Courses in London are always popular – living in one of the world's most exciting and dynamic cities is a life-changing adventure. It's a great place to learn English in the UK, or study an undergraduate or Master's Degree.
A UK education doesn't have to be expensive either. The cost of living outside of London is much more affordable. UK degrees can be completed in three years with honours (saving a year of tuition compared with many other international degrees). Plus, students in the UK have access to free medical care through the NHS if they are studying for more than six months.
BELOW IS A LIST OF LINKS, WHICH WILL GET YOUR DETAILED INFORMATION ON EDUCATION IN UK.
Even though the syllabi are set by universities, the Office for Fair Access (OfFA), has a lot of say on the admission procedures of each university. This office was created so that everyone who wishes to attend university in England has the ability to do so. They also promote fair access to higher education, even for those who are attending university as international students. Fair access also includes those of different cultures, different races, different nationalities, and those who have disabilities.
Some of the more prestigious universities in England offer postgraduate degrees. If schools offer postgraduate degrees, they offer Master's Degrees (typically one year, sometimes two years if your degree is research-based) and/or Doctorate degrees (three year degrees). These are only available if you have obtained a bachelor's degree at an accredited university (not necessarily one in England).
England has a rich history of quality higher education and each university has great options for any student. If you would like some more information about England's educational system, there is plenty of information available for international students at all of the following links.
International undergraduate tuition fees vary considerably, starting at around £10,000 (~US$12,300) and going up to £35,000 (~US$43,100) or more for medical degrees. At all levels, humanities and social sciences degrees tend to cost the least, while laboratory and clinical degree programs are markedly more expensive.
Combine these fees with the average cost of living in the UK, around £12,000 (~$14,750), and the total average cost of studying in the UK comes up to at least £22,000 (~$27,040) per year. Studying in the capital city, meanwhile, is likely to be significantly more expensive.
While these costs may be daunting, remember that most UK universities offer shorter programs compared to countries such as the US (three years for the average undergraduate degree instead of four, and one year for a master's degree instead of two), so you may be able to subtract a year's worth of fees and living costs from your total budget!
According to the UK's National Union of Students (NUS), the average annual cost of living in England (outside of London) for students is UK£12,056 (~US$14,800). Most students will spend around £150 (~US$180) per month on food and groceries, or £1,350 (~US$1,660) per academic year.
If you wish to study in London, you should expect to pay £15,180 (~US$18,700) per year for the same breakdown of goods and services. The biggest difference in the cost of living in London compared to the rest of England is in rent, with University College London (UCL) estimating accommodation expenses of £8,034 (~US$9,900) per academic year (nine months). However, you may be able to find more affordable accommodation in university halls or a flat share.
As the NUS points out, the figures for the rest of England can only be used as a rough guide to the overall cost of living in the UK. But they are roughly consistent with the amounts specified by the UK Border Agency (UKBA), which asks international students to provide evidence that they can afford to live and study in the UK for a specified period before being granted a Tier 4 (General) student visa.
For visa purposes, international students undertaking study in London must budget £1,265 (~US$1,550) for each month of stay, while those who study outside of London will have to show £1,015 (~US$1,250) per month in order to prove they can cover the cost of living in the UK.
There are two levels of tuition fees at publicly funded UK universities: home student fees (including EU students) and international student fees. For home students, institutions in England can charge up to a maximum of £9,250 (~US$11,370) per year for undergraduate degree programs, and in Wales up to £9,000 (~US$11,050). In Northern Ireland the limit is £3,925 (US$4,830) for EU and Northern Irish students, and up to £9,250 for students from the rest of the UK.
In Scotland an undergraduate degree is effectively free for students from Scotland and the EU. This is thanks to a subsidy from the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS). The SAAS also offers a tuition fee loan of up to £3,400 (~US$4,170) for home postgraduate students.
There's also good news for students from Wales, who only need to pay £3,900 (~US$4,800) per year in UK tuition fees to study anywhere in the UK, with the rest covered by the Welsh government.
For international students, undergraduate fees for 2016/17 started at around £10,000 (US$12,300) for lecture-based courses, going up to £35,000 (~US$43,060) or more for an undergraduate medical degree at the top of the price range.
At postgraduate level, international fees for classroom-based programs in 2016/17 started at £9,700 (~US$11,930) and went up to £32,000 (~US$39,350). For laboratory-based programs, average annual fees vary from £9,900 (~US$12,180) up to £25,000 (~US$30,800), while for clinical degree programs the annual fees start at around £11,250 (~US$13,900) and are as high as £42,000 (~US$51,700) for programs such as medicine.
Home (UK/EU) students are eligible for loans, grants and other forms of funding to cover their UK tuition fees, with differing amounts of funding depending on location. While student loans for home students tend to cover all tuition fees, the additional loan to cover the cost of living in the UK often falls short of the amount actually needed – the maximum living loan in the 2017-2018 academic year is UK£8,430 (~$10,400) for students outside London and up to £11,002 (~US$13,560) for those who study in London.
Undergraduate home students at private UK universities (there are only three) can still apply for tuition fee loans for most courses, as well as maintenance loans and maintenance grants. However, the tuition fee loan might not cover the full amount.
A large range of scholarships to study in the UK are also offered by the government, individual universities, independent organizations and various charities. The Education UK website provides a searchable database of 3,000 scholarships for international and home students. It is also worth checking to see what scholarships and support schemes are available from the government and other organizations in your own country.
Your course provider may be willing to help you to apply for a UK student visa once you have been offered a place on a course; ask to find out if this is the case. You can apply for the visa up to three months in advance of the start date of your course. Check the average visa processing times for your country, and be sure to allow plenty of time.
Proof of financial support can take the form of bank statements or a letter from your financial sponsor, showing you can cover your tuition fees, accommodation and living costs. You must prove that you have £1,015 (~US$1,230) per month for living costs if studying in the UK outside of London, and £1,265 (~US$1,540) a month for living costs if studying in London.
You must apply online for the Tier 4 (General) Student visa, ensuring you've read the full guidance here. You can apply up to three months before the start of your course.
The current fee for the Tier 4 (General) student visa is £328 (~US$400), with an additional £328 fee per person for any dependents. You'll also need to pay a healthcare surcharge of £150 per year (~US$180) in order to access the National Health Service (NHS) during your stay.
The Short Term Study Visa costs £89 (~US$110) for the six month option and £170 (~US$210) for the 11 month visa.
When you enter the UK, a UK Border Agency officer will put a stamp on your passport that states the duration of your stay in the UK. For example, if your course is 12 months or more, you can stay for the full duration of the course plus an additional four months. You cannot extend your stay beyond this period.
Before you arrive, you must make sure you are fully immunized, remembering to pack your immunization record in your hand luggage in case you are asked to show the Border Agency officer at your UK port of entry. You should also carry the documents relating to your studies (including your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies or CAS number), your proof of finances and your proof of accommodation.
Depending on where you're from, you may also be required to register with the police within seven days of arrival in the UK.
All EU, EEA and Swiss students can work while studying in the UK, although students from Croatia might need to gain authorization. Students of publically funded higher education institutions on Tier 4 student visas can work for up to 20 hours per week during term time and full-time during Christmas and Easter breaks (unless you are aged 16 or 17, in which case the maximum is 10 hours per week during term time).