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Study in United Kingdom

Study in UK

Why study in the UK?
Cost of studying in the UK
Cost of Living in the UK
Education system in the UK
Student visa requirements for UK

Overview

Here is a detailed guide for all International students who want to study in the UK

One of the world's most popular study destinations, the UK enjoys a great tradition of education with universities cheering back to the 11th and 12th centuries. Famous for its language, history, culture and innovation, the UK has the fact that the average student retention rate is 79%. With the most comprehensive support systems in place for international students.

Why study in the United Kingdom?

Let’s see why International students choose UK as a best study destination

The United Kingdom is a home to some of the world’s oldest universities and colleges having their origins in the 11th and 12th centuries. Coming from such strong heritage, education in the United Kingdom has turned into a benchmark for other countries. These are the most important six reasons why the study in the UK is so popular among international students:

Shorter duration of courses

Programs in the UK education system are shorter and a lot more concentrated than several other countries, and that means you will graduate more quickly, and without compromising quality. While it is possible to complete an undergraduate program in three years, you will be able to complete a graduate program within just one year. This not only will save your time, but also an amount of money spent on tuition fees and living costs.

Academic excellence

Universities in the UK have the greatest academic standards in the world. As per [QS World Ranking 2019] four out of the top 10 universities in the world are from the UK among them the likes of Oxford and Cambridge. While studying in the UK, you will discover that practical and utility-based knowledge is preferable to over text-book learning. This will allow you to obtain critical thinking and analytical skills along with imaginative ability in your chosen discipline.

Health benefits for students

As an internationals student, you will be able to access free medical care while studying in the UK by the national Health Service (NHS). In order to avail this advantage, you will need to pay a small International Health Surcharge (IHS).

Quality education

The Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) is an independent organization in the UK that periodically assesses the education standards of all universities and colleges in the country. In Addition To checking their performances through audits and subject reviews, it and helps to identify the best education methods and sends feedback for improvisation. These research standards are also analyzed by the UK higher education funding bodies, who publish their findings on a regular basis. This is ensuring all students are able to access the best quality of learning, research and teaching regardless of the course they choose to pursue.

Work while you learn

For managing your everyday living expenses along with your studies, you will be able to work part-time for up to 20 hours a week throughout term time. You can even work full-time during your semester break. This will help you pay for your bills as well as achieve industry experience in your own field of study as well.


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Cost of Study United Kingdom?

Thinking about how to manage your expenditures in the UK? Here is our list of estimates to help.
Studying abroad can be a costly affair for students going to study in the UK. Though, an efficient budget plan can help you to manage your living expenses more effectively. Before you depart from India, ensure that you consider expenses such as housing, food, health care and travel along with your tuition fee when you calculate the estimated cost of studying in the UK.

Tuition fee is your primary expenditure

LYour spending on tuition fee will vary depending on the type of qualification and university or school you choose. There are several high-ranking universities and colleges in the UK have their own fee structures. Additionally, the fee also depends on where in the UK you choose to study (there are different rules for England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales), and your study level.
Most commonly arts, humanities, and education courses are less expensive, while subjects like the medicine and engineering are likely to be more expensive. If you want to study at the postgraduate level, the tuition fees are generally higher, and the costs vary depending on the program. As with most other countries, MBA programs are often the most expensive.

Sr. Number Study Program Average fee (in GBP*)
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

If you wish to bring down your educational costs, it is best to apply to a variety of scholarships available for International students.

Where will you live? Calculate Housing Expense

Nearly All universities in the UK offer on-campus accommodation facilities called the Halls of Residence to international students. These can be self-catered or full board. Some campuses also offer self-catered shared houses or flats to their students. Living as a resident on-campus is a highly affordable option. However, you need to apply for it independently, and well ahead in time to secure a slot for yourself.
If you are unable to find such accommodation, you may have to look for a room on rent, homestay or find localhost. Your university’s accommodation office can help you out in this case as they often have a list of accommodation options available in the nearby area.
Your checklist when looking for a place:

  • Facilities
  • Costs
  • Rent book
  • Council tax
  • Deposits
  • Inventory
  • Bill payment
  • Tenancy agreement
  • House rules, if any
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The cost will differ from city to city. If you opt to rent an apartment, you will have to additionally pay for utility bills like electricity, internet, water usage and also tenant’s insurance (in some areas of housing). House rent for a one-bedroom apartment generally varies between £500 and £750 (Indicative).
Keep in mind that anyone over the age of 18 living in the UK is required to pay for local community services such as rubbish collection, police, fire brigade, leisure services, etc. You will have to pay for council tax if you’ll be living anywhere apart from an on-campus accommodation or sharing a home with a family or other full-time student.
Make a request for a tenancy agreement before you move and do not sign just any document without an understanding. In most cases, universities help the students in finding accommodation, both on-campus as well as off-campus.
The student accommodation cost will vary depending on the type and location of the accommodation. As per one report, London has the highest average weekly rent of approx. £147.50 per week and the cheapest rooms are in Northern Ireland costs around £80.00 per week.

Student visa Cost

To study in the UK, the initial step is to obtain a valid study visa, and which comes with its own costs (approx. £345). Feel free to consult your Canayork counsellor for recent updates and information on the visa application process and related costs.

Read more: All about British student visa

Living costs in the UK

You have to keep a little money aside for your grocery shopping, social activities, and emergencies. When living in a foreign country being as a student, it is better to keep track of your expenses so that you do not spend too much.

Expenses Approximate cost (GBP)
Bills (electric/ gas/ water) £40 - £50 per month
Food and housekeeping £160 - £200 per month
TV licence £12.56 per month
Mobile phone £15 - £50 per month
Clothes and shoes £25 per month
Leisure & sports £10 - £20 per month
Books & stationery £21 per month
Socializing £120 per month
Travel & transport £32 per month
Childcare (if needed) £656 per month
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Consider health Insurance

Several UK universities have launched comprehensive medical insurance plans for international students, but that is applicable as long your program is ongoing and ceases upon completion.
Read more about it here.
According to the National Health Service (NHS), you are required to pay £ 300 yearly for the duration the visa will be granted. However, the minimum amount varies based on leaves.
Also, Tier 4 dependents are required to pay the surcharge. The immigration health charge will also be added to your visa application fee. If you already have a medical insurance in your home country, you can check whether if it can be extended to cover your stay in the UK.

Transportation

If your institution offers a shuttle service to-and-fro from your accommodation, you’ll have to rely on the available public transport.
For short distancesYou can make use of regional buses, trains and taxis. It is a good idea to get monthly passes for journeys to college and back as these can be fairly cheap. When taking a taxi, make sure that it runs on the meter; if it does not have one, agree on the fare in advance to avoid any confusion later on. In case you intend to use a personal vehicle, you will need to include car and fuel bills, car insurance, repairs, and taxes in your expense sheet.


For long distancesFor travel between the different cities, you can avail any of the following possibilities:• Long-distance bus • Rail • Air

Don’t ignore your taxes

International students in the UK are allowed to work 20 hours per week during academic sessions and full-time during vacations.
If you already have a job at the same time as you are studying in the UK, then you’ll also need to pay the tax and national insurance:

  • Income tax: If you make more money than £1,042 a month on average - this will be your personal allowance
  • National insurance: If you earn higher than £166 a week