GOTOSTUDY

THE UNITED KINGDOM

The United Kingdom, made up of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, is an island nation in northwestern Europe. England – birthplace of Shakespeare and The Beatles – is home to the capital, London, a globally influential centre of finance and culture. England is also site of Neolithic Stonehenge, Bath’s Roman spa and centuries-old universities at Oxford and Cambridge





 

Why study in the UK?

With over 50,000 courses to choose from and over 395 universities and colleges, the UK is one of the world’s most popular destinations to study (second only after the USA). Indeed, each year 500,000 international students enrol in some of the best universities on the planet.   

High education standards 
Studying in the UK is a great way to harness the prestige of one of the world’s most revered university systems.   
Some of the country’s universities consistently rank in the top 50 of the world’s best universities. Indeed, their high standards attract world-class teachers delivering some of the highest quality academic courses on the planet. Moreover, UK universities thrive on providing their students with incredible educational infrastructures while encouraging highly-skilled teachers to work on cutting-edge research projects.   
The famous Academic Raking of the World University report was released in August 2020, and 7 UK universities are featured in the top 50 making London, the city with the highest number of top globally ranked universities.  

Future Prospects 
UK universities are recognised worldwide for providing students with a high-quality education, which will prove an asset when you look for a job a few years from now. Having a UK degree or qualification will help set you apart from the competition and improve your chances of landing a higher paid job.  

Other factors 
Another appealing aspect for international students is the fact that you can work while you study to help pay for the tuition fees (more on student work visa rules later). A lot of students are drawn to the UK’s cultural and historical heritage. Indeed, the UK is rich in history and brims with spectacular monuments, world-renowned art galleries, and fantastic museums. Besides, once in the UK, it’ll be very easy to travel to other European countries for a long weekend or a holiday.  

Last but not least, attending a UK university means you’ll be able to make connections and develop a high-quality network that can prove very useful when the time comes to look for a job. Besides, the UK is a multicultural society, and as such, you’ll easily be able to meet friends for life. 

Education Systems in the UK

The UK education system can be divided into four distinct levels, and the national curriculum is organised into ‘’key stages’’:  

  • Primary education: Students will attend between ages five and age 11 and undertake key stage 1 and 2 with compulsory subjects and tests to assess their English and Maths skills
  • Secondary education: Students will typically be between 11 and 16 years of age, undertake key stages 3 and 4 and work towards taking their GCSE’s.
  • Further education: Students who have completed their secondary education and wish to gain access to university or college must complete further education. They’ll have to obtain qualifications such as A-Levels, BTEC's, or other qualifications based on the type of curriculum they wish to pursue.
  • Higher education: With over 33% of British people entering the higher education level every year, the competition is fierce. A-Levels are the main criteria to get into university. However, there are some entry pathways, such as enrolling for an Access to Higher Education (Access to HE) course. If you’re an international student, you‘ll need to complete the equivalent to the UK’s further education.
Note that all four regions of the UK, including Northern Ireland, England, Wales, and Scotland, have their own forms of education systems. The main difference pertains to primary and secondary education, where each region has its own qualifications. 

Higher Education 
Higher education in the UK offers students multiple options ranging from bachelors and masters to doctoral degrees. As an international student, you can apply for pathway programme  in order to improve your English skills while accessing foundation courses to consolidate your basic knowledge in some specific areas before enrolling for university. This will ensure you acquire both the English and academic qualifications you need to get access to better universities.  
Note that both universities and private institutions offer pathway programs.   

  • Undergraduate courses
Undergraduate courses are a great way for students to transition to the university level after high-school. Indeed, undertaking an undergraduate course in the UK will provide you with a first-degree level (Bachelor) while allowing you to explore different subjects and better define your preferences. To help you understand the different types of programs you can choose from, we’ve added a table below. 

  • Postgraduate studies
Postgraduate courses allow students to obtain a postgraduate diploma, a professional degree, a master’s degree, or a doctorate and usually require having a first degree to enter (Bachelor). 
More specifically, there are four main types of postgraduate degrees: 
  • Taught courses: Master’s degrees or postgraduate diplomas
  • Research degrees: PhDs, DPhils, integrated PhDs, and professional doctorates
  • Conversion courses: Certificates and diplomas based on crash courses designed to get you up to speed on a subject you haven’t studied before
  • Professional qualifications: Practical training to enter a specific profession
To help you understand the different types of programs you can choose from, we’ve added a table below. 

Tuition Fees 
Tuition fees will greatly vary depending on your location, the institution you’re studying at, the study level, the program, and the duration of the program. Normally, the tuition fees range from 10,000GBP to 20000GBP+ per year, depend on the university or college you are going to attend.  

Students life in the UK

The UK includes four different countries, including England, Scotland, North Ireland, and Wales, and is home to 66.65 million inhabitants. 


A few general facts you should be familiar with when enrolling for a British university:

  • British people like law and order 
  • Respect and politeness are expected
  • Punctuality is important
  • Universities and college campuses are non-smoking zones
  • Although the UK is usually safe, travel in a group at night, lock your doors, and avoid leaving your valuables in plain sight

Accommodation

There are a few different types of accommodation options available when it comes to accommodation for international students depending on your location, your budget, and whether or not your university features halls of residence:


Halls of residence

Finding accommodation will most likely be one of the first obstacles to tackle as an international student. One of the most popular options for a foreign student who starts the first year of study in the UK is to stay in a hall of residence.

Halls of residence are buildings offering small single or shared flats usually provided by universities or colleges to accommodate students. Living in a hall of residence is an excellent way to meet other students as they feature common facilities and communal areas such as canteens, pool tables, or bars. This option is usually cheaper than renting a flat or a house.


Private Flats or Houses

While choosing to live in a flat or a house is more costly than staying in a hall of residence, this option allows for flexibility as you’ll be able to choose the location you live in. However, choosing to live by yourself might make meeting new people more challenging. 

According to a study led by the World University Ranking  in 2020, the average student rent is £126 per week on average, and the average annual rent cost is £4,914. Note that around 70% of rents include bills.

Shared flats

Some websites, such as   studentspareroom.co.uk  or  room.go.uk  , allow students to research shared houses and shared flat options. Less expensive than renting a private flat, this option will also allow you to meet other people (may they be students or not). It also means you won’t have to consistently stay on the college or university premises.

Public Transport

The UK is well connected through different types of transport:

  • Trains: 

Most cities and towns in the UK have a train station. You can plan your journey and book your tickets on  thetrainline.com  . As a full-time international student under the age of 25, you are eligible for a 30% discounted pass .

  • Coaches:

Coaches are a great option if you’re planning to explore the UK as these large buses are designed for long journeys. 

  • Buses:

Buses are the cheapest way to travel around and are very popular among students. You can use the app  city mapper  to plan your journey. You can find tickets based on your destination  here 

  • Underground: 

Whether you’re studying in London or just exploring for a couple of days, you’ll most likely use ‘’the tube’’ to travel around. As an international student under the age of 25, you can apply for the   18+ student Oyster card  , which will give you access to a 30% discount on fares.


Social Life

Two great ways to immerse yourself into the UK culture and embrace the local way of life is to learn English and join student clubs or societies. Some campuses, including Loughborough University, Lancaster, or Liverpool Hope, offer great facilities such as spas, gyms, shops, bars, and clubs, which can help you meet other students. 


The towns and campuses brim with bars, restaurants, and clubs welcoming countless students every night. Going out on the weekends is an integral part of the UK way of life and is a widespread activity among students. Note that, if you’re invited to a house party or for dinner, you’ll be expected to bring something along (dessert if it’s a dinner, for instance, or a drink if it’s a party). Note that the pub culture is embedded in the UK way of life as it’s a way for people to relax and socialise.


Although the country is multicultural and international cuisines are an integral part of the UK food scene, Britons have a few specialties you might want to try on a day out with friends. Fish & Chips, Bangers & Mash, Shepherd’s pie or steak & kidney pudding are some of the British favourites to try.


Last but not least, the local sense of humour might surprise you. Indeed, Brits use sarcasm and irony a lot (famous British sense of humour) so make sure you don’t take things to the first degree as they’ll often be teasing you. You can deleted it

The UK student visa

Cost of Visa

The fee for the Tier 4 General Visa is £348. In addition to the general visa fee, you’ll have to pay for the healthcare surcharge up to £470 a year, depending on your location, home country, and the type, of course, you choose to enroll in. The fees for the Short-term Student Visa range currently between £97 for visas up to 6 months and £186 for visas up to 11 months.

Healthcare

As a Tier 4 student visa holder who is studying in the UK for six months or longer, you will have access to the NHS (the British Healthcare System). If you’re not eligible via your visa, you will need to look into private insurance.


Note: For students who apply with SpringBoard4Education in any countries, we help you prepare the necessary documents for your student visa application, as well as other steps in the process, completely free of charge.

Work opportunities

International students who hold a Tier 4 student visa are allowed to work part-time while studying in the UK. Let’s take a look at the working rights before diving into working options. 

Working rights


If you hold a Tier 4 visa issued for full-time degree-level studies, you’ll be allowed to work for up to 20 hours a week and full-time during vacations or summer holidays. Your institutions must be listed on the official  UKVI Sponsor list  and the list of “recognised  bodies  .”


Note that you’re not allowed to work, may it be work placement or work experience, on a Short-term Student Visa. 


Reinstatement of the two-year post-study work visa

In 2019, the UK government announced the reinstatement of the two-year post-study work visa (  Graduate Route  ) for international students studying in the UK, starting from September 2020. This will allow international students enrolled in a bachelor's or master's degree to be able to work in the UK for up to two years after completing their master’s degree and up to three years after completing their Ph.D. There will be no restrictions regarding the type of work that can be performed by former international students.


Sponsorship

For international students who wish to find long term work in the UK (up to 5 years), the   Tier 2   Visa is the best option. To be eligible for this visa, the first step will be to find an employer who is a licensed sponsor and is willing to hire you. They must also demonstrate that they’ve advertised the role but couldn’t fill it. You’ll find more information on this visa   here  .


Opportunities

Working part-time while studying can be a great way to help fund the cost related to your study. It can also be an excellent way for students to develop their work experience and critical employability skills and ultimately increase your chances of being offered a job at the end of your studies. Popular part-time jobs for international students include:

  1. Server
  2. Bartender
  3. Student Ambassador
  4. Admin jobs
  5. Animal Caretaker
  6. Childminder
  7. Tutor
  8. Retail assistant
  9. Customer Service

What our UK students say

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List of universities for your next journey !

Aberystwyth University  
Anglia Ruskin University  
Arts University Bournemouth  
Aston University  
Bangor University  
Bath Spa University  
Birkbeck, University of London  
Birmingham City University  
Bournemouth University  
BPP University  
Brunel University London  
Canterbury Christ Church University  
Cardiff Metropolitan University  
Cardiff University  
Coventry University  
Cranfield University  
De Montfort University  
Durham University  
Falmouth University  
Glasgow Caledonian University  
Goldsmiths, University of London  
University of Hertfordshire  
Keele University  
King’s College London  
Kingston University  
Lancaster University  
Leeds Arts University  
Leeds Beckett University  
Liverpool John Moores University  
London Metropolitan University  
London South Bank University  
Loughborough University  
Manchester Metropolitan University  
Middlesex University
Northumbria University  
Nottingham Trent University  
Oxford Brookes University  
Queen Mary University of London  
Queen’s University Belfast  
Regent’s University London  
Richmond, The American International University in London  
Royal Agricultural University  
Royal Holloway, University of London  
Sheffield Hallam University  
SOAS University of London  
Solent University  
Staffordshire University  
Swansea University  
Teesside University  
The University of Derby  
Trinity College Dublin  
Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance  
Ulster University  
University College Birmingham  
University College Dublin  
University for the Creative Arts  
University of Bath  
University of Birmingham  
University of Bolton  
University of Bradford  
University of Brighton  
University of Bristol  
University of Central Lancashire  
University of Chester  
University of Dundee  
University of East Anglia  
University of East London
University of Exeter  
University of Gloucestershire  
University of Greenwich  
University of Hertfordshire  
University of Huddersfield  
University of Hull  
University of Kent  
University of Leeds  
University of Leicester  
University of Lincoln  
University of Liverpool  
The University of Manchester  
University of Northampton  
The University of Nottingham  
University of Plymouth  
University of Portsmouth  
University of Reading  
University of Roehampton  
University of Salford  
The University of Sheffield  
University of South Wales  
University of Southampton  
University of Sunderland  
University of Surrey  
University of Sussex  
University of the West of England  
The University of Warwick  
University of West London  
University of Westminster  
University of Winchester  
University of Wolverhampton  
University of York  
York St  John University

If your can not find your preferred schools or universities please drop us an inquiry.
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