United Kingdom is famous not only for the biggest Empire in the history they had and for having towns with huge castles, it is the second most popular study destination for the international students from all around the world. The overall atmosphere of the UK is very warm and welcoming to the everyone, and as the country values diversity being an international student in the UK will not be much of a problem as you will be able to enjoy your individual freedom. UK has reputable universities of which some are ranked as the best in the world. And having a degree from the world class education provider will help students succeed in the competitive workforce. There are thousands of students choosing the UK as their study destination each year, which makes it a hub for international students that will lead you to being exposed to diverse cultures in the process. The major language in the UK is English, this will be an easy transition for many international students as most countries teach English language from the school level. Other than being one of the most popular study destination and tourist destination, UK is home to over a million international students. UK is also very well known for the Royal family, traditional British tea and the love for sports such as Rugby. The UK and its universities have an undisputed reputation for academic excellence and quality with thousands of courses available for students, as well as being an ideal destination for many decades for over a million international students from all over the world. There are more than 395 universities and colleges, offering over 50,000 undergraduate-level higher education courses across the UK. UK courses are generally shorter than other countries, helping to reduce overall tuition fees and accommodation costs. Furthermore, in comparison to the level of education offered to you, British universities are more affordable. It can be possible to work while you study too. There are various scholarships and grants provided by various universities and institutions, which can help you ease your finances as an international student. And if you want to know more about it make sure to message us or contact us so that we will be able to help you in the process. The maximum time limit for qualification in UK for below degree course is 3 years whereas for degree level course is 5 years. UK also has 2 years of Post Study Work (PSW) that will allow you time to find a job after you complete your degree. United Kingdom is made up of four countries England, Wales, Scotland as well as Northern Ireland. And each country of UK has separate system under separate government. The eduation system is mainly divided into four parts that includes primary education, secondary education, further education and higher education. There is compulsory education system in UK from age 5 up to 17 years. Primary education starts in year 1 where the students are of age between 5 and 7. And at the end of year 11 all the students take exam known as GCSE. After the secondary education is complete and if the student wants to study in a college or a university then it is very important for them to take further education in UK. In further education there are A-Levels, GNVQ’s, BTEC’s or other such qualifications. As for higher education, the undergradute degree takes 3 years to complete in most institutions but in Scotland it takes 4 years to complete the degree. The four year course which is also known as “sandwich course” is recently getting more popular, where the student will have to work for a year (usually in third year). Graduate and masters program are usually shorter depending on the course. But courses such as medicine, law can be up to 5 years according to the requirement of the course. Cost of studying really varies from one university to the next and the cost can go up according to the length and type of the course that you choose. It’s highly advisable for the students to check the univeristies webiste before deciding where to study. For example Social science and humanities can start from £ 10,000 per year whereas porgrammes such as medicine can go up to £ 35,000. Undergraduate fees start around £10,000 per year and postgraduate around £12,000. Whereas getting a medical degree can cost around £ 32,000 per year. Studying in UK can get expensive as pound sterling is one of the expensive currencies in the world but there are plenty of scholarship opportunities that is provided to the international students. UK government also provides scholarship focusing on the international stduents, so before selecting the university you should check if there are any scholarships available or not. You can also contact us or make an appointment with our staff to understand more about it. They will be able to help in the process to help find the best scholarship available for you. Studying abroad is an ideal opportunity for a student who wants to broaden their horizons and is aiming towards academic excellence and development. The UK has proven to be a marvelous academic destination for internationals arriving from all around the world. In the academic year 2017/18, the number of international students enrolled in UK universities reached 458,490; and the numbers just keep growing. The UK is the second most favored place of study for internationals after the US. Thousands of internationals enroll each year in some of UK’s top universities. The UK has a multicultural society, with a rich diversity of cultures, languages, and faiths. You’ll find widely varied cuisine, strong transport links, famous music festivals, and international sporting championships. It is important to stay informed and read about the country you will reside in, beforehand. As an international student, you should always be attentive of your surroundings, making sure you won’t get lost – since the UK is quite large. The crime rate in the UK keeps decreasing and with that in mind, as well as the excellence of UK universities, be ensured you have chosen quite a special academic destination to spend your students years in. In UK, similar to most of the top international study destinations, foreign students are allowed to work part-time. In the UK as an international student, you’re allowed to work up to 20 hours at maximum per week during term-time and full-time during holiday breaks. But there are many restrictions and conditions you must stay in line with in order to be allowed to work. In the UK, particularly in big cities like London, international students can easily find a part-time job. Some universities may only allow you to work inside the campus, but there is no need to worry because there are still many options available to you. However, before getting out hunting part-time jobs you must check if you’re eligible for such work. It all starts with your Tier 4 visa, the official student visa in the UK. The first criterion you must check is your age. If you’re under 16 and don’t have a Tier 4 (General 4) you’re not qualified to work in the UK.
Your eligibility to work in the UK while studying depends on two major restrictions: those set by your university and those by state-run official institutions. First, you must ensure that your university doesn’t have any constrain pulling you back from working before dealing with state officials. For example, depending on your study course your university may limit working hours to you, aside from governmental restrictions.
SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
First, you must know what to expect while studying in the UK. Following a governmental decision in 2017, UK universities are allowed to charge their home and EU students with tuition fees capping at €9,250 per an academic year (the highest that ever was at UK universities).
Meanwhile, non-EU foreign students in the UK are charged with a lot higher tuition fees which in some particular courses range up to over £50,000 per an academic year. If you’re an EU student, you can use the benefits of student loans, but if you’re a non-EU and non-EEA student financial help is needed.
UK scholarships for international students can be divided into two major group:
Governmental Scholarships
As a global educational attraction, UK maintains a strong awareness toward international student financial matters. Thus, the British government runs two large scholarship schemes for international students.
Chevening Scholarships – Is the main state-governed global scholarship programme in UK. This scheme has a long-term goal to support students with high academic potential. Since its foundation in 1983, students aim to support students with high academic potential. Since its foundation in 1983, thousand of students benefited from this scheme. Chevening funds are provided from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and their partners including universities. The programme awards two types of grants namely Scholarships and Fellowships. Typically a Chevening scholarship is awarded for a one-year Master course at a UK university but it can also be granted for other postgraduate courses. To apply for this type of scholarship you must first be a citizen of a Chevening-eligible country. Other requirements to be eligible for this scholarship are:
- You have an undergraduate degree
- You have 2+ years work experience
- You meet the English requirements.
Commonwealth Scholarships- Commonwealth Scholarships is a rich scheme of UK scholarships for international students governed jointly by 53 countries (former British colonies) plus UK part of the Commonwealth of Nations or Commonwealth as it’s shortly regarded. Commonwealth Scholarships are funded by the Department for International Development at it’s open to all students who are citizens of a Commonwealth countries and want to seek a university degree in UK.
Typically Commonwealth Scholarships are awarded for these courses
- One-year Master taught or equivalent courses.
- Doctoral degrees lasting for 3-4 years.
A Commonwealth Scholarship covers your tuition fees, airline airfares, essential living costs plus other allowances.Currently this type of scholarship is awarded to students of these subjects
UK University Scholarships
In addition to scholarship programs described above, there are a lot of other scholarship resources in the UK. First, there are several scholarship schemes, funded by governmental or non-governmental organizations, designed for students coming from particular countries.
Besides, many universities have established their own programs of UK scholarships for international students. To see if the University of your Choice has such programs on offer you must reach them by email.
Step By Step Student Visa Process for UK
To apply for Tier 4 (General) student visa, your course must last longer than 6 months. Before you get to apply for the visa you should make sure to follow these things:
- You should check if you qualify for the student visa or not.
- A completed visa application form
- Proof that you have been accepted for the course you applied for: An offer letter from the univeristy you’re applying for is necessary for the visa application process.
- Enough funds: There must be proof provided to support that you can maintain the lifestyle and take care of the expenses while staying in the UK. The amount you need to show in the process needs to cover the fee for the whole year and living cost for 9 months while you study you are there.
- Online application: You will need to register and create an account on the UK Visa Website that will help you receive message containing your application number.
- Payment of application fee: There are various ways of how you can make the payment for the application fee such as payment at Standard Chartered Bank branch, payment at visa application centre after you submit your visa or you can opt to pay it online from MasterCard.
- Appointment at visa application centre: You must book an appointment at the visa application centre and visit the centre on the appointed date. Here you can submit your application, fingerprints, passport size photos and the documents that may be required.
Because UK is an English speaking country you should also submit your IELTS score when you apply for the university. And make sure to apply 3 months before your course starts. Above are some things that the students should follow and if you face any confusion with the visa process please feel free to contact our staff members, who are more than happy to help you with the process.
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