Study in UK
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK), located at northwestern coast of the European mainland. The UK (capital is London) consists of four constituent countries: England (capital is London), Scotland (capital is Edinburgh), Wales (Capital is Cardiff) and Northern Ireland (capital is Belfast). The United Kingdom was the first industrialized country and the world’s foremost power during 19th and early 20th centuries. The United Kingdom has the world’s sixth largest economy with very high human development index rating. English is the official and national language of the United Kingdom but there are other regional languages too, such as Scots, Ulster Scots, Welsh, Cornish, Scottish Gaelic, Irish.
Study System in UK
The British higher education system has five stages of education:
- Early Education
- Primary Education
- Secondary education
- Further Education (FE) and
- Higher Education (HE).
In the UK everybody, aged over 5 and under 16 is obliged to attend school. This aging time frame contains two sections of the education system in the UK: Primary and Secondary School. Based on the actual education regulation, higher education in the UK mostly comprises; Undergraduate courses and Postgraduate courses. Likewise, international student may also transition to university level via pathway programs like English language courses and Foundation courses.
Undergraduate courses are designed to help students to get exposure on a whole new world after school. An undergraduate course usually take 3 years to finish, while at Scotland it takes 4 years to finish an undergraduate course. Some universities are offering 4 years undergraduate courses, also known as ‘sandwich courses’, includes work placement of one year usually after the third year. Likewise, some universities offer fast-track program where student can obtain a Master’s degree at undergraduate level. Students in these programs can attend an additional year of studying instead of taking a Bachelor degree and then admit to a Master program. But these programs are much intense because there are shorten holiday breaks and the schedule is heavy.
| Program | Duration |
| Higher National Certificate (HNC) or Diploma (HND) | 1 to 2 years |
| Certificates or Diplomas of Higher Education (Cert HE/Dip HE) | 1 to 2 years |
| Foundation Degrees | 6 months |
| Bachelor Degrees | 3 years/ 4 years in Scotland |
| Sandwich degrees | 4 years with 1 year of work placement |
| Fast Tract Courses (Where masters is awarded as the first degree) | 4 years |
Postgraduate courses are more specific and involve in-depth study. Postgraduate courses mainly include Postgraduate diplomas, postgraduate certificates of education, professional degrees, Master’s degree (Taught or Research) and Doctorate Degrees. Most Master’s degree courses have duration of one year, which means students are eligible to compete in job markets faster than other counterparts studying masters in other destination.
| Program | Duration |
| Postgraduate Certificates and Diploma (PF Cert/PG dip) | 9 to 12 months |
| Taught Master | 1 year |
| Research Master (MPhil, PhD, DPhil) | 2-3 years |
Graduation Immigration Rule
On 11 September 2019, the UK government announced the creation of a new graduate Immigration Route, which will provide an opportunity for international students who successfully awards their degree from the summer of 2021 or after to stay and work, or look for work, in the UK at any skill level for two years under Post Study Work (PSW) visa.
Key information on the route;
- The graduate immigration route will be open to international students who have completed a degree at undergraduate level or above at an institution with a track record of compliance with the Home Office’s immigration rules.
- Students who successfully complete a course at undergraduate level or above from the summer of 2021 will be able to apply for the route.
- Successful applicants on this route will be able to stay and work, or look for work, in the UK for a maximum period of two years. Graduates will also be able to switch into skilled work once they have found a suitable job.
- It is expected that students entering the UK in the 2020-21 academic year intake will be eligible for this route.
- The immigration route will be two years long and will require a new application (including payment of a fee) and payment of the Immigration Health Surcharge. The exact fee will be set out in due course.
- The route is non-extendable and does not count towards settlement. However, graduates who find an appropriate job and meet the requirements will be able to switch into skilled work, which is a route to settlement.
- Those who graduate and whose leave expires before the route is introduced will not be eligible for it.
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- Art & Humanities
- Business
- Computing & Information Technology
- Engineering
- Health & Medicine
- Tourism
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The UK government and UK universities offer merit based scholarship programs and funding opportunities to international students to support their studies and cost of living. They offer hundreds of scholarships, bursaries and additional financial support to students from several countries. UK government runs two scholarship programs namely Chevening Scholarship and Commonwealth Scholarship for Masters and Doctoral degrees. These scholarship covers tuition fees, living allowances at a set rate, examination fees, personal maintaining allowances, even an economy class return airfare and additional grants to cover essential expenditures. To apply, student will need to first gain acceptance to the course of study.
Tuition fees in the UK vary as per the locations and courses. International undergraduate fee ranges from £10,000 to £18,000 per year depending on the course and institution. Fee for Postgraduate courses vary based on the program, course duration and the course provider. If any student get scholarship from the UK government or education providers then such tuition fees will be lower.
Current UK student visa requirements stipulate that student must have at least £1,015.00 in bank account for each month if the study location is anywhere outside of London, this works out as £9,135 for 9 months. If anyone wishes to study in London, they must show that bank balance of at least £1,265.00 per month, the equivalent of £11,385.00 for 9 months.
International student are allowed to work up to 20 hours per week during term-time and full-time during holiday breaks. Any international student working part-time has the same rights as a full-time employee. The UK has a National Minimum Wage (NMW) that must be followed by every employer. The NMW for a student aged between 10 and 20 is £5.30 per hour; for those 21 and over, the NMW is £6.70 per hour, this working right will help international student to support their expenses during their stay in the UK.
After the introduction of Graduate Immigration Route international students who successfully awards their degree from the summer of 2021 or after, are allow to stay and work, or look for work, in the UK at any skill level for two years under Post Study Working (PSW) visa.
After PSW visa expires, anyone who wants to stay longer in the UK will have to apply to transfer to a General Work Visa (Tier 2). Tier 2 visa is for a maximum of 5 years and 14 days, or the time given on the certificate of sponsorship plus 1 month, whichever is shorter.
To be eligible for Tier 2 visa
- you must have a valid certificate of sponsorship for job from licensed sponsor,
- You’ll usually need to be paid at least £30,000.00 per year,
- You must have £945 in your bank account for 90 days before you apply. This is to prove you can support yourself. You do not need to prove this if you have a fully approved (‘A-rated’) sponsorwho can give you at least £945 to cover your costs for a month if you need it. Your sponsor must confirm this on the certificate of sponsorship.
If any graduates have innovation business idea with potential for growth, they can apply for Start-up Visa. They can stay in the UK for two years on a Start-up Visa and can bring family members, including a spouse or partner and children under the age of 18. But, there is no option to extend the Start-up Visa after two years, but can switch to the Innovator Visa to extend stay in the UK and develop the business. The Innovator Visa is valid for three years, with the option to extend when it is due to expire.
Likewise, you can apply for Temporary Worker (Tier 5) visa to prolong your stay in the UK, if you have met the following conditions;
- you must have a valid certificate of sponsorship for job from licensed sponsor,
- You must have £945 in your bank account for 90 days before you apply. This is to prove you can support yourself. You do not need to prove this if you have a fully approved (‘A-rated’) sponsorwho can give you at least £945 to cover your costs for a month if you need it. Your sponsor must confirm this on the certificate of sponsorship.
