Study in the UK

With over 600,000 international students choosing to study in the UK, its popularity as a study destination is obvious. Learn more about UK universities, courses and tuition fees

Studying in the UK you don't need to worry about the recognition of your hard-earned qualifications, as those gained at UK institutions are accepted by universities, employers and governments throughout the world, affording you a huge amount of freedom once you graduate.

Postgraduate courses are also generally shorter in the UK, meaning that you can earn your degree and start your career much faster than in other counties.

What's more, English is one of the world's most popular languages and is widely used in the business sphere, so what better place to hone your skills than in the UK?

Studying in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales also means that you'll get to experience the UK's unique culture. Nature lovers will feel at home within the countryside and coastal towns, while city dwellers will find their haven in cosmopolitan cities such as London, Manchester, Cardiff, Edinburgh and Belfast. Studying in the UK, you will find that the history is rich, the nightlife diverse and that opportunities to broaden your horizons are endless.

UK universities

Higher education in the UK is divided into two levels - undergraduate (Bachelors) and postgraduate (Masters and PhDs) and is provided by a number of public and private universities. Other types of institutions include further education (FE) colleges, conservatoires and distance learning universities.

The majority of Bachelors and Masters programmes are studied at universities and colleges. All degree subjects can be categorised into the following faculties:

arts and humanities
business and social sciences
technology, science and engineering.

Some universities specialise in subject areas, such as:

Cranfield University, which is recognised as a specialist postgraduate technology and management institution
Falmouth University, which is known as a specialist arts college
Harper Adams University, which delivers agricultural and rural education
Royal College of Music, which focuses on musical education.

The UK has a well-deserved reputation for educational excellence and this is reflected in university rankings. Currently 89 UK institutions feature in the QS World University Rankings 2023, with four ranked within the world's top ten. These include:

the University of Cambridge (second)
the University of Oxford (fourth)
Imperial College London (sixth)
University College London (UCL, eighth).

The University of Edinburgh also makes the top 20.

For a list of universities and colleges in the UK, see universities and departments.

The academic calendar varies between different universities, but usually runs from September to June. A number of postgraduate programmes start in January. The main holiday periods are Christmas, Easter and summer, while some institutions include reading weeks.

Choosing a UK university

The UK Russell Group is a list of prestigious institutions such as the University of Cambridge and the University of Oxford. However, the UK government does not have an official ranking system for its universities. Independent ranking systems such as lists from The Guardian and The Times can be useful. To find out which institutions excel in your subject area, see the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2022.

Location is an important factor when deciding where to study. The cost of living in London and South East England is higher than the rest of England and Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Popular student cities in England include Cambridge, Birmingham, Manchester, London and Oxford. Also think about whether you would prefer a campus or city experience:

Campus universities have the majority of their buildings, accommodation and social facilities in one particular area, making getting around easy. Examples of campus universities include the University of Nottingham, University of Warwick and the University of York.
City universities are more spread out. Lecture halls could be on one side of the city and your accommodation on the other. On the plus side, you get more options when socialising. You'll find city universities in Manchester, Sheffield and London.

International students should check that the institution that they're applying to is recognised by the government as a degree-awarding body. To do so, visit Hedd the UK higher education system's official candidate verification service.

Other things to consider when choosing a study destination include:

student satisfaction rates
level of student care
career/employment opportunities once you graduate
teaching quality.

To explore this further, see comparing UK universities.

Degree courses in the UK

There are hundreds of Bachelors courses available, in a variety of subjects. Undergraduate degrees are generally divided into four types:

Bachelor of Arts (BA)
Bachelor of Science (BSc)
Bachelor of Education (BEd)
Bachelor of Engineering (BEng).

Programmes take three years to complete when studied full time. In Scotland undergraduate degrees take four years.

At undergraduate level you'll be assessed through the completion of assignments, coursework and exams before writing a dissertation in your final year.

Entry requirements are set by individual institutions and differ depending on where you choose to study. For admission onto a Bachelors programme you'll usually need three passes at A-level (or equivalent), which translate into a certain amount of University and College Admission Service (UCAS) tariff points. As an international student you will need to prove your English language proficiency.

Alternative undergraduate qualifications include a foundation degree, Higher National Diploma (HND), Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE) and a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ). Read more about these courses at Guide to qualifications.

To search for a Bachelors programme in the UK, visit UCAS - Search for courses.

Masters degrees

There are a number of postgraduate study options for students in the UK. A variety of Masters courses are available and they are split into two types:

Taught courses - allow you to build on knowledge gained during your undergraduate study through lectures, seminars and practical work
Research courses - focus more on independent study and involve less guidance from tutors.

Masters programmes last one year full time, although some research-based courses can take 18 months to two years to complete. To gain entry onto a course as an international student you will need:

to have gained a Bachelors degree (usually completed over three years, except in Scotland where it takes four years) or an equivalent qualification in another country
to ensure you can meet the required level of English language to participate fully on your chosen course
a copy of your passport.

To find a Masters suitable for you, search postgraduate courses.

Alternative types of postgraduate study include:

PhDs

Doctoral degrees, also known as PhDs, are the highest level of qualification that a student can achieve and are more demanding than a Masters.

When studied full time they take three years to complete, if studying part time this increases to six or seven years.

For entry onto a PhD you need to have a good undergraduate degree and a relevant Masters qualification. In some instances you may also need relevant work experience and international students need a solid grasp of English.

Tuition fees for international students are considerably more than for UK or European Union (EU) students.

For more information on Doctoral degrees, see PhD study. To find a PhD, search PhD courses.

Student exchanges

International students may find it useful and cost effective to find work placements in the UK while studying here. These can be organised with independent research and with help from your university careers service.

Students attending a UK university can also take part in the Turing Scheme. The scheme offers study, training, work experience and volunteer placements to thousands of students. Opportunities last from one month to one academic year in European Union (EU) countries.

For more information on the Turing Scheme, eligibility criteria and application processes see the Turing Scheme Programme Guide.

Course fees

These vary across institutions so it's important to contact each university individually. For an undergraduate course, UK students generally pay around £9,250 annually, whereas international students may pay fees between £10,000 and £20,000. Since Brexit, EU students pay the same fees to study in the UK as international students.

EU students must have settled or pre-settled status in the UK to apply for student finance, as of 1 August 2021.

A PhD costs more than a Masters and fees for an MBA are even higher.

According to UCAS, postgraduate tuition fees can range from £4,900 (£8,000 for internationals) to more than £30,000 per year, although on average students will pay £11,000 a year in tuition fees.

Medicine and dentistry courses usually cost more than other subjects.

You also need to factor in the cost of student accommodation, general living costs and course materials.

Funding to study in the UK

As an international student, you can fund your course through savings, family support and loans. You could also secure grants from your home government to pay for fees and living costs.

Scholarships and awards from institutions and charitable trusts can help, and these vary depending on the university and your personal circumstances.

Chevening scholarships offer awards to students with leadership potential from around the world to study postgraduate courses in the UK.
Commonwealth scholarships offer funding to students from particular commonwealth countries.

Make sure you can cover all of your costs when applying and speak to your international office about postgraduate tuition fees and scholarships, which are specific to you. Eligibility criteria will apply but take a look at the different ways you could fund postgraduate study.

Student visas

If you are not a resident in the UK and want to apply for a course longer than six months then you'll need a student visa.

You may apply for a student visa in the UK if you're over 16 years old and you:

have been offered a place on a course
have sufficient income (from any source) to live without needing income support
can speak, read, write and understand English to a B2 level for degree-level qualifications, or a B1 level for anything below. Use the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) scale to understand the requirement.

The student visa (replacing the Tier 4 (general) student visa) costs £363 if you are applying from outside the UK, or £490 to extend or switch to a student visa from inside the UK.

The earliest you can apply for a student visa is three months before the start of your course if you're in the UK, with a decision usually being made in eight weeks. If you're applying from outside the UK, the earliest you can apply is within six months and you'll usually get a decision within three weeks.

If you're 18 years old or over, and your course is degree level, you are permitted to stay in the UK for five years. If below degree level it's up to two years.

You may also have to pay a fee for health insurance in the UK called an immigration health surcharge - you can work out the amount you would pay on GOV.UK.

Find out more at GOV.UK - Student visas.

How to apply

All undergraduate applications are handled by the centralised UCAS system. Students are required to fill out an application form online and write a personal statement, which outlines their reasons for wanting to study a particular course.

There is no centralised body that covers postgraduate applications in the UK and in the majority of cases you'll apply directly to your chosen university. The easiest way to complete this process is by applying online via the university website and tracking your progress.

Teacher training courses are an exception as you apply through a centralised system called UCAS Teacher Training.

It's best to apply for postgraduate study as early as possible, especially for international students as an offer of a place is needed to arrange student accommodation or get scholarship funding. The majority of courses don't have an official closing deadline with the exception of courses in teacher training, law and medicine.

If you are applying for a course or a job in the UK and have qualifications from another country, find information and guidance on how to satisfy the necessary requirements, at UK NARIC (National Recognition Information Centre for the United Kingdom).

Language requirements

All courses in the UK are taught in English so students must be able to interact fluently and effectively.

The most commonly accepted proficiency test in the UK is the IELTS (International English Language Testing System). International postgraduates take the academic test, which is made up of four sections:

listening
reading
speaking
writing.

The test takes two hours 45 minutes to complete and results are graded on a nine-band scale, with a minimum score of six or seven usually required by universities. Find a test centre near you at IELTS Worldwide Search.

Other English language proficiency tests include:

Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic)
LanguageCert
Cambridge ESOL.

Find out more

Discover what it's like to work in the UK.
Learn about living in the UK.
Read WorldRemit's guide to money management for international students.