The UK is one of the world’s most popular destinations to study higher
education, with more than 500,000 international students enrolling each year.
One of the world’s leading destinations for international students, second only
to the USA. UK universities are among the best in the world and consistently
perform well in world rankings. They also have a reputation for world-class
research.
Study options
In the UK, degrees usually take one
year lesser to complete than what it takes in the USA, i.e., undergraduate programmes
(full-time study) usually last for 3 years and postgraduate programmes for 1
year. The academic calendar varies from institution to institution. Some
universities that follow quarter or trimester terms may have an extended
academic period – starting from September or October till May or June.
Why choose higher education in the UK?
Going to university in the UK is a
great way to expand your knowledge, meet new people, experience in a new
culture, and enjoy new experiences. You’ll get plenty of support at university,
and a chance to experience a great student lifestyle.
The benefits:
- Choose from over 50,000 courses, in more than
25 subject areas.
- UK courses are generally shorter than other
countries, helping to reduce overall tuition fees and accommodation costs.
- It can be possible to work while you study too
– find out more from UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) and the UK Council
for International Student Affairs (UKCISA).
- Students can find affordable housing options,
and student hostels and home-stays are available too.
- A degree from a reputed institution in the UK
will enhance your CV.
- A number of scholarships are offered by
numerous organizations and universities.
- Some colleges and universities allow students
to work part-time (20 hours per week). But the institutions that are
listed on the official UKVI sponsor list and the list of recognised bodies
are only allowed to give such liberty to their students.
- Meritorious students can progress to a
doctoral course and conduct research.
- High quality postgraduate study opportunities
are also available at the majority of UK universities, with some
universities offering sponsorship to extend Tier 4 visas.
Quality postgraduate education
UK universities have a great reputation
across the world, often with several decades or even centuries of history
behind them. Most qualifications you can gain with them will be respected
anywhere in the world, a huge plus in today's international work environment.
Postgraduate courses in the UK fall
into two broad categories: taught programmes and research-based programmes.
Whichever type you choose, you are likely to benefit from small to medium class
sizes with plenty of interaction, a favorable staff-to-student ratio, good
facilities (books, laboratory equipment) and opportunities to develop your
critical thinking skills. The learning environment is open and informal. You
will be encouraged to follow your interests, ask questions and develop your own
opinions, all of which will go a long way in preparing you for the workplace or
for further research.
Work while you study
Many Indian students in the UK gain
work experience along with their study. A part-time job, internship or
placement during vacation and volunteering are some ways to develop valuable
skills that you can add to your CV. A work placement is a part of the study
course for some colleges, and your university or college may assist in
providing placement.
Life experience
A major part of studying abroad is the
experience of living in a different country, meeting interesting people and
savoring various cultures. It's hard to beat the UK for a multicultural student
environment – the postgraduate community has a very high percentage of
international students, and they come from several countries. It's also a
student-friendly society: you'll find several discounts and offers tailored to
students' needs, enabling you to sample some of the fine sporting and cultural
events that crowd the calendar. If you enjoy the experience and want to build
further on it, there are schemes to enable you to work in the UK for a short
period after you graduate.
Scholarships for international students
Some of the popular scholarships to
apply for include Chevening scholarships, Marshall scholarships, and
Commonwealth scholarships and fellowships. University scholarships that
are on offer include Rhodes scholarship at the University of Oxford, Edinburgh
global research scholarship, University of Sussex chancellor’s international
scholarship, Bristol University international office scholarships, University
of Westminster international scholarships and many more.