The UK is one of the most esteemed places in the world to pursue academic courses. The stature has a strong heritage foundation of over 100 years old. It houses some of the oldest universities in the world that have steadily ranked the highest. International students consider the UK a dream destination to fulfill their academic aspirations.
Why to Study in the UK
If the question is “Why do you want to study in the UK?”, the reasons are quite satisfying because the UK possesses some of the most prestigious universities where students have received exceptional academic support that has sharpened their skills and helped them get placements as interns and employees in their dream companies. Following are some of the alluring benefits of studying in the UK for Indian students or international students:
- More than 400,000 students are welcomed every year.
- Post-study work visa of 2 years is available.
- 12 out of 100 of the top universities in the world are in The UK.
- It offers around 130 universities of international fame to accomplish academic goals.
- Admission without IELTS is possible subject to certain conditions.
- MS courses with 1-year work placements are available.
If anybody thinks especially – Why the UK? Why not other countries? – (s)he finds the UK a friendlier place than any other country to study/work. Apart from enriching ones’ English Language skills, people get to meet different people from different countries with different cultures. Think of any interesting course to pursue, it is available there with all the required support starting from studying to eating and lodging. Grants and scholarships are available to accomplish academic goals. The duration of acquiring a degree is shorter than that of other countries. Living and healthcare expenses are reasonable, Student visa processing is easier than those of other countries. Since the academic standards are high in the UK, there is job assurance both in and outside the UK. Last but not the least, there is freedom to follow/practice any religion.
Exams required to study in the UK
If a student is planning to study in the UK, (s)he should be familiar with the UK entrance-exam requirements.
The UK exams required for admission are broadly divided into two categories – 1. Language Proficiency Test and 2. Academic Tests. The former tests the English proficiency and the latter evaluates knowledge in the subjects the students are willing to study.
English Language Proficiency test
English is an international language of communication and when it comes to a country where it is the first language, for example the UK, language proficiency test is mandatory to demonstrate ones’ language skills.
IELTS: International English Language Testing System is the pioneer of any language proficiency test and is widely accepted for assessing English language proficiency. Not only in the UK, IELTS test score is also recognized in countries like Canada, the USA, Australia, New Zealand, and some of the top study-abroad destinations.
The test is divided into four parts: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking for both the IELTS Academic Test takers and the General Training Test takers (General Training Test is for PR). The score is evaluated on a band score of 0-9, 9 band being the highest.
A band score of 6 in any particular module and overall 6.5 is the minimum requirement in the universities of the UK. However, a band score of 6.5 to 7.5 is usually acceptable in each section.
The test duration is 2 hours and 30 minutes for LRW (Listening, Reading, and Writing) without any break in between and the Speaking test lasts for 11-14 minutes. Both the computer delivered and paper based test are available. The application fee for IELTS is approximately INR 16,250-16,500.
PTE: The Pearson Test of English (PTE) is another English language proficiency test which is also accepted depending on the university one is applying to.
The PTE is an online exam to assess listening, reading, writing, and speaking skills.
It is divided into three parts: 1. Speaking and Writing, 2. Reading, and 3. Listening. An overall score of 60-70 out of 90 is required to secure admission with at least 60 in each section.
The test fee is approximately INR 15,900.
TOEFL: Test of English as Foreign Language is another widely recognised language proficiency test for the students to be eligible for admission in the universities of the UK. The total score is calculated on a range from 0 to 120, with 0 to 30 for each section i.e. listening, reading, writing, and speaking.
While Top-tier universities require a score of 110 or higher, Tier-1 and Tier-2 universities accept a score ranging from 82-90 or higher.
Approximately INR 16,000 need to be paid as application fee.
The TOEFL exam is available on two formats:
● TOEFL iBT test (online) – It is a computer-based test which can be taken from home or a designated centre. The test duration is less than 2 and a half hours.
● Paper-based test (offline) – The paper-based test has three sections: listening, reading, and writing, which are taken in a designated test centre, and the speaking test is taken online from home.
Cost of Studying in The UK
Every day, Google is bombarded with questions like:
How much money is needed to study in the UK?
How much does it cost to study in the UK?
Is it expensive to study in the UK?
Study in the UK for Indian students after 12th cost.
Cost for undergraduate and postgraduate study in the UK for Indian students.
While looking for answers to above questions, it is essential to understand, apart from tuition fees, the various other expenses associated with pursuing higher studies in the UK. For example, the cost of living, accommodation, healthcare, and a few more related expenses.
Tuition Fees
Depending on the university/institution and the course in the UK a student decides to pursue his/her study from, on an average, undergraduate programs cost approximately between INR 8 Lacs to INR 30.5 lacs per year, and postgraduate degrees approximately costs from INR 12 Lacs to INR 35.5 Lacs. To ease the burden, there are scholarships and financial aids available.
A few top universities in the UK at a glance with their average tuition fees for both undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) programs:
University Of Edinburgh:
Average UG Tuition Fee per year – INR 26 Lacs – INR 35 Lacs
Average PG Tuition Fee per year – INR 4 Lacs – INR 41 Lacs
University Of Cambridge:
Average UG Tuition Fee per year – INR 26 Lacs – INR 68 Lacs
Average PG Tuition Fee per year – INR 30 Lacs – INR 40 Lacs
University Of Bristol:
Average UG Tuition Fee per year – INR 5 Lacs – INR 30 Lacs
Average PG Tuition Fee per year – INR 5 Lacs – INR 50 Lacs
University College London:
Average UG Tuition Fee per year – INR 30 Lacs – INR 35 Lacs
Average PG Tuition Fee per year – INR 20 Lacs – INR 53.5 Lacs
London School Of Economics:
Average UG Tuition Fee per year – INR 26 Lacs – INR 28.5 Lacs
Average PG Tuition Fee per year – INR 27.5 Lacs – INR 45 Lacs
Cost of living in The UK for Indian Students
Living and studying cost can vary depending on the location of the universities. Cities like London are obviously more expensive than any smaller cities which have an affordable lifestyle. Roughly, INR 92,000 per month is spent on living which includes accommodation, food, and transportation expenses.
Accommodation Cost in The UK for Indian Students
Accommodation cost while studying in the UK depends on university housing and private rentals. On-campus accommodation may cost approximately between INR 50,818 to INR 71,146 per month, while, private rental spaces in the city may cost approximately INR 95,000 per month.
All about Academics
Percentage of marks required to study in the UK:
After attaining the age of 18, the students are eligible to pursue their courses of interest in the UK. Minimum percentage criteria in 12th standard required to study the following streams:
Humanities – 65%
Science – 70%-80%
Commerce – 70%-80%
Foundation and Diploma programs – below 60%
Work and study in the UK
Most international students with student visas who have been studying full time degree courses are allowed to work part-time for 20 hours per week and full time during vacation periods.
Gap accepted to study in the UK
For UG students, it is two years and for PG students, it is five years.
Work permit after completion of studies in the UK
Post completion of studies, international students are allowed to apply for a work permit. Option like Graduate Visa allows students to work as employees of company, get self-employed, and continue to live in the UK with eligible partners and family. Moreover, there is the Post-Study Work visa which allows students to stay in the UK after they have graduated to search for some job for up to 2 years.
Study in the UK without IELTS
IELTS is required for studying in the UK. It is used as an evidence which shows the English language proficiency level of the students aspiring to study in the UK. The required band score depends on the institution and the course applied for. However, there are some other English language proficiency tests that are accepted other than IELTS by some of the UK universities. For example, TOEFL, PTE, Cambridge English assessment test. Students should look for alternative requirements if they are not comfortable with IELTS.
Post Graduate study in the UK
There are multiple reasons to pursue Post Graduate courses in the UK. To name a few:
The renowned universities in the UK offer a wide range of postgraduate programs. These universities are highly acclaimed for academic excellence, research, and innovation.
There are specialized programs like business, sciences, engineering, arts, or social sciences. All these are tailored to students’ academic and career goals.
Research Opportunities are there to work under the supervision of professors and researchers in the courses chosen and contribute towards something new in that particular area.
Scholarship Opportunities in the UK greatly assist in reducing the financial burden of deserving students who are struggling to finance their studies.
Networking and Career Development enable the students to connect with professionals in their respective fields and attend relevant events, which open opportunities to work with potential employers.
Study in the UK for MBA
The UK gives exposure to leading industry and research communities, helps access to top-tier business schools and diverse programs that are tailored to achieve career goals.
MBA programs in the UK range from 12-21 months with fees ranging from INR 20,000 to INR 90,000 for Indian or any international students. There are more than 130 business schools in the UK that offer MBA programs which have a variety of options for students to choose and specialize in areas like finance, marketing, entrepreneurship, or global business.
Scholarships for Indian Students
Some popular scholarship programs for Indian students are:
British Chevening Scholarship: Any professional with a track record of academic achievement and leadership potential can avail this scholarship which provides tuition, a monthly stipend, travel expenses, and other expenditures.
Rhodes Scholarship: This scholarship pays for monthly stipend, travel expenses, and tuition fees for the deserving students who want to pursue their PG program at University of Oxford.
Commonwealth Scholarship & Fellowship Plan: This scholarship is exclusively for exceptional students from Commonwealth nations who are dreaming for a postgraduate degree in the UK. All the travel, tuition, and other expenditures are covered under this scholarship.
Charles Wallace India Trust Scholarships (CWIT): Tuition, travel, and other expenses are taken care of under this scholarship for Indian students who are researchers in the fields of arts or historic conservation.
Top 10 Universities in the UK with minimum IELTS Band Score:
| Universities | Minimum IELTS Band Score |
| University of Warwick | 7.0 |
| Imperial College London | 7.0 |
| Kings College London | 7.0 |
| University of Cambridge | 7.5 |
| University of Oxford | 7.0 – 7.5 |
| University College London | 6.5 |
| London School of Economics and Political Science | 7.0 |
| University of Manchester | 5.5 – 7.0 |
| University of Edinburgh | 6.5 |
| University of Bristol | 6.5 |
