Facts About UK
Certainly! Here are some educational facts about higher education in the United Kingdom:
- World-Class Universities: The UK is home to some of the world’s top universities, including the University of Oxford, the University of Cambridge, Imperial College London, and the London School of Economics (LSE).
- Shorter Bachelor’s Degrees: Undergraduate degrees in the UK typically take three years to complete, which is shorter compared to many other countries. However, some programs, such as engineering and modern languages, may take four years.
- Master’s Degrees: Master’s degrees in the UK typically take one year to complete, making them a more time-efficient option for postgraduate studies.
- Collegiate System: Universities in the UK often have a collegiate system where students belong to a college within the university. These colleges provide a sense of community and support services.
- Research Intensity: Many UK universities are renowned for their research programs and are involved in cutting-edge research in various fields. Research is often integrated into the curriculum.
- International Students: The UK is a popular destination for international students, with a diverse student population from all over the world. International students are welcomed and valued in British higher education.
- Tuition Fees: Tuition fees for international students in the UK can be relatively high, especially for undergraduate programs. However, there are scholarships and financial aid options available.
- Quality Assurance: The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) is responsible for ensuring the quality and standards of UK higher education institutions.
- Academic Honors: In the UK, academic honors are often awarded based on degree classifications, including First Class, Upper Second Class (2:1), and Lower Second Class (2:2).
- Access to Libraries and Resources: UK universities offer extensive libraries and research facilities to support academic studies, including rare books and archives.
- Study Abroad Opportunities: Many UK universities have exchange programs and partnerships with institutions worldwide, providing students with opportunities to study abroad.
- Student Unions: Most universities have student unions that organize social and extracurricular activities, representing the interests of students.
- Post-Study Work Visa: The UK has introduced a post-study work visa (Graduate Route) that allows international students to stay in the UK for two years after completing their studies to work or seek employment.
- UCAS: The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) is the centralized application system for undergraduate courses in the UK, helping students apply to multiple universities and colleges with a single application.
- Diverse Course Offerings: UK universities offer a wide range of programs and degrees, allowing students to specialize in their chosen fields of study.
Benefits of Studying in the UK
Why Study in UK? Well to start UK is one of the most popular Study abroad destination for international students from across the globe. More than 5,00,000 international students from over 150 countries enroll in various British universities every year, only second to the USA. The UK is home to universities like Oxford University and Cambridge University (collectively known as “Oxbridge” in the UK) and many of the British universities are among the top 100 universities in the world. It is one of the oldest education systems in the world with universities dating back to the 18th century. UK offers wide range of subject areas to choose from and the qualifications from UK are globally recognised.
United Kingdom offers top quality education at a very reasonable cost compared to other countries like USA & Australia. All the qualification from UK are globally recognised and respected by employers and academics. The UK offers its students a great opportunity to develop skills, knowledge and critical thinking which drives their career in the forward direction. UK ranks second in the world for the quality of its scientific and research institutions, and 3rd for its university-industry collaboration. Along with being a great place to study, the UK is a perfect place to live and work as well. UK offers a diverse multicultural society with a great mix of languages, cultures, and faiths. There are many post study work opportunities in UK.
Living & Working in the UK
Culture: Being multicultural has made British societies, more tolerant towards international communities, who follow different faith and culture and it is illegal to discriminate on the basis of religion, race, and gender. Literature, music, and cinema are important parts of British lifestyle.
Welfare: The United Kingdom is a very safe and tolerant country and a perfect place to study however, it is worth taking all the precautions to ensure that you have a peaceful and good time during your studies in the UK. The UK Government and Universities take well-being of their students very seriously and every year millions of pounds are invested for the welfare of international students, which includes student support in distress, safeguarding their interests, mental health issues and any other special educational or training needs any student may have. British health care system is called NHS and is one of the most advanced health care system in the world. It is mandatory for all the international students to pay for their NHS fees before arriving in the UK.
Transport: The United Kingdom has one of the world’s most advanced public transport system. It includes Bus, Train, Tube, and Taxis. Trains are the most convenient and fastest mode of transport in the UK to travel from one city to another city.
Working as a student: All the international students are allowed to explore working opportunities in the UK, as they are allowed to work for 20 hours per week during their term time. All the students are allowed to work 40 hours a week in their vacations. Most students work part time and they usually find casual work with the retail stores, petrol pumps, restaurants, and delivery person etc.
Student Life: As a student you will have a very vibrant lifestyle in UK, there are lots of places you can travel. UK is known for its libraries, museums and historic landmarks. There are loads of tourist attractions and places to explore in the UK like beaches, national parks, lakes, etc. There are plenty of cinemas, theatres, pubs and nightclubs. UK is also popular for sports like football, cricket and rugby and known for hosting various music and cultural festivals.
Universities, Courses & Intakes
University: The United Kingdom has a total of around 130 universities offering a large variety of over 50,000 courses in all the fields of studies. UK universities are among the best in the world, and consistently perform well in world rankings. Majority of the Universities are Government funded. They provide high quality of teaching and are known for their quality research. Some of the well-known universities in the UK are; The University of London, University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, University of Manchester, and University of Edinburgh, University of Leeds, Kings College London, etc.
Courses: The United Kingdom Universities offer variety of courses at all level of qualifications. These courses can be tailored as per student’s interests and background. UK is popular for courses in Business Management, Financial Management, Architecture & Design, Law, Data Science/Data Analytics, Engineering, Marketing, Sports Management, Healthcare, Biotechnology, Aerospace, Arts and Theatre, Construction Management, and many more.
Intakes: Most traditional universities start their courses in September every year however, most modern universities in the UK also run most of the popular courses in January as well. A few universities also offer a May intake.
Expenses in the UK
The cost of studying in the UK as an immigrant can vary depending on the type of institution, location, and program. Here is a general overview of the costs associated with studying in the UK:
- Tuition: Tuition is the main cost associated with studying in the UK. Tuition costs can vary depending on the type of institution and program, with universities generally being more expensive than colleges. According to the UK government’s Study UK website, the average annual tuition fee for international students in 2021 is around £10,000 to £38,000 for undergraduate courses and £11,000 to £40,000 for postgraduate courses.
- Living expenses: Living expenses in the UK can vary depending on the location, lifestyle, and personal circumstances. According to the UK government’s Study UK website, the average annual living cost for international students in 2020 was around £12,000 to £15,000.
- Health insurance: International students are required to have health insurance while studying in the UK, and the cost of health insurance can vary. According to the UK government’s Study UK website, the cost of health insurance for international students in 2020 was around £150 to £200 per year.
- Other expenses: Other expenses can include transportation, books and supplies, and personal expenses. These costs can vary depending on the location and individual student.
Study Visa in the UK
Student Visa: British student visa is called Tier 4 visa, which is usually valid for the entire course duration. Following are the criteria one needs to fulfil to apply for a Student Visa to Study in UK
- CAS: A Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) letter from the university you can get an admit in, duly approved by the UKVI.
- Funding: You need to provide evidence of finances showing your capability to fund your course tuition fees & living expenses while you are in the UK.
- Proof of English language proficiency
Work Visa: International students are allowed to look for employment opportunity in the UK via Post Study Work Visa called the graduate route. This Post Study Work Visa allows international students to work in the UK for 2 years without any sponsorship from an employer. Post Study Work Visas are open work visa and can further be extended with the support of an employer.
UK has also recently introduced the Points Based Migrant Work Permit, which allows qualifying skilled students to live and work in the UK for 5 years.
The UK also offers a graduate entrepreneurship visa to students who wish to set up their own business in UK
Career and Employment Opportunities
The UK has one of the most globalised job market in the world and is renowned for its university-industry collaboration. It is a financial and international business hub, making it a perfect place for ambitious graduates to jump-start their career. It is home to some of the top multinational companies in the world like British Petroleum, HSBC, Vodafone, Tesco, GlaxoSmith, Prudential, Barclays, BT Group, Compass Group, Fiat, Aviva, Diageo, Coke EU, Virgin, Unilever, Amazon UK and many more.
Main Industries in the UK: Financial Sector, Steel, Oil & Gas, Transport Equipment, Aerospace, Healthcare, Tourism & Hospitality, Pharmaceutical, IT, Retail, Construction & Manufacturing.
Emerging Industries in the UK: Transport and Logistics, Financial Technology, Digital Marketing & Advertising, Clean Energy, Immersive Technology & Biotechnology
Areas of Skill Shortage in the UK
There are plenty of jobs and skills, which are listed in the current skills shortage list for UK. The most updated list is available on the UKVI website. Some of the relevant skills shortage areas for students are
Business Services – Business & Data Analysts, Market Researchers, HR Professionals, Digital Marketers
Construction – Architects, Surveyors, Site Managers and Planners
Education – School teachers and university level faculty
Engineering – Almost all types of engineers like Electrical, Mechanical, Chemical Engineers, Biotech Engineers, Civil Engineers and Product and Process Engineers.
Healthcare professionals – Nurses, Medical Technicians, Pharmacists and Pediatricians
Hospitality – Chefs, Tour Operators, Event Managers
IT – Cyber Security Analysts, SEO Marketers, Software Developers, Data Analysts, UI UX Developers and Systems Engineers.
