally managed by University or University college. These institutions can have 50 to over 4000 students.
Degrees in the UK: It, generally, takes three years to finish an undergraduate degree in the UK. However, some universities also offer what is called a sandwich course which is offered for four years and involves 1-year of work experience.
Post-graduation courses are usually offered for 1 year at most universities. However, professional degrees like medicine, veterinary, law, etc. have longer programs that can be as much as five years.
Why Study in the UK?
Here are the reasons why a student should consider the UK as his/her education destination: l Among all other factors, the UK promises quality education for an international student. One of the main reasons why a student goes to study abroad is to experience a study experience that offers more insights and has better research potential. Universities in the UK promote just that. One of the major things that the UK as a study destination provides, is diversity in the student population. The UK has students from all over the world. The UK has a fantastic number of full and partial scholarships that students can opt from. Some of the popular ones are Chevening, Rhodes, commonwealth, GREAT, etc.
UK’s Education Cost
With an annual cost of over USD 35,045, the United Kingdom is one of the costliest countries in the world for International students. Of the above figure, more than $20,000 is spent on tuition fees while around $13,000 is required for sustaining an average international student life. While an HSBC research suggests that UK is the fourth most costly destination for students (taken over by Australia, Singapore, and the US); a survey- Value of Education- by the same organization also found the UK to be the second most preferred country for quality of education among parents across the world.
Despite its strict immigration norms and dwindling numbers, the UK is a major attraction for students who want to experience high-quality education at the best universities in the world. For a fact, the UK has four of the world’s top 10 universities (University of Cambridge, University College London, Imperial College London and University of Oxford) and is home to 30 of the world’s top 200 universities.
Here, we will give you a break-up of the various expenses that students can incur while pursuing education in the country.
Tuition fee: According to the UK Council for International Student Affairs, tuition fees for international students in the UK can range between £3,500 to about £18,000 annually. In a survey by HSBC, the tuition fee amount has been pegged at around £14,000 or over $21000. Tuition fees, however, depend on the level of study i.e undergraduate and graduate studies.
However, the tuition fee also depends on where you are studying in UK i.e England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.
In fact, according to the complete university guide, the average fee for undergraduate courses is between £10,000 and £15000. For Universities like Oxford, undergraduate fees can go beyond £20,000. However, the cost of clinical courses is higher as it is in other countries.
The majority of the undergraduate clinical courses charge beyond £20,000 and might go up to £35000 annually.
For postgraduate courses, the fee for international students stands between £10,000 and £16,000. However, the fee can go beyond £20,000 at certain institutions like the Royal Academy of Music, Royal College of Music, University of Oxford. Again, the fee structure is different for management programs. For overseas students, the cost of studying in the UK for an MBA can be anywhere between £15,000 to over £20,000 per year.
Accommodation: After tuition fees, international students are required to spend the most for accommodation in the UK. Below are the accommodation facilities one can explore in the UK:
- University hall: The rent for University halls are usually between £150 to around £250 or £300 per week, Of course, the fee also depends on what kind of hall you are opting for- single or shared. Single suits are usually more expensive than double one’s.
- University house or flat: Many students also opt for flats at university campuses. Flats in the universities may include a gym, common rooms, etc. Mostly, the price range of these flats is £150 to £200 per week. Again that depends on the facilities provided in the flat.
- Private house or flat: Private houses or flats offer a more independent lifestyle to the resident. Notice for private accommodations can usually be found on the university campus. Single rooms in private flats could be around £100 while flats could be around £140 per week.
- Homestay: Students studying in the UK can also opt for a homestay where a student pays to live a family in their property. Rents for homestays can be anywhere between £130 to £250 per week.
Living expenses: Besides accommodation and tuition fees, there are a number of expenses that international students have to incur while pursuing their studies in the UK. According to the HSBC report, the annual cost of living in the UK for international students is around 13, 680.
Some of the estimated expenses can be on food, electricity bill, internet connection, transport and so on. Here’s a break-up of the expenses on some of the sundry expenses for international students:
- Food: Expenses on food may average at around £50 per week. But most international students can manage at around £30 to £40 per week.
- Electricity: Gas and electricity bills may cost a student around £10 to £15 per week. However, that will be the case only if electricity charges are not included in the rent charges. Transport: Most students in UK travel by means of public transport. As result travel expenses do not amount to much in an international education budget. In fact, in a week a student’s expenses in transport could be around £15 to £25.
- Minimum budget for international students: The UK Council for International student affairs (UKCISA) requires international students in the UK to maintain a minimum budget in order to cover their living costs in the country. The minimum budget, however, depends on the location of the student. If the student is studying in inner London then his/her required fixed budget has to be £1,020 per month valid up to nine months. Inner London includes areas covered by Camden, City of London, Hackney, Hammersmith and Fulham, Haringey, Islington, Kensington and Chelsea, Lambeth, Lewisham, Newham, Southwark, Tower Hamlets, Wandsworth, and Westminster. However, if the student is studying in some other location besides inner London they have to maintain a minimum of £820 in their bank accounts.
Qualifying Exams for the UK
IELTS: IELTS is also an English proficiency test for students from non- native English speaking countries. IELTS test measures a candidate’s English language command on 4 different parameters- Listening, reading, writing and speaking.
TOEFL: TOEFL is an English proficiency for students from non- native English speaking country students. TOEFL is conducted more than 50 times a year at 4500 test centers in 165 countries worldwide.
GMAT: GMAT is taken for admission to management studies. Business schools use this test as a criterion for admission into a wide range of management programs like Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Accountancy, and Master of Finance programs.
